Daily Readings at Southeast

 Scripture: Joshua 2 Joshua 3 Joshua 4

  Introduction to Joshua The book of Joshua marks a turning point in Israel's story. Moses has died, the wilderness wandering has ended, and a new generation stands ready to enter the land God promised to Abraham more than five hundred years earlier. Joshua, Moses' faithful assistant and one of only two spies who trusted God at Kadesh Barnea, now leads the nation into Canaan. Joshua himself wrote most of this book, with the final portions recording his death added by the high priest Eleazar and later by Eleazar's son Phinehas—both descendants of Aaron. The events take place around 1400 BC, as the Israelites prepare to conquer and settle the region that today includes Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. This book contains some challenging content. The conquest of Canaan involves warfare, and warfare brings death. Readers sometimes struggle with the violence and wonder why God commanded it. Understanding the context helps: the inhabitants of Canaan had become deeply corrupt, ...

  Introduction to the Historical Books With the Books of the Law complete, the Old Testament moves into its next major section: the Historical Books. This collection includes Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther—twelve books that continue Israel's story from where Deuteronomy left off. It's worth noting that the Books of the Law also contain history—creation, the patriarchs, the exodus, and the wilderness wanderings are all historical accounts. But those five books are set apart because of their unique purpose: establishing God's covenant with His chosen people. The Historical Books pick up that story and carry it forward through approximately 800 to 1,000 years of Israel's national life. When you finish reading this section, you will have completed the narrative history of Israel as recorded in the Old Testament. That might seem surprising, given that another twenty books remain. But the Bibl...

 Scripture: Deuteronomy 31 Deuteronomy 32 Deuteronomy 33 Deuteronomy 34

 Scripture: Deuteronomy 28 Deuteronomy 29 Deuteronomy 30

 Scripture: Deuteronomy 25 Deuteronomy 26 Deuteronomy 27