Author: Alfonso Maldonado

Joshua 7, the valley of Anchor

Jos 7:1  But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan …, took of the accursed things; SO THE ANGER OF THE LORD BURNED AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 

Jos 7:3-4, And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “DO NOT LET ALL THE PEOPLE GO UP, BUT LET ABOUT TWO OR THREE THOUSAND MEN GO UP AND ATTACK AI. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” So about three thousand men went up there from the people, BUT THEY FLED BEFORE THE MEN OF AI.

2 Things are wrong here! 1st)  Achan took from the accursed things that Joshua clearly told them to stay away from! Joshua 6:18 “BY ALL MEANS ABSTAIN FROM THE ACCURSED THINGS, LEST YOU BECOME ACCURSED”.  2nd) it never mentions that Joshua consulted the LORD in regards to the CITY OF AI

ANCHAN’S WHOLE FAMILY PAID THE PRICE!

1Co 5:6, …DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENS THE WHOLE LUMP? 

2 SINS, THE SIN OF COMMISSION (ACHAN) AND THE SIN OF OMISSION (JOSHUA).  YOUR SIN WILL ALWAYS BE REVEALED! YOU MUST DECREASE AND HE MUST INCREASE IN YOUR LIFE!

Joshua 6, the fall of Jericho,

Jos 6:2, And the LORD said to Joshua: “SEE! I HAVE GIVEN JERICHO INTO YOUR HAND, ITS KING, AND THE MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR.

It’s already done in the eyes of God! HE HAS GIVEN (PASS TENSE) JERICHO INTO THEIR HANDS, BUT THEY HAD TO TAKE IT FROM HIM

Jos 6:17, Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. ONLY RAHAB THE HARLOT SHALL LIVE, SHE AND ALL WHO ARE WITH HER IN THE HOUSE, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 

GOD HAS MADE A WAY FOR ALL SINNERS, YES EVEN A HARLOT, MURDERER OR THIEF TO HAVE SALVATION! THE WORKS OF RAHAB ONLY CONFIRMED HER FAITH IN THE LIVING GOD!

JUST AS JERICHO WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. THEY STILL NEEDED TO DO THE WORK OF RECEIVING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN! IT’S A GIFT OF THE LORD!

Eph 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.

TAKE IT AND LIVE, FOR HE IS THE ONLY TRUE WAY FOR SALVATION! 

Joshua 5, the Commander appears

Jos 5:2-3, …”Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.” SO JOSHUA MADE FLINT KNIVES FOR HIMSELF, AND CIRCUMCISED THE SONS OF ISRAEL AT THE HILL OF THE FORESKINS.

Jos 5:5, For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, HAD NOT BEEN CIRCUMCISED.

They had just crossed over the Jordan and they are in hostile territory! They were made vulnerable to their enemies! Remember Simeon & Levi! (Gen 34:24-25)

Jos 5:9, Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”…

HE rolled away their sin of unbelief the same sin that kept Israel in the wilderness for 40 years! They were scared, yet this day by circumcising themselves in hostile territory they placed their faith FULLY ON THE LORD! WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, WITH FAITH BRINGS THE COMMANDER OF THE LORDS ARMY TO HELP! TRUST IN HIM!

Pro 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Joshua 4, Twelve stones

Jos 4:3, … ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE JORDAN, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. YOU SHALL CARRY THEM OVER WITH YOU AND LEAVE THEM IN THE LODGING PLACE WHERE YOU LODGE TONIGHT.’

Jos 4:9, THEN JOSHUA SET UP TWELVE STONES IN THE MIDST OF THE JORDAN, IN THE PLACE WHERE THE FEET OF THE PRIESTS

There are 2 sets of 12 stones!

Jos 4:21-24, … ‘WHAT ARE THESE STONES?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; …, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, … that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, THAT IT IS MIGHTY, THAT YOU MAY FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD FOREVER

AS HUMANS WE TEND TO FORGET HIS WORKS! THAT’S WHY HE TELLS US “REMEMBER” LOOK BACK! THE STONES SETUP IN THE JORDAN WOULD BE COVERED UP! BUT IN TIMES OF DROUGHT THEY WOULD REVEAL THEMSELVES. THEN THEY CAN SEE THE STONES IN HARD TIMES AND REMEMBER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD! HE IS FAITHFUL, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR TIMES OF DROUGHT! HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU! WE ARE HIS PEOPLE & HE OUR LORD & GOD!

Joshua 3, Crossing the Jordan

Jos 3:5, And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, FOR TOMORROW THE LORD WILL DO WONDERS AMONG YOU.” 

The day has come to cross over the Jordan! Israel had to Sanctify themselves before the LORD! WITHOUT HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD! Heb 12:14

Jos 3:7, And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I WILL BEGIN TO EXALT YOU in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, AS I WAS WITH MOSES, SO I WILL BE WITH YOU.

Psa 75:6-7, FOR EXALTATION comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. BUT GOD IS THE JUDGE: HE PUTS DOWN ONE, AND EXALTS ANOTHER.

Exaltation or promotions comes from the LORD! It’s HIS hand on your life that makes this possible! It’s not about you, but HIM!

Jos 3:9-10, So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “COME HERE, AND HEAR THE WORDS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.”… By this you shall know that the LIVING GOD IS AMONG YOU…

JOSHUA KNOWS IT’S NOT ABOUT HIM AS A LEADER BUT THE LORD WHO LEADS HIM! HE SAID THAT THE LIVING GOD IS AMONG THEM! KNOW THAT HE IS ALWAYS THERE! AND IN TIMES OF EXALTATION GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE! PRIASE HIM ALWAYS, IT’S NOT BY YOUR STRENGHT, BUT BY HIS!

Joshua 2, a divine appointment!

Jos 2:1, Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho…

They had a mission to check out the defenses of Jericho, but the LORD used it for HIS good! They entered the house of a harlot Rahab!

Jos 2:9,10,11 … “I KNOW THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE LAND…FOR WE HAVE HEARD HOW THE LORD DRIED UP THE WATER OF THE RED SEA FOR YOU… FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD, HE IS GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND ON EARTH BENEATH. 

Heb 11:31, By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe

This is a divine appointment for Rahab, she knows who GOD is and who she is; a sinner in need of salvation! SHE HAD FAITH AND SHE PROVED IT BY HER WORKS!

Jas 2:26, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 

SAYING YOU HAVE FAITH AND ACTING ON YOUR FAITH ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS! THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH WILL EITHER DRIVE YOU FURTHER FROM THE LORD OR BRING YOU CLOSER TO HIM!  HE IS FAITHFUL WHILE WE FALL SHORT! COUNT IT ALL JOY!

Joshua 1, Be Strong & Courageous

Jos 1:5, No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I WAS WITH MOSES, SO I WILL BE WITH YOU. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.

The LORD SPOKE TO JOSHUA AND HE REASSURED HIM THAT HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH HIM! JUST AS OUR LORD TOLD US!

Heb 13:5, … For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” 

Jos 1:9, Have I not commanded you? BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE; DO NOT BE AFRAID, nor be dismayed, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.

4 TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER IT’S WRITTEN “BE STRONG AND COURAGES” VERSE 6, 7, 9, & 18

AT TIMES LIFE CAN GET HARD AND YOU MAY THINK THERE IS NO WAY OUT! YET HE TELLS US TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND HAVE FAITH IN HIS PROMISES!

Num 23:19, “GOD IS NOT A MAN, THAT HE SHOULD LIE, NOR A SON OF MAN, THAT HE SHOULD REPENT. HAS HE SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO? Or has HE SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD? 

BE STRONG IN HIM AND IN HIS WORD. ALWAYS SEEK HIM AND DEPEND ON HIM! HE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE! BE STRONG!

Genesis 50, Mourning for Jacob

Gen 50:19-20, Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? BUT AS FOR YOU, YOU MEANT EVIL AGAINST ME; BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, in order to bring it about as it is this day, TO SAVE MANY PEOPLE ALIVE.

Joseph knew that that he had the power and authority to judge his brothers, but he left that to God! Joseph knew that “THEY SOLD HIM BECAUSE THEY HATED HIM, BUT ALSO KNEW GOD WAS IN FULL CONTROL OF THE SITUATION!

Rom 8:28, … ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD

Gen 50:21, NOW THEREFORE, DO NOT BE AFRAID; I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR LITTLE ONES.” AND HE COMFORTED THEM AND SPOKE KINDLY TO THEM. 

Joseph is a type of Christ! We have sinned against almighty GOD, but JESUS put on human flesh and came down to Egypt (the world) in order to “SAVE MANY PEOPLE ALIVE” for Scripture says

Dan 9:26, And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF;

HE WAS CRUCIFIED BECAUSE OF OUR SINS; HE WAS TORTURED BECAUSE OF OUR INIQUITIES AND BY HIS STRIPS WE ARE HEALED! WE ARE CLEANSED BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS!

Genesis 49, Jacob blesses his kids

Gen 49:2, “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father. 

As believers we have two natures! Jacob which is the flesh and Israel which represents the Spirit! These two natures fight against each other!

Gal 5:16-17, I say then: WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. FOR THE FLESH LUSTS AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH; AND THESE ARE CONTRARY TO ONE ANOTHER..

Gen 49:9, JUDAH IS A LION’S WHELP; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; ..

Judah himself is a young lion (WHELP) a cub! YET from him will come the true LION! JESUS!

Rev 5:5, But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH..

Gen 49:11, …He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.

HE came is a lamb, yet HE comes back as a fierce LION! Isaiah 63:1, ‘WHO IS THIS WHO COMES WITH DYED GARMENTS RIGHTEOUS & MIGHTY TO SAVE! WHO HAS TRODDEN THE WINEPRESS ALONE! JESUS IS COMING BACK WITH POWER! ALL SHALL BOW BEFORE HIM, THE TRUE KING!

Genesis 48, Joseph’s first born

Gen 48:10,13, Now the EYES OF ISRAEL WERE DIM WITH AGE, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them…And Joseph took them both, EPHRAIM WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TOWARD ISRAEL’S LEFT HAND, and MANASSEH WITH HIS LEFT HAND TOWARD ISRAEL’S RIGHT HAND, and brought them near him.

Note scripture here calls Jacob “ISRAEL”, his eyes were dim with age, but HE KNEW THE WILL OF GOD AND COULD SEE MORE CLEARLY THAN JOSEPH! Manasseh was Joseph’s first born so he took him on his left so Israel could put his right hand on him!

Gen 48:14, THEN ISRAEL STRETCHED OUT HIS RIGHT HAND AND LAID IT ON EPHRAIM’S HEAD, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, GUIDING HIS HANDS KNOWINGLY, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

ISRAEL KNOWING BLESSED GAVE THE BLESSING OF THE FIRSTBORN TO THE YOUNGER! JER 31:9

Col 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION. 

FIRSTBORN IS NOT WHAT WE THINK, IT SHOWS HIS AUTHORITY OVER HIS BROTHER! JESUS IS THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION! HIS HAS AUTHORITY OVER ALL! HE IS THE KING OF kings AND LORD of lords! HE IS THE ONLY WAY!