READ THE BIBLE IN 2022: This past week, March 6 through 12, we read Deuteronomy 21 – Joshua 8. As already stated, a key word in Deuteronomy is covenant. It was used 13 more times in Deuteronomy this past week. Sadly, in chapter 31 God says to Moses, “[Israel] will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise Me and break My covenant.” Prior to his death, Moses tells the Levites to place the Book of the Law next to the Ark of the Covenant as a witness against them. Before Deuteronomy closes, God chose Joshua to be Moses’ successor and to lead Israel into the Promised Land. A saying associated with Joshua is “Be strong and courageous.” Moses says this to him once (Dt 31:7), God three times (Dt 31:23; Josh 1:6, 9), and the nation of Israel once (Josh 1:18). A narrative that receives much attention in the early chapters of the Book of Joshua is the destruction of Jericho. While God is Holy and punishes evil, we must also remember that Jericho’s destruction includes an account of redemption as a Gentile woman, Rahab, and her extended family are saved by her faithfulness to God and grafted into His family (6:25). This week (March 13 -19) read Joshua 9 through Judges 5.