Today's readings are Psalm 68.1-6, Joshua 23.1-16, and Acts 12.1-25.
Sometimes we tend to think God is different in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. Many people will draw a picture of God as a God of vengeance in the Old Testament but a God of grace and mercy in the New. Yet the Scripture does not bear this out. Observe in our Old Testament reading today that God promises Joshua and the Israelites safety and prosperity, provided they are faithful to the Lord. As they are believing in God's promises and walking according to his commands, they will find that God is indeed gracious and merciful.
What do we see in the New Testament reading today? We see that God continues to be merciful to his people who trust him. Yet what kind of curse can he pour out on those who do not believe him, who assert that they themselves are gods? Herod is struck down in his arrogance. Of course, not all who exalt themselves above God are struck down, but we see that God reserves the right to do so.
There is one God, one judge of the world, and he has not changed in his way of governing. We are always saved by grace through faith, and that faith is in Jesus Christ, who bore our sin and failing on our behalf. This is the same Gospel that Joshua had, though he hadn't yet seen the man Jesus. He trusted in him, just as we today are called to trust him.
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