What did it look like for a nation to have God with them? Surely, if God was with the nation of Israel, they must have an incredible story of obedience! However, God’s people struggle to obey and trust the One who has created them and formed them into his chosen people. The Old Testament books of history that will be the focus of study are Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. In these books will be repeated evidence of God’s faithfulness, keeping his covenant to be with his people, even when they were not faithful to him.
The Discipline of Imaginative Reading
Imagination. In children it seems to exist in abundance, but as we age, it seems we have to try to protect what little sense of wonder we have left. Imaginative reading can help restore some of that wonder, especially the wonder of our Holy God.
In the journey With God through the Scriptures of history, the practice of imaginative reading will be a discipline to learn and foster, to expand our immersion into the word of God. Also known as imaginative prayer, it is the practice of entering the world of the text with the intention of encountering the heart of God. Imagination is a gift God gives all of us to find him and his watermark on beautiful things. Imagination is a powerful tool to practice tasting the goodness of God.
In the book The Ignatian Adventure, Kevin O'Brien, SJ, reminds us that “What satisfies the soul is not knowing more facts or reaching great insights, but savoring the many graces of God and resting in the Divine Presence.”
In this section of the With God journey through the Bible, the history of the people of Israel is the catalyst to increase our curiosity and train our imaginations to see the heart and character of God, and the consistent grace offered to his people. Incorporating tools and techniques to encourage our imagination, our journey With God: In History will help us consider the examples of the Creator’s grace extended to us today.
Lord thank you for your word,
a rich canvas of color, light, and shadow.
Teach me to be curious.
Show me your patterned purpose
that exists on these perplexing pages.
Teach me to see as you see.
Teach me to hear as you hear.
Teach me to accept your mysteries.
Let my mind become your new canvas
of color, light, and shadow.
Make me a living image
of your mercy and grace,
Until I see you
in all your beauty and splendor.
Amen
Read | Joshua 2
Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.
The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.”
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!” But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut.
Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. Now please swear to me by the LORD that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”
Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”
The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault. And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”
“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.
So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. They told Joshua, “The LORD has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
What did the passage reveal to you about the person and character of God?
What is implied by God’s willingness to use an outsider like Rahab?
How does Rahab listening to the stories of God’s power lead to her salvation?
Focus
Imagine yourself as a resident of Jericho. You’ve heard whispers of a people whose God parts the Red Sea. Some say they seem to be headed here. What do you think the atmosphere of the city would be?
Watch this video about “Character in Biblical Narrative” from BibleProject.
Pray
Invite God to be with you as you study this week.
Going Deeper
Throughout this year-long series in theFormed.life, the daily Scripture reading will take you through the whole story of Scripture in manageable chunks, allowing time for other study, reflection, and prayer, rather than including every verse and chapter in the Bible. If you would like to go deeper and read through the entire Bible, use this whole Bible reading plan from the BibleProject. Print it off and use it as a checklist to track your progress!