I have been amazed at the twists and turns of God’s redemption story, haven’t you? When things went wrong in Eden, God made a way to restore our fellowship with Him. When God decided to destroy evil mankind, He had Noah and his family build an arc and escape the judgmental flood. Later, God called an elderly man, Abraham, to become the father of the nation through which our Savior would enter the world. To continue the Israeli bloodline, He blessed Abraham (100) and Sarah (90) with Isaac. Isaac’s grandson, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers and unjustly imprisoned, only to become the prime minister of Egypt and to save the Israelites from starvation.
After the death of Joseph, the pharaoh decided to make slaves of the Israelites living in Egypt, seeming to thwart God’s redemption plan. The Israelites suffered this fate for hundreds of years until God appeared to Moses, who was shepherding on Mount Sinai, and commissioned him to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites. God brought miraculous judgments on Egypt, and the Israelites became a free people to go to the Promised Land God had promised them, Abraham’s seed, hundreds of years ago.
We have followed this through Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers, and resumed the story last week in Joshua. Moses has died, and God has appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites to “possess” the land He gave to Abraham centuries ago. Last week’s post will prepare you to appreciate today’s part of God’s redemption story. https://www.cosdavis.com/a-god-sized-task/ .
Three Days, Two Spies, and One Prostitute is the title of today’s blog. The story comes to life in selected verses from Joshua 1:10-2:18. God often suprises us in the way He orchestrates the redemption plan and the people He uses to get the job done. Today’s story serves as an excellent example ot this reality.
What’s so important or significant about three days? That’s the question I raised when I read the following verses.
“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people saying, ‘Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people saying, ” Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.”‘ Joshua 1:10-11
Obviously, this was a precise timeline for the people to prepare to participate in what God had in store for them. God graciously gave them time to prepare for something they had looked forward to for many years. They wouldn’t rush into this; they would have time for thoughtful, deliberate consideration of what might lie ahead.
This is true, but there is more. One commentary says “three days” appears at least 75 times in the Bible, each ending with a great breakthrough. Where does your mind go when you consider that idea? Here are a few instances when the “three days” ended in a great act of God.
Genesis 22:4 tells us, ” On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.” Where had Abraham traveled three days, and why was he going there? He was going to a mountain God would show him to offer Isaac, his only son, as a sacrifice. Abraham trusted God so much that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, knowing that God could raise him from the dead. How did this end, and what was the breakthrough? God provided the sacrifice, and Abraham proved himself faithful to God.
How long did Jonah remain in the belly of the great fish? What great thing happened when the fish vomited him out? He went and preached to Nineveh; the people repented, and God forgave them.
I am told that Jesus used the term “three days” at least 21 times in his teachings or instructions. On his final trip to Jerusalem with his disciples, he tells them to be prepared for what is about to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will deliver him up to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” Matthew 20:18-19.
Jesus was crucified on Friday. What happened on the third day, Sunday? Women coming to His grave were given this life-changing word by angels, “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6.
When Joshua told the people to be ready to fight in three days, he was certain God would do something great for them. There’s nothing “magical” about the three-day references in the Bible, but what is astounding is our great God, who makes everything good happen in His own time. You may have waited on God’s promise for five years, or you may have prayed for something in God’s will for twenty years, and it hasn’t happened. God is performing miracles in our lives every day, and the breakthrough you are looking for may be just a few days ahead. Trust God and His timing. He is always on time.