Joshua 1:3
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon.
All the land was given, but every inch of it had to be
claimed. Israel had to put her foot down upon the land, whether wilderness
or Lebanon, plain or hill, and say, “This is mine by the gift of God.” And
as the right was asserted, God made it good. The land had been covenanted
to them through Abraham, but it awaited conquest and appropriation by the
Israelites. No man was able to stand with them in the lot of their
inheritance.
The settler who has purchased a plot of land in the Far
West claims it to its furthest borders; and, if needs be, invokes the aid
of the Government to make good his purchase. So with our possessions in
Christ. All spiritual gifts are ours in the Risen Savior. From the
wilderness of the earth even to the river that makes glad the city of God,
and unto the glassy sea on which the sun never goes down, is our border.
But we must put the foot of faith down and say, “All things are ours; we
have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in
Christ. He hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
Let this be the beginning of a new life for thee.
Reckon that thou art on the resurrection side of death. Do not look at
temptation or difficulty, but claim by steadfast faith whatever God has
taught thee to feel the need of. Dost thou ask how that strong courage may
be thine? The answer is at hand. Meditate on the Word of God day and
night, and depart not from it to the right or left. The strength of the
inner life finds nourishment in the Word of God. Only in this way can we
behold the broad expanse of territory that is ours by right, and obtain
strength to go up and possess it.
Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 119:89-104
TODAY IN THE WORD
Lord, you have promised to meet those who seek your
face. Come now and reveal your presence to me as I make myself present to
you. . . . Amen.–A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants
Sometimes Christians feel uncomfortable with
meditation, perhaps due to New Age forms of meditation. But meditation
simply means to reflect deeply on something. The Bible is filled with
exhortations to meditate on God’s Word and works, and the history of the
church records numerous examples of men and women who heeded this call to
contemplate God’s Word. There is much we can learn from this approach to
prayer that includes sustained reflection on our Lord and His Word.
For one thing, meditation is not a mindless repetition of certain phrases,
but an intense concentration on God and His ways. Scriptural exhortations
to meditate are always directed toward God’s deeds, laws, or promises. For
another thing, true meditation is not a flight from the world. Thomas
Merton wrote, “Meditation has no point unless it is firmly rooted in
life.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY The psalmist exclaimed, “I meditate on [your law] all
day long” (Ps. 119:97). Let’s consider several approaches to meditation.
Sometime today if possible, set aside fifteen to twenty minutes for
solitude and meditation. Choose a short section of Scripture, perhaps from
today’s Psalm, and read it slowly several times. If distractions come up,
ask the Lord for focus as you reread your chosen passage. As you silently
dwell on the passage, ask the Lord to speak to you from this passage. Try
to keep focused on His Word and His presence. At the end of your time of
meditation, consider writing down things the Lord may have revealed to
you.
Another way to meditate on Scripture is to use your imagination to
consider the feelings and thoughts of people in the passage. For example,
as you read today’s passage from Joshua, imagine how it would feel to face
a formidable opponent following the death of an incredible leader like
Moses. How might the Lord’s promises have particularly encouraged Joshua?
Why was it important for Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law? What
did the promised land look like?
Joshua
1:9
F B Meyer
Our Daily Walk
June 1
MARCHING ORDERS -
"Have not I commanded Thee!
Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."-- Joshua 1:9.
IT WAS a host of young men and women that stood on the verge of Jordan,
waiting the signal to enter the Promised Land. God had said that He would
give them every place upon which the sole of their foot should tread
(Joshua 1:3). What an incentive this was for pressing on! Every time an
Israelite put his foot forward on the territory of Canaan, he realized
that piece of land would come into the possession of his people.
There is a counterpart of this in our own experience. We must learn to put
down our foot upon the Promises of God's Word, and say: "These are mine by
right, and shall be mine in actual enjoyment." In General Gordon's
journal, he tells us that often before he reached some strange or hostile
tribe, it seemed as though they had been given to his faith and subdued
before he reached them. In combating your spiritual foes, dare to believe
that God has given them into your hand, and go forward assured that not
one of them shall stand before you. This is a blessed promise: "There
shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: I
will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Joshua1:5). It
does not Matter how fierce the tempter, how often you have failed, how
inveterate the bad habits, if you will dare to believe that God is with
you, not one of all the band of besetting sins shall be able to stand
before you. God cannot fail, and will not forsake; be strong, and go
forward!
The one thing that God asks of all of us is that we should obey up to the
hilt.
Here are our marching orders, and we must keep them well before us:
(1) We must meditate upon the Scripture
day and night; it must not depart from our heart or mouth.
(2) We must be strong even when obedience seems impossible, and when all
influences are brought to bear to weaken our resolution, we must still
dare to obey the voice of God. And as we advance we shall find that the
dreaded forms of opposition are but shadows; when they are touched with
the spear-point of faith, they will divide and we shall pursue our way.
PRAYER -
Before we enter upon our work and
warfare, wilt Thou graciously equip us with the armour of light, that we
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. May we hear Thee
saying: Fear not, I am with thee, I will help thee. AMEN.
Joshua 1:10-18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most people remember Amelia Earhart for her tragic
disappearance, but the strength and resolve that powered her pioneering
efforts in flight should not be ignored. Her words about courage fit well
with today's reading: “Courage is the price that life exacts for granting
peace.” Joshua needed to be courageous in order to usher Israel into peace
and rest.
That peace and rest, though, would come after a time of battle. God told
Abraham that all nations of the world would be blessed by Abraham's
descendants (Gen. 22:18). We should keep that in mind when reading the
book of Joshua. Israel's purpose was not some self-initiated world
domination, it was the fulfillment of God's promise.
Joshua laid out God's plan to the leaders of Israel, and he clearly stated
that it was God who would be giving the land to them (v. 11). And this
military campaign was much bigger than a land war. This was one step of
God's ultimate plan to bring His people to Himself. He was giving them
rest (vv. 13, 15).
Hebrews paints the larger picture for us . . . and we're in it. Verse 8
points out that the rest Joshua leads Israel to find is incomplete. We
have a rest to enter, as Israel did. And the issues are still faith and
obedience. Like Joshua, we can be filled with strength and courage because
we know that the Lord our God is with us, and we can approach His throne
to receive grace and mercy when we need it (v. 16).
Just as God rested after the creation of the world, we await the time when
all our striving and efforts, every last task, is completely finished.
Between the lines of this passage lies an important truth for us: we
aren't done working for God. There is much to be done before the Sabbath
rest.
As we think about the purpose of Israel, we see how God reaches out to
humanity. We'll read chapters that describe God's judgment against those
who oppose Him, but the ultimate purpose of those battles was to bring
God's people into the land of promise and bring blessings to every nation.
Even through this, God has always been gracious and slow to anger, and His
work in the book of Joshua is no exception.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - What is your wilderness? Everyone has their personal
source of frustration that tires us to the core of our very souls. Here's
a great source of hope for you: God will give you rest. And we aren't
helplessly waiting for it. Hebrews tells us that we can begin to enter
that rest by drawing close to Jesus Christ, even now. And just as Israel
wiped out the evil nations in the Promised Land, you can begin to rid your
life of the evil that weighs you down. You can clear the way for entering
the Lord's eternal rest.
Joshua 2:1-24
TODAY IN THE WORD
General Douglas MacArthur was familiar with war, but he
knew that the most intense battles were waged internally in the hearts of
men. He said, “The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave.
It's the age-old struggle—the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice
of your conscience on the other.”
We see that internal struggle today. We venture into a
foreign stronghold and witness an indelible impression that God made on
the enemy. Taken on its own, today's main verse looks like the
proclamation of a prophet or from the Lord Himself. Put the quote into
context, however, and we see that these words emerged from the unlikeliest
of lips: a prostitute living in the corrupt city of Jericho in a land
God's people were about to conquer.
In the book of Joshua, we get the sense that the outcome of the battle was
already written on the hearts of the participants. The Israelites knew the
Lord was with them, and they were confident of victory. But the enemy
nations had also heard of the might of the Lord and His commitment to the
Israelites, and they were overcome with fear (v. 11). The people of Canaan
weren't without knowledge (v. 10). The identity of God wasn't unknown to
them. They knew much of what the Israelites knew, they just reacted
differently to the information. But Rahab serves as a great example that
there was a viable option available to the people of Jericho: faith.
Rahab's story turns our perspective around. She turned against her own
country in favor of protecting spies. She had the boldness to ask for
mercy from God, and she was rewarded because of her faith—not for her
deception, but for the kindness she showed to the spies (Heb. 11:31). A
small detail in verse 15 makes Rahab's salvation from destruction all the
more astounding. Her house was part of the city wall, and we know that
those walls were to crumble. But to be spared, Rahab and her family had to
stay in her house. God's deliverance of Rahab wasn't just merciful, it
must have been miraculous! Rahab and her family were saved, and she
actually married into the line of the Messiah (Matt. 1:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Word about God spread quickly in those days . . .
before telephone, television, and the Internet. In our age of instant
communication, is there any reason the whole world shouldn't know about
Jesus Christ? The important thing isn't the media, it's the message. Rahab
and the city of Jericho heard about the great things God had done. In the
same way, the world should know the great things God has done in you.
God's power cannot be marginalized. If you allow God to work in you, a
watching world will notice.
Joshua 2:1-24a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian music artist, Wendy Talbot, has a beautiful
song, “Lady of the Night,” in which the Lord declares to Rahab, “Rahab,
rise, I know who you can be, and I will call you a lady of the light.” God
saw who Rahab would become, not who she was before she heard Him.
Like Jethro, the news of the Lord's deeds in Egypt and
the conquest of Canaan had reached Jericho. But unlike Jethro, Rahab and
Jericho's residents were terrified. Yet like Jethro, Rahab came to
acknowledge the Lord and seek His favor.
The spies were sent to find any weakness in the heavily fortified city of
Jericho, even though God had already promised to give them the land.
There's a bit of humor in this account, for while the spies are hiding at
Rahab's, she is the one who declares the faithfulness and power of God!
After their encounter with her, however, they gain confidence that the
Lord is indeed delivering the land into their hand, despite their own
apparent fears (see Josh. 1).
When we first read about the conquest, it doesn't seem like a blessing to
the nations, especially the conquered ones. But we need to keep a few
things in mind. First, these nations could have responded as Jethro and
Rahab did, and indeed, there may have been other individuals who
acknowledged the Lord God. Second, the wickedness of these nations was
great and many refused to acknowledge God as the Creator. So, the conquest
was intended to drive out evil from the land. We must also remember that
the focus at this point in redemptive history is on establishing Israel as
a great nation, from which the covenant promises could go forth.
As we look at Rahab, however, we see clear evidence of God's redemptive
hand. Because of her faith, Rahab became incorporated into God's people.
Later we find out that King David was a descendant of Rahab (Matt. 1:5-6).
Eventually this line led to Jesus Christ! Moreover, in Hebrews 11:31 and
James 2:25 Rahab is held up as an example of faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - If we were writing the Bible, we probably wouldn't
include a prostitute like Rahab! But thankfully the Lord's ways aren't our
ways, because His ways are always about redemption, regardless of initial
appearances. Rahab's story is encouraging at many levels. First, we see
God's faithfulness to reveal Himself, even in ways that are difficult to
explain. Rahab responded in faith to second-hand reports of what the Lord
was doing. Second, we see that there is no one who cannot be reached and
used by the Lord.
Joshua 2:1-24b; 6:22-25;
Hebrews 11:31;
TODAY IN THE WORD
Which is harder for God to do, conquer a city with
thick, thirty-foot-high walls, or conquer the heart of one person?
The answer, of course, is that neither is too hard for
God. And in the ancient city of Jericho, He did both. Jericho stood in the
Israelites’ path as they advanced into Canaan, and the people of Jericho
were under God’s judgment for their gross immorality. He brought the walls
down by His sovereign power without an arrow being fired.
But because God is also gracious, He opened the heart of a Jericho
resident who seemed to be the least likely candidate for salvation. Rahab
heard about the approaching Hebrews and their great God, who parted seas
and flattened enemies on their behalf (Josh. 2:10). Like the rest of her
neighbors, Rahab feared this God.
Hers was a different kind of fear. The rest of Jericho’s people simply
hunkered down behind the city’s walls and locked gates and hoped the
Hebrews wouldn’t come. They showed no inclination to repent of their sins
and throw themselves on the mercy of the true God.
But Rahab’s fear turned into awe for the Lord, and she came to believe in
the God of Israel (2:11). As a result, He credited her with faith. James
2:25 says Rahab’s faith was genuine because she acted on it by receiving
and hiding the Israelite spies. In this way she was like Abraham, who
believed God and proved it by leaving Ur, and later offering Isaac as a
sacrifice (James 2:21-24).
Rahab’s faith was rewarded by the salvation of her entire family. She came
to live in Israel, and even became part of Jesus’ lineage by marrying a
man named Salmon and becoming the father of Boaz, David’s
great-grandfather (Ruth 4:21; Matt. 1:5).
Because of her faith and God’s blessing on her, Rahab came to be highly
regarded both by Jews and by Christians despite her former life as a
prostitute. Some biblical scribes have tried to soften Rahab’s reputation
by making her simply a hostess or an innkeeper.
But God’s grace doesn’t need any help. All of us are new creations in
Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Rahab’s life illustrates this biblical principle: “Man looks at the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
Joshua 2:18
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
This line of scarlet thread.
It speaks of the precious blood of Christ. Scarlet is
the color of Calvary. Twine it round the window through which thou lookest
out on thy foes, and away to the river of death. Nothing can hurt the soul
which has put the precious blood of Christ between it and condemnation or
alarm. Let every outlook to the future be associated with a remembrance
that his blood was shed for thee, and be thou thankful.
Rahab is the type of Gentile sinners who are permitted
to share in the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to sit with Him in the
heavenlies. That scarlet thread had been the means of salvation to the
spies. By it they had been let down to the ground and saved from death. It
must have been strong. So the blood of Christ avails, not only for us, but
for all who shelter with us in the household of faith, and for others who
find it the means of life as they receive it from our hands.
Let us see to it that, like Rahab, we gather father and
mother, brethren and friends, to share with us the shelter and safeguard
of the precious blood.
But, after all, it was not the cord that saved — that
was only the emblem and type. Behind it on the one hand was God’s oath,
spoken through the spies, and on the other was Rahab’s faith. The true
safety of that house on the wall stood in the moral attitude of one woman
in it. Rehab believed God who had dried up the water of the Red Sea, and
who was God in heaven above and in earth beneath. This faith raised her
afterwards from her life of shame to become the ancestress of Christ. Such
wonders does the blood of Christ work in outcasts from the commonwealth of
Israel, bringing them nigh.
Joshua 3:1-17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Annie Dillard could have been speaking about the
priests carrying the ark of the covenant in today's reading when she
wrote, “You can't test courage cautiously.” Their courage was about to be
tested in a task that required them to put their trust in God and the
words He spoke through His servant Joshua. And they had yet to witness
God's overt seal of approval placed on Joshua.
It's a lot easier to be a leader when the people you're leading trust you.
Most leaders have to earn that trust over time, but God gave Joshua a
sizeable jump start.
Joshua's faith preceded the miracle. Before God told him how they would
cross the river, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves. He knew
God was about to do amazing things, and the people needed to cleanse
themselves in preparation of God's presence.
It's important to note something about the people Joshua was leading. The
oldest of them would have been about sixty years old. No one over the age
of twenty at the time of Israel's rebellion was allowed to enter the
Promised Land. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all
of that generation had died. So most of the Israelites Joshua was now
leading were not alive to see the parting of the Red Sea. Most of them
didn't know any life other than the wandering wilderness. They had not
witnessed first-hand some of God's miraculous provision. So God was about
to give them a sign that would remove all doubt.
God told Joshua that He was about to exalt him, not so the Israelites
would know of Joshua's greatness, but rather that they would know the Lord
was with him. All the Israelites stood in formation over half a mile away
from the ark of the covenant as the priests carried it to the overflowing
Jordan river. They watched with their attention heightened by Joshua's
announcement at the beginning of the chapter.
Before they could see the sign, however, the priests carrying the ark of
the covenant still had to take that first step of faith. It wasn't until
their feet touched the water that God held back the flow of the river.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - When the Israelites reached the Jordan, it was at
flood stage. Many times, when God asks us to take a step of faith, it's at
the time when the potential for disaster seems the greatest. Is God asking
you to take a step of faith? The God who stopped the flow of the Jordan is
the same God you serve today. Sometimes He'll use you to show His glory.
Other times, He'll just remind you of His presence. No matter the
situation, He is faithful to help you fulfill the tasks He gives you to
complete
Joshua 3.6
J R Miller
Morning Thoughts
Joshua 3.6 They took up the ark of the covenant,
and went before the people.
The ark was the symbol of God’s own presence. God is always ready to lead
us. To go without Him into life’s experiences, is to fail.
A little way back, when instructions were given for this crossing, Joshua
said to the people, “You have not passed this way heretofore, and
therefore you must keep in sight of the ark which will go before you.”
The same may be said of every day’s experiences. We have not passed this
way heretofore. Although we have lived thousands of other days, each new
day presents an unknown pathway to us, a way we have never gone over
before. The only safe thing to do is always to keep the ark in sight, and
to follow it.
One of the marks of the true Christian is that he follows Christ. Christ’s
sheep know His voice and follow Him, and He goeth before them. Children
should learn in their earlier years that Christ is their Leader, and that
every morning they can put their hand in His for guidance for the day.
Joshua 3:13
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
When the soles of the feet of the priests ... shall rest in the Jordan. (r.v.)
The floods of the Jordan were high: so may be the goods
of trial and sorrow that sometimes overflow their banks; so the floods of
conviction of sin; and so, to some at least, the waters of death. Possibly
this overflowing is needed for the time of harvest; the width of golden
grain in the Jordan valley was no doubt to a large extent dependent on the
far-spreading of those waters. How the heart trembles, as we hear the
gurgling and rushing of the floods. Hark, how they lift up their voice!
But when the priest’s foot touches them, they shrink
away. Jesus has stepped down into these floods as our High Priest. In
Gethsemane their overflowing tide washed around Him. At Calvary the
water-spouts went over his head. In the grave He seemed momentarily to
have succumbed. But since then they have been cut off. Through the ages He
has stood, bearing the ark of propitiation, and arresting the tumultuous
floods. “Thus far, and no further.”
Sinful soul, deeply convicted, “Look for the Priest,”
on whose person the storm broke, and by whom it has been checked and
stayed! Tried believer, be sure that the water-floods cannot pass Jesus,
to reach or drown thee! His promise to thee is: “When thou passest through
the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be
burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 13:2). And when
death approaches thee, O fearful and trembling one, thou wilt find Jesus
standing between thee and its might, making a path by which thou shalt
pass over dryshod.
Joshua 4:1-24
TODAY IN THE WORD
The words of Robert Louis Stevenson apply to Joshua's
leadership style: “Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage
with others.” Joshua made every effort not only to be courageous himself,
but also to use object lessons to instill courage in his people and, as we
read today, their descendants.
Joshua commanded the tribes of Israel to make a
memorial so that future generations would know that God was with Israel.
And that's the overriding purpose of Israel that we see repeated over and
over: so that all people in the world would know about God. In the first
half of this passage, the focus is on bearing witness to future
generations (v. 7). And at the end of the chapter, the focus expands to
show that the end result of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan is to
deliver the message of the glory of God to all people (v. 24).
The comparison between crossing the Jordan and the earlier crossing of the
Red Sea indicates a parallel between the two events. After the Red Sea,
God had given Israel the opportunity to enter the land of promise, but
they failed to take hold of it. After crossing the Jordan, the opportunity
once again arose, and Joshua got it right this time. This miracle would
give him no excuse for failure, because he was now exalted in the eyes of
Israel, and he had their full respect (v. 14). He had a devoted army of
Israelites, including 40,000 from the tribes whose land had already been
acquired east of the Jordan, and we'll soon read that he had an even
greater, more powerful force at his disposal, as long as he remained
faithful to the purpose God gave him.
Again, it's important to keep these battles in context, so that we never
view God in the Old Testament as simply angry as compared to the
graciousness shown in the New Testament. Joshua is a story of God's
faithfulness and steadfast grace even in judgment. God doesn't change like
fashions or cultural ideology. Israel is an instrument of God's grace, and
their upcoming military victories aren't cold displays of an uncaring god.
This is God showing His holy, eternal love for the prize of His creation,
humanity.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Will the generations that follow know how God has
worked in your life? We often look at evangelism as a ministry across
cultural or geographical distances, but today's passage shows the
importance of faith transcending the generational gap as well. You don't
have to build a monument to tell your story, but you should foster
relationships with children in your church and family. Tell them your
story of faith, so that they might know the power of God.
Joshua 4:1-9
Stones Of Remembrance
March 12, 1999
Our Daily Bread
My old Bible isn't in one piece anymore. Its once
gilt-edged pages are worn with the work of time and my fingers. Bible
drills and youthful exuberance have given this tattered copy of the sacred
Scriptures more character than any other book in my office.
Despite its condition, I can still read two poignant scribblings from my
youth. One quote reads, "This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will
keep you from this Book." The other, written when I was 18, says, "God's
will is also my will. Whatever He says to do, that's what I'll do."
The Israelites of Joshua's day placed "stones of remembrance" by the
Jordan River. They were to remind their children of the remarkable
providence of God as He guided His chosen people into the land of promise.
Like those stones, the statements I penned in my Bible long ago keep
calling me back to important truths. They recall my own journey from
childhood to the present as God has directed me through His Word to know
His will.
What reminders from the past protect your heart, guide your steps, and
occupy your mind? Thank God today for the great truths of the Bible that
keep calling you closer to Him. Consider them your stones of remembrance.
—Dave Branon (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
'Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime. --Lillenas
© Renewal 1945 Hope Publishing Company
The Word of God is a map to help us chart our course through life.
Joshua 4:20
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Those twelve stones did Joshua set up in Gilgal. (r.v.)
Not content with pitching a cairn of stones on the
river’s bank, Joshua, at God’s command, set up twelve stones in the midst
of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the Ark of
the Covenant stood. And often, as he came back to Gilgal, he must have
gone out by himself to walk and muse beside the river, turning the outward
and the inner gaze to the spot where beneath the flow of the current those
stones lay hidden. They were a perpetual memorial of where the people had
been, of the grace which had brought them forth, and of the position to
which God had conducted them. Children in after days would gather round
those mighty boulders and be instructed, and it is a great matter that the
deliverances of God should be graven as with a pen of iron on the soft and
yielding surface of the child’s heart; thus the coming generation shall
revere and love the name of Jehovah.
The story of these stones is told again by the Apostle
Paul in Ephesians 2. We were dead in trespasses and sins, and lay
hopelessly in the grave, like stones in the heart of the river of death.
But we were brought forth by God’s mighty hand and outstretched arm. We
were raised up together with Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is the
memorial stone of our position in the sight of God; from this we should
never recede. How those old stones would have cried out, if Israel had
gone back over the Jordan! And does not Christ’s empty grave protest
against our living amid the pleasures and cares of the world from which He
has gone, and going, has taken us also? This is not our rest; let us make
good our standing in the risen Christ.
Joshua 5:1-12
TODAY IN THE WORD
By now you've probably noticed a trend in this month's
introductions. We're looking at quotes on courage from some historical
figures to see how important those attributes are in a leader. Today's
quote is one of two from the philosopher Plato, but Joshua put these words
into action: “Courage is a kind of salvation.”
The first verse in chapter 5 illustrates the converse
thought. The foreign kings lost all courage, and knew they were doomed.
But for the Israelites, it was a time to recognize and commemorate the
momentous truth that they were about to partake in.
The era of wandering in the wilderness had officially ended, and the
Israelites faced a new situation. Those born during the wandering in the
desert had not been circumcised, and when the circumcision of the people
began and they saw all those who had yet to be set apart unto God in this
way, they must have realized that they were leaving the ways of their
disobedient fathers behind and entering a new age in the history of their
nation. Joshua and Caleb would have appreciated the significance more than
anyone alive, as they would have realized that all of their contemporaries
were dead.
The lesson here is that disobedience has severe consequences. The
Israelites alive at this time had yet to rebel against God in any serious
fashion, which was definitely a good thing. But for a culture in which
family was so cherished, the loss of an entire generation would not have
gone unnoticed.
Israel commemorated Passover with the food of the land, and their days of
eating manna were over (v. 11). This would have been no small thing in the
minds and stomachs of the Israelites. After four decades of eating the
“what is it?” the Israelites probably weren't sad to see that item removed
from the menu. The fruit of the land must have tasted so much sweeter
because of the monotony of the past they were leaving behind. God was
about to provide for them in a much different and more satisfying way.
Though He had provided for them in the barren land of the desert, now He
would provide them with rich abundance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - The realization that their forefathers had missed
out on blessing because of sin was particularly sobering for Israel. The
consequences of rebellion and disobedience against God can be irreparable
in some cases. So now would be a good time to take a personal inventory of
your heart. Make today a point in your life when you leave any outstanding
disobedience, grumbling attitudes, or unresolved conflict behind and move
forward into obedience to God.
Joshua 5:13
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Behold, there stood a Man.
When Jericho, its fortifications looming dark through
the night, must be assailed, then the Divine Man may be looked for. Only
let circumcision do its keen work of separation, so that there be nothing
of the flesh with its energy and pride to vaunt itself before God; then,
as we stand face to face with some imminent peril, God will be revealed as
our very present help. Not weeks before our need, not before the Jordan
has been crossed in faith, not before circumcision has been performed; but
when all God’s demands have been met, and tomorrow calls for action, then
behold there will stand the Man Christ Jesus, not by Himself, but as
Captain of the Lord’s host, awaiting with mighty legions on the wing for
his least word.
It is sometimes thought that the Divine Warrior had
come to supersede Joshua; this is not so. He was Prince of another host
than Israel. His host was the celestial armies, which were going forth to
war against Canaan. As long as Israel was true to God, these were its
allies. Look up, Christian soul! Thou thinkest thyself alone; or countest
sorrowfully thy poor array; but in very deed the Man of Calvary and of the
throne is beside thee. All heaven owns his authority, and will supplement
thine efforts. Be reverent, obedient, full of faith and prayer. Keep step
with the goings forth of God. Thou shalt have light work to do. Before the
impact of his might, thy Jericho shall fall. The battle is not to the
strong, nor the race to the swift; but each to those who are living lives
separate from the world, and dedicated to God. The vessels which are meet
for the Master’s use are pure ones. Cleanness, rather than cleverness, is
the prime condition of successful service.
Joshua 5:13-15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Winston Churchill was one of the most quotable,
outspoken leaders in history, which makes this quote even more profound,
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it
takes to sit down and listen.” The courage to remain silent was probably
not difficult for Joshua to muster when he realized to whom he was
talking.
At first, when Joshua sees what he thinks is just a man
with a sword, he shows no fear. He simply asks which side the man is on.
The reply from the commander of the army of the Lord is quite interesting,
as we might have expected him to say “I am for Israel.” Instead he says,
“neither,” which reinforces just how dependent the Israelites were on
faithfulness. The armies of Israel don't have the unconditional allegiance
of the army of the Lord—the slightest disobedience could put Israel out of
favor with God, as we'll see later.
But let's not overlook this point that there actually is an army of the
Lord. We can probably assume that it's an angelic army, but the important
point is that Joshua was just one small part of God's plan. There are
forces at God's disposal that we'll never fully know about—and that can be
equally comforting and sobering, depending on how faithful we remain to
Him.
Joshua was probably familiar with Moses' first encounter with holy ground
at the burning bush. The significance of this moment was certainly not
lost on him, and we shouldn't miss it either. To be on holy ground was a
singular honor for Joshua, because it meant that he was in the presence of
someone that made even the ground around him holy. This event singled
Joshua out as the chosen leader of Israel, and it undoubtedly gave him
confidence heading into the battle of Jericho.
Once again, take note that Joshua's courage didn't come from within
himself. It came from the power of the Almighty and the assurance Joshua
had that the Lord was with him. Before long we'll be reminded of just how
fragile Joshua's courage really was.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Do you ever forget that God has an army? You might
never be confronted by the commander with sword drawn, but it would be
foolish to ignore the reality that God has legions of angels at His
command. If you ever feel like the powers of darkness are more powerful
than what you can withstand, remember that God has already won the battle,
and He has enough servants at His disposal to protect you from any enemy.
Faithful obedience should be our primary concern.
Joshua 5:13-15a
TODAY IN THE WORD
After demonstrating his brilliance as a military
commander in the early years of the Civil War, Ulysses Grant was called
back to Washington in March 1864 to be made a lieutenant general and put
in command of all Union forces in the field. When Grant checked into his
hotel in Washington, the clerk failed to recognize the general, who was
rather shabbily dressed. The clerk was about to give his guest a back room
on an upper floor of the hotel when someone saw Grant in the lobby and
called out his name in greeting. The startled clerk quickly reassigned
Grant to a better room.
Joshua did not immediately recognize the imposing
""commander"" who met him outside Jericho as Joshua planned his attack on
that walled city. Most Bible teachers agree this was one of several
appearances of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.
Jesus appeared to Joshua as the ""LORD God Almighty,"" the Lord of hosts
or armies. Even though this name of God does not appear in today's
reading, the word ""army"" here is the same word translated ""Almighty""
in Psalm 89:8.
Not surprisingly, this name emphasizes God's might as the Leader of
heaven's armies. The shepherd boy David came against the fearsome
warrior-giant Goliath in the power of this name (1 Sam. 17:45). Dr. Tony
Evans says of Jesus' appearance to Joshua, ""He did not come to take
sides, but to take over.""
Joshua saw a drawn sword in the hand of this Commander. Clearly, Joshua
and his forces were merely foot soldiers in this outfit. God was in
command of His army. Joshua didn't know how the Israelites could conquer
the impregnable city of Jericho. But with God at the head of Israel's
army, that would be no problem. The Lord would defeat Jericho without an
arrow being fired.
Joshua did the right thing when he realized who was speaking to him. He
fell on his face in worship, and made himself available to God. The Lord
Almighty deserves the same from us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - God Almighty has a countless army of angels at His
disposal, ready to go to battle for Him at any time. God has called us to
battle too, against ""the devil's schemes"" and ""the spiritual forces of
evil in the heavenly realms"" (Eph. 6:11-12). We have all the power of
heaven available to us in this spiritual warfare, but we have to be
faithful in using the armor God has given us. This weekend would be a good
time to review your spiritual armor (vv. 13-17) and make sure each piece
is in place in your life.
Joshua 5:13-6:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
In late May 1588, King Philip of Spain sent his
“Invincible Armada” of 125 ships toward England. They were to ferry an
army across the Channel to march on London.
When the Armada neared the coast, it was challenged by
the English fleet, which harassed it until it anchored at Calais, France.
When no army appeared, the English attacked with fire ships, sinking and
scattering many of the enemy. Attempting to run home, more Spanish ships
were destroyed by storms off the Scottish coast. The survivors returned
home utterly demoralized.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked the rise of England to a new
position as world leader. This famous victory opened a new chapter in
Western history. Similarly, Joshua’s victory at Jericho opened a new
chapter in the history of Israel.
After a generation of wandering in the wilderness, the people were poised
to enter the Promised Land and conquer it, as God had promised. They had
just finished a national circumcision to consecrate themselves. Now they
faced the first target: the fortified city of Jericho.
Once again, God made Himself known, involving Himself personally in the
flow of history. The “commander of the army of the Lord” was the Lord
Himself, as we know from Joshua’s worshipful response and the instructions
to remove his sandals (5:14-15). God met Joshua with a battle plan, which
was actually a promise (6:2). This would not be a battle for human glory
or material booty--God alone would win the victory for His people (Ps.
44:3). Everything in the city was to be devoted to the Lord.
Joshua responded with strong faith. No questions are recorded, only
obedience. He organized the people to march, as God had ordered. The Ark
went with them, symbolizing His presence (cf. Josh. 2:9-11). Joshua never
doubted God, and gave instructions to ensure that when the city fell, the
promise to Rahab would be kept.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY Now might be a good time to review our study so far.
Look back through these first eleven days and any notes you’ve taken along
the way. Are you keeping the thread of the story?
Joshua 6:1-21; Hebrews 11:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
Faith can be embarrassing--at least to the world’s
eyes. From the safety of Jericho’s high walls, the city’s defenders must
have ridiculed the Israelite priests and soldiers who walked around the
fortress day after day doing nothing but blowing on trumpets. Maybe even
some of the Israelites themselves secretly wondered what they were doing,
and why.
But as unorthodox as it seemed, this was God’s plan to
hand Jericho over to Israel, which meant finally entering the promised
land after forty years of disobedience in the wilderness. Joshua was
acting under direct orders from “the commander of the army of the Lord”
(Josh. 5:14).
The chapter break between Joshua 5 and 6 is a little misleading, because
the conversation begun in 5:13 continues into chapter 6, after a brief
parenthetic note about the situation at Jericho (6:1). The complete lack
of any military effort on behalf of the Israelites underscored the most
important part of this story: Jericho was conquered “by faith” (Heb.
11:30).
This Commander who appeared to Joshua was the Lord Himself, most likely
Jesus Christ in one of His appearances before the Incarnation. Joshua
asked Him whose side He was on (5:13). But as someone has said, this
Commander didn’t come to take sides. He came to take over. And His
strategy was to take Jericho in a way that would leave no doubt whose
victory it was. The people of Jericho were afraid of Israel (Josh. 2:9-11,
see tomorrow’s study). So it must have been a relief to them when the
dreaded Hebrews arrived and started holding “camp meetings” instead of
attacking.
But the secret to Israel’s strength wasn’t in her people’s military might.
It was the presence of the Lord in their midst that made the difference.
That’s why it’s interesting to learn that the trumpets the priests blew
were the trumpets blown during Israel’s feasts to announce the Lord’s
presence. The Israelites would have known the trumpets’ significance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY Joshua and the battle of Jericho may seem like a
children’s Bible story, but there is a sober note of judgment to it. God
commanded Jericho to be destroyed.
Joshua 6:1-27
TODAY IN THE WORD
We heard from Plato earlier, and we'll revisit his
thoughts on courage because he put them so succinctly. He wrote, “Courage
is knowing what not to fear.” Joshua and Israel had a very simple choice.
Either fear the fortified walls of Jericho or fear the Lord. On this
occasion, it was no contest.
There are two lessons that Israel learned from the
victory over Jericho. First, the Lord was clearly at work. The first phase
of Israelite involvement consisted of marching, trumpet blowing, and
shouting. That took care of the immense walls of Jericho. After the
miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the appearance of the commander of
the Lord's army, this was the third major reminder that the Lord was with
them in battle.
The other lesson of Jericho is that God's victory is ultimate and
decisive. The phrase used here is translated “devoted to God,” which
sounds harmless enough. But in this case, devoting the city of Jericho to
God meant destroying it by fire. Total destruction. No living thing, aside
from Rahab and her family, was spared. And every last ounce of precious
metal was to be reserved for the Lord's treasury. It would have been
common for victorious soldiers to divide the plunder among themselves, but
this was God's battle, and the reward was to be all His. No prisoners, no
plunder, and no doubt that the victory was the Lord's.
We should also take notice of the fact that the Lord left almost no
guesswork for Joshua. He really didn't demand a lot of creativity from
Joshua, just faithful obedience. The Lord tells him exactly what to do in
order to make the walls of Jericho crumble. This approach could have had
one of two results. On one hand, Joshua could have given all the glory to
God, realizing that the entire battle from beginning to end was in the
hand of the Lord. In essence, he gained the courage not to fear the enemy.
But another possibility existed: that the victory would seem easy, and
Joshua and the people of Israel could take it for granted. He might have
also foolishly ceased to fear God. We'll look at that in more detail in
the days to come.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Today's reading may conflict with our modern
sensibilities of grace and mercy, but it shows a reality about God. When
He claims ownership of something, we shouldn't try to hold on to it for
ourselves. Israel was God's nation, and He wouldn't share them with other
gods. Similarly, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works. We were bought with a price. Meditate today about the aspects of
your life that you might be holding on to. Are you willing to devote them
to God?
Joshua 6:20
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Every man straight before him.
God required of the Israelites only to wait, obey, and
trust, whilst the Divine Captain led his celestial hosts to the assault,
and achieved the victory. “And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have
given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of
valor. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round
about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.” We must be sure that
our way lies through and beyond Jericho, and that God has called us to
take it. When that is ascertained, we may be perfectly certain that the
frowning walls of difficulty, which rise between us and the further land
of promise, will fall down flat.
There must be times of Waiting. Israel waited a whole
week. We may have to wait still longer. Let patience have her perfect
work. There is no such teacher as she is; her pupils become perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.
There must be times of Obedience. The people could not
understand the meaning of these repeated marchings around the walls. They
were not, however, asked to understand, but simply to obey. First the
priests and ark, then the warriors. We must subordinate our armed
activities to the slow and reverent pace of faith, hope, and love.
There must be times of exultant Faith. There was no
quaver or hesitation in that cry. The Word of God, as communicated by
Joshua, hushed every doubt and misgiving. In confident assurance the
people shouted, and according to their faith, so it was to them. “By faith
the walls of Jericho fell down.” There are no walls of superstition and
sin strong enough to resist Faith’s shout, when God say s that her
shouting time is come.
Joshua 6:27-7:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Alice Gray, in her book More Stories for the
Heart, recounts the following incident. A Native American was in downtown
New York, walking along with his friend, a New Yorker. Suddenly, he said,
“I hear a cricket.” “You’re crazy,” his friend replied. “No, I’m sure of
it.” Eventually the man located the cricket, much to the amazement of his
friend. But the Native American said, “My ears are no different from
yours. It simply depends on what you are listening to. Here, let me show
you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change–and
dropped it on the concrete. Every head within a block turned. “You see
what I mean?”
Choosing what, or whom, to listen to was painfully
demonstrated to Joshua. Prior to the conquest, the Lord encouraged Joshua
that He would be with him (Josh. 1:5). Joshua listened to the Lord and was
victorious.
In today’s passage, Joshua listened to the voice of his spies. Just before
this, we learn that Achan disobeyed the Lord by keeping banned loot for
himself. The Lord had commanded that booty be utterly destroyed, probably
because of its potential spiritual harm.
Immediately, Joshua and the elders tore their clothes and prostrated
themselves as a sign of deep remorse. Then Joshua cried out to the Lord.
Joshua was right to be concerned for the Lord’s name (v. 9), but the Lord
confronted the real issue: unconfessed sin. Until the offense was dealt
with, no victory was possible (v. 13). Disobedience among His people
ultimately dishonored His holy name among the Canaanites more than their
military defeat.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Although Joshua suffered personally from this
military defeat (it must have reflected badly on him), the remarkable
thing about his prayer is that his primary concern was not his own
reputation but the Lord’s. That’s something to consider! We live in a time
when it’s easy to focus only on what people think about us. But perhaps we
need to consider how to reflect a similar concern for the Lord’s
reputation in our own prayers. This is particularly true if sin has, in
some way, brought dishonor to His name.
Joshua 7:1-9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mark Twain wrote in an era in American history when war
was a realistic memory in most people's minds. So it was evident to him
that the mettle required to fight was not the whole of what it meant to be
courageous. As he wrote, “It is curious that physical courage should be so
common in the world and moral courage so rare.” Such was the case with
Israel in their next battle after Jericho, when their bravado got the best
of them.
First of all, Achan took some of the treasure of
Jericho that should have been devoted to God. Notice that this one
transgression is extended to all of the Israelites in the language of
verse 1, and the Lord's anger burned, not just against Achan, but against
all of Israel. Perhaps that's why we don't read of any command coming from
God regarding how Joshua should attack Ai. The plan seems to come from
Joshua himself, and that's the second crucial mistake in today's passage.
There were only a few men at Ai (v. 3). The rules of natural logic would
lead us to believe that even if the Lord wasn't with Israel, Ai wouldn't
pose a problem. Unfortunately, it was natural logic that Joshua and his
men used. They sent only 3,000 men to attack Ai, a foolish decision
considering that Israel had depended on the supernatural for victory. The
lessons of yesterday's reading apparently were lost on the Israelites,
Joshua included. They somehow formed the opinion that the number of men in
their army had some influence on their power to conquer the enemy. They
were quite wrong. If God was not with Israel, they could not defeat
anyone.
And after the defeat we see Joshua drastically divert from his assigned
purpose. His reaction was neither strong nor courageous. Thirty-six
Israelites died at the hands of Ai, but Joshua reacted as though all of
Israel had been wiped off the face of the earth and that they should never
have entered Canaan (v. 7).
Obviously, Joshua had lost his sense of purpose, and he says as much in
verse 7. This cry of desperation bears a striking resemblance to the
murmuring of the Israelites some forty years prior (Num. 14:3).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Joshua was one of the greatest leaders in the entire
Bible, but he was still only a man. As we think about purpose, we need to
know that God has not designed us to succeed on our own. The bulk of the
Bible is spent proving the point that man can't do anything on his own.
Joshua exhibits that point painfully but powerfully. Let's learn from his
mistake and surrender our own exercises of frustration into God's almighty
hands.
Joshua 7
F B Meyer
Our Daily Walk
October 20
VICTORY OUT OF
DEFEAT - "I will give her
vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she
shall sing there, as in the days of her youth."-- Hos2:15.
THE VALLEY of Achor is the emblem of defeat, failure, and the fainting
heart. Down its long pass the terrified fugitives had fled, bearing to
Joshua the story of defeat (Joshua 7). Is there a single life
without its valley of Achor? Is there one of us who has not gone up
against a foe, which in the distance appeared quite insignificant, but it
has proved to be more than a match for all the resolutions with which we
had braced ourselves to meet it. Can good come out of such evil, and
sweetness from such bitter despair?
The tragic story told in Joshua 7 tells how that defeat wrought
good. The disaster led to the searching out of the sin of Achan, and the
cutting away of gangrene, which, otherwise, would have eaten out the heart
of Israel. It led to humiliation, self-examination, prayer and faith, and
finally to victory. May we not say as much of our defeats? Certainly, it
would have been better had they not cast their shadow on our past; but
they have not been without their lessons of priceless value. Each valley
of Achor has had its door of Hope. Sin has reigned unto death, but the
grace of God has reigned unto eternal life. Through our sins we have
learned, as never before, to appreciate God's forgiveness; through our
failures we have been taught our own weakness, and led to magnify the
grace which is made perfect in weakness.
Out of such experiences comes the song--"She shall sing as in the days of
her youth." You say that the spring and gladness of life are gone for
ever. You insist that you must go mourning all your days, and that life
will only bring added grief. But God says that you shall sing! Though the
summer is gone, there will be a second--an Indian summer, even mellower
than the first. God wants to give you a new revelation of His love, to
draw you into His tenderest friendship and fellowship, to lift you into
the life of victory and satisfaction. And when all these things come to
pass, and they may begin to-day as you return to Him, you will find that
He has put a new song into your mouth, even praise unto our God.
PRAYER- Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for opening doors of Hope in
the valley of Achor, for giving us beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy
for mourning. Put a new song into our mouths to-day, and let us taste
afresh the glad sense of Thy pardoning love. AMEN.
Joshua 7:10
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
The Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up.
There was something very beautiful and impressive in
that prostrate form. And as the awed people gathered around in silence to
contemplate their leader thus prone upon his face, it must have greatly
touched them.
There was cause for soul-anguish. Joshua had counted on
unbroken victory through the might of his covenant-keeping God; but here
it appeared, either that God had deserted his people, or that He could not
cope with the gods on which the Canaanites depended. In either case,
Israel was in awful peril; obviously she had not strength sufficient to
cope with the seven nations of Canaan. If left to herself, she must
inevitably be cut off. But even this prospect alarmed Joshua less than the
discredit that would attach to the name of Jehovah.
There are hours in our life when we are called from the
exercises of devotion, good and God-honoring though they may be, to deal
with the sin of our people, or to cut out some source of failure and
defeat. Our place then is no longer before the ark; but arraigning the
people by their tribes, casting lots for the offender, or consigning the
accursed thing to fire. Child of God, do not be content with weeping and
praying before God; diligently ascertain and put away the accursed thing
which has hidden his face from you. When defeat befalls you at the hands
of Satan, you may always be sure that there is some flaw in your
consecration. You have taken some of the devoted thing back from God. The
course of the Christian warrior should be as the sun when he goeth forth
in his strength, and in regular gradients drives his chariot from the
eastern wane up the steep of heaven.
Joshua 7:10-26
TODAY IN THE WORD
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that
keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps
you go on in spite of it all.” With that statement, Martin Luther King Jr.
describes for us the problem with Joshua's response to the fall at Ai. He
apparently lost hope—but God had called him to finish a task, and He
didn't give up on him.
God's response to Joshua isn't the kind of passage that
gets needlepointed and framed and hung on our walls, but it was exactly
what Joshua needed to be told. Many times we need such a stern reprimand
to break us out of a rut of whining and complaining. Notice especially
God's rhetorical question to Joshua, “What are you doing down on your
face?” Once again, God doesn't make Joshua guess at what He wants him to
do. He spells out the plan, step by step, for how Joshua should deal with
Israel's sin. Perhaps if Joshua had shown the foresight to meditate with
God before going into battle with Ai, the loss could have been avoided.
The people of Israel again were called to consecrate themselves in
preparation for God's presence among them. Only this time, it wasn't in
preparation for an encouraging miracle. They instead awaited God's
judgment of their sin, a frightening but necessary step for His people.
So in front of the whole nation, the tribe of Judah was isolated, then the
clan of the Zerahites, the family of Zimri, and finally Achan. The process
must have been humiliating for every person who had to step forward from
the ranks. Especially Achan.
But then, Achan confessed. And at this point in the story, many of us
would be tempted to say, “Okay, he confessed. It's all right—just never do
it again.” But that wasn't how God wanted this sin treated. He had
sacrificed thirty-six lives for a Babylonian robe, some silver, and even
less gold. Achan and his family were punished most severely. All of his
family and all of his possessions, even the stolen plunder, was gathered
together, stoned, and burned. If Israel couldn't learn to obey God by
witnessing His powerful works of grace, they would also witness His acts
of judgment.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Notice that God attributes one man's sin to the
entire nation. He says that Israel sinned, they violated the covenant,
they stole, and they lied. Living as God's holy people isn't an “every man
for himself” undertaking. The responsibility of obedience is shared among
God's people. We should maintain close relationships with each other,
encouraging the church body as a whole to abstain from sin and press on
toward righteousness together.
Joshua 8:1-29
TODAY IN THE WORD
The poet Maya Angelou penned the perfect words for
Joshua in the wake of tragic defeat and judgment: “History, despite its
wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be
lived again.”
It would have been easy for Joshua to be discouraged or
afraid after the setback at Ai and the judgment of Achan, but God doesn't
afford Joshua that opportunity. God directs him boldly to prepare for the
next battle. Somewhat ironically, after Achan's strict punishment for his
greedy disobedience, God permits Israel to keep the treasure and livestock
of Ai. This act of grace punctuates the foolishness of Achan—and anyone
who seeks to steal from God to serve their own desires. There's no need to
grasp and claw at the possessions of this life; God will provide.
God also provided a plan. He gave Joshua the idea for an ambush, and
unlike the previous attack, this plan was expertly executed and divinely
supported. The ambush was not only a cunning tactic and sound protective
measure against an attack from Bethel (v. 9) but also a stroke of
calculated retribution for the false confidence of the Ai army.
The details can be confusing, as verse 3 seems to indicate a 30,000-man
ambush while verse 12 puts the number at 5,000. Some believe these are two
different ambush battalions, but other Hebrew scholars think the word
thousand in verse 3 should actually be translated chief. In other words,
Joshua may have put 30 commanders in charge of the ambush, leading a total
of 5,000 men.
After drawing out the Ai forces, Joshua held out his javelin as a signal
to begin the ambush attack. He continued to hold his javelin forward until
the entire city had been destroyed. For Joshua, it was a symbol of
obedience and courage, as he never relinquished his pose throughout the
entire battle. If the Israelite army had wavered in their belief that God
was with them, Joshua's example and the Lord's faithfulness removed all
doubt.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - In today’s passage, God reinforces the truth that He
is the supreme leader of His people. Joshua is effective as a leader only
because he obeys the Almighty. If you are a pastor, leader, parent, or
employer—if you hold any kind of position of leadership or
influence—remember this lesson. God has authority over all, and any
success we enjoy is to God's glory. Give Him the proper praise both
publicly and personally.
Joshua 8:30-35
TODAY IN THE WORD
Aristotle has a thought that would have served Israel
well during their more inconsistent days in the first few battles of the
campaign west of the Jordan: “Moral excellence comes about as a result of
habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate
acts, brave by doing brave acts.”
Two practices mark today's reading, and they give us a
great lesson to follow up a mountaintop experience. First, Joshua led the
Israelites in giving offerings. He did so according to the guidelines
relayed from God by Moses (v. 31). The offerings showed proper admiration
and praise for God, for it was His might, not theirs, that won the battle.
It was an expression of worship from the people to God.
Joshua followed these offerings by relaying God's expression of truth to
the Israelites. He read the complete Law to the entire population of
Israel. For Israel to truly live out their identity as God's people, they
had to remain well acquainted with His commands.
This wasn't a spontaneous exhibition by Joshua and the Israelites. It was
a fulfillment of a command given by Moses in chapters 11, 27, and 28 of
Deuteronomy. Using two mountains in the landscape of the Promised Land,
the Israelites heard both the blessings promised to the obedient and the
curses promised to the disobedient. So distinct are obedience and
disobedience, the difference was like two mountains divided by a vast
chasm.
Have you noticed how the object lessons that God taught Israel tended to
be played out with grand gestures and meaningful symbolism? Joshua didn't
just read the law. The reading was part of an involved display taking
place across two mountains and involving all of the people of Israel. The
lesson was memorable and significant because it engaged the participation
and imagination of the entire nation and it employed the inspired,
authoritative Word of God.
Joshua's commitment to relaying the Word of God to his people helped
solidify Israel's obedience as they continued in the campaign to claim the
land God had promised them. The challenge was remaining true to their
purpose.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - A deeper understanding of this passage requires
doing a bit of extended reading. Set aside some time either today or
tomorrow to read the chapters in Deuteronomy that explain in more detail
the truth of today's passage. Read Deuteronomy chapters 11, 27, and 28 and
meditate on the promises God gave to the Israelites. They give us a much
more complete understanding of the history of Israel and the repercussions
of their actions . . . and ours, as well.
Joshua 8:32
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
We wrote a copy of the law of Moses.
If we view this act typically, it is very significant,
These things happened to Israel as a type and foreshadowing of great
spiritual realities. Canaan is an emblem of the heavenlies, that blessed
condition of joy and peace and spiritual power which is ours is Jesus, and
becomes ours to enjoy, when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It
might have been supposed that in the land of promise there would have been
no need for the holy law of God, as given at Sinai, and repeated in
Deuteronomy. But it was not so. So, even in the heavenlies, the law must
be written again.
Jesus said, I came not to destroy, but to fulfill
(see note
Matthew 5:17). — Not to
abrogate, or set aside, or supersede the holy law, but to re-enact it
after a more spiritual sort, and to secure, not an outward, but an inward
compliance with its precepts. Our Lord complied, not only with the moral,
but with the ceremonial law; and his great aim and purpose was to honor
and magnify it in the hearts of his people.
The Apostle Paul says that the ordinance of the law
will be fulfilled by those who walk after the Spirit (see note
Romans 8:4). — It is
holy, just, and good; and they who are carnal and sold under sin cannot by
their own resolutions and efforts comply with its demands; but when the
soul is yielded to the Holy Spirit, He works in us the will and the power.
The Epistle to the Hebrews says that it will be
written on our hearts (see note
Hebrews 8:10). — This is the
provision of the new covenant; God’s law written, not on atone, whence it
might be obliterated; not on metal, whence it might be melted; not on the
memory, whence it might fade: but on the tablets of the heart, where we
shall love it.
Joshua 9:1-27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Helen Keller overcame enormous obstacles. Her victories
over blindness and deafness were monumental accomplishments, but her
thoughts on courage focused on the smaller details. She wrote, “I long to
accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish
humble tasks as though they were great and noble.” Joshua could have used
that advice before the Gibeonites came to camp. He overlooked the simple
yet crucial detail of taking the matter before the Lord.
This is another passage where our focus briefly leaves
the Israelite camp and is placed instead on outsiders. News of the fall of
Jericho and Ai traveled swiftly, and as today's verse reminds us, one
choice available to those who heard of Israel's great God was to respond
in faith. That turned out to be the road less traveled.
Most of the foreign kings (in what was most likely an unprecedented move)
united to face this powerful foe. Instead of faith, they chose to fight
the indestructible God. Not a wise choice, but a predictable one.
But the Gibeonites didn't have the courage to attempt a battle with
Israel, so they decided to fool the mighty army. They went to great
lengths to make it seem as though they crossed a great distance, and the
obvious question is why would it matter whether they came from far away or
right nearby? It appears that they knew some key elements of the Law as
well as the Israelites did.
Deuteronomy 20 outlines the rules of warfare for the Israelites, and God
provided for the possibility that faraway cities could peaceably become
forced labor for Israel (Deut. 20:10-15). But Israel was commanded to
destroy “anything that breathes” in the cities of Canaan, which would have
included Gibeon.
Without inquiring of the Lord (v. 14), Joshua granted them a peace treaty.
Through underhanded means, the Gibeonites secured their safety, along with
a curse that would follow them all their days (v. 23).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY The agreement Israel made with the Gibeonites exposed
Israel to a long-term relationship with people who had done deplorable
acts for other gods—without any true repentance. Such deception from
wolves in sheep's clothing still endangers us today. Examine every
agreement you make in your professional life, your consumer choices, your
personal relationships, and in your church. Bring every decision before
the Lord, because He sees the lies that fool the human heart.
Joshua 9:14
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
They asked not counsel at the mouth at the Lord.
What an ominous sound there is in those words! They
portend disaster — and it befell. Up to this moment the initiative had
always been taken by the Lord. Now for the first time it is taken by
Joshua and the people. It was a bad business! Certainly the Gibeonites did
their work with guile, and were more than a match for the chosen race.
Probably they would not have dared to attempt such a piece of imposition
on men of their own sort; but the Israelites seemed a likely prey. They
had so recently come into the land, that they might be supposed to be
unfamiliar with the guile of Canaan. Yet how astute they fancied
themselves!
So the children of God are imposed upon still! Women
get married to unconverted husbands, supposing all the while that they are
converted. Ministers of churches admit ravening wolves into their midst,
deceived by the device of the sheepskin. Young converts get seduced from
the simplicity and purity of the faith by lying spirits, that seem as
lovely as God’s angels. This is due to their relying on their own
judgment, and not asking counsel of God. We must try the spirits, whether
they be of God, for many false spirits are gone out into the world.
Yet God held Israel to the covenant that their leaders
had struck, and in after years their breach of this premise was awfully
avenged (2 Samuel 21:1-2). When we have taken a false step we may be
forgiven, but we shall be held to its results. O souls, be sure to call in
the Priest, with the Urim and Thummim, that He may give you counsel. Seek
the purged eye and the pure heart, to be able to see people and things as
they really are.
Joshua 9:1-16
Moldy Bread
Our Daily Bread
Joshua had just won two astounding victories,
destroying both Jericho and Ai through the power of the Lord. The
Gibeonites knew they would be next, so in fear they resorted to trickery
to save their lives. They put on old clothes, took moldy bread with them,
and made their way to the camp of Israel.
Joshua and the elders were completely taken in by the ruse. Without
consulting the Lord, they entered into a covenant with the enemies of
Israel whom God had told them to destroy.
I see several spiritual lessons in this account. If we put human reasoning
before divine guidance, walking by sight rather than by faith, we are sure
to err! We should dread the "moldy bread" of Satan's deceptive strategies
much more than the "lion's roar" of his frontal attacks. Even though we
have met the more obvious assaults of the enemy with victories like those
of Jericho and Ai, overconfidence can lead us into a trap. If we are
governed by the authority of the Word and put our total dependence in the
power of the Spirit, we will not be easily caught in Satan's web.
Remember to "put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil" (see note
Ephesians 6:11). And watch
out for moldy bread! —Henry G. Bosch (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul,
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole. --Wesley
To avoid sin's tragedy learn Satan's strategy.
Joshua 10:1-15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Eleanor Roosevelt has the answer partially correct when she says, “You
gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you
really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you
think you cannot do.” Sometimes doing the impossible simply means asking
God to do it for you. In today's reading, Joshua did just that.
Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, was fighting directly against God
and Joshua. He learned of Israel's treaty with the important city of
Gibeon, and rather than attempting a similar treaty, he allied with other
kings in attacking Gibeon.
Even though the treaty was in direct opposition to the commandment of the
law, the oath had been sworn and Joshua was still obliged to uphold the
treaty. And as Israel moved to defend Gibeon against the allied forces,
the Lord assured Joshua that He would give Israel victory (v. 8). It was
the beginning of, quite literally, a very long day.
Israel marched all night (about 25 miles uphill). They fought a
victorious, one-sided battle in Gibeon and then chased the enemy for an
equally lengthy and rugged distance beyond Gibeon. After all the miles
they covered, they must have been grateful that God killed more of the
enemy with His divinely aimed hailstones than the Israelites had to by the
sword.
The battle was a drawn-out affair across a great distance and a
considerable time, and it was Joshua's desire to see it end before the sun
went down. Joshua did perhaps the most courageous thing of his life—he
asked God to stop the sun, and God listened. It's not exactly clear for
how long this event took place, whether it was for a standard period of
daylight or an entire 24-hour stretch. But nonetheless, the extended day
was an extraordinary event when God temporarily set aside His divinely
orchestrated natural system at the request of a man. Some debate the
details, but what can't be debated is that the Lord possesses the power to
sustain or suspend every element of His creation—and He also possesses the
loving care to listen to His children.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY Have you ever asked God to stop the sun? You can,
because God has the power to do so. But before you make that seemingly
impossible request of faith, examine your heart. Joshua didn't make a
selfish request. He asked the Lord for help in fulfilling the specific
task God had assigned to him. If you are seeking the Lord's will, and that
seems to require stopping the sun or moving a mountain, ask Him boldly—and
don't be surprised if and when God does it.
Joshua 10:14
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
There was no day like that after it.
The sun seemed to stay its course in mid-heaven, and
hasted not to go down; but there has been no day like that, and there will
be none. You may bid t
