Today we're opening the 8th book of the Bible - Judges! And wow… the story takes a turn pretty quickly.

Israel is in the Promised Land, but they don't fully obey God. They begin to compromise, forget Him, and turn toward the gods of the people around them. And then we see the cycle that will repeat throughout Judges: they turn away, they cry out, and God rescues them.

Over and over again.

As we open this new book together, let's talk about some questions along the way:

· Why was Israel's partial obedience such a big deal?

· How does compromise slowly pull them away from God?

· And perhaps most importantly - what do these first chapters show us about God's faithfulness?

Because even when Israel keeps forgetting, God keeps rescuing them.

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/judges-1-3/

Today on OOBT, we wrap up Joshua 22-24, AND we're also finishing our 7th book of the Bible together… cue the confetti! 🎉🎉🎉

We begin in Joshua 22 with a tense misunderstanding between the tribes that quickly starts heading toward conflict. But instead of going to war, they slow down, talk it through, and realize it was never rebellion at all - just a miscommunication - and unity gets restored.

In Joshua 23, Joshua is near the end of his life and gathers the leaders to remind them that God has been completely faithful. Every promise has come through. But he also gives a pretty direct warning: don't drift, don't compromise, and don't slowly pick up the practices of the nations around you now that you're settled in the land.

Then in Joshua 24, all the tribes gather at Shechem for one final moment. Joshua walks them through their whole story - from Abraham all the way into the Promised Land - and brings everything to a clear turning point: choose whom you will serve. The people commit, a covenant is renewed, and Joshua's life comes to an end.

And with that, we close the book of Joshua.

But the next step in the story comes fast… in our next episode of OOBT, we step into Judges, and the tone shifts in a pretty noticeable way as we start to see what happens when God's people begin to forget and drift away from what they just said they would do. Oh my.

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-22-24/

We're covering a lot of ground in this episode—Joshua 19–21—but don't miss what's really happening here.

After years of waiting, wandering, and fighting, God's people are finally stepping into what was promised. Tribe by tribe, family by family, the remainder of the land is being assigned. What started as a promise to Abraham generations ago is now becoming reality.

But in the middle of all the details, a few things stand out: The Land Given to Simeon. Joshua's Leadership to the Very End. Cities of Refuge. The Towns Given to the Levites.

And by the time we reach chapter 21, everything comes together.

The land is assigned.
The people are settled.
The promise is fulfilled.

And we're left with this powerful truth:
Not one of all the Lord's good promises failed. Every single one was fulfilled.

Not in part.
Not almost.
Every one.

This episode is a reminder that God is faithful not just in the big moments—but in the details, in the waiting, and in the in-between.

If He said it… He will do it. ❤❤❤

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-19-21/

We've got a lot of ground to cover in this episode—literally. LOL!

In Joshua 16–18, we're watching God's promises finally start to take shape. What was spoken generations ago is now becoming real as the land is divided and the tribes begin stepping into what God has given them.

But even as the gift is right in front of them… we keep seeing something else show up too.

Hesitation. Fear. Even frustration with what they've been given.

Instead of fully stepping in, some of the tribes stop short. Some settle. Some hesitate when the work feels too big or the opposition feels too strong.

And right in the middle of all of that, Joshua asks a question that still kind of sits with us today:

"How long will you wait?"

Because this isn't really just about land—it's about trust.

We see it in the fear of iron chariots. We see it in delayed obedience. We even see the contrast with bold faith, like the daughters of Zelophehad who step forward and trust God's promise.

And through it all, one thing becomes clear—especially as the tabernacle is set up in Shiloh right in the center of the land—this was never just about geography.

It's about life with God at the center.

So maybe the question isn't just for them back then… but for us too.

Where are we hesitating to step into what God has already placed in front of us?

Oh, my OOBTers, please join me as we open our Bibles and journey through Joshua together. Wherever you listen to podcasts—be sure to listen in.

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-16-18/

Alright, my friends—back to school means back to the podcast after a MUCH-NEEDED summer break! Gosh, I'm super grateful I had the opportunity to slow down and soak in all of the times our F7 family spent together in summer 2026. It truly was all quite a blessing, BUT NOW, I'm back and VERY ready to dive back into our studies in the book of Joshua together!

We kick things off with a quick recap of chapters 1–12 (because let's be honest… June 24th feels like forever ago 😄), where we saw God faithfully lead Israel into the land—through the Jordan, around Jericho, through victories and setbacks—reminding us again and again that He is the one accomplishing what He promised.

Then in Joshua 13–15, the story shifts from battles to inheritance. The land is being divided among the tribes—not randomly, but intentionally under God's direction. Caleb steps forward with bold, steady faith after decades of waiting, Judah is given a place of importance, and yet there are still areas left unconquered.

That tension is real: God's promise is real, but Israel is still learning how to fully live in it.

Between promise and possession, God remains faithful—and His people are invited to trust Him in the process. Today's episode is also a powerful reminder that even when things feel unfinished, God is still at work, and His promises are still unfolding. So good.

Honestly, there's all this and so much more in this first episode release after our OOBT Summer Break, so be sure you don't miss out on this one! I can't wait to study with you once again!

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-13-15/

In this episode, we're in Joshua 10–12, and there's a lot going on.

We start with Joshua in the middle of battle at Gibeon, praying this bold prayer that the sun would stand still so there's enough time to finish the fight—and God actually responds. From there, we see victory after victory as the southern and then northern kings come against Israel.

Hazor rises up like the "Jericho of the north," and on paper everything looks overwhelming—massive armies, horses, chariots, the same kind of force Israel would've remembered from Egypt and the Red Sea. But God keeps saying the same thing: "Don't be afraid."

And what stands out is how long this actually takes. Joshua 11 makes it clear this is years of steady obedience, not quick wins—just trusting God step by step. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.

Then Joshua 12 slows everything down with a long list of kings and land - It can feel like just names and places, but it's really a testimony. A reminder that God kept every promise He made to Abraham all the way back in Genesis. Every boundary, every victory, every detail—it all lines up with what God said He would do.

At the end of the day, this wasn't about Israel's strength—it was about God's faithfulness. Gosh that's so good.

AND, please be sure you don't miss the announcement at the end of today's episode with all the details about OOBT's upcoming summer break – my plans, the official return date, and so much more! I do hope you find moments to connect more fully with those you love AND with your Bibles in study this summer!

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-10-12/

In this episode, we're walking through Joshua 7–9, and honestly, these chapters move through a lot of familiar ground in the life of faith—victory, failure, confusion, and then restoration.

Israel comes off the high of Jericho and immediately runs into a hard moment at Ai. Achan's hidden sin brings unexpected defeat, and Joshua is left asking some very real questions about what just happened and why things fell apart so quickly.

But the story doesn't stay there.

In Joshua 8, God speaks again with those familiar words—"do not be afraid or discouraged"—and brings Israel back into step with Him. What follows is a reset of sorts: obedience, clarity, and a renewed commitment to God's covenant as the people gather between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim to re-center their lives around Him.

Then in Joshua 9, the tone shifts again. The Gibeonites show up—not with weapons, but with a story and a plan. They deceive Israel into making a covenant, and suddenly Joshua is dealing with the fallout of a decision made without asking God first. It's messy, complicated, and honestly very human.

And through all of it, one theme keeps surfacing: God is still leading. Even when His people stumble, miss things, or get it wrong, He keeps working with them and moving His promises forward.

So if you've ever wondered what faith looks like in the middle of failure, confusion, or second chances—this section of Joshua has a lot to say. Oh, my OOBTers, please don't miss this one—I promise you're going to want to hear it!

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-7-9/

In this episode of Open Our Bible Together, we pick up right after Israel crosses the Jordan River on dry ground into the Promised Land—and things move forward, but not in the way you might expect.

Instead of rushing straight into battle, God first tells His people to remember. Twelve stones are taken from the Jordan and set up in Gilgal as a memorial, so every generation would know—it was the Lord who made a way through the water.

Then, before anything else happens, God brings Israel back to who they are. Through circumcision and the Passover, He reminds them that they are His chosen people. The manna stops after 40 years, and for the first time, they're eating from the land He promised them. It's a clear turning point—wilderness to promise… right in front of their eyes.

And then they're standing in front of Jericho.

No battle plan that makes sense on paper. Just instructions that require trust. Walk. Be silent. Wait. Repeat. For six days, nothing seems to happen. But on the seventh day, everything changes. The trumpets sound, the people shout, and the walls of Jericho come down—not because of military strength, but because God kept His word.

And right in the middle of it all, we see Rahab and a scarlet cord—a quiet but powerful picture of rescue and redemption that points us forward to something even greater.

From stones in the river to silence around a city, Joshua 4–6 reminds us that God is faithful in every step of the journey. He calls His people to trust Him, follow Him, and watch Him do what only He can do.

Because when the walls come down… it's always Him. ❤

For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-4-6/