DEUTERONOMY & JOSHUA

It is early Saturday morning, and I couldn't sleep so I started reading about 3:30am.  I enjoyed spending extra time in God's Word.  Here are some thoughts I had as I read: 1) EVERY SEVEN YEARS- According to Deuteronomy 31:10, every seven years "in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,"  "...vs. 11- "... thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing."  vs. 12 "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law."  So, every seven years the law was read before all of the people so that they would hear, learn, fear, and observe!  How we ought to thank the LORD that we have a Bible!  We can read it every day, and we should.  2) LAYING ON OF HANDS- In Deuteronomy 34:9 it says:  "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him:  and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses."  Moses laid his hands upon Joshua to ordain him to his position as the leader of Israel and to impart to him God's wisdom.  This goes back to:  Numbers 27:23  "And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses."  In Hebrews 6:2, we read:  "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."  Now notice these verses:  Acts 8:18  "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,"; and:  1 Timothy 4:14  "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."   When a preacher is ordained, their are godly men who lay their hands on him and pray for God to bless and use the young preacher.  When I was ordain, I had Dr. Jack Hyles and several of his deacons lay their hands on my shoulders and pray for me that God would use me and grant me His blessings.  I believe that is responsible for much of anything the Lord has chosen to do with my life and ministry.  The laying on of hands! 3) GOD MANIFESTED HIS POWER, AND PROVED HIS EXISTENCE- In Joshua 2:10, it says:  "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  (vs. 11) And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you:  for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."  God has throughout the Scriptures and throughout time, proved His power and existence.  First in Creation, then the Flood, then the parting of the Red Sea, and then the parting of the River Jordan.  Now the first, Creation, had no witnesses since Adam and Eve were created last, but they were told by God.  But the Flood had eight witnesses who share the mighty power of God.  The Red Sea had about 3 1/2 million witnesses and the word spread throughout the whole earth.  The River Jordan had about 3 1/2 million witnesses as well and it spread throughout the promised land.  Then the Resurrection had about 530 witnesses and it has spread throughout the world.  God does not just say:  I AM... He proves it!  We have a proven God so that we can have solid faith! Well, I've written long enough.  Hope something has blessed your heart as it blesses mine to read and learn from God's Word.  Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler