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 the westering sun of another’s life stay its downward
track toward the western sea, but in vain. It may be some revered
minister, some sainted parent, some life dearer to you than your own; but
it obeys not your bidding. Surely and inevitably the little daughter of
Jairus fades like a flower plucked from its stalk; and Lazarus sinks into
his death-sleep, despite the eager message of the sisters to the
Life-giver.
So with the sun of your own life. Slowly and
steadily it descends. Work while it is called today; for the night cometh,
in which no man can work. Finish the work that your Father has given you
to do; there is only just time enough for it to be done within the span of
your days. Our one anxiety should be that nothing divert us from his path,
or intercept the communication of his grace.
But there is one Sun that goes not down. “Thy
sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw herself; for
the Lord shall be to thee an everlasting light, and the days of thy
mourning shall be ended.” Ah, precious Sun of Righteousness, when once
Thou hast risen upon the soul, Thou shalt know no setting, ever higher and
higher shalt Thou rise until the perfect day; no twilight or night can
come where Thou art; no darkness draw its vail across the sky! Neither
life nor death, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, shall be able to separate as from the love of God, which
has broken upon our hearts, through the wall of cloud.
Joshua 10:16-43
TODAY IN THE WORD
G. K. Chesterton wrote that “courage is almost a
contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form
of readiness to die.” He could have been describing Jesus Christ, except
that His desire wasn't that He would live, but that we would live.
Today's passage gives us a heartbreaking glimpse into
what Jesus took upon Himself so we could live eternally. He didn't just
die; He took on a curse originally ordained for the most reviled people in
the world.
According to the Law, anyone hanged on a tree was to be buried on the same
day; so accursed was the corpse that if it remained beyond that day, the
Promised Land would be defiled in God's eyes (Deut. 21:23). Just look at
the contempt with which Joshua and his men treated these kings. The
commanders put their feet on the kings' necks, and Joshua used this sign
of authoritative domination to encourage his men (v. 25). The fate of
these kings was the fate that awaited the enemies of the Lord.
Their five bodies were hung on five trees, taken down at sunset, and
thrown into a cave sealed by large rocks. And then, in the book of John,
we see our Savior receiving similar treatment. Jesus' body was hung on a
tree. The Jews requested it to be taken down before the high Sabbath began
(John 19:31). His body was buried in a tomb hewn out of rock, closed up by
a large stone.
Earlier this month, we examined the parallel between Joshua and Jesus. But
in today's reading, Jesus was not in the position of the conquering
warrior—His was the role of the vanquished king. Joshua's victory was to
lead Israel into the rest God promised. Christ took on the curse so that
we could enjoy the Sabbath rest of God.
The key difference between the death of the evil kings and the King of
Kings, though, can be found just after their burial. The large rocks
sealing their grave, as it is written in verse 27 of the Joshua passage,
“are there to this day.” In John 20:1, the stone sealing Christ's grave is
already gone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY Jesus took on the curse of sin, a curse intended for
us. Sin made us the enemy of God, worthy of the same treatment Joshua gave
to the evil kings. Good Friday is more than a week away, but our Lord's
sacrifice is worth much more than a day of remembrance. Take the time
between now and Easter Sunday to daily reflect on the love Christ showed
for us. His was true courage, for He completed the most difficult task God
ever commanded, through His faith in God's promise and power.
Joshua 11:1-23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Robert Frost is best remembered for his poem “The Road
Less Traveled,” and he pinpoints the thrust of Joshua's campaign in
Chapter 11 with the words, “The best way out is always through.”
For Joshua, there was no avoiding the grim realities of
war if he was to obey God. City after city, king after king, every living
thing had to be destroyed. We don't get strategic details like the ones
disclosed about the battles of Jericho and Ai, just a montage of utter
domination of the armies inhabiting the land God promised to Israel.
Israel plowed through the opposition, and it was all by God's command.
That phrase, “the Lord commanded,” appears repeatedly throughout this
passage, a reminder that God ruled this people, not Joshua or Moses.
Reliance on God was of ultimate importance, which is likely why God
instructs Joshua to hamstring the horses and burn the chariots. Moses had
prophetically commanded Israel that, once they pleaded for a human king in
the Promised Land, the king must not multiply horses (Deut. 17:16). Horses
and chariots were among the most powerful assets in battle, and Israel
easily could have put their faith in the strength of a cavalry. By
destroying the chariots and rendering the horses unfit for use in battle,
Joshua depended on God for victory.
But the key verse in this passage, and perhaps the hardest to fathom, is
verse 20. Phrases like “destroy them totally” and “exterminate them
without mercy” aren't pleasant to read. But the hearts of these people
were hardened—and they refused to repent or ask for peace. While some
translations, including the NIV, read that God Himself hardened their
hearts, He didn't do so against their wills. It would not have been a
divine brainwashing, rather an employment of their naturally stubborn and
evil inclinations against God, His character, and His people.
The result: the land had rest from war. As long as the wickedness of the
Canaanites and their false gods survived, there would be no peace in the
Promised Land. After Joshua's obedience, God's promise of peace had
initially been fulfilled.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - God and sin won't coexist. The prevalence of sin in
Canaan resulted in ultimate destruction, so how can we be complacent about
sin in our lives? It's easy to be so comforted by God's grace that we
ignore the comfortable sin in ourselves and those around us. But when we
allow sin to lay dormant in our hearts, we prevent ourselves from ever
enjoying God's true peace. Ask the Lord to search out any sin today, and
confess it to Him.
Joshua 11:23
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
So Joshua took the whole land,… and Joshua gave it….
This is almost an exact parallel of the words addressed
by Peter to the crowds on the day of Pentecost: “Having received of the
Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this.” In his
representative capacity, as the Head of his Church, and the Forerunner of
the great host of the redeemed, it was necessary that Jesus should first
receive from God the Father all that spiritual inheritance which He was to
communicate to those who should afterwards believe in his name: and having
received, He is prepared to give. “Ye shall receive power, when the Holy
Ghost is come upon you.”
The whole land of spiritual blessing is now in the hand
of Jesus. The prince of this world is cast out. The power of the Anakim is
broken. The seven nations of Canaan and all the power of the enemy is
under his feet. His are the rivers of the fulness of the Holy Ghost, and
his the mountains of fellowship; his the slopes where the vines of Eshcol
ripen and the corn of Canaan goldens; his the green pastures and the still
waters of communion, as well as the rocky defile of death. Whatever, then,
you desire, you must seek at his hand, in whom it is vested for thee, and
me, and every believer: and He will give it.
The land had rest from war. Cease, then, from strife.
You will not win by sore wrestling. The lame take the prey. Learn to take;
let Him cause you to inherit; let Him give according to the division
allotted you in the providence and determination of God. “It shall be
given to those for whom it is prepared.” “They that receive the abundance
of grace shall reign.”
Joshua 12:1-13:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Carl Sandburg once wrote, “Valor is a gift. Those
having it never know for sure if they have it till the test comes. And
those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when
the next test comes.” We can forget, while reading about Joshua, that
courage is not automatic. Joshua was only human, as robotic and fearless
as he may have seemed while marching the army of Israel so systematically
through the fearsome enemy ranks. Under natural circumstances, any human
should have faltered more than Joshua did.
But the campaign against the people of Canaan was
supernaturally driven. It began with Moses at the helm, east of the Jordan
River, defeating two kings in battle. Two and a half tribes received their
inheritance in that land. Then, after the crossing of the Jordan, Joshua
led Israel on a dizzying tour of duty, defeating twenty-nine kings. Now,
Joshua was faithful with what God asked him to do, but no man or army of
men could have accomplished that feat in their own power. The victories
described in chapter 12 can hardly be described as “military”
achievements; they were miraculous.
Keep in mind, Moses wasn't a young man when he led the first leg of the
battle. And at the outset of Chapter 13, the Lord tells Joshua that he,
too, is getting on in years—and when God tells you you're old, there's no
denying it. The Lord tells him of the additional lands yet to be conquered
and promises that He will drive the people out from those cities as well.
Verse 7 identifies exactly the fact that makes this military conquest
different than any other. Israel wasn't just taking the land, they were
inheriting it. An inheritance cannot be taken by force. It is not a prize
won or a salary earned. The land Joshua and Israel occupied was the result
of a promise from God to Abraham, the father of the entire nation of
Israel. His descendants inherited, not by force but by faith, a peaceful
existence in perhaps the most desirable land on the face of the earth. God
had set apart the land and prepared it for Israel. All Joshua had to do
was help the nation claim it.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - The battle for our spiritual inheritance has already
been fought and won by Jesus Christ. The question we must ask ourselves
is, have we claimed it? Have we “apportioned” the spoils of Christ's
victory? We have eternal life, intimate communion with God, just waiting
for us to enjoy. Whether it is fear of the enemies of life or desire for
the false promises of the world, let's cast aside all obstacles today and
through prayer, Bible study, and devotion to God, take hold of our
inheritance
Joshua 12:6
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Moses, the servant at the Lord, gave it.
We must not press a type, or analogy, unduly, though we
may employ it to illustrate a doctrine well established from other parts
of Scripture. Such an illustration is here. It is remarkable that the two
tribes and a half which Moses settled beyond the Jordan took little part
in the national life, and were soon wiped out of their inheritance. They
were apparently absorbed by the nations whom they were supposed to have
superseded.
This was partly due to the devotion of the people to
their material prosperity. In the words of Deborah, Reuben preferred to
sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping of the flocks, rather than to
take part in the emancipation of Canaan from Midian. But, looked at
typically, may we not say that whatever Moses gives will ultimately evade
our grasp and slip from our possession? Like the tables of stone, it will
fall from our hand and be broken in pieces. and that you try to be or do
in the power of your own resolution and energy will inevitably fail and
deceive you. The land looks fair and the tenure seems good, but you will
not be able to retain it.
The deepest blessings of the spiritual life cannot be
won or held in the strength of our own purpose, even though it be a holy
and earnest one. These things can be ours only in so far as we abide in
Christ, in whom our inheritance is vested, and from whom we receive it as
we need, by faith. We can hold nothing apart from abiding fellowship with
Jesus. And this is our privilege. Let us lift our hearts to the blessed
Spirit, asking that He would reveal to us that which eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, but which God hath prepared
for those that love Him.
Joshua 13:1
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
This is true in many directions:—
Of the Bible. — How many pages of our Bibles are
unpossessed! We have not underlined any verses in them, or put any marks
in the margin to indicate that God has spoken through them to our souls.
They are as clean as when they came from the printers. It is well
sometimes to consider this, and to resolve to master some unfamiliar
portions of God’s Word, believing that no word of God is devoid of power.
To many believers the Bible, which God intended for their possession, is
yet an unexplored continent.
Of Doctrinal Truth. — Doctrine groups texts, and
compares them. Doctrine is to isolated texts what natural laws are to
particular facts. We should know the doctrines of the Bible. We should
understand what is meant by Predestination; the unction of the Holy Ghost;
and the Second Advent. How much unoccupied land there is here, which, if
brought under cultivation, would yield grapes, and corn, and other produce
for the refreshment and strength of the soul l
Of Spiritual Experience. — Talk with some
deeply-taught saint, and you will see how little you have traversed of the
good land beyond the Jordan, or know of its blessed extent. To know the
length, and breadth, and depth, and height, of the love of Christ seems
given to but few; but it need not be. There is no favoritism in the
Kingdom which excludes some poor souls from the richer portions, and shuts
them up to barrenness and a northern aspect. Rise, go through the land in
the length and breadth of it; it is all yours; the gift of God in Jesus
Christ; claim and possess it.
Joshua 13:8-33
TODAY IN THE WORD
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the author and philosopher, has an
interesting take on the motivation behind courage. He writes, “Courage
charms us, because it indicates that a man loves an idea better than all
things in the world, that he is thinking neither of his bed, nor his
dinner, nor his money, but will venture all to put in action the invisible
thought of his mind.” Joshua and Moses before him found their courage in a
greater source than just an idea—it was God Himself. It certainly wasn't
mere material gain they were after.
As we read through the description of the land Moses had allotted to the
tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, we're twice reminded of what
Moses didn't assign. The Levites had yet to receive an inheritance of
land. At first we see that as their inheritance, Levi was to receive the
burnt offerings given by the other tribes to God (see Deut. 10:9; 18:1).
This practice of offering for the sustenance of the priests reminded the
Levites and the rest of Israel that God provided all they had.
But the material inheritance wasn't really the issue here; rather it's a
symbol for a better, more important inheritance. Verse 33 states it
differently, saying that the Lord Himself is the inheritance of Levi. It
might seem like a small distinction, but think back over the battles of
Joshua. How easily was the land obtained by Israel? If the land of promise
and a peaceful existence were so easily gained, how quickly could it also
be lost? Material inheritance is fleeting. The food the priests ate from
burnt offerings only satisfied for a moment. But the Levites had an
enduring, intimate connection to God that could not be invaded or stolen.
And isn't that Israel's greatest inheritance of all? The Promised Land was
wonderful, and Israel enjoyed it. But they were only able to receive these
parcels of land because God was with them. God's presence, the divine
spiritual inheritance, rewarded them beyond any material gift. The
relationship symbolized by the ark of the covenant was far superior to the
real estate that came as a result. The Levites weren't missing out on an
added bonus—knowing God is a reward in itself.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY -God has blessed all nations of the earth through the
descendants of Abraham. He has given us the inheritance of eternal life.
Not just living forever, but living with a superb quality of loving
communion with God. We have faith in Christ, we're indwelled by the Holy
Spirit, and we commune with the Father. With that immense stockpile of
blessing, why do we still grasp for material pleasure? If your focus has
shifted to stuff, turn your attention to the blessings of your inheritance
in Christ.
Joshua 14:1-15; Numbers
13:1-6, 30
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a recent survey approximately 900 business managers
were asked: ""Would you continue to work if you suddenly came into enough
money to live comfortably for the rest of your life?"" Nearly 40 percent
of the managers said they would quit. About 26 percent said they would
stay in their present jobs. Interestingly, a similar survey in 1955 among
business professionals found that only 14 percent said they would quit
their jobs.
Given the chance, would the Israelite warrior Caleb have taken the easy
road to retirement? Not a chance! Not when he was ready at age eighty-five
to kick the Amalekites off the land God had promised to him forty-five
years earlier (Num. 14:24). According to Joshua 14-15, he successfully did
so. Talk about finishing well!
If Caleb were alive today, he might have his own workout show on cable
TV--""Fitness After Eighty."" But we don't need to know Caleb's diet or
exercise routine to learn the secret of his vigor. Caleb was a spiritual
powerhouse, a man who followed the Lord with the fervor of a teenager.
Caleb first appears in the biblical narrative as one of the twelve
Israelite spies Moses sent from Kadesh to check out the promised land. He
and Joshua brought back a good report, saying the land was bountiful and
ready for conquest by God's people.
But the other spies gave a different report; Joshua and Caleb were
outvoted ten to two. So much for democracy! The faithless Israelites
turned back at Kadesh and wandered in the wilderness for another forty
years. But God did not turn His back on Caleb. That's because Caleb never
turned his back on God.
Caleb and Joshua were the only two men of their generation to survive
those years of wilderness wandering. When the conquest was nearly complete
and the land of Canaan was ready to be divided among the Israelite tribes,
Caleb approached Joshua to claim his inheritance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY What earnest Christian wouldn't love to have the
epitaph that he or she had followed the Lord wholeheartedly? God has not
made the path of wholehearted discipleship a mystery. If we seek Him, we
will find Him.
Joshua 14:1-15:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Billy Graham knows something more than the courage of
battle or victory over oppression. His legacy is of moral courage, winning
spiritual battles in an age of immorality. He said, “Courage is
contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often
stiffened.”
Caleb had that kind of courage. It's hard not to smile
when reading his words. He's 85 and still as strong as ever. Bring on the
Anakites!
The conversation between Joshua and Caleb must have been a sight to
behold. Joshua was probably about one hundred years old (24:29). No one
else in the entire country would have been within twenty years of those
two venerable leaders. And Caleb brings us back in time to when he and
Joshua were the lone voices of courage among the spies. That courage
hadn't dwindled in either of them, and it's so refreshing to hear
confident words of faith from men who had walked with God for decades.
Notice that Caleb doesn't want his portion to be any of the lands
conquered thus far. He specifically requests an inheritance in the land
that is protected by fortified cities. He wasn't content just to have
faith in God, he wanted to put his faith in action.
If you were to read past Joshua and into the first chapter of Judges,
you'd see Caleb's story from chapter 15 repeated almost verbatim—Caleb
delivered on his promise to drive the Anakites out from the land. But in
the other battles recorded at the outset of Judges, Caleb is the only one
mentioned who drove out the enemy from the land he inherited (Judg. 1:20).
Every other tribe in that passage failed to rid the land of their
opponents. An interesting note awaits us at the conclusion of chapter 14.
The land changed names because Caleb drove out the descendants of the man
for whom it was originally named.
Despite all the land Caleb received, a finer reward was the compliment he
received in verse 14: “He followed the Lord, the God of Israel,
wholeheartedly.” No inheritance can ever take the place of such a legacy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Caleb's example is an inspirational reminder of
purpose for believers of all ages. Retirement was definitely not in
Caleb's vocabulary. That isn't to say that retiring from a vocation is
unbiblical or undeserved. Rather, following God with courage and
confidence is a lifelong pursuit. And for those far younger than Caleb was
in today's reading, remember that the end goal of life is not to rest from
all labor but to serve Him wholeheartedly for as long as we can.
Joshua 14:6-15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Was Pete Sampras too old to win a major tennis
tournament? Should he retire and leave the field to younger stars? Critics
said he was finished. After two years and 33 tournaments without a title,
it certainly looked that way . . . to everyone but Sampras. And he proved
his point at the 2002 U.S. Open, beating rival Andre Agassi in four sets
to win his fourteenth career Grand Slam championship, a record. Taking the
tournament for the fifth time, he then became the oldest man to win in
more than thirty years.
Of course, we’re talking about a man who was 31 years old at the time. If
he can do it again at age 85, then he might qualify to be in Caleb’s
league!
Caleb lived a life characterized by faith and wisdom. In the original spy
mission, he brought a report according to his convictions, not according
to the obstacles he saw. He trusted the promises of God, followed Him
wholeheartedly, and was publicly commended for doing so (vv. 7–9).
He also showed faith through the difficult time of waiting–for 45
years!–before he finally crossed the Jordan River. It must have been quite
depressing, waiting for an entire disobedient generation to die off.
Surely he had plenty of chances to give up or lose focus, yet his faith
remained strong. Wisely, he continued to trust in the Lord.
At age 85, standing at last on the edge of the Promised Land, Caleb showed
faith in the future. He declared his readiness to go and fight. He praised
God for keeping him strong. Anakites or no, he was eager to inherit the
land God had promised (v. 12). He was given Hebron, in hill country about
25 miles south of Jerusalem. He later gave the city away to the Levites,
demonstrating he was not preoccupied with the “spoils of war” (Josh.
21:11). That’s not what his life was about.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY Here’s an open question for you to reflect on today:
Do you live with the wholehearted faith of Caleb? Do you both wait and act
with perfect faith? “Wholehearted” means your entire heart is devoted to
God–not even one tiny corner of it is given over to selfish pursuits or
ambitions. You belong to the Lord, without reservation.
Joshua 14:11
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
As my strength was then, even so is my strength now.
Men sometimes lose heart as they grow old. They say: My
intellect will become impaired, my physical strength will abate, my power
for service will wane. Yes: but if the outward man decays, the inward man
shall be renewed day by day.
Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength:
whether to war, to go out for service, or to come in for fellowship and
rest. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. He shall
satisfy thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth shall be renewed as
the eagle’s. God’s angels are always young. The drain of the years is
amply met by the inflow of his all-sufficient grace. There is no reason
why we should decline in usefulness and fruit-bearing with the increase of
years; but the reverse. The last sheaves that fall beneath thy sickle
shall be the heaviest; and the width of thy swathe shall be greatest as
the angel of death touches thee and bids thee home. The secret lies in
wholly following the Lord.
But Caleb did not rely on his strength to win Hebron.
Very modestly and humbly he said, “It may be that the Lord will be with
me.” Not that he for a moment doubted it. Could it be for one moment
supposed that the God whom he had wholly followed for eighty years would
desert him in the supreme crisis of his life? But he put it thus in the
sweet lowliness of his soul, because he counted not himself worthy. The
strongest men are they who count that they are helpless as worms; and who
put their weakness at the disposal of God’s might. To each of us comes the
promise of God: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made
perfect in weakness.”
Joshua 15:19
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
He gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
Caleb had conquered his giants, and so he was able to
give his daughter an inheritance of land and springs of water. It was when
Jesus had overcome the sharpness of death that He opened the Kingdom of
Heaven to all believers; it was as He trampled under his victorious feet
the principalities and powers of darkness that He gave to his Church the
upper and the nether springs.
There are two departments in our life, which are
closely related and yet one. We occupy the one in our contact with men and
our work in the world; the other, in our holy moments of meditation and
prayer. Christ’s sheep go out to their manifold activities, and come in to
feed on the green pastures beside waters of rest. In each of these we
stand in daily need of the springs that are fed from the River which
proceeds from the Throne of God, and which is an emblem of the Holy Ghost.
On the Lord’s Day, in the House of God, or in private
prayer, we climb the hills and stand on the margin of the upper springs
that rise there; in the solemn hush we hear the murmur of their waters. On
Monday we descend into the valley amid the clang of the battle and the
cries of human need; but, thank God! plentiful springs are there also.
Upper springs from the Mount of Transfiguration; nether springs for the
Valley of Humiliation. Upper springs for the days of health and abounding
activity; nether springs for days of depression, and pain, and death.
Upper springs in praise, adoration, and rapture; nether springs for taking
the yoke, bearing the burden, and drinking of his cup. Let us partake
freely of the refreshing water which flows from the River of God.
Joshua 15:20-63
TODAY IN THE WORD
Rosa Parks didn't set out to change a nation or start a
revolution. When she courageously refused to move to the back of the bus
fifty years ago, her reasoning was simple. As she put it, “All I was doing
was trying to get home from work.” It was an eventful trip home that
helped bring rest, not just to Rosa Parks, but to entire generations of
Americans as well.
The trek home for the tribe of Judah was not without
incident either, although today's reading simply describes the landscape
to which they arrived. We have to peel back the layers of history in order
to appreciate today's text more fully.
Among the tribes of Israel and the land that they inherited, Judah is
especially significant, because it was out of this tribe that Israel would
find her king. Interestingly enough, it was King David who would finally
finish the job of claiming the land exclusively for Israel.
The tribe of Judah was not able to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem
(Josh. 15:63). But this was to be the permanent home of the line of kings
and the temple. Occupation by worshipers of other gods was unacceptable.
After David was anointed king in Hebron, the next action we see him take
is the attack on the Jebusites in Jerusalem. After their perseverance
through many years of Israel's residence in the land, the Jebusites seemed
to have developed a rather arrogant attitude. Whatever courage they had
was misplaced, however, for David won and claimed the fortress as his own.
For Israel, the courage to fully claim the land that God promised came a
few generations later, but God didn't waver in His faithfulness. It's
another example that Joshua's campaign is an example of God's grace and
mercy. Even though Israel failed in completing some of the tasks God had
commanded them, God remained true to His covenant with them.
Seeing David capture the palace and validate his reign on the throne of
Israel foreshadows an even mightier King who would walk the streets of
Jerusalem and emerge from the line of David, a Savior who could
permanently wipe out sin from any fortress and any heart.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - As David showed us, strength and courage are
indispensable in battle—but they're also a necessity in the fight against
sin. Don't believe the lie that you simply can't overcome sin in
your life. The Lord is with us! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you drive out
sinful attitudes and protect you from unrighteous behavior and reactions.
Don't be discouraged and don't wait for the next generation to fight the
battle for you. We have victory through Christ.
Joshua 16:1-17:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Before his days as President, Lyndon Johnson served in
the House of Representatives, as a lieutenant in the Navy, in the Senate,
and as the Vice President. He knew something about being a leader and the
dangers of growing complacent. In an address to Congress after World War
II he said, “I pray we are still a young and courageous nation, that we
have not grown so old and so fat and so prosperous that all we can think
about is to sit back with our arms around our money bags. If we choose to
do that, I have no doubt that the smoldering fires will burst into flame
and consume us—dollars and all.”
Joshua may have had similar concerns about the tribes
of Ephraim and Manasseh (the two tribes of Joseph) when they complained of
insufficient inheritance in today's reading. The first request posed to
Joshua was perfectly legitimate. The daughters of Zelophehad were
following up on a command the Lord had given to Moses when they originally
petitioned him for their rightful inheritance (Num. 27).
Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites from their land (v. 10). Joshua
was from the tribe of Ephraim (Num. 13:8). Their lapse in faithfulness was
likely to be particularly disappointing for him. The same thing occurred
with Manasseh; they were unable to dislodge the Canaanites. Although they
lacked the courage to take on the iron chariots, they had the nerve to ask
Joshua for a larger inheritance. When Joshua proposed another option, the
combined tribes admitted that they lacked the strength to take hold of the
land God was handing them (17:15).
But here is an example of Joshua's purposeful leadership in action.
Although they probably deserved it, Joshua doesn't scold them for their
disbelief. Instead, he boldly reassures them of their strength, commands
them to take and clear the forest country for themselves, and encourages
them that iron chariots will not be enough to prevent them from completing
their task.
From Judges we learn that they weren't completely successful, but forcing
the Canaanites into submission was an improvement on their initial
inability to occupy the land at all (1:27-29).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Have you been asking God for something only to
become frustrated when He doesn't seem to deliver? Take heart and learn
from the tribes of the son of Joseph. First of all, don't lose your sense
of gratitude for the abundance of grace God has given you. And secondly,
make sure that you are being faithful to obey God. Faith is not a passive
journey. God may answer your prayer through your own courageous obedience.
Joshua 16:4
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
And the children of Joseph took their inheritance.
What a wonderful wealth of blessing these children of
Joseph came into! There were the precious things of heaven, the dew, and
the deep that couched beneath; the precious fruits of the sun and of the
growth of the moons; the metals of the ancient mountains and the
everlasting hills; the precious things of the earth, and the fulness
thereof, and, above all, the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush
(Deuteronomy 33:13–16). Surely they were blessed with all manner of
blessings — more than they had asked or thought! The rich gifts of God’s
grace! An inheritance which could not have been won by their prowess or
arms, but was the free gift of God’s love — to be taken and enjoyed!
These things happened to them as types; the spiritual
counterparts of all are ours in Christ. He is precious — nay, priceless:
his promises are exceeding great and precious. The blood by which we were
redeemed is precious, has meanings not yet explored; the very trial of our
faith is precious as the gold taken from the everlasting hills. How much
preciousness there is for us who believe! (1 Peter 2:7, r.v.). But we are
poor, and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked, because we have
not taken our inheritance.
We need to do more than ask for it. He that asketh
should not rest satisfied till he receiveth. We must take by a faith which
claims, appropriates, employs. Open your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ,
that He may cause you to receive and enjoy all his precious gifts. In
Christ all things are yours: go in and possess; take your inheritance;
believe that you do receive; thank Him, and go on your way rejoicing.
Joshua 17:18
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
The hill country shall be thine. (r.v.)
The hills were steep, irregular, covered with forest.
“These shall be yours,” said Joshua to the children of Joseph; “you are a
great people, and have great power; cut down the forest, terrace the
slopes, turn their bare declivities into cornfields and vineyards; fill
these vast untenanted spaces with life and song.”
There is always room higher up. — When the
valleys are full of Canaanites, whose iron chariots withstand your
progress, get up into the hills, occupy the upper spaces. If you can no
longer work for God, pray for those who can. If you cannot move earth by
your speech, you may move Heaven. If the development of life on the lower
slopes is impossible, through limitations of service, the necessity of
maintaining others, and such-like restrictions, let it break out towards
the unseen, the eternal, the divine.
Faith can fell forests. — Even if the tribes had
realized what treasures lay above them, they would hardly have dared to
suppose it possible to rid the hills of their dense forest-growth. But as
God indicated their task, He reminded them that they had power enough. The
visions of things that seem impossible are presented to us, like these
forest covered steeps; not to mock us, but to incite us to spiritual
exploits which would be impossible unless God had stored within us the
great strength of his own indwelling. Difficulty is sent to reveal to us
what God can do in answer to the faith that prays and works, Are you
straitened in the valleys? Get away to the hills, live there; get honey
out of the rook, and wealth out of the terraced slopes now hidden by
forest.
Joshua 18:1-19:51
TODAY IN THE WORD
John F. Kennedy wrote, “The courage of life is often a
less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no
less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.” Today's passage is
filled with courage that might go unnoticed. Casting lots and setting
boundaries might seem like an uneventful chore, but each area was filled
with towns and villages, and the land still had its share of
less-than-friendly Canaanites.
Even after such a long period of wandering in the
wilderness, the Israelites needed some encouragement from Joshua to go
possess their inheritance (v. 3). If you haven't already done so, you'll
probably want to consult a map of Israel at the time of the conquest of
Canaan (you may have one at the back of your Bible). After the tribes of
Gad, Reuben, Judah, Manasseh, and Ephraim had their allotments, the
remaining tribes (with the exception of Levi) cast lots and laid their
claim to what was still a sizeable portion of the land. Any additional
fighting may not have been significant enough to record, but obediently
stepping into the prime real estate of the Promised Land still required
courageous faith.
We do learn of one specific battle involving the tribe of Dan, but if you
compare Bible translations you'll notice some uncertainty about the
details. While the NIV translates the first Hebrew phrase in Joshua 19:47
as “But the Danites had difficulty taking possession of their territory,”
the NASB reads, “And the territory of the sons of Dan proceeded beyond
them.” The former view indicates that some of the Danites were forced from
their southern inheritance to live instead in the north. The latter paints
a more positive picture of Dan as dislodging a troublesome faction above
and beyond their assigned responsibility. This latter view seems more
consistent; both versions indicate that Dan fought valiantly at least
once. Many Bible scholars conclude that courage was the rule for Dan
rather than the exception.
After a long, courageous bout with the enemy, Joshua received his
well-deserved inheritance among his tribe. Finally, the assignment of the
land God promised was finished.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - You don't have to be in a dramatic climax of life in
order to show courage. Following God through mundane stretches of time
requires much spiritual fortitude. Sometimes we get complacent and need to
hear words similar to Joshua's speech to the unsettled tribes. How long
will you wait to take the inheritance God has given you? If you're
enjoying still waters, today plunge into the depth of God's love through
prayer and meditation on His Word.
Joshua 18:8
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Joshua charged them that went to describe the land.
In every age of the Church’s story, God has sent forth
men to walk through and describe the land of our spiritual inheritance.
They have become dissatisfied with the low attainments of their brethren,
and with great desire have followed the Divine suggestions which pointed
to a wider knowledge and enjoyment of the possibilities of Christian
living. In the first ages, this was the work of men like Chrysostom and
Augustine; in later ones, of the Reformers; in later ones still, of men
whose names are still fresh in the memory of the Church.
But there is a sense in which all the experiences of
life, all our walkings through the land of promise, all our discoveries of
springs and valleys and far-stretching champaigns of territory, are not
intended for ourselves alone, but for others. We are led by a certain
path, that we may know how to direct a poor wanderer on his way. We are
comforted, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.
Our Father has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, that we
may communicate those blessings to our fellows. We are shown the mysteries
of the Kingdom of Heaven, that we may be able to unfold their joy and
helpfulness to others. We are saved that we may become workers together
with God.
The books which come to us from holy men who have traversed the land are
of priceless value, like this Domesday book which Joshua prepared. But we
who cannot write books should yet describe the land. “Come and hear, all
ye that fear God; and I will declare what He hath done for my soul.” There
is a Divine warrant for experience meetings of the right sort, where the
form is subordinate to the fresh and living Spirit.
Joshua 19:49
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
In the midst of them. (r.v.)
Since Joshua prefigures the Lord Jesus, we are fed to
think of his inheritance in the midst of his brethren.
In the midst on the Cross. — “They crucified
Him, and with Him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
Forasmuch as we partook of flesh and blood, He shared the same; and since
we were under the curse of a broken law, He also bowed beneath its weight,
and was made a curse for us. He took the mid-current of pain; where the
pressure was heaviest, there the Lamb of God bore the sin of the world. On
Him God made to meet the iniquities of us all; alike of those who refuse,
as did the one thief, and of those who accept, as did the other.
In the midst, in the gatherings of his People. —
“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the
midst of them.” He is the center of unity. We come from different quarters
with our peculiar prepossessions and preconceptions, with no special
affinity to each other; but touching Him, we become one with all who touch
Him also. See that, not the sermon, nor the supper, nor the form of
worship, is the center of fellowship; but Christ always and in all. Then
let Him be the center of thy home life and thy business life under all
circumstances.
In the midst in Heaven. — “In the midst of the
throne, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing.” All the circles
of the redeemed, of angels, and of all other beings, revolve around Jesus,
as their common center. They thus become concentric. Jesus is the Heart of
Heaven; the Sun of Paradise; the Essence of its bliss; the Center of its
love; the innermost Soul of its life.
Joshua 20:1-9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Through his character Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle tells us that courage is more than brashly ignoring danger. He
writes, “It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger
when it is close upon you.” That bit of wisdom applies quite well to the
crux of today's reading in a couple of different ways.
For the nation as a whole, it would have been foolish
to deny the possibility of tragic deaths, either accidental or malicious,
especially now that the people were spread out across a wide array of
settlements. Without a plan to handle such a situation, the Promised Land
could have closely resembled the chaos of the American Old West. God in
His foresight provided Israel with a justice system that would apply to
the whole land and could help see to it that patience and truth would
prevail over irrational rage.
The quote also applies to the person who causes a death—it would be doubly
foolish to think that no punishment would come as a result of costing a
man his life. A man in that position no longer needs courage; he needs
protection.
The passage in Numbers gives us a more detailed account of the philosophy
of justice for murder, and it's much different than what we're used to
today. When evaluating the incident, at least two witnesses needed to
testify about the death (v. 30); in our society, one eyewitness can be
evidence for conviction.
If the accused was convicted of murder, a relative of the victim was
permitted to avenge the murder by taking the life of the guilty person (v.
19). Even if he was deemed innocent of malicious, intentional murder,
causing a death was still a serious offense, and the offender couldn't
leave the city of refuge until the death of the high priest without
fearing for his life (vv. 26-28).
We may wonder at this, but God wanted to stress that all life is valuable,
and there is punishment for murder and consequences even for accidents.
Yet God still demonstrates His mercy by instituting protections in the
legal system and by providing cities of refuge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Hopefully the specifics of today's reading don't
come into play in your life any time soon, but there's an important truth
in the text that applies to all of us. God places tremendous value on
human life. He would do anything to save a life, but He can't ignore
justice to do it. Jesus died on the cross to save us, suffering the
penalty that sin imposed on all mankind. We need to value human life in
the same way; tell someone the good news today. Introduce them to the
refuge of grace.
Joshua 20:9
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
And for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
It is interesting to note this provision, made in the
Land of Promise, for the passing over of sins which were not sins of
presumption. In this verse there is that great word “Whosoever.” These
cities of refuge were not for Hebrews only, but for whosoever had killed
any person, without malice or forethought, but quite unintentionally, and
had fled thither. Some poor Gentile might be sojourning among the chosen
people, and suddenly find himself liable to the pursuit of the avenger of
blood; but the gates of the refuge city were open to him, and the elders
of the city were bound to give him a place that he might dwell among them
(Joshua 20:4), not only safely, but in rest and peace.
Herein there was a foreshadowing of the days when God
should open the door of faith unto the Gentiles. “For there is no
distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord is Lord of all, and
is rich unto all them that call upon Him.”
There were two mysteries made known to the Apostle
Paul: one be unfolds in the Epistle to the Ephesians, the other in the
Epistle to the Colossians. First, he teaches us that the Gentiles may be
fellow heirs and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the
promise of Christ through the Gospel. Next, he expatiates on the riches of
the glory of this mystery, among the Gentiles, that the living Savior is
prepared to dwell in their hearts also, as the Hope of Glory. It is a
serious question, how far we are participating in our inheritance. The
gates of the promises made to Abraham and his seed are open for us to
enter in ‘and dwell there; but there is too much backwardness and
hesitancy in us all. “Whosoever will, let him take.”
Joshua 21:1-42; Numbers 35:1-8
TODAY IN THE WORD
A proverb about courage attributed to Aesop reads, “It
is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” The Levites were not afforded
that luxury. One might think that the priests of Israel, the Levites,
would have been set apart and isolated from the other tribes of Israel,
but God didn't plan it that way. They weren't a safe distance away from
the people they were supposed to lead spiritually, and as God's handpicked
representatives, they were to be close to the Almighty as well.
Several times throughout Joshua we've been reminded
that the Levites' inheritance was the Lord Himself; serving Him was their
reward. But they still needed a place to live. God provided for them in a
unique way, bringing provision from every other tribe in Israel.
Consulting a map will show that the Levites were spread so evenly across
the land that no one was very far from a city of priests.
This wasn't a last-minute decision. God commanded Moses that the land be
shared with the priests in this way. The book of Numbers describes the
parameters for the Levite cities, and they include generously sized
pastures around each one. God didn't overlook His priests; He was
determined to show His provision to them in a way that creatively taught
the truth of God with unforgettable permanence and profound symbolism.
God's pattern for sustaining the priests had always been for the people to
support them according to each one's possessions and income. The
distribution of Levite cities was no different. God commanded the larger
territories to yield more cities and the smaller to give up less. This
fair and wise method provided ample space for the Levites and even
distribution of priests throughout the land. It also rooted all of the
tribes in the truth that the land was given to them by God and should be
shared generously with His servants.
Six of the Levite cities also became the cities of refuge we read about
yesterday. It's interesting to note that God chose priests to be a symbol
of protection in times of trouble. “City of refuge” may sound like a
military term, but it's men of faith, not weapon-bearing warriors, who
provide asylum from vengeance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - As salt and light in the world, we can't be
satisfied living a safe distance from the world. God has placed you
in a position to be a spiritual leader to those around you. Stay close to
Him through your personal time with God, and make the most of your place
in the world so that the spiritually needy can come to you for help. The
Lord will be with you; don't fear those who don't believe. God is greater
than the world, and He can give you victory over your own flaws and fears.
Joshua 21:43-45
TODAY IN THE WORD
A quote from one of the characters in Harper Lee's
masterpiece novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, speaks to a different kind of
courage: “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns
and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.”
Joshua's courage led Israel through divinely victorious battles into the
promise of God's peace from war; but the true test of Israel's courage
wasn't in how they fought, but how they lived after the battle.
The last portion of Joshua 21 is an amazing statement,
given all that Israel was up against. They were a people prone to
disobedience. Physically, they were dwarfed by the Canaanites. But nothing
stood in the way of God's promise to Israel during the reign of Joshua;
neither physical enemies nor spiritual failures could prevent God from
showing His love.
Think for a moment about how improbable it was for Israel to enter Canaan.
Consider everything that happened in between God's covenant with Abraham
and today's reading. Israel had started as a nation of one, and that one
wasn't even born until after Abraham and Sarah were well beyond
childbearing years. But that one became a multitude—through sacrifices and
substitutions; stolen birthrights and switched brides; a coat of many
colors and the plotting of many brothers; imprisonment and empowerment;
captivity and deliverance; plagues and a Passover; grumbling and
wandering; and finally, strength and courage—the nation of Israel had
their land, and they had their rest.
Everything we've learned of Israel to this point in their history shows
that they were a nation prone to wander, contentious and disobedient.
There was nothing in their character as a people that set them apart as
decidedly godly or sanctified—nothing, that is, except for a constant
thread of faith. There was always someone in Israel who showed faith in
God.
When we read that not one of the Lord's promises failed, we know who
deserves the glory. God is faithful above anything Israel deserved. He
held on to Israel by a lifeline of faith, and no matter what happened
after Israel claimed their land, they had ample evidence that God reigns
supreme.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Joshua and Israel had missteps of their own along
the way, but God kept His promises to them. We can take heart in that
invaluable lesson about God's longsuffering love. Don't get discouraged by
your failures and your weaknesses—we all have them. Instead, take courage
that God has given you faith and forgiveness. The Lord is mightier than
the world around you and the sin inside you. Serve Him with confidence and
praise Him today!
Joshua 21:45
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken.
Such will be the summary of our lives, as we review
them from the land of the sunset. We shall see plenty of our own failures,
shortcomings, and sins, and sadly acknowledge them. We shall see that our
unbelief and disobedience have deprived us of the enjoyment of much that
God intended for us. We shall see that whatever was lacking was in no wise
due to Him, but to ourselves. The land of our inheritance had been all
given us in Jesus; but we suffered the lack of much, because of our
failure to enter in.
There may be long delays in the fulfillment of
promise. — But delays are not denials; and it is better to let the
fruit ripen before you pluck it. Wait till God drops it into your hand; it
will be ever so much sweeter.
There may be enemies and obstacles. — But they
will give back, before the will of God, as the gates of night roll back
before the touch of the dawn. Do not scheme, or fret, or be impatient; God
is doing all to make thy life full of favour and blessing. Wait on Him,
and keep his way; He will exalt thee to inherit the earth. Thou art as
safe as if the gate of pearl were behind thee; thy joy cannot rust or be
stolen; every wind is a south wind; every shore thy native land; every
circumstance a rough packing-case containing the gifts of thy Fathers
love.
There may be ignorance and weakness. — But God
can dear with this also. Take to Him thine imperfect apprehension, thy
faltering faith, He can make right what is wrong, and adjust thee to
receive all He waits to give. Heaven will be full of wonder at the way in
which God has kept his word, and done all that He had promised, and more.
Joshua 22:1-34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the reforms that brought
about a woman's right to vote, was not the most popular figure in her
time. But her courage to face negative public opinion made her a hero in
American history. She said, “Cautious, careful people always casting about
to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a
reform.”
Courage in the face of popular opposition was exhibited
on both sides of the conflict between the tribes east and west of the
Jordan. The tribes east of the Jordan feared that their decision to claim
the pasturelands of Gilead would be interpreted as an intentional
withdrawal from the rest of Israel. Although they proved their loyalty by
arming themselves and joining in the conquering of Canaan, they wanted to
provide a lasting reminder of their allegiance to Israel and their unity
in the Lord. They wanted future generations to know that a natural
boundary could not separate their supernatural connection, so they boldly
built a very large replica of the altar that stood before the tabernacle.
The tribes west of the Jordan reacted with courage as well. They were
prepared to go to battle to defend the honor of the Lord and prevent the
punishment of God's wrath. It's remarkable that Israel had really seemed
to learn from the lessons of the past. They knew that God would punish
them for worshiping other gods (Num. 25:1-9) or for claiming ownership of
what was rightfully God's (Josh. 7). In the past, Israel had been slow to
take action against blatant rebellion against God, but in this case they
reacted swiftly and collectively at the mere possibility of a sin among
their people. Their courage should be applauded!
But they didn't just react in haste; they confronted the eastern tribes to
allow them to explain their actions. Those tribes responded to the
reaction with appropriate humility and grace. They explained that their
altar was in no way intended to take the place of the true tabernacle
altar or to be used to worship other gods. By their response it was
obvious their hearts were in the right place.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - It can be a very scary thing to confront sin, but
ignoring it is even more terrifying. The Israelites had seen their
brothers die because sin had gone unchecked. Although we're tempted to
overlook sin, gossip about it, or even join in the sin, the appropriate
approach is to confront it firmly, clearly, and lovingly. Even if it's a
misunderstanding, as in today's reading, God is glorified when we risk
being unpopular for the sake of righteousness.
Joshua 22:27
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
A witness between us and you.
The two tribes and a half made the mistake which all
Christendom has made since. They endeavored to erect an outward symbol of
unity in this altar. They hoped that it would secure them from excision
from the rest of Israel. They sought to make a unity, instead of accepting
this as a fact, and endeavoring to manifest it by three pilgrimages a year
to God’s altar at Shiloh.
Similarly, some Christians set up a church, a system, a
creed, and mode of worship, and maintain that the Divine unity can only be
realized in connection with one or other of these. You must be a votary at
their altar of Ed, or you run the risk of their accusing you of the sin of
schism. They substitute an outward for an inward unity, and a mechanical
for a vital spiritual fellowship.
If we belong to Christ, we belong to one another. The
Church, with all its members, is one vine, one body, one family; and
therefore we have to manifest, rather than to make the unity, concerning
which our Lord thought so much in his intercessory prayer. “That they all
may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may
be One in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”
We are one in the thought of the Father, one in the
redemption of the Son, one in the possession of the indwelling Holy
Spirit. Let us be one in our relation to others, pitying, loving, aiding
each other, forgiving and restoring, avoiding unkind comparisons and
criticisms, remembering that the failure or success of one is that of all,
and endeavoring to hasten the hour when the manifested oneness of the
Church shall compel the world to believe that the Father sent the Son.
Joshua 23:1-16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Theodore Roosevelt gave a famous speech: “It is not the
critic who counts. . . . The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives
valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause,
who at best knows achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least
fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Joshua wasn't perfect, but he was faithful with the
task God gave him. Yesterday's reading was a testament to the profound
results of Joshua's leadership: his people had hearts inclined toward
righteousness. Joshua trusted God in battle; no matter how many swords,
spears, and chariots came his way, he held strong. It seems clear by their
obedience that the nation of Israel noticed.
Joshua assembled the leaders of Israel for a farewell speech, and reminded
them of the victories God has won for them. He assured them of the
victories yet to come in completing the command to drive out the enemy. As
God had done for him at the outset of the campaign, Joshua gave the
leaders very clear instructions.
Be strong. Obey God. Don't serve or worship the gods of the people you
conquered. And Joshua really seems to link the trait of courage with the
battle of compromise, because he reminds them of their victories as a
reason for staying true to God. And when Joshua says, “one of you routs a
thousand,” he's not exaggerating (v. 10). The leaders of Israel have seen
firsthand what the Lord can do for them.
But they've also seen what God can do against them, and Joshua reminds
them of the consequences of unfaithfulness. You might feel a chill down
your spine when you read verse 13, because it foreshadows the whips and
thorns of Christ's suffering that came at the hands of a more powerful
foreign nation. As strong a leader as Joshua was, he was not powerful
enough to erase the devastating effects of sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Joshua's warning is a powerful reminder that the
all-inclusive nature of our culture doesn't mesh well with God's plans.
Today's false gospel of “whatever god you worship is okay,” has no place
with the faith described in the Bible. At times you might be disappointed
with the imperfect people who believe in the exclusive claims of God, but
our faith is not in men. Our entire hope is placed in the only One who can
bring us eternal life and victory over sin—Jesus Christ, Son of the one
true God.
Joshua 23:11
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Take good heed unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.
Love is the crown of human nature; its regal chaplet of
flowers; the bond by which the sentient universe is made one; the trait in
which we most nearly resemble God — for God is love. We may love God from
four parts of our nature (Luke 10:27). From the heart, the seat of the
emotions: from the soul, the seat of individuality or will; in the
strength of our activities; and in the mind, the organ of thought and
intelligence. Some natures are more prone to one, and others to another.
Each is a gate into the metropolis of Love, or by which the love of God
may enter us. And it is of small consequence which gate you use, so long
as you use one, and in this way enter the city.
Many people are accustomed to impute love to the heart
only, instead of associating it also with other departments of the inner
life. Because you have no emotion of love, you therefore conclude that you
do not love. But there may be the love of soul, wherein the will crowns
Christ as King; or the love of the strength, wherein all the energy of
life revolves around Jesus; or the love of the mind, in which all thought
is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Choose which you
will.
But we must take heed to ourselves. The love of God
will come naturally and easily in us as the fruit of the Spirit, unless we
do anything to mar or hinder it. Love begets love; think then how much He
loved you, when He gave Himself for you. Take heed to your speech, acts,
intentions, volitions, affections; watch as well as pray; keep yourselves
in the love of God; love one another and so abide in his love; and in you
also the love of God will be perfected.
Joshua 24:15
Choose!
Our Daily Bread
All of us have times when we'd like to be completely
free to do whatever we want. We long to break out of our restricting
circumstances. But total freedom or complete independence is never an
option for us. The Bible declares that we are servants by nature, even
though we might not realize it.
I read about some slave-making ants of the Amazon that illustrate man's
predicament. Hundreds of these ants periodically swarm out of their nest
to capture neighboring colonies of weaker ants. After destroying resisting
defenders, they carry off cocoons containing the larvae of worker ants.
When these "captured children" hatch, they assume that they are part of
the family and launch into the tasks they were born to do. They never
realize that they are forced-labor victims of the enemy.
Just as these little creatures are captives from the time of their birth,
so we enter the world enslaved to sin and Satan. But there is a solution.
By turning to Christ in faith, we are released from the condemnation of
sin. Then by the Holy Spirit's power we can begin serving the Lord.
We are all servants. Our decision, as Joshua pointed out, is not whether
we will serve, but whom. —M. R. De Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
The freedom to choose is a gift from the Lord,
He wants you to serve Him of your own accord;
Right now He is calling for you to decide
To give Him your talents and serve by His side. —Hess
True freedom is found in submission to Christ.
Joshua 24:1-13
TODAY IN THE WORD
General Douglas MacArthur paints an interesting portrait of a soldier:
“The soldier, above all other men, is required to perform the highest act
of religious teaching—sacrifice. In battle and in the face of danger and
death he discloses those divine attributes, which his Maker gave when He
created man in his own image. No physical courage and no brute instincts
can take the place of the divine annunciation and spiritual uplift which
will alone sustain him.”
Joshua was a teacher. He was particularly capable of demonstrating for
Israel precisely how to follow God. Most of the time he taught by example,
but today is more of a history lesson with a lecture provided from the
Lord (v. 2). In it, we retrace the mobile journey of Israel from Abraham's
original home in Ur, through a tour of Canaan, the journey into Egypt, the
Exodus out of Egypt, the prolonged wandering in the desert, and the
conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua also clearly states that at every
step of the way, Israel was never alone. God was with them, clearing the
way for them to complete their journey into a permanent home of blessing.
Verses 12 and 13 punctuate that point. It was not Israel themselves who
defeated their enemies. What's more, they inherited more than just land;
it was developed land at that (v. 13). Joshua makes a very subtle point
here. The Promised Land was occupied by wicked people who worshiped false
gods, but the one true God raised them into prominence to build cities for
His people to enjoy. In a sense, the Canaanites had been Israel's forced
labor before they ever set foot in the land.
In effect, Israel didn't have to expend their strength to take the land,
nor did they have to toil and sweat to make the land livable. God, in His
sovereign wisdom, provided Israel with the perfect inheritance, ready for
them to enjoy. It remained to be seen how Israel would handle the
privilege of having everything they could have hoped for. Tomorrow, our
focus will shift to the future commitment of Israel. The lesson of today,
though, is that God had dramatically and unmistakably lavished Israel with
everything He promised, and much more than they deserved.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - It's worthwhile to reflect on the history of our
faith. It shows us God's divinely orchestrated plan to bring us into His
family. Who is the person, or people, who helped lead you to know Christ?
If you haven't already, try to learn how they came to faith. Trace back
your spiritual lineage as far as you can go. You won't have to go far to
be amazed at the intricate care the Lord took to include you in His plan
of salvation.
Joshua 24:14-27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “It is plain that there is no separate
essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the
heart containing drops or atoms that make or give this virtue; but it is
the right or healthy state of every man, when he is free to do that which
is constitutional to him to do.” Indeed, Israel's courage was rooted in
their willingness to fulfill God's designed purpose: to serve Him.
Joshua emphasizes that purpose in no uncertain terms. It's really not
that complicated. Ironically, this man whose driving purpose was to be
strong and courageous begins his final charge to Israel by instructing
them to fear. He said, “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all
faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped . . . and
serve the Lord” (v. 14).
Joshua doesn't just command Israel to obey; he gives them a choice and
makes evident his choice to serve the Lord. And the people respond with
conviction that they, too, would serve the Lord, recounting His great
works on their behalf. Joshua reminds them that obedience, while simple to
understand, is not easy to execute. He warns the people of God's holy
nature and Israel's spotty record. Still, Israel resolutely professed the
commitment to serve the Lord.
So there at Shechem, Joshua made a covenant for Israel in the same city
where Abraham first made an altar to God in Canaan (Gen. 12:6). For a more
detailed picture of the covenant and the decrees and laws, you may want to
devote some time to read chapters 19-24 in Exodus when Moses performed a
similar act on Israel's behalf.
Joshua once again provides an object lesson to teach Israel and their
descendants the importance of following God's law. The rock under the oak
tree stood as a witness against Israel if they ever strayed from their
allegiance to God. In fact, all the people of Israel were witnesses
against themselves, having testified that they would serve the Lord and
not be moved to worship other gods. History shows us, however, that Israel
did not long show the stability and fortitude of the rock. But while
Joshua was leading them, as we'll study tomorrow, their commitment to the
Lord was firm.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - You've probably noticed by now that a hallmark of
Joshua's leadership was the frequent repetition of the law of God for all
of Israel to hear. Israel's faithfulness under Joshua wasn't by chance. We
can't expect to be faithful to God if we don't make His Word a fixture in
our lives. Memorizing Scripture is a great way to give the Bible a
permanent place in your heart. Why not start with Joshua 24:23?
Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 4:10-19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In “The Road Not Taken,” the poet Robert Frost ponders how his life
might have been different had he made different choices. Frost concludes,
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
This poem reminds us of an important truth: life is a journey and the
path we take makes all the difference. Not all paths lead to the same
place. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are ultimately on the path to
eternal life. But during our lives in this world, we make choices that
lead either to abundant life or to spiritual dryness. Proverbs is like a
road map that shows us what these two paths look like.
Today’s passage develops this path metaphor. Yesterday we saw that those
who sought wisdom found life–a promise echoed in verse 10. Here we see
that the way of wisdom is a straight path (v. 11) because it leads to
rightness or justice. Thus the way of wisdom allows one to walk unhindered
by deception or fear of falling because of sin. Because wisdom leads to
life, it’s to be guarded and applied (v. 13).
In addition to seeking wisdom, we must avoid evil. We shouldn’t put even
our big toe on this path! This may seem overstated until we consider that
initially evil rarely looks bad. In fact, most sins look adventurous and
enticing . . . at first. But Proverbs shows us what the end of the road
looks like. And here, the end of the evil path really doesn’t look that
exciting. Here are people so consumed by greed, lust, revenge, or some
other evil, that they can’t even sleep at night. Unless they harm someone,
they aren’t content. We may call this thinking psychopathic today, but
Proverbs shows that this is where the path of evil leads.
As if to drive this home, verses 18 and 19 compare the two paths. Using
the familiar imagery of light and dark, the stark difference between the
two paths couldn’t be more vividly drawn.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY We would like to emphasize an earlier point: as
believers, our ultimate destination is eternal glory with Jesus. But
between now and then, we make choices that either promote or hinder
abundant life. So it’s worth considering which of these two paths you are
on today. Are you asking the Lord to show you how to bless other people’s
lives, or are you harboring grudges and vengeful thoughts? These are hard
questions. But if you know you’re on the wrong path, it’s not too late to
change direction and head down the path to life!
Joshua 24:19
F B Meyer
Our Daily Homily
Ye cannot serve the Lord.
It seemed as though Joshua sought to damp down the
enthusiasm of the people. They were all on fire to serve, but he repressed
their ardor, crying, “Back, back! This is no place for you.” We are
reminded of a precise analogy in the Gospels, where our Savior said to
Peter and the rest, “Ye cannot follow Me now” (John 13:31–38). Why this
Divine reluctance?
The answer is clear, when we consider the sequel in
each case. In the one, we have only to turn a page in our Bibles, to come
on all the disobedience, anarchy, and backsliding of the Book of Judges;
in the other we see that Peter denied and the rest forsook Him. How
obviously it was shown that there was a moral incompatibility between
their self-confident assertions and the service of the Holy God. But this
incompatibility was present to the Spirit’s discernment when these strong
asseverations were made, first by the Israelites, and secondly by the
Apostles.
So it becomes us to speak very reverently and leniently
of our ability to obey. We are probably over-estimating our powers.
Created might wanes and fails beneath the searching demands of the Holy
One. Perpetual failure has weakened us; for when once a door has been
broken through a wall, that spot is always ways weaker. A fallen ancestry
has predisposed us to fail. To will is present with us, but how to perform
that which is good we find not. No one can look thoughtfully into the
workings of his own nature without realizing the terrible paralysis which
has befallen it. We need then that God should counteract our fickleness by
upholding us with his steadfast, or constant, Spirit (Psalm 51:10).
Joshua 24:28-33
TODAY IN THE WORD
On the first day of the month, we looked at a quote
from Andrew Jackson, and we'll revisit that thought today. He said, “One
man with courage makes a majority.”
That sums up Joshua's life as a leader in Israel. Not
many leaders in all of history could lay claim to what is said of Joshua
in verse 31. His nation served the Lord until the day he died, and even
after that throughout the lives of the other leaders who served under him.
Joshua died at the age of 110, and what an eventful 110-year period it
was. When Joshua was born, Israel was under captivity in Egypt. When he
died, they were enjoying the peace and riches of the Promised Land. He
held the distinct honor of being buried in the same land as Joseph, of
whom Joshua was a direct descendant. And the book of Joshua concludes with
the burial of Eleazar, the High Priest. So in the land of the sons of
Joseph were buried a general, a priest, and a forefather of the nation. We
get the sense that an era of faithfulness is drawing to a close in Israel.
The years that followed would be marked by a cycle of disobedience,
judgment, and redemption, which makes Joshua's consistent leadership and
Israel's faithfulness under him all the more remarkable.
Through a summary glance at Joshua's leadership, it doesn't seem
difficult. God gave him clear directions, Joshua followed them, and Israel
was greatly blessed. So why is Joshua's example such a rare item in the
history of the world? Maybe because Joshua understood that he wasn't
primarily a leader; he was a follower of the Lord. He let God call the
shots. When Joshua acted without God's specific direction, he made
mistakes. But when he did listen to God's commands, he followed them with
unparalleled courage.
God commanded him to lead His people, which involved being strong,
courageous, and obedient. Courage, strength, and submission don't often
materialize in one man, but when they do, it makes for a powerful
combination. Joshua did that. He lived up to the name Moses had given him:
“The Lord brings salvation.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - If you're looking for that secret ingredient that
made Joshua a great leader, don't look at Joshua. Look to God. His power,
His Word, and His faithfulness are all available to you. Then you have to
look at yourself. If making money, having fun, and being popular are among
your top goals, you can never be the leader Joshua was. But if serving the
Lord is your definition of success, God will give you the strength and
courage to fulfill your purpose.
