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The rider-less horse prances, restless in the midst of the crowds and the noise. It leads a long procession through thousands of people who are watching, thousands who are weeping. If you are old enough to remember that image, you will know that it comes from the funeral procession for John F. Kennedy, the American president assassinated in 1963. It was a powerful image of loss, an image of death.
We all have images of funerals in our minds ? images we have witnessed as the rituals of death are played out. I watched another ritual on television once and sat up to take notice. The funeral procession wasn't led by a rider-less horse, but by a band major tossing his baton and a trumpeter playing his heart out. I like that image. When I die I want a parade.

I want a parade that doesn't signify loss but victory; a parade where the band leader tosses his baton high and steps lively. I want those watching to take notice, not of one whose death is causing sorrow and mourning, but of One who has conquered death and made it into a celebration.

I know that's possible because I believe in . . .

Can you think of the last time when someone was merciful to you? This will be different than another person showing you a random act of kindness, for we often mistake grace for mercy. When someone has given you something good which you know you do not deserve, that would be grace. You?ll see gracious people everywhere if you care to look. But what about merciful people, have you experienced someone not giving you something negative or condemning when in fact you did deserve it? That would be what mercy looks like. There is an intriguing story before us this morning that has a double edge of mercy, mercy for the one who knocks and mercy for the one who answers the knock. Turn with me to Joshua chapter 2.

Let's think for a moment about the characters that are set before us.

There are the two spies, apparently novices at this trade. I'm not sure if they were wearing plaid shirts and spandex shorts, but what is clear is that they weren't very good at being secret spies. It appears their ?cover? was blown the minute they entered Jericho, the king knew about . . .

How do you prepare yourself to receive what God has promised? For some it's all about assuring God that we are ready for all the blessings He wants to pour out in our direction. It's like a child that thinks he can handle all the quarters and loonies his father is willing to put in his pocket and is puzzled by the set of keys to the house and an airline ticket to paradise that comes instead. The child doesn't know the how to use them nor how to translate them into immediate pleasure. For others it's asking God to expand our spheres of influence that we could know Him more. For yet others they do not think that they will receive anything from God, they are just to persevere and demonstrate faith and steadfastness. We've been looking at the story of Joshua as he has been directed by God to lead Israel into a new, beautiful and challenging land. As we read the passage this morning the theme that becomes unmistakable is that they are about to receive from God and they are preparing the people for that experience. I look at this passage and think that though the event was unique and spectacular in scope, there are aspects to it that have everything to do with us here today in how we prepare ourselves to able to receive what God has for us. Look with me at Joshua 1:10-18 as we prepare to receive what God seeks to give.