Secondly, consider that God’s people were so precious to Him, that He loved them so very much that He gave all these cities, all the people in them and the kings over them, into the hands of Joshua so that the Israelites might inherit the promised land. God literally gave people’s lives for the lives of the Israelites, all because of His love for them. “Because you are precious to me, because I give you honor and love you, I will give other people in your place; I will give other nations to save your life” (Isaiah 43:4).
We cannot miss the gospel here. “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Take a moment now to look to the cross of Jesus, please see that Jesus Christ hangs there in sin and shame, covered with the wrath and judgment of God, for you! As you look up into the face of your dying Savior just now, hear these words to you personally: “Because you are precious to me, because I give you honor and love you, I give Myself in your place!” Yes, God gave Jesus to die in your place, and Jesus willingly gave Himself in your place because you are precious to Him and because He loves you!
The cross is proof of God’s love for you!
Question 3. Did you see the gospel of Jesus Christ today? If so, did it increase your faith? Please share your thoughts here:
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Karen writes, "Oh yes, I look at the Cross and feel such love and warmth, safety and hope. I pray that I can shine the light for others and point people to Christ and His love and sacrifice on the Cross. This study is powerful."
Carol writes, "I saw it. I saw Him on the cross. I prayed to Him. I know I am not worthy of what He did. But I thanked Him and promised I would do everything I could to glorify His name and to show I am thankful for what He did. I am not worthy but I am thankful. This study is helping to increase my faith in many ways. Thank you."
Kelly writes, "It always seemed harsh and brutal to me the way God would have the people of Israel destroy all those pagans nations. No one could be spared, it had to be a total annihilation. But making the connection between those battles and our battles with sin; I totally understand why now. Sin is a evil devastating intrusive destructive thing. It must be completely wiped out. No remnants of it can remain in our life or like a cancer it will just keep growing again. But most of all my heart is breaking with a fresh experience of the Lords love for me as I see ithe Cross As brutal as the people of Israel were against those pagan nations because of their sins it fails in compassion to the brutality of Gods wrath against the Lord Jesus on the Cross for all my sins. God couldn’t spare Jesus, He couldn’t show Him Mercy on the Cross. Sin had to be mercilessly atoned for, wiped out and Jesus willingly gave Himself for me for it to be done! Oh how deep is His love for me!"
Now let's finish this study today with the following quote from Matthew Henry:
“When the heathen (nations) are to be cast out to make room for this vine (Ps 80:8), divine justice appears more extreme than ever in shedding blood, so that the Israelites might forever feel obliged to spend their lives glorifying the God who had sacrificed so many of the lives of his creatures for their sakes.”--Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible