Devotional for December 14th
Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.
Joshua 1:9
PAUSE: A new leader, named Joshua, was chosen for the Israelites after Moses died. God told Joshua that after 40 years of wandering, the Israelites would leave the desert and enter into a new land. But a large city named Jericho stood in their way. God kept telling Joshua to be strong and brave. He told Joshua, “Remember that your name means, ‘The Lord Saves!’ Follow my commands and obey Me and I will be with you wherever you go.” So Joshua and the Israelites believed God. Jericho heard about all God had done for the Israelites so they were very afraid. They locked their doors and stayed behind their walls to protect themselves. But instead of attacking the big walls of Jericho, God had the people march around the city once a day for 6 days. There were seven priests with seven trumpets of ram’s horns leading the people. But the people were not allowed to say a word to each other until Joshua told them to shout.
On the seventh day, God told the people to march around the city seven times, just as they had done before. The seventh time around, the priests sounded the trumpet blast and Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” So the people shouted as loud as they could and the trumpets blew as loud as they could. They were so loud that the walls of Jericho crumbled to the ground. Then the army of Israel went in and took the city.
God used Joshua to lead his people into the Promised Land. And God brought us an even greater leader, Jesus Christ, who will one day lead us all to Heaven where we will be with God forever. But until then, Jesus helps us be brave and strong.
PRAY: Thank you God for giving us the strength and courage to do hard things. Thank you for being with us even when we are scared. Remind us daily that Jesus is with us!
FAMILY ACTIVITY: Have the kids build a city out of blocks. Then have them march around the table and reenact the story!
