Devotional

Jos 11:1-2, …when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were from the north, in the mountains, in the plain south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,

Israel had defeated the kings of the south with the power of GOD on their side! Now the northern kings gather together a mighty army!

Jos 11:6, But the LORD said to Joshua, “DO NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE OF THEM, for tomorrow about this time I WILL DELIVER ALL OF THEM SLAIN BEFORE ISRAEL…

IF GOD IS WITH YOU WHY BE AFRAID? BUT, WE AS HUMANS ALWAYS NEED TO BE REASSURED AND HE KNOWS THIS!

Psa 103:14, FOR HE KNOWS OUR FRAME; HE REMEMBERS THAT WE ARE DUST. 

Jos 11:21, … JOSHUA CAME AND CUT OFF THE ANAKIM FROM THE MOUNTAINS:

THE LORD PREPARED AND TRAINED ISRAEL WITH EACH BATTLE! NOW THEY FACED THE ANAKIM WHOM THEY RAN FROM 40 YEARS BACK & THEY DEFEATED THEM! WITH EACH VICTORY HE BUILDS OUR FAITH & OUR TRUST IN HIM!  EVEN GIANT PROBLEMS LOOK SMALL WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE!

1Co 15:57, But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The 5 kings united to fight against Israel, by attacking the Gibeonites! 

Jos 10:8, And the LORD said to Joshua, “DO NOT FEAR THEM, FOR I HAVE DELIVERED THEM INTO YOUR HAND; NOT A MAN OF THEM SHALL STAND BEFORE YOU.”

Jos 10:11, … as they fled before Israel … that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah,…

Jos 10:12-13, Then Joshua spoke to the LORD… and he said in the sight of Israel: “SUN, STAND STILL OVER GIBEON; AND MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF AIJALON.” SO THE SUN STOOD STILL, AND THE MOON STOPPED…

Heb 10:31, IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. 

Jos 10:14, And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, THAT THE LORD HEEDED THE VOICE OF A MAN; FOR THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL. 

WE OFTEN IGNORE OR PUT TO ONE SIDE THE POWER WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS! PRAYER CALLS ON HIS POWER NOT OURS! YET WE TEND TO IGNORE PRAYER WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGHT! IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? 

Psa 118:6, THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME? 

Jos 9:4, they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 

The Gibeonites deceived Joshua to make a covenant with them! IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD TO DESTROY THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR IDOL WORSHIP (EX 23:23-24), YET JOSHUA WAS DECEIVED!

Jos 9:14-15, …BUT THEY DID NOT ASK COUNSEL OF THE LORD. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live…

2Sa 21:1, Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 

THE LORD HONORED THE COVENANT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE GIBEONITES, BUT LATER king SAUL KILLED THEM WHICH BROUGHT A FAMINE IN THE LAND! AND

Ecc 5:2 NLT, DON’T MAKE RASH PROMISES, AND DON’T BE HASTY IN BRINGING MATTERS BEFORE GOD.

BRING EVERYTHING TO THE LORD FIRST! ASK FOR WISE COUSEL AND SEEK HIS FACE!

Jos 8:2, And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. ONLY ITS SPOIL AND ITS CATTLE YOU SHALL TAKE AS BOOTY FOR YOURSELVES.

The spoils of Jericho were consecrated to the LORD (Jos 6:19), but the spoils at AI were for the people! HE DESERVES THE FIRST FRUITS!

Pro 3:9, HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR POSSESSIONS, AND WITH THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ALL YOUR INCREASE; 

Jos 8:29, AND THE KING OF AI HE HANGED ON A TREE UNTIL EVENING. …

Gal 3:13-14, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, HAVING BECOME A CURSE FOR US (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

JESUS WAS TREATED AS A CRIMINAL; FOR OUR KING WAS HUNG ON A TREE, NOT FOR HIMSELF, BUT BECAUSE OF US! HE TOOK THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS AND WE TOOK THE BLESSINGS OF HIS RIGHTEOUS LIFE! HEAVEN IS NOT FOR GOOD PEOPLE, BUT IT’S FOR FORGIVEN PEOPLE BY HIS BLOOD THROUGH FAITH IN HIM! HE IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE KING! TRUST IN HIM FOR HE IS NEAR!

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! 1^st)  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”.  2^nd) 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!

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! 

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.

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!

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!

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!