Judges 5

Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might." And the land was undisturbed for forty years. Judges 5:31 How do we reconcile passages like this that calls for the enemies of the Lord to perish, yet we are commanded to "love our enemies" by Jesus in Matthew 5:44? It's not so difficult if you compare the passages. In Judges 5 the enemy is an entire nation, and war was the only choice in the situation. When you're fighting for the Lord, you're prayer is that the enemies of God will not stand. However, in Matthew 5, Jesus is talking about our individual one-on-one relationships (read the chapter if you need to). Certainly they do not hold the weight of country vs. country, and when we have enemies, we are to love them. The greatest reason, is that one day they will no longer be our enemy, but our brother in Christ, perhaps even won by your attitude towards them. Truly in America, we don't really have persecuting enemies as our brothers and sisters in other countries do. But, those we perceive as enemies are not to receive our animosity, but our love. How do you love someone you don't like? Well, this is a difficult thing, and I would be a liar to say that I've done it perfectly in my personal and ministry life. Ephesians 4:32 has always spoken to me "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Now if the person continually seeks to do you harm, you may have to "love them from a distance" as a good friend once said. Analyze yourself right now: do you have someone who is an enemy, or that you treat as one? As Christians, this should not be so. I understand, I don't know what they did to you. However, if that person knocked on your door today and asked for your forgiveness, would you accept it? God can do what He wants with His enemies, because He is right and just in every situation, and clearly even the book of Revelation shows the final showdown in that realm. But, what about yours? Are your fights really worth it? Are they over things of the Bible, or over petty personal squabbles? If believers would fight for the right things, maybe non-believers wouldn't write us off as no better than them. For the sake of other believers, and your own walk (staying angry makes you bitter, not better), love the person, even if they don't love you. Remember, Jesus loved you before you ever thought about loving Him.

Judges 4

Deborah said to Barak, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold , the LORD has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. Judges 4:14 I have seen two examples of women who at one time have led a church. Elizabeth Elliott shares about when she was helping to plant churches in Africa. She would take a man who seemed to be spiritually sensitive and would mentor him and train him during the week. She would preach for the first weeks or even months until that man was ready, and then when he was, he became the pastor, and Elizabeth would sit in the congregation under his authority. On the other hand you have Paula White, or even Joyce Meyer who doesn't lead a church but does proclaim herself a preacher. Both of these women see the Bible as granting them authority to preach, because Paul wrote his instructions in a time when it wasn't accepted. As we have seen before, God's word doesn't expire, so if the message of the Bible changes it's only because we say it does and not because the unchanging God did it. Here in Judges 4 we see a great example of a women who led out of necessity, but made the attempts to place a man in charge. Debroah really set the model that Elliott would later use. Barak the general of Israel wouldn't go fight without her, so she finally goes. But, when they get to the battlefield, she then charges Barak to take the army and go down, and he finally does. This is the model of leadership in the Bible. Men are to lead in ministry (which is what Deborah was doing), just as they are to lead in the home. If men lead at home, but not at church, you have a broken system of leadership. If you're a man, I ask you, do you lead your household? If you're married, do you care for the spiritual condition of your family. If you're not married, do you handle your money and time responsibly? If you are a woman, do you allow your husband to lead in your family? It doesn't mean that you have no say in discussions, but do you nag or encourage? Many men today are poor leaders, because they grew up under a generation of under-involved dads. Encourage your husband to be the leader God wants him to be. My wife has even gotten me back on track if I've neglected spiritual priorities in our home. You'll receive the blessing when you honor the Word of God.

Joshua 3

They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses Judges 3:4 I truly despise expiration dates. I've always loved milk, and I remember the first time as a child, not knowing about these dates, I drank some milk out of the fridge that nearly turned me off of milk forever. Or what about gift certificates that you get as gifts? How can a company take money from someone, gift a certificate, and say that the money eventually expires if the certificate is not used? Even our soda now has a date for it's best taste (which I think is because of the evils of switching from glass to plastic bottles). Here in the beginning of the chapter, we see that God's commandments have no expiration date either. Israel was expected to still follow the commandments that were handed down through a leader that had come two generations ago. God's Word does not expire, or become culturally irrelevant. His Word and instructions are completely right and proper even today, and deserve our immediate obedience. My children sometimes will allow a couple days since a command ("don't jump on the furniture), to mean that now the rules have reset and they must be retold. There is no such expiration date with God. Are you obeying the rules of the Lord? Are you telling yourself that certain sins aren't really sins for you, or that you have different circumstances? Sin is sin, because God says it is. It is comforting to notice that every time Israel called out to God instead of the false idols, that God rescued them, but when the people went back to their wicked ways, God gave them over to their idiocy.

Joshua 2

Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you Judges 2:1 When I first got to basic training, they try to scare you to death and there are lots of mental games. During the first day or two you can actually choose to leave basic training, and they'll let you go. I'll never forget the drill sergeants giving us an option to leave after the first day, and about 15 guys left! It wasn't fun, and I was tempted, but I decided to keep my commitment because of the opportunity to serve and the college benefits. During week 5 of 8 they asked again who would like to leave. A few people raised their hands, and they were berated, but not allowed to leave. The cost for putting a soldier through basic is over $100,000/soldier. They didn't want to lose that investment and expected us to keep our end of the bargain. While the army wants commitment, so does Jesus. It says in this verse that the messenger is the "angel of the Lord", but notice that he does not deliver a message from God, but speaks as if he is God Himself as He says "I" often. When you see "angel of the Lord", you are looking at an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament days. Jesus being fully God can also talk of the covenant the people have with Him to remain from false gods, but there is another covenant. Old Testament believers trusted in a Messiah who was to come, and New Testament believers, and us today, trust in a Messiah who has come. Even the first book, Genesis, is filled with information, prophecy, and pictures of Christ. So if Jesus came to you today, would He call you a covenant-fulfiller or a covenant-breaker? Remember, we will never be perfect, but Israel continued to go down this road of habitual sin as they worshipped false gods repeatedly. Do you have sin that is repeated in your life? Are you making a choice to stay away from it, and asking for God's help? It doesn't mean that if you sin again, that God dropped the ball. He allows us to work with Him as areas of our life come in line with Jesus. But, the Bible is very clear that we have to take those steps of obedience, and then He will bless them. I pray that if you are dealing with the same sin repeatedly, look at what God says about Israel here. Don't you think He is just as distraught over you doing the same thing as a believer today?

Judges 1

It came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely. Judges 1:28 One of my favorite movies is "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson playing a militia commander during the American Revolutionary War. In the last open field battle, you see the insanity of 18th century warfare; to stand shoulder to shoulder 50 yards from each other, while you alternate taking shots at people. In these kind of wars the biggest concern you had was to hold the line. If one section of the line retreated, then the sides that remained would be in trouble. With the line broken by a section that had left, you now had other parts of the line that could be completely surrounded. It would get awfully lonely on the front line if the men to your right or left suddenly ran off. Here as we enter the book of Judges we see a similar circumstance. You cannot blame disobedience on one or two in Israel, but on many. There is a list of those who did not drive the Canaanites completely from the land, and so together they put the brakes on the plans that God had for them. Clearly God had been with the people as they entered the land, but now the inhabitants were too strong for God's people. Is this because God stopped what He was supposed to do, or the people? Clearly the people had sin that was separating between them and God, and so they were simply making slaves of the Canaanites. This will allow not only rebellion by those people, but infiltration of false gods and beliefs into the camp of God's people. Let me ask you a question: are you holding the line? Are there things going undone in your personal life because of your sin and selfishness? Are there things going undone in your church because you are not investing your time? A church's success is not measured in numbers but by it's obedience to the Lord. I'd rather worship with 20 people who are completely sold out for Jesus, than to worship with 200 who are marginal and generally unconcerned with their Christian walk. Hold the line. Hold fast to the Word of God. Deal with sin quickly. Put God's purposes first in your life.

Joshua 24

choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Josh 24:15 I remember that we had a wall hanging in our house growing up that had the end of this phrase "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." However, that house was torn apart by divorce and caused a lot of hurt to a lot of people. Truly, wall hangings and scripture-a-day calendars, do not make strong believers. They are as useful as church attendance in determining who is committed to Jesus. Despite the number of times this verse has been referenced and preached, I still don't think people really get what it means. It means that our house honors God, as does everything in it. Joshua was telling the people to put away idols, because already some of them apparently had been incorporating the false gods of their new land. These gods would sit prominently on a shelf in the home, and would be part of that home. A Christian home is one where the entire home honors God. What kind of books are there in the house to read? What is on television in that home? How do people talk to one another in that home? Do you know why many kids seem to be so unconcerned with spiritual things? It's because the parents expect the church to spiritually instruct their kids, so the kids see it as important at church, but not at home. That does not build strong homes. Who does your house serve? As a household, have you chosen Jesus as the focus of your home? Would people who come into your house know that? I don't mean by the pictures and wall hangings, but by the love, relationships, and conversations that exist in your home. Have you chosen to serve the Lord in all areas, and are you helping your kids to do the same? As Joshua challenged, choose this day. Stop walking a crooked line between godly things and worldly things, but chose a straight path directly in God's will.

Joshua 23

But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. Josh 23:8 You know what I hate about saran wrap? How wrappy it is. When I was growing up I had to rotate with my sister to clean the kitchen after supper. It never failed that there were leftovers that needed to be stored, and saran wrap to be used in covering it. I often wasted a lot of wrap because I would get it out and it would start sticking to things and get all twisted up before I was able to use it. I was eventually able to get it done, but I wasted a lot because of how quickly that stuff would cling. God wants us to be spiritual saran wrap. Joshua said the people are to cling to God. Not just look for Him, or hang out with Him when they get the chance. We are to cling to Him, be constantly attached to Him, never separated. Sin separates us from God. If we're Christians it's not permanent, but it certainly hinders our ability to serve and love Him. And if you're not a Christian, you are certainly separated from God. Do you cling to God? Are you constantly seeking to stay in constant fellowship with God? Or are you content to have moments where you cling to the wrong things? Often that saran wrap would just cling to itself, and in the same way, we often get a little stuck on ourselves instead of God. You put Him first, clinging to Him, and watch your life, even as a Christian, be different.

Joshua 22

"Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Josh 22:5 I don't know what's worse: the fact that paintball is on ESPN or that I watch it. Two teams of usually six, hide behind inflatable cover as they try to get the other team. They act like they're an army unit, and just look like a bunch of nerds. In most every situation, the reason someone gets hit by a paintball is that they weren't careful. Someone dodges from behind their cover and they just get pegged. The team that wins is usually the team that is more patient and careful, at least in paintball anyway. We've come across the Reubenites and Gadites several times, and every time I'm impressed with them as people of their word. These were the people who were satisfied to get land just across the river from the promised land, but promised Moses they would still fight in Canaan to help Israel defeat the other people. Now these families are living across the river and they build an altar. Only the chief priests were allowed to sacrifice on an altar that was for all Israel. However, when the priests arrive, they find out that the Reubenites and Gadites weren't even using the altar. It was a witness, essentially a reminder, that there was a God to be worshipped and obeyed, but they were still going to go through the priests to do it. Truly they had not forgotten the commands, and were careful in the reasons why they built the altar. How careful are you in obeying the Lord? Do you try to come up with reasons why your sin is OK? When people try to justify their sin, they are not living a careful life before the Lord. Christians who are not careful to obey the Lord are as successful as impatient paintballers. The enemy is just waiting for us to jump out from behind the cover of God's protection through His Word. Don't justify your sin. Don't be careless and then look back and ask "Why did I do that?" Be obedient from the start by being careful.

Joshua 21

And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. Josh 21:44 This is the first year in a long line of years that I've not been in school. Normally around this time, I am extremely stressed. Coming to the end of a term or semester included usually two papers I hadn't written yet, and three finals I didn't want to study for. The longest I've ever studied for a final didn't really happen until seminary when I spent hours studying for Greek. But, there is an incredible feeling when you finish that last final, or turn in that last paper. Relief! Christmas Break! Whatever! A time of rest and relaxation was coming and you just felt better. Israel certainly needed rest on every side. They had fought their enemies, and now spent a ton of time going through the process of dividing land and cities. The people then had to move into those cities and get settled, and now finally they have rest; not just from their enemies, but a time of personal rest. Do you see what brought about their rest...obedience. Not perfection, because even under Joshua, Israel made mistakes. But, this generation of Israel is clearly more concerned about obedience than the one Moses led out of Egypt. Do you desire rest? Our lives in 2007 are insane. The busyness, expectations, and requirements on our time, even as children, is a sad declaration about modern life. Our time doesn't belong to us anymore, but to everyone else. The problem is that God isn't getting first dibs on our time. We make every concession to pull things off at work or home, but not for our Lord. Then we wonder where we can find "rest", but disobedience does not bring rest. Do you find yourself so concerned with failures, that you consider a life lived for Christ to be nearly impossible? The Bible says we should seek to be perfect as the Father is perfect, but seeking it means it's something to chase, but not to catch. The best way to honor the Father, is by obedience. If you're obedient, He is happy with you, and you will find the rest that we all need.

Joshua 20

These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation. Josh 20:9 There was a story a few years ago about a teacher who was accused of sexually abusing some of his students. The story gained steam and soon the teacher was fired and nearly driven from the city. Later it was discovered, that the allegations of the teenagers weren't matching up and were determined to be lies. However, the teacher's life was ruined. He was unable to be rehired and suffered as much from the accusation as if he had been found guilty. We sure can be quick to condemn. We can't allow emotions to drive our decisions and reactions to situations. These cities of refuge were designed for just this purpose. In the event of an unintentional killing, a person could seek asylum until their case was heard. If it was clear the person was guilty of a crime, they would lose their protection, but if not, they were to be given refuge. How are you at evaluating situations? Do you allow yourself to be driven by emotion, or do you check the facts? So many times people's lives are wrecked by false testimony, because we fail to listen. Is there someone you've condemned too quickly, or failed to listen to their side of the story? The standard set by Scripture is for reliable witnesses to bring about convictions. If you need to apologize to someone for not believing them or passing judgment too quickly, then do it.

Joshua 19

When they finished apportioning the land for inheritance by its borders, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance in their midst to Joshua the son of Nun. Josh 19:49 I like to wait for things. I like the anticipation and the buildup to something. When my wife picks up pictures that have been developed, she wants to look at them in the car. I like to wait until I get home, can sit down, and then look at them. In youth ministry, I always got in line last when we went to McDonald's (a necessary evil of youth ministry, I assure you). My mindset was that if I'm last in line, then when I finish eating, everyone should be finishing eating. Getting in a line of youth and adults first is hard, but getting in last is pretty easy. Nearly anyone will let you behind them. If there was anyone in Israel who seemed to deserve first dibs on the land, it would be Joshua. Joshua had been a faithful leader and seen Israel through difficult days. But, he waited until everyone was settled before receiving his portion in the midst of the people. This is the mark of a good leader, and a Kingdom-focused person, one who puts the needs of others first. How are your priorities? Do you realize one of the best ways to serve is just to give others priority? Do you seek out the needs and wants of your spouse, and place them over your own? Do you put your kids request for your time above your desire to keep it for yourself? These are all ways to put others first in your life, and live the example of Christ. When He fed the 5,000, He was trying to find a place to rest and be AWAY from people for a while. But, He put others first and we have one of the most well-known miracles of His ministry. Do you put God first? Don't put your family or friends first, because that's not the example of Christ. Jesus was father-focused more than anything. Put God first, and everyone else between Him and yourself.

Joshua 18

So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? Josh 18:3 I have never had any particular problem with putting things off. During my last couple of years in college, I would often wait until the last couple of days to register for classes, so I could avoid standing in lines towards the beginning. I was close to graduation and had taken all my required classes, so any class would work. However, sometimes because of my delay I didn't really get to choose a lot of fun classes, but in order to graduate I had to do it. So I guess delay was a benefit in some ways, and a drag in others. Of all the times to delay, claiming your inheritance in the promised land wouldn't seem to be a good one. These people have been wandering and fighting, but now that they're here, they just kind of sit around thinking they have all the time in the world. Joshua instructs them to map out the land to claim their inheritance and they finally comply. Are you delaying something that God has for your life? Perhaps you've felt a call to share the gospel more, even to consider foreign missions. Or maybe you've had a sin struggle for a long time that you just need to face through the strength of God and remove from your life. When God moves us to be patient, we certainly should. God's patience and long suffering are well documented throughout the Bible. However, when God says move, you've got to go. The children of Israel had learned this lesson when they followed the pillar of cloud through the wilderness, stopping when it stopped, and going when it went. Don't delay the plans of the Lord in your life, and if He has instructed you to act, then in whatever that situation might be, do it for the Lord.

Joshua 17

For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong." Josh 17:18 Have you ever heard of people who want "something for nothing"? Usually a word that's more commonly used for them is cheap. I would have to admit to being a little cheap myself. I know what things should cost, and even finding a reasonable deal, I will often wait until I have talked myself out of the item altogether. I have even gone to a store to buy something that I determined I need (like new work clothes), and yet I'll walk out of the store having spent nothing and still needing something. It's an unreasonable hesitation, but it's how I roll. The tribe of Manasseh worked in a similar mindset to myself. They were given one lot of land for them to settle and it didn't look sufficient. However, it was sufficient if they did the work that was needed. They were numerous and needed room and the land was large enough, if the tribe cleared a forest and drive out the people that God commanded them to. They thought this sounded like too much work, and they wanted something else. Working for the Lord often requires us to take steps that aren't comfortable, but are entirely necessary. To leave the Canaanites would be disobedience, however they were willing to chose disobedience over paying the price to get what was theirs. Are you willing to live with a little disobedience in your life? If you are, then you're willing to allow the Kingdom of God to site idle. While Jesus was on the earth, He was the light of the world. Now that He has left, it is the responsibility of believers to carry that light. Often times it requires that we do things that are difficult, like witnessing to friends, family, or strangers door to door. Is the price of obedience too high, because we might have to fight for the truth and clear out some areas of our lives? I say no. If God called you to do something, then it's important. To leave a task undone that the Lord has given you, is sin because it's disobedience. Choose to do the work of the Kingdom.

Joshua 16

But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers. Josh 16:10 I have experienced a lot of people who are living with cancer. The disease itself seemed so harmless when I learned about it as a teenager. Basically it's just an overproduction of cells, and I remember thinking that surely you can't have too many cells. But, when those cells begin to release the equivalent of a toxin, and take energy away from vital organs, then suddenly you have a very real problem. Cancer often grows inside of people and they don't know it until that day that their life changes. I have seen a few people that have quit treatment after a while, because there was going to be no quality of life left. However, I've never heard of someone giving up as soon as they hear. They want to fight it! As human beings, we all suffer from a spiritual cancer...sin. I hope that as you read a chapter like Joshua 16 you look at a map in your Bible to at least get a sense of what is being discussed. However, the key is the final verse where we see that Ephraim does not drive out the enemy from amongst them. They knew the command to rid the land of the people, but they chose not to. We can't harbor or tolerate sin in our lives, but we must choose to fight it! If we know that we are infested with something that is contrary to our Lord and Savior, our only desire should be to defeat it. Do you harbor sin? Is there something in your life that is clearly amiss when it comes to Jesus, but you refuse to deal with it? Perhaps you enjoy it too much, or think that it's too difficult to stop, or you need a plan to step-down from your sin, like a nicotine patch does. That's incorrect. If you aware of sin in your life, stop it! Stop it right now! Every moment you make friends with the enemy, you are choosing worthlessness over worthiness and selfishness over selflessness. Neither of those traits are usable by God. You will be missing plans and blessings that He has for you. Simply be obedient.

Joshua 15

Sorry I haven't written in a while. We were without power for 5 days, so I didn't do much internet work. I hope everyone isn't too thrown off. I'm just going to continue where I left off. Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak. Josh 15:14 We all have giants in our lives. Perhaps it is a person or a circumstance, but there are times that suddenly God seems very small compared to what we're going through. Maybe we don't trust God because of our own sin, and not because we believe Him to be powerless. I remember a statement a drill sergeant made during the first week of basic training: "This will not last forever." At that point, it sure seemed like it. Time passed so slowly and I thought I'd be there the rest of my life. Looking back now, I realize he was right. What seemed like a giant obstacle has long since entered the rear-view mirror of my life. We saw recently that 85 year old Caleb wanted to still be used by God as long as he was alive. What you might have missed is that the territory Caleb asked to have, was the same one he had spied out 40 years earlier. It was filled with giants (the children of Anak), but he was willing to take that on because he knew the Lord was fighting the fight. What giants are you fighting right now? Is it a person who is causing you great difficulty? Is it a situation where your faith is being challenged or even made fun of? Is it a child who seems bent on making the wrong choices. Remember like Caleb did, that you're not alone. God is the God of the impossible according to the angel who delivered word of a virgin birth to Mary in Luke 1. Have you talked to God about it? Don't try to fix it in your power, but desire to be delivered through His.

Joshua 14

"Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken." Josh 14:12 Russ was an older man in my first church that meant a lot to me. I don't know exactly how old he was when cancer ended his life, but between his age and his sickness, he didn't have a lot of strength at the end. But, there were few people I saw serve Jesus like Russ. Every year our church had a living nativity for people to come see as a testimony to the gospel. Every year, Russ would play a third wise man alongside my dad and I. No matter if it was cold, snowy, or balmy (which was rare in a Missouri December), he was there. He played a mean Pharisee in our Easter Cantata every year, and helped with setting up the heavy sets prior to practice. One day a few months before he passed away, he showed me a notebook. In it was his running commentary through the Bible. He knew his time was short, but he didn't give up, but continued working on it as he read through the Bible. I hope his children appreciated that treasure, because that's what I saw it as. In this passage, Caleb is seeking how he can be useful at 85. He wandered in the desert, through no fault of his own, and he was seeking to make up for lost time. His age was no excuse to quit, but a reason to press forward quickly. Churches lose a treasure when older believers "retire" from church? I love to visit with them, listen to them and help them, partly due to my close relationship with a great-grandmother and her friends during my summers. My complaint is with believers who simply check-out. I get asked about retirement and pensions for when I retire, but I'm not sure that I will retire. Why would I quit doing what God has called me to? Why do older believers quit doing what God has called them to? Our Senior Saints have a lot of wisdom and knowledge to pass on, and as young people we need that. What do you think of the golden years? Are you in them? Keep serving Jesus without fail, in whatever capacity you can. Are you afraid of them? Ask God to calm your heart about the future and to help you with today. Are you nowhere near them? Show the love of Christ to those older than you by serving and listening to them. If you are older, don't look down on yourself and don't stop serving. If you are younger, don't look down on those who are older than you. You may find your Russ.

Joshua 13

With the other half-tribe, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD gave to them Josh 13:8 Do you remember these two groups of people? When Israel came near to the promised land, the Reubenites and Gadites felt that the land just across the Jordan was good enough for them, and wouldn't require much of a fight. Moses told them if they were satisfied with that, they could have it, but they would still have to fight in order that the rest of Israel had their land as well. When the time for the fight came, these two tribes did their part, and so they received the initial land they claimed. As many times as the Israelites had disappointed Moses, I'm sure that was a real joy to see some people actually doing what they said they would. We need more word-keepers amongst God's people. If there was ever a population that would seem trustworthy to do what they say, it would seem that we should be those people. However, Christians are often just as guilty of saying and not doing as anyone else. One of the big problem areas, is prayer. Christians promise to pray for people and situations that they have little to no intention of praying for. Just be a person of your word. Say what you intend to do, and nothing more or less. Are YOU a word-keeper? Do your words build up a greater testimony of Jesus Christ, or tear Him down in front of an unbelieving world. If we can't be trusted, people will assume that Jesus cannot be trusted either. Let us never be content to see Jesus' name maligned by our poor testimony. Let us live lives that show a real faith, and not just a Sunday morning disposition.

Joshua 12

Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions, Josh 12:7 As I look over this list I can think of one thing...my own list. We all have a list. It is the list of spiritual victories that have occurred in our lives thanks to God. Was Israel under Moses a fighting force? No, they were just people trying to find a place to call their own. In obedience to God, they did fight and were used by God to bring judgment on the wicked nations that were living in Canaan. But, defeat came to Israel when they were disobedient. In Joshua's list even lies the King of Ai. That ended well, but didn't start that way. What does your list look like? Do you give credit to the Lord for the victories and blessings in your life. If you sometimes forget to thank Him as you should, simply put your list together. I can start back as far as being rescued from the hands of the abortion doctor before I was even born. I can think of how God forgave me for numerous transgressions and changed my life through Jesus. I remember how God brought us through the pain of losing children through miscarriage. I can see how God has led me to every place of ministry that I have served. When you put it altogether, you understand that plans that God has for us. They have ups and downs, but ultimately they are for our blessing and our victory. Truly thank God today for his blessings to you. Write them down if it helps you to concentrate. We are commanded to be thankful (1 Thess. 5:18), and if we choose not to be, we are missing the will and blessings of God. Thank Him today for everything.

Joshua 11

The LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they defeated them, Josh 11:8 Many times I've heard the statement from people, "If the Lord wants it to happen, it will happen." While at first glance this sounds right on, think about it a second time. Is every sin we commit the will of the Lord? Is every failure to witness or to speak up for Christ in His will? I heard this statement quite a few times in regards to a church that needed to build a new facility. "If the Lord wants it to happen, it will happen." The Bible is clear that we can resist His will, otherwise we wouldn't be sinners. I once heard a professor seminary professor say that God gets blamed for more shoddy workmanship than anyone. If something doesn't happen, people think it's God's fault for not bringing it about. This principle is evident in the lives of the next generation of Israel. God says that He has delivered them, that He is giving them the victory, but Israel still had to go fight. If they had sat around and done nothing, the promised victory wouldn't have happened, because they had to step up and accomplish it. One of the great privileges of being saved is that God doesn't need us, but He chooses to use us. Are you experiencing a series of spiritual victories or failures in your life? What about in your church? What about in your family? These victories and defeats are not apart from your life. God desires to do great things for His children, but disobedience delays the plans of the Lord (like Israel's wanderings), or eliminates them altogether (we'll soon learn of this with King Saul). Do you blame God for the spiritual failures in your life, or do you take accountability for your failures? The great thing about God is we can always confess our failures to Him, and He listens as He loves. As Christians we can sometimes lose our direction, but if you seek the Lord, He will not hide Himself from His people. The distance is created by us.

Joshua 10

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Josh 10:13 When I was a teenager I heard that NASA had come across an amazing discovery. NASA computers had been doing a simulation of tracing backwards in time by the movement of stars, and found a day missing. They couldn't account for a time when everything just seemed to stop. I first heard about this through an e-mail and later from preachers, and I thought it was amazing that science verified this account. There's a couple of problems with this: the first is that it never really happened, and secondly, do we need science to prove the Bible for us? Faith is about believing the unbelievable. Not the impossible, because nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Scientific creation has taken great strides in the last 30 years to show people the scientific proof of a young earth and proof of biblical events like a worldwide flood. However, nowhere does that proof verify that God actually laid the rocks in their place and that He actually formed the water. This is part of our faith in who God is; that only God could create the many complex systems we see in our bodies, on the planet, and in our universe. Do you really believe that God made the sun stand still, or do you find another explanation? Is it just a story, or did it really happen? I tell you right now friend, if you don't trust this account of the Bible, why should you trust any. With the Bible you believe it all or you believe none of it. When you start dismissing certain parts and keeping others, you have removed the chance for the Bible to impact your life. Every time you read something that convicts or astounds, you can simply write it off as old-fashioned or fictional. You think the sun standing still is unbelievable, I find the Son standing still to be crucified on the cross unbelievable as well. Yet I believe it! Trust the Word of God. Trust that just as God stood with Joshua and accomplished unbelievable things (from a human perspective), He didn't accomplish impossible things. Those don't exist for us or our God!

Joshua 9

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. Josh 9:14 What do you do to help yourself make a big decision? I had a teacher that recommended drawing up the pros and cons sheet and listing everything out. There have been times this has been helpful. Another route is to ask questions. Find people who have been in a similar situation and then apply their counsel to your situation. When I left for seminary I didn't know if I should try to find a ministry position or a secular one. My pastor recommended finding a secular job. That's what I did, but I didn't really seek the Lord on it. His advice wasn't bad, just my willingness to accept man's counsel and not seek out the Lord's will through prayer. In this chapter, Joshua and the Israelites put themselves in a terrible position with the people from Gibeon. If they had sought the Lord, it would have been made clear that these were not people to make a covenant with. Instead, they now have a large reminder within their borders of their disobedience. Israel was not trying to make an unwise decision, but when you don't seek the counsel of the Lord, bad decisions are most likely to occur. Do you seek the Lord's counsel, man's counsel, or your own? Do you wonder what you're supposed to do, but never really seek the Lord about it, knowing you should pray but you just don't? There is nothing wrong with receiving guidance from godly people, but ultimately you need to take that information and pray. I believe that God can reveal a situation just between you and Himself, but sometimes it helps me to hear people who have been there before. Seek the Lord's counsel through reading the Scriptures and prayer. As you pray, fast as well. You can take off just one meal, or multiple meals. The point is that you are denying physical needs to prioritize spiritual needs. I'm not saying God doesn't answer my prayers if I eat, but when I turn a day towards prayer, it's amazing that I ever choose to eat after some of the situations the Lord has taken care of during those times.

Joshua 8

So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel. Josh 8:17 When I was in college, you never set your backpack down. Don't set it down in the cafeteria to try to save a seat, because the backpack will probably be gone when you get back. I never let it out of my sight, because people were always looking for a bag full of books they could sell. However, in seminary I saw an odd sight. There were backpacks lying everywhere. People would walk into the lunchroom and just litter the outside hallway with backpacks and satchels. No one was worried about a brother in Christ stealing his stuff, even though books were expensive in seminary and people often had laptops and other items in those bags. It really made me realize I was in a different place that I could set my backpack down without worrying. Unless you're in seminary, you've probably learned to protect your stuff. People buy alarm systems, or at least the little yard signs, to deter thieves from approaching their home. We lock our car doors at night, or have automatic timers to turn lights on and off to deceive thieves. It's interesting that these soldiers of Ai were so confident, they left their city unguarded and it was their downfall. But are you protecting the right things? Ai was fighting the wrong battle, and missed the real threat. I'm afraid parents do this today. Too many parents want to protect their kids, but they pick the wrong battles. They argue over chores that are left undone, but only shake their heads at the friends their kids pick. Our children are such an important asset. Satan wants them and God wants them. God says in Malachi that the purpose of marriage is to produce godly offspring (Mal. 2:15). God also wants you to guard your marriage. Don't even flirt with a co-worker or family friend of the opposite sex (or the same I suppose). Place a high value on your marriage, your integrity, and on the covenant that you entered with your spouse and the Lord. You may not have children or a spouse yet, or your time may be past. You can encourage others who are in that season, or prepare for when it is your time. Establishing convictions in the middle of the battle is usually too late. That's like waiting for the ship to start sinking before you instruct people how to get to the lifeboats.

Joshua 7

So Achan answered Joshua and said, "Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, Josh 7:20 My step-father was well liked in our church. He was a teenage boys Sunday School teacher, and people listened to what he had to say. Eventually, he had an affair and was unwilling to repent and instead sought out divorce. He may have thought that would only affect his family, but it affected the entire church. As the youth minister I had to deal with boys who were hurting that this man who had told them so much about the Bible, and had chosen to ignore much of it himself. Some of his adult friends were very hurt and wondered why they hadn't been able to see the signs as they prayed and talked with him. Eventually the church did the biblical thing in removing my step-father, who was unrepentant, from membership in the church. It wasn't an easy step for the church or the pastor, but it was necessary that the church not ignore sin, and that hopefully something as major as removal from his church might bring my step-father to repentance. This chapter in Joshua is one of the great warnings of the Bible. Clearly not everything that happened to Israel, and certainly not all the battles, are detailed. But, the battle at Ai is described as Israel had to run away from their enemy. They return but they misunderstood the problem. Suddenly this generation sounds a lot like the previous one, asking why God brought them to a new land just to be defeated. Finally they listen as the Lord reveals that their defeat has come by sin. Do you realize how many times this is the case in your life? Defeat by sin. Plans of God delayed in your life because of sin that you have chosen. If you are in sin through rebellion, immorality, deception, or anything else, your sin not only affects you, but those around you. It may not seem so now, but I'm sure Achan thought for a few days he had really gotten away with something. Until the battle at Ai turned south. Israel put Achan and his entire family to death. That seems harsh, but remember Israel's success as a nation was going to depend on it's faithfulness as the people of God. A church is no different. If your church is dealing with an unrepentant member, the church must remember that success comes by faithfulness. If you are the person, I ask that you humble yourself and just repent. Don't try to win a fight that God doesn't want you to win.

Joshua 6

Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. Josh 6:15 I remember when I was younger and the first time I saw the famous "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop" commercial. In the commercial, they get to 3 before the owl bites into it. I decided since it was clearly such an important question (I mean come on, they made a commercial about it), I would find the answer. Many a times I started the process of licking a tootsie roll pop...until I just bit into it. It's like I would forget what I was trying to accomplish. I finally did it once, but I never wrote it down and I have no idea how many licks it took. The world has continued to wander without that answer I'm sure. These Israelites walked around this wall a total of 13 times: once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day. Don't you think that was a bit boring? Would you enjoy marching around a city of any size? And then on the final day, when the battle is looming, God has them walk around seven times. They would have been too tired for a fight, which was exactly the point of what God was doing. The victory was clearly the Lord's. Have you ever questioned God's plans? I have to admit, there have been times I've been dissatisfied with the things going on around me. However, I have learned patience. God doesn't work like we do, and His patience allows for possibilities that I never could. You may be seeking a new path in your life, such as a career or other decision. If you see God's plans, or felt you had a clear direction, continue to follow it. A wise person once told me "if you're unsure of what to do, keep working off the last word the Lord gave you. It's probably that He's still working in that promise for you." So if you felt God lead you to something that has turned out to be difficult, it doesn't mean you should quit. Wait on the Lord, and continue to lift up the decision in prayer. It's easy to run ahead or lag behind God's will when we don't seek to daily speak with Him.

Joshua 5

He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" Josh 5:14 If you were unaware, let me tell you just how cool God is! Normally I read the Bible first before I pray, but this morning after a men's breakfast I came home to find my family still asleep, and I took time for prayer beforehand (never know when those girls are going to get up!). As I was praying I was thinking about all the good plans God has for me. Some I've already seen and lived through, but there are many more that I have no idea about. But, it's not just for me; God promises good plans for everyone who chooses to serve Him. Can you imagine what our world would be like if it were full of genuine Christians? Or even 3/4 full? All these people, living out the divine plans of God in their lives, carrying on Kingdom work, would certainly make our planet look much different. Now think if our churches were full of genuine Christians. Or even 3/4 full. Imagine how our churches would look if they were filled with people living out divine plans of God in their lives, and carrying on Kingdom work. In this instance with Joshua, when this heavenly figure is questioned as to whether He stands with Israel or Jericho, He claims neither. He stands for the plans of the Lord! Many scholars believe that this person who Joshua encountered was the pre-incarnate (before He was born as a man into flesh) Jesus Christ. This is partly because Joshua ascribes Lordship to Him, and the person claims that Joshua is on holy ground. Every clear reference of an ordinary angel shows them telling God's servants not to bow to them. This "angel" gives no such command, but receives Joshua in a reverant state. You need to learn just as Joshua did, that God is not for you. He's for Himself and for His perfect plans that lead to the salvation of nations and the redemption of the world (our plans are usually for ourselves only). If you're not serving God all out, He'll find someone who is. Now personally, I'd rather be a willing vessel for the Lord and know that He is willing to use me because I'm willing to be used. Who's plans are you carrying out in your life: yours or God's? I mean, are you choosing the job, home, church, spouse or other number of life choices based on your desires or His? God is not going to get in line with you. In prayer and through the reading of His Word, we need to get in line with Him.