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9 God said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt." That's why the place is called The Gilgal. It's still called that. 10 The People of Israel continued to camp at The Gilgal. They celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the plains of Jericho. 11 Right away, the day after the Passover, they started eating the produce of that country, unraised bread and roasted grain. 12 And then no more manna; the manna stopped. As soon as they started eating food grown in the land, there was no more manna for the People of Israel. That year they ate from the crops of Canaan. (Joshua 5:9-12 The Message Bible)
A wonderful Wednesday be yours, dear Friend! I pray this blesses you as God seeks to bless us always. As we pray today, please continue to pray for one another, especially for those in need. My pastor, The Reverend Dr. Matt Pennington is continuing his recovery, sleeping better, so we praise and thank God for the progress Matt is making. We pray for complete healing in his body. Nellie "graduated" from her physical therapy and is doing so much better; and it didn't hurt to spend a full day with our youngest grandchild, Eli Ryan, and partial day with our oldest grandson, Liam Carlos, so those two blessings blessed both of us, thanks be to God. We continue to pray for peace in the world; that bloodshed end, and that the Russian aggression stop. Pray for all nations to learn to coexist in peace. Please pray for one another, especially for people you don't yet know! Pray for your needs as well. A praying nation is a blessed and grateful nation.
Forty years is a long time. As children age was something to be celebrated with cake and presents and counting the years wasn't as important as counting the gifts! I doubt we, as children, gave much thought to turning forty. For some, it can seem like a big number, but we thank God for every special day that we are blessed with! Today's passage comes on the fortieth year Israel had been away, I should say, free from Egyptian slavery. And on that day of celebration, God speaks to Joshua, who was Moses' successor and God announces, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt." In other words, that which happened was 40 years ago, leave it there and let it die, as much as you can, a peaceful death in your memory ot things. Gilgal literallly means "rolling," as in those years have rolled past, and the hatred and suffering of the Egyptians on you also, has rolled away. Forty years is a generation, meaning a good a time as any to say, "Stay where you are, bad memories, I am here now, and I am free!" As the people of Israel camped there something special happened. The people were able to eat from the land all they had planted, and fresh bread and roasted grain, from their own plants were enjoyed as a meal of celebration. And as soon as they bit into the deliciousness of "this is mine," the manna, the bread provided from Heaven by God, ceased to appear, symbolizing they were now free and independent of Egypt and they were in the land they had been promised by God to enjoy for themselves.
This lesson can also apply to our lives and whatever has troubled us for so long.The fruits of today are part of what we call the present, and friends, no better gift can we enjoy than what is available for us right now. The pain and hurt from so long ago should stay right where it is, in the deep recesses of our memories; better yet, you can ask God to remove them and throw them, along with our sins, into the deepest part of the ocean; knowing that one day, as the Apostle John saw in his vision, "the sea was no more." You are free from all that has troubled you and harmed you, thanks to the strong, powerful arm of the Lord; relax in His embrace and know He says to you, "Rest easy from yesterday, my child. Enjoy today and be blessed with peace so that tomorrow may be even better." Amen!
PRAYER; Loving Savior, help this dear reader surrender to You that which has troubled her or him. Into Your strong hands we place the hurts, pain, stupid words shared with us, all that harmed us, so that You take them and toss them into the deepest part of the sea. Into Your grace we also commit our sins and iniquities; toss them as well. Grant us peace and strength; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share your grace of a new life with someone who is in need. Show them how God blessed you.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace!
Pastor Eradio Valverde
