By: Yonas

One of the great stories with an amazing display of God’s power is found in Joshua 6: the fall of Jericho. I couldn’t help but be amazed by what God did for His people. As Christians living in the new covenant, we have a great privilege and advantage to see things in a much fuller perspective. The work of God, when His people walk by faith, leads to a story being told and read about by countless generations. We live by faith and not by sight, but to read stories like this, where God’s power is physically being displayed, is an incredible testimony.  

As we read this story and many others in the Bible, as Christians we must always remind ourselves that we are reading a true historical account. We must not read it in a disconnected manner as some fictional story made up for our enjoyment or thrill. Speaking from my own experience,  there is a tendency to look at stories like this and subconsciously read it without making the conscious connection that these are real people, in a real location, who were part of a great historical miracle produced by the Creator of the Universe. 

Secular scholars want to dismiss these events as fictional because they come with the presupposition that miracles are not possible and God doesn’t exist. Which, by the way, is a faith-based claim that has no evidence whatsoever. They start with an assumption that there is no God; therefore, there is no miracle. They believe things came together by random chance over billions of years and random attempts through evolution. Yet at the same time, they want to practice science relying on consistent laws in the universe that make science possible. So they want us to believe in something that is unmeasurable and quite frankly unthinkable. Yet the known universe tells us otherwise. The universe came on its own, they say, not realizing how ludicrous they sound. Just a random lottery chance, when reality shows us purposeful intelligent design with laws that make life possible. Paul hits the nail on the coffin when he says in Romans 1:19-20

“Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

But this article is not about their ideology, so I digress. This article is about why, as Christians, we have to be intentional in our reading of the Bible. We have to fight the unbelief that’s always lurking in this flesh. If we don’t put in the effort, then be sure we are losing the battle. By effort, I mean taking the time to think, and think clearly about things. Meditating and reflecting on what we read. Asking ourselves, why is this written? What does God want me to learn from this? Where does this all fit in God’s greater plan? What Character of God is being displayed in this passage, and how have I seen this aspect of God in my walk with him?  We must not be lazy thinkers being blown about by the wind or reading to check off a task. Let’s remember always that we are dealing with the living God who is present, close, and unchanging. 

As we think deeply, let’s always be grateful to the Holy Spirit who illuminates our mind to see our own presuppositions. Presuppositions we adopt knowingly or unknowingly from the world. And when we are awakened to our own presuppositions, let’s lay those down to die, for they are not worthy of the new life in Christ. For our ways are foolishness, and our thoughts are futile. That’s why we need a renewed mind. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s word is the way that God totally transforms the way we think and live. It reveals human history and destiny. It gives us the beginning and reveals the end of all things. This is not a book that we should ever take lightly. It has proven its reliability and truthfulness time and time again. Sometimes we get in the routine of doing certain tasks like reading our Bible and forget to realize why we are doing what we are doing. This is just a friendly reminder: read with intention, read with clarity, and read to be transformed. To God be the Glory!