THE DANGER IN NOT GETTING RID OF WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO GET RID OF

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.

Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea, crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary.

The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel. Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah. It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea.

The western boundary is the coastline of the Great Sea.

These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

In accordance with the Lord's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai—descendants of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"

She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan:

The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were:

Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

In the western foothills:

Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim) — fourteen towns and their villages.

Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah—sixteen towns and their villages.

Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Keilah, Aczib and Mareshah—nine towns and their villages.

Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages; Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.

In the hill country:

Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon and Giloh—eleven towns and their villages.

Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages.

Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah and Timnah—ten towns and their villages.

Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages.

Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah—two towns and their villages.

In the desert:

Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi—six towns and their villages.

Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel.
It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea.

So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan:

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan. It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph's firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh's firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers. So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord's command. Manasseh's share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Micmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the sea. On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth).

Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.
The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the Lord has blessed us abundantly."

"If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites."

The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

But Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh-"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

Joshua 15, 16 and 17

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Chapters 15, 16 and 17 of the book of Joshua document more of the way land was divided up amongst the tribes. Chapter 15 details the allotment for Judah while chapters 16 and 17 describe the land given to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Through the verses in these chapters, we are told in great detail about who owned what with the boundaries carefully established, and towns and villages described.

In each of these chapters, we also are given a disturbing trend. For each tribe mentioned (Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh) failed to drive out all the Canaanites in their respective territories, instead allowing them to co-exist with them while subjecting them to forced labor.

There were two big problems with this trend:

1. It went against what God had commanded.

“However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you.” Deuteronomy 20:16-17

These words, given to Israel well before they crossed the Jordan, left little doubt as to what God expected His people to do as they inherited “the cities of the nations the Lord” was giving them. They weren’t supposed to “leave alive anything that breathes” and were to “completely destroy”. But that’s not what they did and this led to the second problem with this trend.

2. It left Israel vulnerable to sin and temptation.

“Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 20:18

Israel was not only told to not allow anything to survive within the cities and lands they conquered but God told them why they were to do it. For allowing the Canaanites to live amongst them would introduce sinful behavior and actions…behavior and actions detestable to God…into the daily lives of the Israelites. It would only be a matter of time before that sin would begin to permeate, infect and invade the hearts of God’s people and bring His wrath and judgment upon them. And to think it was all avoidable…if only Israel had been obedient and followed God’s guidance.

I’m sure Israel thought that it wouldn’t hurt anything to allow some of the Canaanites to live. After all, they could always use good forced labor. But their leniency was clearly in disobedience to God’s commands and expectations…and it did indeed leave them exposed. Sin did creep into their society via the Canaanites, bringing them into God’s disfavor.

You know…we do this a lot too. In fact, we’ve not learned too much since Israel made their mistakes well more than 2,000 years ago. You would think we would have evolved a lot further but we haven’t. We still say we’re going to change a certain area in our life that needs changing but we end up failing because we’re reluctant to fully surrender what’s causing us to sin and live outside of God’s expectations.

Here’s a few scenarios…maybe you can relate to one or two of them:

“I’m going to quit smoking but let me keep my cigarettes right over here for now. And I’ll continue to go out to the smoking areas with my friends because I don’t want them to think I’m stuck up or anything. Just because they smoke doesn’t mean I have to anyways.”

“I’m going to stop drinking so let me put this bottle away in the liquor cabinet and push the leftover beers to the back of the fridge. And while I’m at the football game, I’ll only have one beer because I deserve a little treat once and awhile.”

“I’m going on a diet but let me put these potato chips and sodas in the pantry. And it’s OK to go to McDonalds once and awhile to have a burger and fries just as long as I don’t do it all the time.”

“I’m going to stop cursing but I’ll watch movies and television shows where the dialogue is laced with profanity. And I know my friends curse but that’s them and not me. I still want to hang out with them.”

The truth is that if we don’t completely get rid of the things we’re trying to rid our lives from, they will eventually come back around to tempt us and take us back where we were when we decided to change our lifestyle. The only way to truly break free is to give up what would cause us to sin completely, leaving no remnant behind.

Throw the cigarettes away in the trash away from where you live. You can’t smoke them if you don’t have them.

Get rid of any alcohol that you have in the house and the fatty snacks and sugary sodas in your pantry.

Speak up and tell ask your friends to refrain from using profanity in your presence. If they refuse, find new friends. They obviously have no respect for you.

Find other programs to watch and if you can’t find one that God would glorify in, then shut off the television. Do some research on the movies in the theater and don’t attend if there is going to be a lot of profanity and illicit sexuality.

Friends, we have a choice. We can either change all the way toward Jesus and live the way he lived…the way God wants us to live. Or we can choose to hold onto some of our sinful pleasures and find ourselves never quite able to overcome them.

Ultimately, God is watching us…watching to see what we do. He’s also waiting to step in and help anytime we need it…because there is nothing beyond the works of His hands. Have you allowed Him to guide you…to strengthen you…to help you as you try and free yourself from the sin that binds you? If not, won’t you turn to Him today and recommit to believing He can pull you through to victory? The first step comes in wanting to change and change for ever. The second step is to allow God to help you change. Trust and know He will do just that. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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FOLLOWING THE LORD WHOLEHEARTEDLY

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah:

Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maacah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.

These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (their lands Joshua gave as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions - the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the desert and the Negev —the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites):

the king of Jericho one, the king of Ai (near Bethel) one, the king of Jerusalem one, the king of Hebron one, the king of Jarmuth one, the king of Lachish one, the king of Eglon one, the king of Gezer one, the king of Debir one, the king of Geder one, the king of Hormah one, the king of Arad one, the king of Libnah one, the king of Adullam one, the king of Makkedah one, the king of Bethel one, the king of Tappuah one, the king of Hepher one, the king of Aphek one, the king of Lasharon one, the king of Madon one, the king of Hazor one, the king of Shimron Meron one, the king of Acshaph one, the king of Taanach one, the king of Megiddo one, the king of Kedesh one, the king of Jokneam in Carmel one, the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor) one, the king of Goyim in Gilgal one, the king of Tirzah one, thirty-one kings in all.

When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

"This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites: from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite (the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron—that of the Avvites from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek, the region of the Amorites, the area of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

"As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh."

The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned it to them.

It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salecah - that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had survived as one of the last of the Rephaites. Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, clan by clan:

The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth — all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, clan by clan.

This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, clan by clan:

The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth). These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, clan by clan.

This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, clan by clan:

The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan—all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, clan by clan.

This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had granted the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest, for the sons of Joseph had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds. So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.'

"Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 12, 13 and 14

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After chapters of conflict and conquest, seeing Israel win over most of Canaan and 31
kings (Chapter 12), we start to see in Chapters 13 and 14 where the Promised Land is divided up amongst the tribes of Israel.

Chapter 13 begins by telling Joshua that there was “still very large areas of land to be taken over” after which God specifically tells Joshua what is left to be conquered. Joshua was to take care of winning over all locations mentioned but God tells Joshua that He would drive out “all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim…the Sidonians”. The Lord concluded His guidance by telling Joshua to “be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh”…nine and a half tribes because you’ll recall that the Lord had given a portion of the land east of the Jordan to the tribes of Gad, Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh. In fact, the remainder of Chapter 13 details the land division between these three groups. Of special note is the reference to Moses because the land was promised to the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh under his leadership. You’ll also see where the Levites weren’t rewarded their own portion because God had commanded it…not that He didn’t want them to enjoy a good life. Quite the contrary. As His chosen worship leaders and tabernacle servants, the Lord had placed special requirements on Israel to make sure the Levites were always taken care of. The Levites were to be given “towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds” (Joshua 14:4).

As Chapter 14 begins, we see where the Israelites were to begin dividing the land among the nine and a half tribes by lot but before this happened, we read where Joshua is approached by Caleb who comes to remind Joshua of a promise given him back when Israel had been on the brink of crossing the Jordan the first time. He tells Joshua, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.' “

Forty five years prior, Israel had made their exodus across the desert from Egypt to Mount Sinai and then to Kadesh Barnea, land right next to the Jordan with Canaan only a river crossing away. You’ll recall that Moses sent twelve spies, one from each tribe, into Canaan to scout it out. And when they returned, only Joshua and Caleb brought favorable reports, telling an assembled Israel that "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (Numbers 14:8-9)

Well, the people didn’t listen and rebelled against God. And God in return placed an edict on that generation of Israel saying, “…as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times - not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it”. (Numbers 14:21-24) So God had made a promise to Caleb who was now asking for what he saw as rightfully his as the land was about to be divided amongst the Israelites.

Scripture tells us that Caleb was “eighty-five years old” and “still as strong…as the day Moses sent (him) out”…as “vigorous to go out to battle” as he was before. So he asked for the hill country and vowed to drive out any remnant of Anakites remaining not just on his own but with the Lord’s help. So “Joshua blessed Caleb…and gave him Hebron as his inheritance”…all because he had “followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly”.

Through Caleb, we see the importance of standing firm on the truth even in the midst of opposition. The people were unwilling to listen to him and Joshua at Kadesh Bernea but neither man bent when under challenge. They stayed committed to their Lord and in the case of Caleb, followed God wholeheartedly. In other words, he was totally and earnestly devoted, determined to not allow anything or anyone to sway his obedience and loyalty to God. And for his staunch dedication, Caleb was rewarded with a gift of Hebron…which became his inheritance from God.

We too can expect to experience all of God’s richest blessings in life if we. Like Caleb and Joshua, commit ourselves to serve and follow God wholeheartedly…that is, follow Him and Him alone with our whole heart…not just a portion of it. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21) so the only way to ensure that we are serving and following the Lord with all our heart is to make sure the Lord is the one and only treasure in our lives. Nothing or no one should ever come before Him…not now…not ever.

Question: Do you follow the Lord wholeheartedly? If your answer is no, now’s the time to make a recommitment to Him. He stands ready to receive you and manifest His richest blessings in your life in accordance with His will.

Ever keep in mind that God is 100% committed to us. Praise Him for that.
The least we can do is give Him the same commitment level in return…doing so with not just a part of our heart but the whole of it. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

A GOD OF ASSURANCES

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, he said, "Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. But don't stop! Pursue your enemies, attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand."

So Joshua and the Israelites destroyed them completely—almost to a man—but the few who were left reached their fortified cities. The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.

Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening.

At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.

That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel's hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. The Lord handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.

So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Acshaph, and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.

At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anything that breathed, and he burned up Hazor itself.

Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.

So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to death. Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive. So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.

Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 10:16-43, 11

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

When Israel entered Canaan, they had direct orders from God to conquer all nations currently residing in Canaan so they could claim the land Promised to them…a land that was their inheritance.

We have seen already where Joshua and Israel defeated all nations in the central part of Canaan, gaining victory over Jericho and Ai. We have also seen where victory was gained over a combined army from the south, organized by Jerusalem’s king, Adoni-Zedek, after these forces attacked the Gibeonites.

As Chapter 10 finishes, Joshua executes the five kings (the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.) that participated on the attack on Gibeon and sets out to defeat the southern portion of Canaan. His conquest included victories over the cities of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir. Indeed, scripture tells us that “Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings” and “left no survivors…totally destroy(ing) all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded”. Joshua “subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon” and “all these kings and their lands (were) conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel”. And after the southern conquest, “Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal”.

Joshua and Israel were on a roll…all with God’s help. Anyone who came out to oppose them and attempt to stop them from carrying out God’s plan were thwarted because God had assured Israel that He would be with them and would deliver their enemies into their hands. And as He always does, God made good on His word.

But Israel wasn’t finished because there was some unfinished work to be done in the north, who were anticipating what was to come. Surely word had spread and spread quickly of how Israel had conquered the central and southern sections of Canaan. We know because Chapter 11 opens with “Jabin, king of Hazor”, hearing about what had transpired, prompting him to send word to “Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Acshaph, and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah”. Just as the south had tried to do, the northern kings combined forces and “came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots — a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore”. And all the kings and their forces met at the “Waters of Merom” where they “made camp together…to fight against Israel”.

So another fight with a different foe was on the horizon but one thing remained the same: The Lord reassured Joshua telling him yet again, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

So we read that “Joshua and his whole army” attacked the northern enemy forces “suddenly at the Waters of Merom…and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel”. Israel defeated their opponents, ensuring “no survivors were left” while Joshua “hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots” as “the Lord had directed”.

Joshua then did as he did with the south. He began to systematically defeat the cities, taking control of what God had given to his hand in victory. He began with Hazor, putting its “king to the sword” as well as everyone else there. The city was “totally destroyed…not sparing anything that breathed” before being burned to the ground.

Joshua followed this by taking “all…royal cities and their kings” putting them to the sword and totally destroying them. The only thing done differently than Hazor was that Israel “did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds”. But Israel did carry off “all the plunder and livestock of (the) cities” before putting all the people to the sword, “not sparing anyone that breathed”. In doing this, Joshua “left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses”.

So to recap what Joshua did in the north…he “took…the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon”. He also “destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel…leaving “no Anakites…in Israelite territory”. And “only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive”. Joshua “captured all their kings…putting them to death”. And no treaty was made with anyone, except the Gibeonites who had done so prior.

When all was said and done, “Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions” (more to come on this in later chapters) and “the land had rest from war”.

As we consider all that has happened in Joshua in just 11 chapters, we can’t help but be amazed. Israel had went from desert wanderers to victorious warriors, rarely losing momentum after crossing the Jordan and setting out to claim the land that God had given to them. They had successfully conquered most of the land (God will fill Joshua in soon on what’s left to gain) and were now poised to enjoy the spoils of their victory with the land being divided up amongst the tribes. And most importantly, we’re told the land could finally rest from war.

There are three important take aways from today’s scripture and Israel’s overall triumph over Canaan…take aways that we need to always remember as we go forth to do God’s will each and every day:

1. God keeps His promises. Rest assured that if God said He would do something for us, then He will see that through. God doesn’t lie or deceive. For that is sinful action and there is nothing about God that is sinful. We serve a God of truth and a God of His word. We need to remember this as we go through life and its challenges day after day.

2. God delivers us from our enemies. As we go through life, rest assured that there will be those who would want to come against us in some way. Satan is ever trying to get at every servant of God any way he can and will do his best work sometimes through other people, sometimes people who appear on the surface to be our friends when underneath they are everything but. Maybe you can relate to having been fooled by someone you considered to be a friend only to find out otherwise. The good news is that God will always expose anyone who is trying to do us harm. For everything done in the dark will be exposed and brought to light, illuminated by the One who is truth and desires us to not only be truthful but experience truth ourselves. So ever turn to the Lord and seek His guidance in all matters, including your relations in life. He will clearly warn you if there is an enemy near and, more importantly, help you gain victory over those who would oppose you.

3. God is always with us. Joshua and Israel went forward with an awesome confidence because God was with them. They knew this because He told them so. We know this because He has told us so as well. He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. And remember…God always keeps His promises.

Friends, we have an awesome assurance in life…an assurance that liberates and sets us free to boldly and confidently go forth in God’s service to accomplish His will. For we serve a God who keeps His promises, delivers us from our enemies and is always with us. Is this not reason for us to be thankful and in a spirit of rejoicing? The answer is a resounding “YES”! Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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A HOLY TEAM EFFORT

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and were living near them. He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."

Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us."

So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."

After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

"O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 10:1-15

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Chapter 9, we saw where the people of Gibeon successfully convinced Joshua and the Israelites that they were from a distant land when the truth was that they lived no more than twenty miles away. You’ll recall that Joshua made a treaty of peace with them, one that would ensure that Israel would not attack them. But after Joshua discovered that he had been deceived, he made the Gibeonites life-long servants of the Lord as wood cutters and water carriers.

As Chapter 10 begins, we see where the treaty established by Gibeon caused concern with the king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, because Gibeon was “an important city, like one of the royal cities…larger than Ai (with) all its men (being) good fighters”. So we read where Adoni-Zedek “appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon” telling them to "Come up and help me attack Gibeon…because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." So the “five kings of the Amorites — the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon — joined forces” and “moved up with all their troops”, taking “up positions against Gibeon” and attacking the city.

The Gibeonites, under siege by five armies, called out for help, sending “word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal”. Their message was as follows:

"Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us."

Given the treaty he had sworn to, Joshua left “Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men” and marched toward Gibeon. While on the way, the Lord spoke to Joshua, telling him, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." Once again, the Lord gives Joshua and Israel great confidence as they near battle. They know ahead of time that they will be victorious…not by their own might…but the might of the Lord. Together, they made an unstoppable holy team with nothing beyond their doing and victory certain.

After traveling all night to Gibeon from Gilgal, a great strategy used by Joshua, the Amorite armies were taken by surprise. As Israel attacked, the Lord “threw (the enemy) into confusion and Israel defeated them”, pursuing them “along the road going up to Beth Horon” and cutting them down “all the way to Azekah and Makkedah”. As if Israel’s vicious attack wasn’t for the Amorite armies, the Lord also got involved, hurling “large hailstones down on them from the sky”. And scripture places an emphasis on the fact that more of the enemy forces died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. In other words, although the battle was a team effort between the Lord and Israel, the majority of the credit for victory was placed where it should be…on the Lord. And to further highlight the divine power present that day, the Lord made the “sun (stand) still, and the moon (stop), making the day unique…in fact, there had “never been a day like it before or since”…a day when the Lord listened to a man because Joshua had asked for the sun and moon to stop and the Lord answered his call.

As we look at this scripture passage, we need to remember one very important thing about life: We never go into anything on any given day without God being fully ready to go with us. In fact, as we go forth to carry out the cause and call of Christ to make disciples of all nations and teach them to obey all He commanded, we need to know we don’t go alone. For Jesus, our Lord, said, “And lo I am with you even until the end of the age”. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Ministry you see is a holy team effort with us being instruments of God’s work and will. He tells us what to do and then is there to help guide and help us to ensure His will is done. We have an awesome assurance that we will have victory every time as long as we partner with God to lead us there. Just as Joshua and the Israelites had full confidence that they would defeat the Amorite army, so too do we have the assurance that we will be successful as well in whatever the Lord calls us to do. Why? Because He is with us just as He was with Israel.

Friends, there is no reason for us to ever fail or fall in anything we do…that is as long as we ensure that everything we do is what God wills for us to do. For it’s then and only then that we know He is right there with us, the key member of the holy team that will never find defeat and always find victory. Thanks be to God.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things — those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) - they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.

However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."

The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?"

“We are your servants," they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?"

They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan — Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us." ' This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey."

The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them." They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community." So the leaders' promise to them was kept.

Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us? You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you."

So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. That day, he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

Joshua 9

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After the victory over Ai, the dedication of the altar and the reading of the law at Mount Ebal, Israel returned to their encampment at Gilgal. Meanwhile, enemy forces, realizing that Jericho and Ai had been attacked and defeated individually, decided their best chance of survival was to band together and fight. And so, scripture tells us that “all the kings west of the Jordan…those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)…came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.” These forces had no other motive in mind outside of attacking and defeating the people of Israel, feeling that their sheer numbers would overwhelm Israel’s and lead to easy victory. They only forgot one thing. Israel had God on their side…and He had promised Israel victory over all those who would come against them in Canaan. So things were not looking good for the combined enemy forces but they weren’t the only ones mentioned in today’s passage. For we read of one group, the Gibeonites, who dared to be different and, in return, exchanged death for life.

Gibeon was very aware of “what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai” and decided to take a very daring, cunning approach to dealing with Joshua and Israel, unlike the other enemy forces who decided to resort to aggression for survival. For Gibeon “resorted to a ruse” going “as a delegation” to the Israelites but appearing as if they had traveled a very long distance to do so although they were actually close neighbors. The people of Gibeon loaded their donkeys with “worn-out sacks and old wineskins” that were “cracked and mended”. The men put “worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes’. And “all the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy”. With their real identity disguised, the Gibeonites “went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal” saying to him and the Israelites, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."

At first, we sense suspicion in the Israelite camp. The men ask, "…perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?" They said this because you’ll recall that Israel was forbidden by God to make any treaty with another people inhabiting Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:16-18) The Gibeonites had their deception well rehearsed for they replied, ““We are your servants," but Joshua still asked further, "Who are you and where do you come from?"

The people of Gibeon answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan — Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us." ' This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey." Notice how the Gibeonites were careful not to mention any recent events even though they were very aware of them. They were careful to not blow their assertion that they came from a distant land.

Well, their plan worked for we see where “Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath”. No matter what happened from that point on, no harm could be done to the Gibeonites without breaking the oath and finding disfavor from God. What’s interesting about these series of events is that neither Joshua nor Israel stopped to “inquire of the Lord”. Had they done so, the Gibeon scheme would have been exposed and Israel wouldn’t have broken God’s command to completely destroy everything in Canaan lest they end up being adversely influenced by their sinful worship practices. But Israel didn’t inquire, the oath was sealed and so too was Gibeon’s survival…even after Joshua discovered he and Israel had been duped three days after making the treaty.

The Gibeonites had returned home and after Israel found out that “they were neighbors, living near them”, they “set out and on the third day came to (the Gibeonite’s) cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim”. Although it might have been very tempting to attack the Gibeonites, Israel didn’t “because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel”. So “the whole assembly grumbled against the leaders”, wanting to exact revenge but the leaders told them, "We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now…We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them." But Gibeon would not go without receiving some kind of consequence.

For the leaders proposed that the Gibeonites live but only be allowed to be “woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community." In other words, the Gibeonites would live a life of hard labor and service to the people of Israel. So Joshua summoned them telling them that they were under a curse for their deceitful actions and would “never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you." So we read where “Joshua saved them from the Israelites” who “did not kill them” and “made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose”.

On the surface, this story would appear to be one that would shine the spotlight on lying and dishonesty but I think that would be too shallow of an interpretation of what was really going on here. For I feel the real theme here is servitude…willing servitude unto God.

Gibeon knew everything that all the other people of Canaan knew…that Israel had arrived in Canaan and had already wiped out their first two adversaries. They knew that God had promised them victory against any enemy they face in Canaan.
So what made them different?

They made the choice to join God vice try to beat Him, realizing that their only chance at survival was to change who they were and what they were…becoming a part of God’s people. They introduced themselves as servants and there’s little doubt that they feared and respected God, knowing that His will would be carried out in Canaan. After reaching the treaty with Joshua and Israel, the Gibeonites would now get to do what they said they had come to do…serve. Yes, they were relegated to being woodcutters and water carriers to the Lord’s service but that was fine. At least they were alive and would remain so.

You’re probably wondering where I’m going with this and how it has application for today. I thought you might ask.

Think about who you were before you came to the Lord. You were His child but, in a way, you were an enemy…choosing to live in accordance with your desires and will…opting to not obey or follow Him. You had not yet reached the place where you were a new creation and make the conscious decision to regularly live in sinfulness vice righteousness. And in not making a solid commitment to Jesus, you had placed yourself in a place where death would mean your end without hope for anything after.

But then, something opened your eyes up to the impending doom and destruction you faced…like Gibeon coming to grips that Jericho and Ai had fallen with them next if they didn’t do something and do something fast. Maybe someone told you the good news of the gospel and that eternal life awaited you but only if you believed and trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior…words that prompted you to take action and join the countless other Christians who had made the same decision…choosing life over death…victory over defeat…hope over despair. And in making that choice, you, like Gibeon, entered into a lifetime of servitude to the Lord…giving Him your all in whatever he called you to do…whether that was woodcutting, water carrying, or anything else.

Friends, this scripture carries with it good news. If it were the Lord’s will that Gibeonites were not to be He servants, then He would have brought about events that would have led to that not happening. But no…the treaty was made…the people of Gibeon were saved…and God gained a whole community of servants in return. And He is still seeking more.

Question: Have you made your personal commitment to the Lord? Have you decided to join Him and find your way from death to life…and not just life as the world knows it but eternal life with the Father and His Son?

If your answers to these questions are yes, then praise God for making the only right choice in life…the choice to believe, trust and serve the One who died so you might live.

But if your answers to these questions were no, do not delay coming to Jesus right now, professing Him as your personal Savior and pledging your service. He’s ready to receive you and lead you to a life like no other…both now and forevermore. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE POWER IN THE WORD

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses — an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua copied on stones the law of Moses, which he had written. All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who carried it — the priests, who were Levites. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law — the blessings and the curses — just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them.

Joshua 8:30-35

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: ‘Keep all these commands that I give you today. When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool upon them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God. And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.’ " Deuteronomy 27:1-8

This command from Moses didn’t get lost in the battles once Israel had crossed the Jordan. For we read that after the victory over Ai, “Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites”. And he did so within the specifications given by Moses before his death…”according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses”, constructing “an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used”.

Once built, scripture tells us that the Israelites “offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings” before “Joshua copied on stones the law of Moses”…”in the presence of the Israelites” who were “were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who carried it — the priests, who were Levites”. With “half of the people” standing in “front of Mount Gerizim” and the other half “in front of Mount Ebal”…”as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded”, Joshua “read all the words of the law — the blessings and the curses — just as it is written in the Book of the Law”. Our passage tells us that Joshua didn’t skip anything…for “there was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them”. There was no one absent…no one that wasn’t reminded of what God commanded and expected from His people…no one who didn’t understand that there were harsh consequences attached to disobedience and worshipping any other god than God Himself. Thus what happened on Mount Ebal amounted to a refresher course for Israel…a reminder of God’s requirements straight from His word.

So why did Israel need reminded?

First, it would be impossible to completely remember everything that God had commanded. So having the commands read regularly would keep God’s laws and expectations fresh on the minds of the people.

Maybe just as good a reason if not more so was Israel’s rate of failure. For despite being told not to do certain actions, Israel still did them, blatantly disobeying God and falling into His disfavor. The hope would be that if the words of God were kept fresh on the hearts and minds of His people, then they would hopefully fail and fall less…choosing righteousness over sinfulness and coming to fully understand the awesome power of the word of God.

Question: How about us today? How often do we keep ourselves refreshed by reading God’s word?

My feeling is that we don’t do it near enough. In fact, I’m afraid that most Christians fail to open their bibles up outside of Sunday morning worship. And that simply won’t cut it when we’re up against an enemy like Satan.

For failing to read the word of God every day is like stepping out onto a battlefield with no weapon. If you did, you won’t survive long against attack unarmed. The same applies when you walk out into the world on any one day without the word of God…which is referred to as the sword of the Spirit or weapon we are to carry when we don the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:6) Our Savior Jesus showed us how to use the Word against Satan whenever He was tempted in Matthew, Chapter 4. He did so to show us 1) what to do if Satan tempts us (i.e. use the Word in defense) and 2) that it works because every time that Jesus used God’s word, Satan stopped that particular attack. After the third unsuccessful try, he fled.
So how well do we fend off Satan? Well…it depends on how well we know the Word. Jesus was able to quote all the right words at the right time. He could do so because He not only knew the Word…but He was the Word…the Word made flesh to walk among us. (John 1:14) And He is ready to equip us to be able to walk through each day and drive away Satan any time he decides to come upon us. We only need to draw near to Him each and every day…to commune with Him in prayer and Spirit…to learn more and more how He lived so we can live likewise…and to make sure not a day goes by that we fail to read and study God’s word.

In Christ,

Mark

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AFRAID AND DISCOURAGED?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night with these orders: "Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are running away from us as they did before.' So when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand. When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the Lord has commanded. See to it; you have my orders."

Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai — but Joshua spent that night with the people.

Early the next morning Joshua mustered his men, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai. The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. They had the soldiers take up their positions — all those in the camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.

When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the desert. All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city." So Joshua held out his javelin toward Ai. As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.

The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising against the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction, for the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the desert had turned back against their pursuers. For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from the city, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. The men of the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the desert where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. Twelve thousand men and women fell that day — all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai. But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.

So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. He hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.

Joshua 8:1-29

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

49. This is how many times we find the words, “Do not be afraid”, spoken in the Old Testament. 49 times the Lord had to take time to reassure His people that things were going to be OK…that He was with them and would deliver them.

As we start, Joshua, Chapter 8, we see the Lord saying these very words to Joshua in the aftermath of his men being slaughtered by army of Ai…loss that occurred because of Achan’s sinful greed and subsequent breaking of the covenant. The loss had left Joshua forlorn and discouraged…unsure of why God allowed his men to be killed until the Lord revealed to him Achan’s sin…and thus the reason for His anger. So Joshua and Israel carried out judgment on Achan and God restored His favor upon His people in return.

We know this because God gives Joshua a plan right off the bat…a plan that involves going back after the people of Ai. God tells him to:

“Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

These words had to be an awesome boost of confidence for Joshua and the people of Israel. For they had seen first hand what happens when the Lord delivers the enemy by what had happened at Jericho. With the guarantee that the “king of Ai, his people, his city and his land” would all be given to them and that they could “carry off their plunder and livestock” for themselves, all that was left was for Israel to be obedient to God’s order to attack.

Scripture verifies their obedience as we read where “Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai”. Joshua “chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night” with the following orders:

"Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are running away from us as they did before.' So when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand. When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the Lord has commanded. See to it; you have my orders."

And with that “Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai”.

Joshua’s plan was designed to maximize on Ai’s overconfidence after already having victory over Israel. Joshua would take some of his men and assemble in a place where they would be in plain sight of Ai. Joshua knew that the king of Ai would take his men, leave the city and come out wanting to once again attack and kill every Israelite he could. And he was right. For the king of Ai took all his men and left the city to attack Joshua and his men. And what further caused the ruse to be so convincing was Joshua and his men running away, convincing the men of Ai that they were retreating when in fact they were just trying to lure them as far away from their city as they could.

The plan was a major success. For the army of Ai pursued Israel and after they had been drawn far enough away from their city, “the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city.’ “ So we read where Joshua does as the Lord commands. He “held out his javelin toward Ai” and “as soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward”, entering the city and capturing it quickly. They set the city on fire and it was the rising smoke from a burning city that signaled to Ai that they had been tricked and now had lost everything that they had come out to fight for. And now they were about to perish as well.

For Joshua and his men turned from their faked fleeing and turned toward Ai’s men, ready to engage them in battle. Meanwhile, the ambushing Israelites came from the city toward the army of Ai in the opposite direction. In other words, there was no escape for Ai’s army and scripture tells us Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. “All the Israelites” then “returned to Ai and killed those who were in it”. And when the battle had ended, all the people of Ai…12,000 “men and women fell that day”. The only person left to live was “the king of Ai” but he didn’t survive long. Because after Ai had been burned to the ground, Joshua “hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening” after which the king’s body was taken down and thrown down “at the entrance of the city gate” before having a “large pile of rocks” raised over the body.

So Israel had gone from the outhouse to the penthouse…from defeat to victory…from fear to confidence…from discouragement to joy. All because God was back with them, holding them in His good favor.

Do not be afraid…do not be discouraged. God’s words to Joshua are words to us as well. For life’s circumstances can get us down if we allow them to. Often times, we forget to turn to God for help, choosing instead to rely on ourselves…to formulate our own solutions. In other words, we live like we’re in control…like our lives are predicated on our will. And God will allow us to do this all we want just to show us how much we can screw our lives up when we take charge. And where do we so often find ourselves when we refuse to let go and let God handle things. How about afraid and discouraged?

Friends, why would we ever in our right minds turn away from God …the One and only One who can do anything and everything. There is nothing beyond the works of His hands…no problem He can’t fix. We simply need to trust Him…honor His power and might…and respect His wisdom, a wisdom that always knows the right time to make things happen. Wait on the Lord patiently and know He has a plan and purpose for you in your life. Stand firm in your faith through any and all circumstances because God is with you…24/7, 365 days a year. And never…ever…be afraid or discouraged. For God is in control and He WILL work things out for you in His perfect timing and in His perfect way. Believe that. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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DEVOTE YOURSELF

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel.

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai.

When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"

The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

"Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.

" 'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the Lord takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the Lord takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!' "

Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."

Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.

Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

Joshua 7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Fresh off the defeat of Jericho, Joshua set his sights on a new conquest…Ai, which scripture tells us was “near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel”. As he did with Jericho, Joshua sent spies out in advance to “spy out the region” and they returned with favorable news. "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai”, they told Joshua. “Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." And so Joshua sent “about three thousand men” to Ai, confident that victory would be certain just as it had just been in Jericho. In fact, Joshua was so confident that he didn’t consult God first…something that he should have done because he might have found out ahead of time that God was not happy with Israel. In fact, “the Lord's anger (was burning) against Israel”.

Why? Well, our passage tells us that “the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things”…the things that they were ordered to devote to God from Jericho. Instead, “Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah” decided to keep some of the spoils for himself, retaining “a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels”. Achan coveted these items by his own confession and buried them under his tent. Initially, the Lord would hold all of Israel accountable until Achan was exposed.

This is why the nearly three thousand men “were routed by the men of Ai” who “killed about thirty-six of them” before chasing “the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and (striking) them down on the slopes”. These events caused “the hearts of the people (to melt) and became like water”.

Joshua was also thrust into mourning, tearing his clothes and falling facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord where he would remain until evening. He was joined by the “elders of Israel” who “sprinkled dust on their heads” as a sign of repentance. Why had God not been with them? Why would He allow such a defeat? Joshua had trouble understanding.

This is why he cried out, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?" Joshua, who decided to not consult God before sending his men into battle now begins to question God about His absence to include asking why God even brought them to Canaan in the first place. Further, Joshua is now concerned that Israel has lost its competitive edge against its adversaries. When word spread about its defeat, then other enemies would feel confident in coming to attack as well. As we see in scripture, God allows Joshua to whine for just a short while before intervening.

For we see the Lord tell Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction”. God makes it very clear that Israel has brought all this on themselves by taking items that were designated devoted. Granted, Achan was the one who took the items but sin wasn’t just an Achan problem, it was an Israelite problem. It was a Jericho problem and God judged Jericho. Now He shows that His judgment could extend to His own people as well if they chose to be disobedient.

So what could Israel do to get back into good grace with God? The Lord tells Joshua to “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it”. In other words, nothing was going to change until the problem at hand was resolved…the problem being the things taken and the person responsible. In order to find this person, the Lord used a process of elimination.

We read where He first would take a tribe, then a clan from that tribe, then a family from that clan and finally a man from that family…this man being the guilty party. And woe be it to that person for God makes it clear regarding the consequences he or she will face. For the person “caught with the devoted things” was to be “destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him” for he had “violated the covenant of the Lord” and, in doing so, “done a disgraceful thing in Israel!"

So “early the next morning”, Joshua had Israel “come forward by tribes” and the Lord took Judah. This eliminated the other eleven tribes. Next, the clans of Judah came forward and the Lord “took the Zerahites”. Then when the “clan of the Zerahites come forward by families”, the Lord selected the family of Zimri, after which Joshua had each person come forward “man by man” before picking the guilty man, “Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah”.

With the guilty man exposed by God, Joshua tells Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." And Achan comes clean replying, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." So Joshua sent messengers to Achan’s tent to see if his words were true and they were. The items were right where Achan had said they were and the messengers “took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord”.

So with Achan exposed and the stolen devoted items recaptured, scripture tells us that “Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor”. There, Joshua asked Achan, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today." And all of Israel passed judgment upon Achan and everything he owned by first stoning and then burning everything. And over Achan, they “heaped up a large pile of rocks”, a solemn reminder of the consequence for breaking God’s covenant promise.

Chapter 7 of Joshua serves to remind us that God expects integrity in His people, especially when it comes to dealing with Him. You’ll recall that in Chapter 6, the Lord gave the following order to Israel just before their conquest of Jericho:

“…But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury."

Achan, in his greed, had brought destruction down on his fellow Israelites. Close to thirty-six of his brothers in arms had died because of his actions. And so, we saw where Achan’s punishment was just as severe. The penalty fit the crime.

Through Achan, we need to understand that our sinful actions sometimes have far reaching ramifications. People around us can be hurt and hurt badly if we decide to selfishly seek to satisfy our own wants, even if it means we need to sin to do so. We need to also understand that God will not let the selfish sinner go undisciplined and the discipline might be extremely severe. Don’t think we don’t serve a God who won’t correct us. He loves us yes…He wants the best for us yes…He is merciful and gracious yes…but He will not tolerate us not respecting His word, His will and His way. Know and trust in that.

So given this, my prayer is that we will always think twice before we fall victim to any sinful action...any action that would draw us into disfavor with the Lord. And here’s a tip for you. As you go through each and every day, if you’re feeling a sense of conviction about doing anything…a sense that what you’re about to do is wrong…then don’t do it! You’re feeling that way for a reason because God is trying to stop you before you get yourself into trouble. And we all would be well served to first seek and then follow God’s lead. For it’s then and only then that we can assure ourselves to devote the most important thing to God for God…that being ourselves. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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