(Joshua 7 and Hosea 2:15)

Hi folks. As I have been reading through Joshua, a passage of scriptiure really had an impression on me and it was chapter 7 that stopped me. After the great victory at Jericho, Israel marched on the small city of Ai and were defeated. Thirty-six men died. Joshua fell on his face before the Lord, and the Lord spoke plainly: “Israel has sinned… they have taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived” (Joshua 7:11 NKJV).

You know, folks, as I was reading my Bible, a passage in Deuteronomy grabbed my heart. The Lord gave Israel a very down-to-earth instruction while they were traveling through the wilderness. He said, “Also you shall have a place outside the camp, where you may go out; and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse. For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you” (Deuteronomy 23:12-14).

Deuteronomy 2:1–7

As I was reading these verses, a few really stood out to me, and I’d love to share this little morsel of Scripture as we explore the book of Deuteronomy. Moses is rehearsing the journey of the children of Israel through the wilderness. And here in chapter 2 he brings them back to those days when they were walking around Mount Seir.

Hair, Vows, and the Heart

Paul at Cenchrea and the women in Corinth
Acts 18:18 and 1 Corinthians 11:6 (NKJV)

Now look at this with me, looking at these verses for you Bible-strong folk; we read Paul stayed a good while in Corinth. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.