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Joshua 7:1 – But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things.  And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.

Sadly, the story of Joshua chapter 7 begins with a 'but'. 

At the close of Joshua chapter six, we noted that the Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread through the entire country.  Joshua had done right in the eyes of the Lord and closely followed the instructions of God in all things, which resulted in victory at Jericho.  The implication was that Israel had begun the conquest of the Promised Land and it looked as if nothing could stand in their way.

But...

Immediately after their great victory at Jericho, Israel suffered a humiliating defeat.  This verse reveals the cause of their failure – they disobeyed the commands of the Lord.

As we know, there was an agreement between God and Israel - He would give them victory over Jericho and in return they were to devote everything in the city to God.  Although Israel would have numerous opportunities to obtain plunder/spoil later on, they were not to take ANYTHING from Jericho because it was the 'first fruit' of the cities of Canaan and as such the city and everything in it belonged to God.

God decreed that anything with breath must die, all metal would go into the tabernacle treasury and everything else was to be burned.  So anyone who took spoil from Jericho violated God's command or we might say he 'broke faith' with God (your translation may say 'committed a trespass'). 

The person who did this terrible thing was named Achan.  You can read his family genealogy in I Chronicles chapter two, where you will find that Judah, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, was his ancestor.  Judah had two children with Tamar, one being Zerah (or Zarah).  Zerah had a son named Zabdi, who had a son named Carmi, who was the father of Achan.  In scripture, Achan's name is also often spelled 'Achar', which is a play on words because 'Achar' means 'trouble'.

1 Chronicles 2:7 -And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the devoted thing.

At any rate, we will shortly find out that Achan stole some things from Jericho and hid them in his tent.  The scripture tells us that as a result, God was very angry with the entire nation.  

This is an interesting situation – the sin/guilt of one man is imputed to the whole nation, who now shares in the penalty associated with the sin.  How can that be?

Answer: The nation in its entirety was in covenant with God and is therefore treated by him as a divinely constituted whole as opposed to individuals living together under a common government. Therefore, the sin of Achan defiled not only himself, but the collective members of the Israelite community (the whole nation). Essentially, he robbed the entire nation of holiness before God. Because of this breach, Israel was no longer acceptable in the sight of the Lord. God would no longer fight for Israel and she would not be able to drive the Canaanites out of the land.

God still views nations in this same light today.  For instance, in the United States, we have sinned in the sight of God by allowing the slaughter of millions of innocent unborn children (abortion). 

It is certainly true that multitudes of Americans oppose abortion and have never supported or been associated with the abortion movement.  Yet, the sin of those who do has brought down guilt upon our nation as a whole.  The good news is that Christians can intervene for our nation before God:

2 Chronicles 7:14 -If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

If we will humble ourselves and repent on behalf of the entire nation, and repent for allowing this evil to go unchecked, God will hear that prayer and heal our land.

We are well aware of our nation's sin of abortion, but at the time Joshua sent men to spy out Ai, Achan's sin was still a secret known only to himself.

 

Joshua 7:2 – Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Beth-el, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.

Ai (also called Hai) was located east of Beth-el and was about 10-12 miles north of Jericho. It appears to have been situated on a hill and it was inhabited by the Amorites.

We are not entirely sure why Ai was chosen as the next target, but it may be because the capture of Ai would put the Israelites in possession of the main road running north and south through Canaan and enable them to reach the center of the territory quickly.   

As he did before the battle of Jericho, Joshua sent men ahead to spy out the land.  They would be gathering information in regard to the defenses of Ai, the size of its army and the surrounding terrain.  

Joshua 7:3 – And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."

It turns out that the total population of Ai was about 12,000 people (Joshua 8:25). That being the case, its army would be very small – probably less than 3000 men.

Accordingly, the spies suggested to Joshua that only a small portion of Israel's army should be sent to capture it.

Commentators have frequently commented on the advice of the spies.  In their opinion, sending only part of the armed forces of Israel shows a tendency towards laziness or an inordinate desire for comfort. 

However, other scholars feel that the limited number of troops was a result of the mercy of God – had more gone to battle, more may have been killed in the botched raid.

What do you think?

Joshua 7:4-5 – So about three thousand men went up there from the people.  And they fled before the men of Ai, and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent.  And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

The army of Ai, seeing such a small number of Israelites coming against them, found their courage and rushed out of the city to attack their enemy. 

Israel, who no longer had God fighting on their side, immediately lost their courage, turned around and ran away. Because they fled so early in the skirmish, they were not completely routed in battle and only 36 men were killed.

The Amorites pursued Israel as far as Shebarim, which means 'breaches' or 'broken places'. This name probably refers to crevices or ravines in the terrain surrounding the city. However, it may also refer to the state of Israel – a defeated nation, broken or routed.

Eventually the soldiers returned to the camp of Israel in a state of confusion and fear; their courage had melted away like water.  As news of their defeat spread through camp, the rest of the Israelites lost hope too.  They were surprised, panicked and horrified.  Where was God?  Why had he allowed them to suffer defeat?  Israel knew that without God's help, the people of Canaan would completely destroy them! 

Thus, Israel went from being utterly triumphant to a state of dire distress. As we might imagine, only one thing could account for this drastic change – SIN!

Achan mistakenly thought that his sin had been concealed, since no one had seen him take booty from Jericho (or at least no one came forward to tell on him). But he was wrong. His sin was not concealed from God; there is nothing hidden from the knowledge of the Most High. Not only does he see every action taken by man, he even knows the thoughts and intents of a man's heart.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Considering the entire conquest of Canaan, the defeat at Ai was a relatively small loss, yet it caused incredible terror and confusion to fall upon the entire nation.  Instinctively Israel knew that God had forsaken them and if that were the case, they had much, much bigger problems than the defeat at Ai.

But God had not completely abandoned his people.  He had already set events in motion that would reveal the sin of Achan to the entire nation.  Although there would still be consequences for the sin, God would give Israel a chance to repent.

Joshua 7:6 –Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel.  And they put dust on their heads.

Tearing one's outer garments, fasting, prostrating oneself on the ground and sprinkling dust on one's head were all signs of mourning and repentance, which were common in the nation of Israel (I Samuel 4:12, II Samuel 13:19, Micah 1:10, etc). These same characteristics of mourning were exhibited in other ancient nations as well.

It is logical that Joshua and the elders of the nation would act this way upon hearing of the defeat at Ai.  They were certainly mourning the loss of 36 lives.  Joshua himself may have felt an additional burden of guilt.  Even though he was not directly responsible for the defeat, he probably regretted not sending out the entire army to battle.

Plus, as the leader of the nation, he was grappling with doubts – on the one hand, God had given him ample promises that he would fight for Israel, yet they had just been soundly defeated by a very small kingdom.  Israel had obviously lost the assistance of God.  If that was the case, what were they to do? 

Joshua 7:7 – And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us?  Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!"

Joshua's prayer to God appears to be a mixture of faith and unbelief – but is it?

On the one hand, upon hearing of the tragedy at Ai, he immediately repents and seeks the face of God.  Joshua knew there was a problem; and he acknowledged that only God had the answers he needed.  These actions show an intense faith and trust in the Lord.

On the other hand, Joshua wishes that Israel had never crossed the Jordan to take the Promised Land.  This complaint sounds a lot like the murmuring that the children of Israel brought against Moses in the wilderness:

Numbers 14:2-3 – All the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt!  Or would that we had died in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?

So, why does God show mercy to Joshua in this situation when he severely disciplined the people of Israel earlier? 

The answer is a question of faith versus unbelief.  There is no doubt that in Numbers 14 the people of Israel were murmuring, complaining and making accusations against God out of a spirit of unbelief.  In fact, they are often charged with the sin of unbelief:

Psalms 78:56-57 – But they [Israel] put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.

(To really understand the depths of their unbelief, read Psalm 78 in its entirety).  Joshua, however, was actually speaking/praying from a position of faith.  God had promised to give Israel the land and Joshua had full and complete faith in that promise. In fact, he had been holding onto that exact promise for 40 years!

Nevertheless, Israel had just suffered a defeat. What we are witnessing here (and in the next couple verses) is Joshua boldly wrestling with God in prayer, trying to understand how the defeat at Ai figured into God's overall promise to give Israel the land and glorify his name throughout the known world.

Joshua 7:8-9 – "O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"

Joshua continues to pour out his heart in prayer.  He is deeply concerned that once the Canaanites, Philistines and other inhabitants of the land hear of this defeat, they will band together and come after Israel.  If God does not fight for her, Israel will be completely wiped off the face of the earth. 

This is significant because all the heathen nations had heard how God delivered his people Israel from Egypt and provided for them as they traveled through the wilderness. These miracles brought glory to God and gave the heathen reasons to acknowledge his power and turn towards his mercy.

However, if Israel was wiped out by her enemies, God's name and reputation would be blasphemed among the heathen.  They would claim that God allowed Israel to perish because he was incapable of delivering on the promises he made to give them the land (Exodus 32:11-12, Deuteronomy 9:27-29, etc).  As a result, the Gentiles/heathen would despise God and turn away from him.

So, we conclude that Joshua's prayer to God does not exhibit unbelief.  It merely reflects a true and faithful believer bearing his soul to the Lord.

Our prayers are often of a similar nature. In times of intense shock and grief, we too will turn immediately to God, just as Joshua did. Why? Because we have the same intense faith in God that he did. We know that God is trustworthy and dependable. We know that he loves us, and we feel comfortable coming into his presence and bearing our souls before him.

In fact, we sometimes run into his presence before we have had a chance to logically think about our situation and give our faith a chance to manifest.  In such cases, our prayers will naturally reflect desperation and emotion.  During those times, it would not be uncommon for us to say/pray stupid things (i.e., we never should have crossed the Jordan).

However, we need not fear or worry.  God knows our innermost thoughts; he knows our prayers do not spring up from a well of murmuring against him, but out of a sincere heart that desires to please him.  And we can take comfort in know that God invites us to cast all our cares upon him, because he cares for us:

1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.

For his part, God pardons our sin and makes allowances for our weaknesses.  If he didn't, none of our prayers would be pure – all of them would be stained with sin and/or unbelief!  Thankfully, we have an advocate/mediator with the Father – none other than Jesus himself – and we have the assistance of Holy Spirit as we pour out our hearts to God (Romans 8:26) in prayer.

Joshua 7:10 – The Lord said to Joshua, "Get up!  Why have you fallen on your face?"

God immediately and directly answers the prayer of Joshua.  He instructs Joshua to stop mourning and to stand to his feet.  God was about to reveal the cause of Israel's sin and give Joshua instructions on how to deal with it.

This answer must have given Joshua great relief.  Once the situation was dealt with, Israel would once again be in fellowship with God.  God would defend both the nation of Israel and his own reputation among the heathen.

Joshua 7:11 – "Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings."

God comes straight to the point – the cause of Israel's defeat was not due to the unfaithfulness of God. It was due to the sin of Israel - someone had violated the covenant/agreement that was made between God and the nation.

In this case, the word 'covenant' does not specifically refer to the 10 commandments, although elements of lying and stealing were involved in the sin.  The reference refers to the specific instructions of God that everything in the city of Jericho was to be devoted to destruction.

Because someone in the nation was in possession of items that were cursed, the curse passed onto the entire nation:

Deuteronomy 7:26 –And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it.

God describes the sinful act in great detail.  These are the charges he brings against the guilty party:

• They have transgressed the covenant/agreement made with him regarding the city of Jericho.
• They have stolen some of the devoted things, showing contempt for the curse that was solemnly announced against anyone who would dare to take God's property.
• They concealed the items in question, vainly thinking they could hide them from the Lord, or that he wouldn't take notice of it.
• They hid the cursed items in with their own belongings without remorse, acting as though they had done no wickedness.

Interestingly, God does not reveal the name of the culprit to Joshua.  Why do you suppose that was the case?  Two possibilities come to mind. 

There can be no doubt that immediately after his conversation with God, Joshua informed the entire nation that the cause of their defeat at Ai was a transgression against God.  Specifically, someone had taken items from Jericho that should have been destroyed.  Since no action was being taken until the next day, the guilty party had a substantial amount of time to think about his crime and repent. 

If he had done so, who knows what might have happened? Perhaps God would have accepted a trespass offering from him and he could have been pardoned.  Instead, Achan refuses to repent which reveals the hardness of his heart, and leads to his own destruction.

Secondly, knowing that the guilty party would not repent and turn himself in, God left his identity a secret so that a public trial would ensue.  As we will see in our next post, the public trial shows the omniscience of God, as well as the penalty to anyone who transgresses his commands.  It served as a deterrent to anyone else who was thinking of sinning against God.

Joshua 7:12 – "Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you."

The only way to remove the curse from Israel was to destroy the devoted items and punish the sinner. This must be done without delay, so that Israel's relationship to God could be restored.

Here is the good news:  God assured Joshua that the theft of the devoted items was the sole cause of Israel's trouble.  So once that situation was handled, Joshua could expect Israel to continue having great success in the conquest of the Promised Land.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today's post we find that Joshua had an enormous problem – God was no longer assisting Israel with the conquest of her enemies.  He needed to know why this was happening, and what to do about it.

He did the same thing any Christian would do – he humbled himself before God and diligently prayed for an answer.  Although parts of his prayer seemed inappropriate, we know that he was sincerely crying out to God from the very depths of his heart.  And we know that God answered that prayer.

At times we too encounter enormous problems that require wisdom and intervention from God, and we naturally turn to him in prayer.  But we have a benefit that Joshua did not have – the special assistance of Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

We are often short-sighted, biased and weak when we pray in emergency situations. But thankfully, help is available.  Holy Spirit is there to assist us during those times.

The apostle Paul tells us that Holy Spirit helps or 'heaves with us' as we lift that burden up to God.  He increases the faith and fervency of our prayers, brings scriptural promises to mind and calms our fears. 

He also helps us make our petitions known to God by the use of heavenly languages.  If you don't have a heavenly language of your own, I encourage you to ask the Lord to give you one.  It is an amazing gift and once you have it, you will wonder how you ever got along without it! 

Let me offer you some relief:

Achan had a 'secret sin'.� Even though no one else knew it, God was well aware that it existed. Sometimes we harbor 'secret' sins in our lives as well.

Psalms 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Now is a good time to remind ourselves that sin is always detrimental to our lives, no matter how insignificant or harmless it may seem.  If you need relief from any kind of sin, ask God to forgive you and seek the help of Holy Spirit who can assist you in uprooting that evil weed from your heart.  

Let me offer you some strength:

Isn't it great to know that no matter how big your problems are, you never walk through them alone?  God is always present in every storm giving us strength, guidance and wisdom so that we can do the same thing Joshua did – obtain victory by walking in a manner that pleases/glorifies God.

If you need wisdom and strength to face a situation in your life right now, put yourself in the presence of the Lord and listen for his voice. He will surely answer you!

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Joshua 6:13-14 – And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually.  And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually.  And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp.  So they did for six days.

As we return to our study, we find the Israelites beginning to engage Jericho in battle according to the specific instructions of the Lord.  Prior to engaging the enemy, Israel had rededicated themselves to God by circumcising all the males and celebrating the Passover. 

With Joshua leading them, they prepared to complete the exact battle plan given to them by the Lord.  The conquest of the Promised Land had finally begun!

As they marched, the priests sounded the rams' horns. As we noted in our earlier studies, Israel normally used trumpets of silver to sound the alarm to go to war. Since rams' horns were normally sounded on the Day of Jubilee to proclaim a return of the land to its rightful owners, God may have appointed the rams' horns to be sounded in this instance to declare that the land now belonged to Israel.

In either case, we can be sure that the sound of the horns was an encouragement to the soldiers; it was a sign that God would remember them in the day of battle (Numbers 10:9). 

Joshua 6:15 – On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times.  It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.

Obviously, it was just as easy for God to collapse the walls of Jericho on the first day as it was the seventh day. We can conclude that there must be some reason why God made them wait.

It is certainly true that the waiting period gave Rahab time to gather her family together and get them safely to her house. It also played upon the fears of the people of Jericho and gave them one last chance to repent. But the real reason for the delay had nothing to do with the people of Jericho – it was a lesson for Israel.

By requiring Israel to march in a specific way for a specific number of days, God emphasizes the lesson of trusting in him, obedience to his commands and waiting patiently before him during times of war. Israel knew God was going to secure the victory in his own way; this proved he would do it in his own time frame as well.

It's important that we understand this lesson as well.  When we stand upon a promise of God, we will face opposition from the enemy.  We too must be willing and able to follow the voice/instructions of God and be disciplined enough to wait for his timing.  If we can't do that, we will ultimately be unsuccessful.

Another thing that jumps out as we read this passage is that Israel marched around Jericho seven times on the seventh day.  This means that one of the days was actually a Sabbath day on which they were forbidden to do any work.

If the Sabbath occurred on any of the days they marched around the city once, there was really no issue – they were only walking, not really working.  Besides, the act of encompassing the city along with the priests and the ark could certainly be categorized as a religious observance.

However, the Sabbath could just as easily have fallen on the seventh day – the day Israel marched around Jericho seven times and then engaged in battle. In fact, Jewish tradition says this was the case, even though there is nothing to document that claim.

Critics of the bible are quick to insist that this passage shows God to be of a changeable (and thus untrustworthy) nature – he insists on keeping the Sabbath one day, while commanding it to be broken on another.

How foolish and hard of heart these critics are!  For one thing, it is impossible to prove whether the seventh day was a Sabbath or not.  Furthermore, even if it was, God is not bound by the Sabbath.  He instituted it in the first place (Exodus 20:8) and as its creator/founder, he has the authority to suspend or even cancel this observance any time he wants to.

For instance, in the New Testament Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  This made the Pharisees and other religious leaders furious; they maintained that Jesus had broken the Sabbath and thus he could not possibly be the Messiah.

Luke 13:14 – But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, 'There are six days in which work ought to be done.  Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.'

But Jesus pointed out that the Sabbath could not restrict or limit the work of God, because God was Lord or Master over it:

Matthew 12:8 – For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Therefore, God had every right to command Israel to fight on the Sabbath.  This in no way indicates that God has a character flaw!

Joshua 6:16 –And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city."

There can be no doubt that the shout of the children of Israel was a shout of faith.

Israel marched around Jericho for six consecutive days, even though it seemed to have no effect upon the walls of the city.  They probably endured insults and trash talk from the people of Jericho as they did so.  If they didn't have faith in God, they would not have done this day after day.

Hebrews 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

Even on the seventh day, when they made seven laps, nothing occurred until they gave that shout of faith. But once they did, the walls immediately collapsed! That shout was a shot of faith and prayer that instantly ascended to the throne of God who had been watching over Israel this entire time! Essentially, that shout signaled the complete and utter ruin of the kingdom of Jericho.

It is refreshing to remember that at the end of this age when Jesus comes to claim his church, he comes with the same two things –a shout and the sound of a trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:16). When he does, it signals victory for us and the utter defeat of the kingdom of darkness!

Joshua 6:17 – "And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction.  Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent."

Later on, when Israel conquered other cities, they were able to keep the livestock and property for themselves.  In fact, scripture says that God gave them entire cities and their contents:

Deuteronomy 6:10-11 - And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you – with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant.

However, Jericho, the very first Canaanite city that was captured, was dedicated to God as a 'first-fruit' offering.  What was a first-fruit?

Basically, it's the first of any increase including crops (grain, fruit, etc), livestock and the first-born male in each family (Exodus 22:29-30).  The first-fruits of the crops and livestock were brought to the temple and given to the priests.  The crops were dedicated to the Lord by 'waving' them, while the livestock was sacrificed on the altar.

All first-born males were redeemed by sacrificing a substitute animal (Exodus 34:20).  The items brought to the temple were then used to provide for the needs of the priests and their families.

The first-fruits were an acknowledgement that God was the one who had provided all of the increase to the children of Israel.

Thus Jericho, as the first city to be taken in the Promised Land, was a kind of first-fruit.  It was a token that Israel was going to receive all of the Promised Land from God.  Therefore, everything in the city was devoted to God – every living thing (except Rahab and her family) was put to death, all precious metals were brought into the treasury of the tabernacle and everything else was destroyed and/or burned with fire.  

Joshua 6:18 – "But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it."

As we just mentioned, the men of Israel were at liberty to take spoil from the cities of Canaan when they conquered them (Deuteronomy 2:35, 3:7, Joshua 8:27, etc). However, in the case of Jericho, the city was a 'first-fruit' and as such everything in it belonged to God.

Because the soldiers might be tempted to take some of the riches of the city for themselves, God gives them a final caution/warning just before the battle commenced: They were, without exception, forbidden to take ANYTHING from the city. Period.

Everything in Jericho was under a curse of destruction.   If a soldier took something from the city, it would result in severe consequences.  He himself would be cursed and worse yet, he would bring adversity upon the entire nation of Israel.  This verse foreshadows the events of chapter seven (the story of Achan).

Joshua 6:19 – "But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord."

Since metals could not be destroyed by fire, they were removed from common use by being taken into the temple treasury to provide for the needs of the sanctuary.  They were probably purified first, by being passed through fire like the metals taken in the defeat of Midian under Moses (Numbers 31:21-23). 

Joshua 6:20 – So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown.  As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

Here we see the faithfulness of God at work: Israel has obeyed his word and acted in faith. They silently marched around the city for an entire week, unaffected by the taunts of the enemy or the overwhelming circumstances they faced. At the proper time, in accordance with the command of Joshua, they gave a great shout of faith.

In return, God does exactly as he promised he would. He rewarded Israel for her obedience and her labor by supernaturally bringing down the fortified walls of Jericho (Isaiah 45:2).

There is some question as to whether all the walls fell at once.  The question is raised when we discover that Rahab's house was not destroyed.  So, either the section of the wall that contained her home was the only one standing, or it fell after she and her family were rescued.  In either case, we see the hand of God at work.

As for the people of Jericho, it is very likely that multitudes of soldiers and even civilians were gathered on the walls to try and catch a glimpse of the Israelites and/or to try and intimidate them through mocking. This multitude was killed and/or buried in the rubble of the falling wall. The man-made structure that they trusted in as their defense was unable to save them; it became the instrument of their demise.

The sinners of our generation are often just as foolish.  Those without Christ must place their faith in something, and they frequently choose the institutions of mankind such as government, science, the economy or the military. 

For those who reject Christ, these defenses are just as futile as the walls of Jericho.  The only hope for the Canaanites was to repent and turn to the living God.  The same is true for sinners today.  The good news is that God desires for every person to repent and he gives us multiple chances to do so.

II Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

However, God will not force himself upon anyone.  The sinners of today have the same choice as the sinners of Canaan, and if they refuse to repent, they too will face the judgment of God.

Joshua 6:21 – Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

Had Israel acted out of their own sense of cruelty, hatred or lust we would certainly condemn their actions.  However, this was not the case.  The Lord himself, the creator and righteous judge of all the earth, ordered the death of everything in Jericho that breathed. 

Psalms 98:9 –  before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

As humans, we have no right to question or second guess the decision of God who purged the land of Canaan in this manner.

What we can do is be thankful that we live in the age of grace where God's mercy is always available to the sinner.  We can share the gospel message with the lost in our generation, trusting that it will take root in their hearts and bring about a harvest of repentance and eternal life. 

Joshua 6:22-23 – But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her."So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her.  And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.

For his part, Joshua keeps his promise to spare Rahab and her family (Hebrews 11:31).

The same men whom she previously protected were sent to protect/rescue both she and her family.  This makes sense because they were the only men who knew what Rahab looked like; they were the only Israelites she would trust.  Besides, it would have been virtually impossible for any other soldier to find/recognize the scarlet cord that hung in her window, especially in the midst of the chaos present during the destruction of the city. 

Did you notice that God not only spares Rahab but her family as well?  This is something God consistently does throughout scripture:

• Noah's wife, sons and daughters-in-law were all saved from the flood (Genesis 7:1).
• The Philippian jailer came to salvation through Paul and Silas, as did his entire house (Acts 16:31-33).
• The nobleman and his entire house believed in Christ when his son was healed (John 4:53).

God is so merciful!

Interestingly, the soldiers did not take Rahab and her family directly into the camp of Israel.  The camp was considered holy and nothing unclean could be admitted into it, including Gentiles from a pagan nation.

However, after the proper religious observances and commitments (including circumcision for the males), Rahab and her family were admitted into Israel as proselytes of the Jewish faith.  Eventually, Rahab becomes the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz which means she was in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5)!

This is another wonderful Old Testament example of God accepting Gentiles into his kingdom. It was a foreshadowing of the gospel dispensation when God welcomed all Gentiles into faith in Christ.

Specifically, it reminds us of the way Jesus had mercy on the publicans, harlots and sinners he came into contact with as he walked the earth; all who repented were welcomed into his kingdom (Matthew 21:31-32).

Joshua 6:24-25 – And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it.  Only the silver and gold, the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive.  And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

The phrase 'she has lived in Israel to this day' does not necessarily mean that the book of Joshua was penned during Rahab's lifetime. Most likely it refers to the fact that her posterity became a part of the nation of Israel. Again, this is significant because it shows that a Gentile believer was admitted into (and became a part of) God's chosen people.

Joshua 6:26 –Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.  At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates."

Jericho was surrounded by palm trees.  It had fertile land and access to water from the Jordan river.  It was no doubt a very pleasant and favorable place for a city.  For these reasons, people would be tempted to rebuild the city on its former site as a good place for them and their descendants to live. 

However, the scripture is very clear that anyone who rebuilt this city would have no descendants left to live in it. 

Those who attempted to rebuild Jericho would find their first-born son dead as they set the foundations.  If they persisted in their endeavor, their youngest son would die as the city was finished (the gates set in place).  The implication is that any children born in between would also perish. 

Sadly, during the era of the kings, this is exactly what happened:

I Kings 16:34 – In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho.  He laid its foundations at the cost of his first-born son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.

Why didn't God want the city rebuilt?

• God wanted these ruins to remain as a perpetual monument of his wrath against the Canaanites when their iniquity was full. It was a warning to all kingdoms and societies who reject the laws of God.

• The desolation of Jericho was also a witness of God's mercy and favor toward his people, which was to remain for later generations to see and understand.

• Of course, we can't deny that it was a warning of the severe penalty that would fall upon anyone who put themselves under a divine curse, which would surely bring ruin without any avenue of escape.

Yet, it appears as though the curse fell only upon the builder of the city, not on those who eventually inhabited it.  In later times we find Elijah, Elisha and even Jesus himself visiting this city (Matthew 20:29, Luke 18:35).

Joshua 6:27 – So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.

Back in Joshua 1:7, we saw that the Israelites pledged their loyalty to Joshua on the condition that God would be with him.

Now we find that the conquest of Jericho firmly established Joshua as the leader of the nation.  This marks the climax of his rise to leadership, fulfilling God's promise to him in Joshua 1:5. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Rahab made a conscious decision to abandon her pagan ways and place her trust in the true God of Israel.  This was her first step in obtaining mercy and deliverance.  What about you?  Is it possible that you are reading this post today, but you have never surrendered your heart and life to Jesus Christ? 

If that is the case, I strongly encourage you to make peace with God today.  You can do so by praying the following prayer, and meaning it from your heart:

 Jesus,

I confess to you that I am a sinner.  I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done and I ask you to forgive me.  I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross and rose again, and that your blood paid the price for my sin.  I invite you to come into my heart and life and to be my Lord and Savior.  I commit myself to you right now.  Thank you for saving me from death and giving me the gift of eternal life.  Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and sincerely meant it, then you have received the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ!

Let me offer you some relief:

The topic of faith is central to our study today.  The Israelites placed their faith in God and waited for their victory to manifest itself.

If you feel that your faith is weak or inadequate, let me give you some relief – faith is not static.  All of us begin with a measure of faith, but if you exercise or use it (as the Israelites did), it will strengthen and grow just like your muscles do when you work out. 

As I have pointed out before, you can begin exercising faith today – seek God about a situation in your life that needs his touch. Find scriptures that promise victory and speak them over the situation. Follow any instructions Holy Spirit speaks to you and watch for your victory to manifest itself.

Let me offer you some strength:

God remembered and strengthened Israel in the day of battle against her enemies.  Likewise, God still remembers and strengthens his people (the church) in our day of battle too. 

God has a plan to save our nation.  He has revealed the practical steps for the war to many of the national prophets.  As we pray, intercede and follow his directions, he will fight on our behalf just as he fought for Israel. 

Don't be afraid to join the battle.  In fact, I encourage you to begin listening to the prophetic leaders in America and to get involved.  God has promised that the church will be victorious against the enemy, but we must participate with him in the victory just as Israel did. 

Your capabilities may seem limited, and the enemy may look formidable, but don't worry – Israel was victorious in the exact same situation, because God was on her side! 

So don't look at the circumstances.  Strengthen 'feeble hands and weak knees' by keeping your mind and faith fixed on the power of God, which cannot be defeated in any circumstance (Isaiah 35:3).

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Joshua 6:1 – Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel.  None went out, and none came in.

Hello, readers!  As we noted in our last post, verses 13-15 of chapter five should have been the first three verses of chapter six; Joshua's entire encounter with the unknown warrior spans 5:13-6:5.  Because this narrative has been split apart, let me just briefly review what has already occurred. 

After celebrating the Passover, Joshua had an encounter with an unknown man who identified himself as the commander of the Lord's army.  His purpose was to assist Israel in the fight against Jericho.  Some people believe the 'man' was an archangel, others believe it was actually Jesus.  For the purposes of our study, we will assume the 'man' was Jesus, which makes this event a theophany - a visible manifestation of God to humankind.

This verse (6:1) sets the stage for what is to follow.  It tells us that Jericho was shut up 'inside and outside'. 

Back in that day it was common practice for a city to have its gates wide open during the day, so that business and travel could occur without difficulty.  Likewise, the gates were shut at night for protection.  But after the appearance (and escape) of the two spies as well as Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan, fear seized the hearts of the people of Jericho.

As a result, the king ordered that the city be put into lockdown. Everyone, including the people living outside the walls, hurriedly came into the city and the gates were tightly shut. At that point, no one was allowed to leave or enter the city for any reason.

Although that seems to make sense, it was a bit unusual.  Even when the city was under such a state of emergency, military personnel were often sent out to either harass the enemy or gather information.  Small bands were also sent out to acquire help and supplies.  The fact that absolutely no one was leaving the city reflects just how desperate the citizens of Jericho were.   

In addition, the king would have taken the precaution of stationing troops at various points within the city, to watch for an enemy assault.  When an attack came, Jericho was not going to be taken by surprise. 

Thus, the scriptures reveal how fortified and well prepared the city of Jericho was. Israel had no chance of defeating the city through a surprise attack. Their only option was to win the battle by overwhelming force, which seemed unlikely in the natural realm.

Joshua 6:2 – And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor."

Although Israel had fought in several battles prior to this, they had no experience with walled cities. The conquest of a walled city was a major challenge which often required sieges that lasted for years on end.  During that time, the attacking nation used huge amounts of resources (especially food and water) to sustain the siege.  Obviously, this was a situation Israel was not prepared for.

Knowing this, we can imagine how relieved Joshua was when the Lord assured him that God was going to give Israel victory over Jericho.  In fact, if you read the text again you will find that God speaks of the defeat of Jericho in the past tense – as if it had already occurred!

Scripture tells us that God knows the end from the beginning, and his plans/purposes will always come to pass:

Isaiah 46:9-10 - Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Accordingly, God saw the city as already being in the hands of Israel; their victory was certain even though they had not yet begun to fight. This was a sharp reminder to Joshua that victory comes by the hand of God, not through natural physical strength (Psalms 108:12-13).

So basically, we can say that Israel would see the walls/fortifications of her enemy fall as long as she stepped out in faith. If she partnered with God and did as he instructed, she would have victory.

The church is in the same situation today.  We have enemies that are strong and well-fortified; we cannot subdue them in our own strength and wisdom.  But if we will depend on the Lord and follow the commands he gives us, we will see our nation, our schools, and our culture transformed by God through the power of Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:6 - Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.  

The saving of our nation and culture may look hopeless, but remember – we serve the God of the impossible (Luke 1:37)!

It is interesting to note that when Israel tried to enter the Promised Land the first time, one of the main reasons the 10 spies refused to go in was that the walls of the cities of Canaan were 'very high and sturdy' (Deuteronomy 1:28).  If only they had responded to God in faith, they too could have seen and experienced the walls of the enemy falling at their feet. 

The Lord now goes on to give Joshua very specific instructions on how to defeat Jericho.  As we would expect, the instructions had little or nothing to do with military might or prowess.  The victory was miraculously given to Israel by God, after public praise and worship.

Joshua 6:3-4 – "You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once.  Thus shall you do for six days.  Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark.  On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets."

God's instructions were simple.  Israel was to make one lap around the city each day for six consecutive days.  This made no military sense, but that is okay; military skills were not going to win this battle – faith was.  The seemingly senseless marches around Jericho were a test of faith for Israel.

We are not told which order the people marched in.  Some commentators speculate that they marched in the same order as they did when they marched around the wilderness (Numbers 10:14).  Others feel the soldiers marched in random order, or that the trans-Jordan tribes went first.  We will take a closer look at this issue later on.

On the seventh day, Israel would make seven laps around Jericho. This time the priests would be sounding their ram horns and eventually a command to shout would be given.

The number seven (the number of divine perfection and completeness) is very prominent in the conquest of Jericho.  For example, Israel marched seven laps on the seventh day and seven trumpets were blown.  This, along with the presence of the priests, the use of ram horns instead of silver trumpets, and the presence of the Ark all indicate that this victory was religious in nature. 

Despite the opinions of people in the modern day, there can be no question that Israel received this land by the will and decree of Almighty God. No other people group or nation has a claim on this land.  It belongs exclusively to the nation of Israel.

Meanwhile, inside Jericho, all routine pursuits had been given up and every effort was being made to defend the city. The unexpected and seemingly senseless daily march around the wall probably confused and demoralized the defenders. But it was also an act of God's grace. The people of Jericho had ample evidence that Jehovah was the true God. This six-day waiting period gave them time to turn to God and make peace with Israel before their destruction.

Joshua 6:5 – "And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."

During the prior six days of marching, Israel was totally silent.  That silence was probably more chilling and frightening than any taunts or 'trash talk' that could have been spoken by Israel.  Nevertheless, it would not be surprising if the inhabitants of Jericho mocked Israel from the top of the wall as they marched around the city.

But on the seventh day, at the proper signal from the priests, the army was to give a loud, boisterous war cry, intended to intimidate the enemy while simultaneously encouraging each other.

When they did, God would cause the entire wall of the city to collapse all at once. This was something that had never occurred before.  Normally when a city wall was breached, there was one central opening, and all the defenders would rush to that spot and attempt to fight off the enemy.  But if the entirety of the wall fell down at once, and each soldier entered the city 'straight before' him, then the entire city would be under attack at one time.  In the midst of the chaos and confusion (not to mention the fear) that resulted, the army of Jericho would put up very little resistance to the invaders.

We clearly see that God miraculously fights for Israel which resulted in:

• God's name and power being known among the nations of Canaan.

• God receiving the glory for this victory instead of the nation of Israel.

• The people learning to respect/revere the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the manifest presence of God as well as his word.

• The people of Israel having their faith and obedience tested and strengthened.

• The people of Israel being encouraged to fight in all subsequent battles which were necessary to take possession of the Promised Land.

• The false report of the 10 spies (we can't take the walled cities) being forever silenced.

Joshua 6:6-8 – So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord." And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord." And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them.

After speaking to the Lord, Joshua moves into action.  These verses seem a bit repetitious to us, but they confirm that Israel was obedient to do all that God had commanded them through Joshua.

Having said that, there are a couple additional points we should consider:

First, scholars are divided on whether or not the civilians of Israel were involved in the march around Jericho.

Some believe that the armed forces were at the head of the line, followed by the priests and the ark, with the general population of Israel bringing up the rear.

Others believe that all the armed forces except Dan were at the head of the line.  They believe Dan was behind the Ark and the general population of Israel did not march around the city at all.  This opinion is based on the fact that during the wilderness wandering, Dan was always the tribe that brought up the rear (Numbers 10:25).

Still others believe that the fighting men of the trans-Jordan tribes (Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh) led the column while the rest of the military forces marched after the Ark.  

Any of these opinions could be correct. However, regardless of which troops marched before or after the Ark, I believe that the general population did NOT march around the city. At best, civilians would slow down or inhibit the military men. At worst, they could be injured or killed during the chaos that ensued when the wall fell. Plus, everything in Jericho was to be killed (devoted to destruction) or destroyed. Civilians had nothing to gain by being in the city.

Second, I think we need to place some additional importance on the Ark and its role in this endeavor.

No matter what order the army marched in, there can be no doubt that the Ark of the Covenant was in the middle or center of the procession.  We have already established that the literal 10 commandments were kept in the chest portion of the Ark and therefore the Ark represents not only the presence of God, but his word/commands to his people. 

Symbolically we could say that the Law of God is at the center of what Israel is doing. The priests who blow the trumpets are the heralds of Gods commands and the military personnel are God's executioners.

It was the word of God/Law that brought Israel through the Jordan.  This same Law was to be established in Canaan; the entire Law of Moses rests upon these original commands.  

The seven days of silent marching represent the forbearance of God, who patiently gave men room to repent before the cup of their iniquity became full (Genesis 15:16).

 Furthermore, in the first year of the Exodus the people of Canaan heard of the miraculous power of God.  Subsequently, they had a generation (40 years) to repent and seek the God of Israel, but they did not.  The shout given by Israel on the seventh day was a signal that their time of repentance was over. 

This can also be taken as a picture of the gospel.  Repentance and salvation are the commands of God.  Christians are modern day priests in the kingdom of heaven; it is our privilege to 'herald' or publish the good news to everyone (every nation).  It is also our responsibility to sound the alarm against sin and wickedness wherever we find it.

God patiently waits until the fullness of time comes; then his people will hear the shout of an archangel and the trump of God as we are ushered into heaven (I Thessalonians 4:16).  At that point, the age of grace is over, although there will still be a chance for some to be saved through the tribulation period. Nevertheless, judgment is at the door!

Let this scripture be a reminder to us that TODAY is the day of salvation (Hebrews 3:7). If you are already saved, then today is the day to work for the kingdom. Time passes us by quickly – our lives are no more than a vapor in the expanse of eternity (James 4:14). Since that is the case, if you want to do something for the Lord, take my advice and DO IT TODAY!

Joshua 6:9 –The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.

The priests carried the presence of God with them.  This was a great encouragement to all the people, especially the soldiers because the sounding of the horn was a sign to the people that God would remember them in the day of battle (Numbers 10:9). 

The horn used in this case was not the normal silver trumpet used in battle. God had instructed Israel to use ram's horns. These trumpets were normally sounded during the year of jubilee, signifying complete liberty to all of God's people. Using them in this situation signified not only the liberty of the people of Israel, but the bringing of the land of Canaan into the hands of its rightful owners.

Joshua 6:10 – But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout.  Then you shall shout."

I once heard a sermon which said that God forced Israel to be quiet for six days, because life and death are in the power of the tongue and if they spoke, they would talk themselves out of a victory!

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

How true this is on so many occasions in our own lives!

When a Christian encounters a difficulty in life, our first reaction is to consult with God (and rightly so).  We pray, we seek his council, we find scriptural promises that speak to our situation, and we claim that we are standing on faith expecting God to hear and give us victory. 

But then we immediately turn around and begin speaking words of death and defeat over our situation.  We call or text our friends and discuss the worst-case scenarios of our problem.  Instead of praising God, we complain.  Instead of seeing the victory as already ours, we question whether God will keep his promises.  Instead of acknowledging Jehovah as the God of the impossible, we give Satan credit for power he doesn't have. 

And then we wonder why we aren't victorious! 

This is an area of life that all of us need to clean up. The bible says that our speech reveals the contents of our hearts:

Luke 6:45 - A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The next time you are believing for God to do something in your life, make sure you take stock of your speech.  You may need to break some old habits, or you may need to seek guidance from Holy Spirit as to why you don't have words of faith coming out in your everyday speech.  You may also want to say a prayer and ask God to break any spiritual yokes or bondages that you have placed upon yourself due to your tongue/speech (Matthew 11:30).

Joshua 6:11-12 –So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

Realistically, it wouldn't take very long to make one lap around the city, even though the soldiers (and priests) kept well back from the walls to avoid getting hit by enemy projectiles.  Once the lap was completed, they simply went back to camp.  They had lots and lots of time to practice patience during those first six days!

The Israelites must have thought that the victory over Jericho was taking forever!

But the truth is that God was working in the lives of his people, even when it seemed like nothing was happening.  

For instance, Israel was practicing obedience.  God places a very high value on obedience. 

1 Samuel 15:22 - And Samuel said, has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

As we already noted in today's lesson, only God knows the end from the beginning.  Therefore, we should always obey him because we cannot see all of the 'moving pieces' or the final outcome of a situation.  When God told Israel to march around the city one time, obedience was the best course of action, even though they may not have understood the reason for it.

There is also the matter of faith. God never fully explain his plans to us at the beginning of an endeavor. He expects us to follow him step by step, so that we don't jump ahead of him or go off in the wrong direction. We must act on his instructions in faith, then wait for the next command. In this scenario, Israel had a chance to exercise her faith in God while she waited for the victory to manifest (I John 5:4).

As for us, we know that God has not changed. He is still very pleased by our faith (Hebrews 11:6).

As previously mentioned, this time delay also gave the people of Jericho a chance to repent and ask for mercy from God. 

We can conclude that even though it seemed like nothing was happening in this situation, God was working behind the scenes to accomplish his purposes.  

Let me offer you some encouragement and some relief:

We may not want to admit it, but the bible tells us that the words we speak are directly linked to what is in our hearts.

Perhaps, as you read today's post, you realized that you are speaking negative things into your life, into your problems and even into the lives of your family.  If so, I am sure you want to correct that – I am sure you want to sow seeds of victory and life instead.

But you can't correct the problem simply by saying to yourself, 'I'm not going to do that ever again'.   You will need to change what is in your heart.  A great way to begin that process is by taking the advice of the apostle Paul.  He says to keep your mind fixed on things that are good, lovely or of a good report. 

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  

I also suggest feeding your mind/heart DAILY on the word of God and keeping a song of praise on your lips.  These strategies will get you started.  

If this applies to you, I strongly encourage you to start changing your heart right now.It will greatly benefit you and your family.

Let me offer you some strength:

When God spoke to Joshua, he said that Jericho had already been delivered into the hands of Israel.  It was a 'done deal'; all Israel had to do was step out in faith and claim the victory.

God has made it very clear that he intends to bring a great awakening or revival to America.  There is no need for us to doubt this great victory.  Instead, we need to step out in faith and prepare for it.

Here are some things you can do:

• Prepare a short (seriously, like 90 seconds) testimony of what God has done for you. Be ready to share this with others.

• Sharpen your spiritual ears – be ready to interact with someone when Holy Spirit gives you a nudge.

• Examine your church/fellowship. Are you prepared to receive and disciple new believers? How can you be involved in that process?

• Pray, pray, pray! Stand in the gap and pray for God's salvation to reach those you love and those you interact with. Declare his promises over your city and neighborhood.

• Live an exemplary Christian life in front of your peers. Don't compromise and don't react to the world around you in fear. Sinners need to know who they can turn to when the world fails them.

What other ways can you step out in faith and participate in this awakening?

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Joshua 5:9 –And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you."  And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

As we noted last time, the entirety of chapter 5 centers on the children of Israel renewing their covenant with God.

God had miraculously protected and provided for Israel during their 40-year punishment of wandering in the wilderness.  He graciously led them once again to the border of the Promised Land.  In fact, they were more than 'at the border' - they had crossed the Jordan River and they were camped on the land that was their God given inheritance!

However, before they began the actual conquest, God directed the people to renew their covenant with him. This involved two things:

• All males must be circumcised.
• The Passover must be celebrated.

Scripture tells us that once that was done, God rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them.

But what does that actually mean?  Several different explanations have been offered.

One explanation says that Israel's reproach refers to their state of impurity because they were not circumcised. God had given the rite of circumcision to his people through their father Abraham (Genesis 17:10). It was an outward sign of their purity and covenant with God. Therefore, to be uncircumcised was to be in a state of the grossest impurity and sin. We often find Old Testament references to the enemies of Israel who are contemptuously referred to as 'the uncircumcised' (II Samuel 1:20, I Chronicles 10:4, Isaiah 52:1, etc).

This explanation goes on to say that because the children of Israel did not circumcise their children during the wilderness wandering, they were as polluted and sinful as the Egyptians.  However, once they renewed their covenant with God, that sinful reproach in the sight of God was removed.

Another explanation says that nation of Israel suffered reproach because they rebelled against the government authority who ruled them (Pharaoh). In essence, they were considered no more than rebels and deserters who were despised by the world. This theory states that by renewing their covenant with God through circumcision, Israel proved that their actions were not those of mere anarchists. Their liberty was restored to them by the God of heaven, which means they did not rebel against legitimate authority. Hence, they were no longer considered a reproach.

Yet another explanation sees the reproaches of Egypt as actual words that were uttered by men.  This theory states that the Egyptians taunted and despised Israel as they wandered around the wilderness, because the God they claimed to serve was unable to help them acquire a settlement in Canaan (Exodus 32:12, Numbers 14:13-16).  Since Israel had now actually entered Canaan and God had pledged to give them the land, the reproaches stopped.

Regardless of which theory is true (perhaps all of them are), we can be sure that God is deeply concerned about the honor of his people, because his own glory is attached to our honor and success.  Notice the promise that God gives to us through the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 54:17 -No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD.

The reproach of Israel was a prime example of God keeping this promise.  Though the voices of that age rose up against Israel, God vindicated his people.  

Here is some good news:  God's promises have not changed!  We should not be afraid to stand up for the word of God, even if his promises seem impossible.  If God said it, it WILL come to pass.  Those who stand firm in faith will receive the fulfillment of the promise while the voices of those who come against them will be condemned!

Scripture tells us that the place where the circumcision occurred was then renamed 'Gilgal' which means 'to roll off, to cut off or to remove'.

For Israel, Gilgal was a literal physical place.  But for us it is a spiritual place because in the age of grace circumcision is of the heart, not the flesh.  

Colossians 2:13 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

Because we have been cleansed by the precious blood of Christ, let us circumcise our hearts by cutting off or removing all sin and hold tightly to the ways of God.   Let's not give the sinners around us a reason to mock or reproach the gospel message.  Instead, let's show them the love of God and the fruits of righteousness. 

Joshua 5:10 – While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.

The first Passover occurred in Egypt, just before Israel departed in freedom.  The second Passover was held at Mount Sinai. The celebration held at Gilgal was the third time Israel kept the Passover.

Picture that scene for just a moment – The jubilant people of Israel were camped beside the raging waters of the Jordan River.  They had set up the tabernacle in their midst, sacrificed their lambs and began to eat the Passover meal.  The smell of the roasted meat wafted through the air and made it over the walls of Jericho, just a few miles away.  The soldiers of Jericho smelled the fresh meat and were probably angry at being tightly shut up in the city while their enemies enjoyed a time of fellowship with their God!  It can truly be said that God prepared a table before his people, in the presence of their enemies (Psalms 23:5)!

I imagine it was a celebration to remember, especially since they were banned from celebrating Passover during the 40-year period of wandering (Exodus 12:48).

Let's stop and think about that ban for a minute. When Israel refused to step out in faith and take the Promised Land the first time, their sin and unbelief drove a wedge between that generation and God. Although they were still God's people, they were unable to enjoy a close covenant relationship with God and thus they could not celebrate Passover. I think all of us would agree it was a sad (and avoidable) situation.

But before we judge them, we should ask ourselves this question:  Are we really any different?

The effects of sin and unbelief have not changed.  They are still capable of driving a wedge between us and God.  Although we may still be saved, sin/unbelief will prevent us from enjoying the close, intimate fellowship that God desires to share with us.  Sin and unbelief function like ear plugs, keeping us from hearing (and seeing) in the spiritual realm and hindering the productive work that God desires for us to accomplish in his kingdom.

Mark 8:17-18 - Do you not yet perceive or understand?  Are your hearts hardened?  Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?

Let's face it – Israel wasted a lot of time wandering around, doing nothing productive.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to aimlessly wander around in the spiritual realm.  I want to stick as close to God as possible.  I want to see where he is leading and hear what he is saying.  The bible refers to this as 'walking in the Spirit'. 

Romans 8:4-5 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

When we walk where the Spirit leads us, we know that we are in the will of God. We can have confidence that we are accomplishing all the good works that God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10) and we are touching the lives of those who God has purposely placed in our path.

Furthermore, when each individual member of the church is committed to walking by the Spirit, we can expect God to do great things in our midst.  We can expect the lost to come through the doors of our church and find Christ.  We can expect people to be delivered and set free.  We can expect to see all the blessings of a life in Christ, including healing, restoration and other miracles. 

Are you willing to circumcise your hearts and minds in order to have that kind of a walk with Christ?  Are you ready to walk by the Spirit?

Joshua 5:11-12 – And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

As far as the timing of this event, we need to remember that the new Jewish day began at sunset.  The paschal lamb would have been sacrificed before sunset on the 14^th of Nisan, then immediately roasted and consumed.  This means that according to the Jewish reckoning of time, the meal was actually eaten very early on the 15^th day. 

The next day, the 16^th of Nisan, they would have dedicated some of the produce of the land to God via a wave offering (Leviticus 23:10-11).  Once those first fruits were dedicated, Israel was free to eat any of the produce of the land.

Consequently, as they rose from sleep on the morning of the 17^th, they no doubt realized that manna had ceased to fall from heaven.  The 16^th of Nisan, the day they ate of the produce of Canaan, was indeed the last day manna fell.  

Manna was a temporary (and necessary) provision during the period of wandering, when no agriculture was being practiced.  It was not a permanent benefit; it was a stop-gap measure peculiar to the wilderness era.  Once Israel entered the Promised Land and ate of its bounty, the benefit stopped. 

We can glean several lessons from the provision of manna:

• It did not come randomly or by chance as snow or rain does, but by the special dispensation and mercy of God. Notice that it began precisely when Israel had a real need for it, and it ended precisely when their need was over - when they ate of the produce of Canaan. In between those times, it arrived on schedule and without fail six days a week. Clearly, manna was a miraculous gift from God! This should give us assurance that God knows what we have need of too, and he will certainly supply it.

Matthew 6:31-33 - Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.   But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

• The lesson of manna enforces the need for ordinary work. God granted the manna only when there was no option for Israel to farm the land and produce what she needed through normal physical labor. God is not in the habit of miraculously providing things that we can provide for ourselves through ordinary means. A wise man once noted that if you ask God for money, he is likely to send you a pair of work boots!

• In today's culture, many people believe it is the job of the government or society to take care of them. This is not a biblical view. If you are able to work, you should provide for your own needs (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, II Thessalonians 3:0-12).

Let me ask you a question:  We noted that Israel was eating the grain/produce of Canaan.  But Israel only had possession of a few square miles of Canaan at this point – so where did all the corn and other crops come from?

Well, the city-kingdoms of Canaan were set up in much the same way as ours – most of the people lived in the cities while the farms were located around the perimeter of the wall.  The farmers no doubt had much of last year's crop of corn stored in their barns, to use while waiting for the new crops to ripen.

When the alarm was sounded in Jericho and everyone rushed into the city to be protected from the enemy, the farmers left the corn and other provisions in their barns.  All Israel had to do was go pick it up.  They didn't have to spend time planting, weeding, gathering the harvest, winnowing the grain or hauling it into storage – that was already done for them!

Now here is something to consider as you meditate on God's provision this week: Manna was a temporary gift from God which aided his people in their time of need.  Because it was temporary, Israel could only take advantage of it during those 40 years.  God did not provide it before or after that time, because it was not necessary. 

Likewise, God has given us gifts in this age (the dispensation of grace) which fulfill the unique needs we have right now.  Like manna, these gifts are temporary so if you want to take advantage of them, this is your only chance.

For example, God has given us the gift of faith (the assurance that God keeps his promises, even when you don't yet see the evidence of it. See Hebrews 11:1). Scripture tells us that God has given to each person a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

We need faith to step into the promises of God, to fight the enemy and to rescue people from the kingdom of darkness.  But when we enter the next dispensation (life in heaven), faith will no longer be a part of our existence because all of heaven conforms to the will of God.  So, if you want to exercise your faith and please God (Hebrews 11:6), you have to use it right now.

The gift of prayer (and heavenly prayer languages) will also cease (I Corinthians 13:8).  Right now, because we are living on earth in our mortal bodies of sinful flesh, we must communicate with God through our Mediator Christ Jesus, via prayer.  But once we enter heaven, sin will be completely gone and there will no longer be a need for us to pray – we can talk to God face to face.  So if you want to know God intimately through answered prayer, you better start praying right now!

It has often been noted that the ability to willingly worship God during our lifetime is a gift. Once we enter eternity and see God in person, worship will not be a conscious choice – it will be an automatic response based on the awesome presence of God. So if you want to make a conscious choice to offer God a sacrifice of praise, now is your only chance.

Let me leave you with a final thought on this concept:  In the natural realm, a woman establishes a relationship with the man she plans to marry.  Through their interactions, she gets to know his likes and dislikes.  She shares his goals and dreams for the future.  She learns to trust him.  She finds out how he treats her.  She discovers what it will be like to become partners with him.  All of this normally happens before the wedding occurs.

Scripture tells us that the church is the bride of Christ.  Do you want to arrive at the marriage supper of the Lamb without knowing much about your groom?  Or do you want to use the gifts God has made available to you to develop and enjoy a close, glorious bond with Jesus before you get to heaven? 

Joshua 5:13 – When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand.  And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"

All bible scholars agree that either chapter five should have ended with verse 12, or chapters 5 and 6 should have been a single chapter.  There is a clear break in the text between the events of the Passover and this encounter between Joshua and God, which spills over into chapter six.

At any rate, there are many different opinions (and disagreements) about these next three verses.  I will try to present all the pertinent options, and it is up to you to decide what you believe.

To begin with, there are some people who believe these verses describe a vision that Joshua had. Consequently, they do not believe that Joshua was physically standing alone near the walls of the city of Jericho. They believe he may have been sitting in his own tent surrounded by advisors as he had the vision of this 'man' with a drawn sword.

Others believe this was a real event.  They believe Joshua wanted a firsthand look at the terrain outside the walls and he simply walked down to Jericho to see it.  He certainly did not go alone, but his cohorts were not right beside him at the time of this encounter.

A third opinion says that Joshua was physically outside the walls of the city, where he had a vision of the man with the drawn sword.

One thing everyone agrees on is that the purpose of this encounter was to encourage Joshua. Regardless of where he was physically located at the time, Joshua was probably contemplating the upcoming attack on Jericho. Although his trust was certainly in the Lord, he was doing his part to understand the situation they faced, and to see if there were any physical advantages Israel could use. As this was occurring, God chose to send him a word of encouragement.

Whether in a vision or in real life, Joshua must have been surprised to see this warrior.  Suspecting that he was a Canaanite general on his way to reconnoiter the camp of Israel, Joshua boldly confronted him and asked his purpose for being there.

Joshua 5:14 – And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord.  Now I have come."  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?"

Everyone also agrees that in answer to Joshua's question, this 'man' denies being either an Israelite or a Canaanite.

The next major argument over this passage centers on the identity of the unknown warrior.  There are two possible answers. 

The first is that this 'man' was a high-ranking warrior angel of God (possibly Michael the archangel), who was a general in God's army.  This angel intimates that his purpose is to lead Israel in the coming battle at Jericho, which means that God was going to overthrow Jericho by divine means. 

Those who believe him to be an angel point out that he represents himself as being separate or different from God.  They also point out that the angel says he has 'now come'.  In their opinion, this cannot refer to God because he has always been with Israel. 

The second theory identifies this 'man' as Jesus himself. If this is the case, then we have an instance of what is called a theophany – a manifestation of God to mankind by actual appearance in a tangible or recognizable form. There are several such theophanies recorded in the Old Testament.

(Many of the scholars who believe this was Jesus also believe that he adopted the form which he later took when he came to earth to pay for the redemption of man, although this cannot be proved.) 

Those who believe him to be Jesus point out that he is specifically referred to as 'Jehovah' or 'the Lord' in Joshua 6:2, which means he was not a created angel. As to the argument that he has 'now come', this viewpoint maintains that that phrase simply refers to the current reason for his manifest presence; it does not imply that God had left Israel at any time.

There is also the issue of the 'worship' this being receives from Joshua.  We know that Joshua falls to his knees and bows his head before this 'man'.  We also know that a true angel of God will never allow a human to give him divine worship (Revelation 22:8-9). 

However, those who consider the 'man' to be an angel say that Joshua's actions do not constitute divine worship.  Back in that day, Orientals often showed honor and respect to their superiors by bowing before them (II Samuel 9:6, 14:33).  They believe Joshua's actions merely reflect his acknowledgement that this angelic being was superior to him in strength, wisdom and power.  As such, he deserved to be honored by Joshua.

Of course, those who believe this was Jesus say Joshua was giving God the worship he deserved and that every single one of us will bow before the person of Jesus when we finally behold him. 

Joshua 5:15 – And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy."  And Joshua did so.

As mentioned previously, those who believe this was an angel consider the removal of shoes as a token of reverence and respect paid to a superior person or being.  It would be kind of like removing your shoes when you went into the house of a friend.  

However, others point out that the person who spoke to Joshua uses the same language as the one who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, and he gives Joshua the same command – to remove his shoes (Exodus 3:15).  This indicates that the place was made holy by the presence of God, and thus this 'man' was none other than Jesus.

Even though there are disagreements about these verses, there are still many points that we all accept as true.  Just as the visitation of God strengthened and encouraged Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, it now encouraged Joshua in his arduous task of expelling the Canaanites from the land and establishing Israel in her inheritance.  In fact, anyone who draws near to God will find that he is always nearby, ready to hear and to assist us as we fight the battles of this life.  

The raised sword of the warrior indicated that God was going to fight for Israel and give her the victory.  None of the kingdoms of Canaan could stand against the Lord.  When God draws his sword to give us victory over our enemies, no power of hell will be able to stand against us (Matthew 16:18).

When God speaks to us, we must be attentive to his commands just as Joshua was. God has already revealed many of his commands to us through his word; we must endeavor to live by his laws as we wait further instructions from him.

If we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, we must be ready and willing to immediately bow before him and assume the role of his servant in all areas of life.  His will must become our will.

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

Joshua was over 80 years old when God put him in charge of leading Israel into the Promised Land.  What a daunting and impossible task it must have seemed!  Indeed, without the help of the Lord, it would have been a failure.

God often calls us to do the impossible because it forces us to partner with him to get the job done.  It causes us to lean upon him for wisdom, understanding, strength and breakthrough.  That way, when success comes, the glory and honor go to God alone.

So, if you feel like God is calling you to do the impossible, don't be afraid - be encouraged!  He will be right there with you, leading you every step of the way. 

And remember - he is giving you an incredible opportunity to partner with him on this side of glory. You will form a deeper trust and faith in him through this experience.

Let me offer you some strength:

All Christians need to be mindful of their own personal holiness.  If we allow sin and unbelief to dwell in our lives, it will prevent us from walking closely with the Lord.  It will dull our spiritual hearing and darken our spiritual sight.

Even though we know this, most Christians continue to hold on to certain sins.  Perhaps this is because it is painful and challenging to 'cut away' or remove these things from our lives. 

If you feel Holy Spirit prompting you to circumcise some area of your heart, you can be sure that he will be with you as you go through the process.  If he has called you to do it, he will also strengthen you to be able to make the change.  In the end, you will be glad you did!

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Joshua 5:1 – As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

This scripture specifically mentions the Amorites and the Canaanites.

The term 'Canaanite' is a generic name that collectively refers to any or all of the kingdoms living in the region of the Promise Land.  These would include the Hittites, Hivites, Jebusites, Girgashites, Perizzites, etc. 

The Amorites were a specific kingdom whose people dwelt on both sides of the Jordan.  Israel had already defeated two of their strongest kings (Sihon and Og) under the leadership of Moses.  They may be mentioned separately because they were considered the most valiant/fierce of the Canaanites.        

The people of Canaan were no doubt trusting in the swollen, raging Jordan River to protect their borders from Israelite invasion for several weeks. They considered the river to be an impenetrable barrier of defense, and under normal circumstances, they would be correct.

However, our God is anything but normal/routine! The Canaanites knew that Jehovah had blocked the river and allowed Israel to cross over on dry land. This was irrefutable proof that God was on the side of Israel.

In some ways we could say that the conquest had already begun because this demonstration of God's power caused a spirit of dread/helplessness to overcome the Canaanite (and Amorite) people, making them weak and fearful.

But before Israel began to engage in any military campaigns, they had to prepare themselves before God.  

Joshua 5:2-3 – At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time."  So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Before the use of iron was common, all nations of the earth used stone/flint to make sharp edged tools. (Perhaps you may have found a stone arrowhead somewhere out in the woods near your home.)

Interestingly, Israel continued to use knives of stone for circumcision and other sacred purposes, even after they were able to manufacture iron.  For example, when Zipporah (the wife of Moses) had to circumcise her son, she used a stone instrument:

Exodus 4:25 - Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband are you to me. 

In fact, both scriptural and historical accounts of circumcision show that the procedure was carried out with stone knives as opposed to metal knives.  Because of these accounts, scholars surmise that the Hebrews considered it unlawful to use metal of any kind in circumcision. 

Why would that be?

Although we don't know for sure, we can make an educated guess.  We know that when God commanded Israel to make an altar it could not be an altar of hewn stones (stones shaped with a hammer or an axe).  According to God, the use of man-made metal tools on the rock would pollute it: 

Exodus 20:25 - And if you will make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone: for if you lift up your tool upon it, you have polluted it.

If a tool of iron polluted the altar which was used to dedicate sacrifices to God, then likewise a tool of iron would pollute a person if used in a rite/ritual in which the body and soul of that person were being dedicated to God.

Furthermore, the early church fathers believed that circumcision with a flint or rock was symbolic of the true circumcision of the heart performed by Jesus, who was more than once referred to as the Rock (I Corinthians 10:4).

Romans 2:29 - But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

So, because of the symbolism of physical circumcision (which we will look at shortly), it was important that man-made metal tools not be used in the process.

Notice in verse two that God tells Joshua to 'circumcise the sons of Israel a second time'. 

This does not mean that individuals who had already been circumcised underwent the procedure a second time.  Verses 4-7 make it clear that God was referring to a continuation or a renewal of the ceremony of circumcision which had no doubt fallen into disuse during the wilderness wandering.

Because so many males were circumcised at the same time, that place became known as Gibeath-haaraloth which is translated 'hill of the foreskins'.

Joshua 5:4-5 – And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.  Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 

Verses 4-7 give us more detail about who was circumcised and why.  Before we get into the specifics of this, let's remind ourselves of a few facts regarding circumcision:

• Circumcision ('cutting around') refers to the practice of cutting away the foreskin of the male reproductive organ.

• The practice of circumcision existed in a limited way before God established the nation of Israel. However, by the command of God it became the distinguishing physical mark of the covenant between God and his people (Genesis 17:10-14).

• Every male in Israel had to be circumcised. This was done on the 8^th day of life (Genesis 17:1, Leviticus 12:3, Acts 7:8).

• Every slave (Genesis 17:12-13) and every foreigner/proselyte also had to be circumcised before they could enjoy citizenship in Israel (Exodus 12:48, Ezekiel 44:9).

• Any male who was not circumcised was cut off from the fellowship of Israel and the covenant with God (Genesis 17:14).

• No one was permitted to participate in Passover unless he was circumcised. This applied to those who were born as Israelites as well as those who converted (Exodus 12:48).

Now, let's consider who was already circumcised at the time Israel crossed the Jordan, and who was not.

Joshua 5:6 – For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

We know that Israel fully celebrated Passover at Mount Sinai in the first month of the second year of their deliverance from Egypt (Numbers 9:1-5).  Therefore, we know that all of the men born up until that time had been circumcised.

Numbers 9:1-2 - And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Let the children of Israel also keep the Passover at its appointed time.

However, shortly after celebrating this Passover, the men of Israel rebelled against God and refused to go into battle to claim the Promised Land (Numbers 13).  As punishment, God declared that Israel would wander in the wilderness for 40 years, until that rebellious generation had died (Numbers 14:6-35).  During these years of wandering, they did not circumcise their male children; nor did they celebrate Passover.

Keep in mind, God was very specific that this punishment applied to males who were 20-years-old and older.  This means that any males younger than 20 would have been circumcised at Sinai, and they would still have been alive after the years of wandering.

So as Israel crossed the Jordan, they had a whole group of men who were roughly between the ages of 40-59 who had been circumcised at Sinai.  Then they had a whole younger generation (under 40 years) who had not been circumcised.  Obviously, this younger generation included most of the fighting men. 

Why didn't Israel circumcise their male children during the period of wandering?  

Joshua 5:7 – So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised.  For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

Do you have any ideas as to why Israel did not circumcise their children during the wilderness wandering?  

In order to fully understand the reason, we need to know why God required circumcision in the first place.

Israel was (and still is) God's chosen nation/people. They were to be separated from the world and consecrated to God. They had the privilege of living in covenant with the creator of all things. They had the honor of bringing the blessings of God to the whole world; Jesus the Messiah came through their lineage.

As God's chosen people, they were set apart for his glory.  They were never to worship false idols/gods like the nations around them.  They were to be holy just as God was holy; they must adhere to the laws and covenant of God.  They were to follow wherever God led them, and obey his voice at all times. 

But on that fateful day when they believed the report of the ten spies, they essentially broke their covenant with God and entered into rebellion. Since their relationship with God was broken, there was no point in celebrating the Passover or circumcising their children.

But God, in his great mercy, did not fully break off the covenant. (Thankfully, his victory is not dependent upon us!!).  Instead, he decreed a 40 year period of wandering during which those in rebellion died. After they were gone, God then renewed his covenant with their offspring/children.

Thus, we witness God's great power, wisdom and might – He has once again brought Israel to the border of the Promised Land and he is once again calling upon his people to take the land.  Before that happens, the covenant is renewed – the males are circumcised and the Passover is celebrated.

Joshua 5:8 – When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

Why would Holy Spirit cause so much emphasis to be placed on circumcision in this portion of scripture?  The answer is that it holds an important lesson for today!

Circumcision in the flesh was a type or foreshadowing of the circumcision of the heart that takes place under the dispensation of grace.

Remember, circumcision was a sign that the people were in covenant with God and consecrated to him.  Now, during the age of grace, we too are in a covenant with God (a much better covenant, I might add – Hebrews 8:6).  Part of that covenant is living a life of holiness:

1 Peter 1:15-16 - But as he who has called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conduct; Because it is written, You will be holy; for I am holy.

Where are you at right now in your walk with Christ? We are living in times of great change; God is raising up warriors for his army who will do battle in the spiritual realm and take this world for the kingdom of heaven. Do you want to be part of that?

If so, it's time to recommit to the covenant, just as the children of Israel were called to do, before they partnered with God to take the Promised Land.  It's time for us to circumcise our hearts and rid ourselves of the pollution of sin. 

In Romans chapter two, Paul discourses on the subject of circumcision. He concludes that circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit of God (Romans 2:28-29). It is of vital importance that we allow Holy Spirit to come into our lives and do a work of circumcision - of cutting away and removing the sins that still abide in our lives.

Colossians 2:11 - In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

We all have sin in our lives that we know about.  In these cases, we must surrender that sin to God and ask Holy Spirit to help us weed it out of our lives.  We need him to help us pluck it up by the roots, so it is completely gone.

In addition, we all have sin that we are probably not aware of.  Sometimes things like anger, unforgiveness or greed can lurk in the shadows of our hearts, staying away from the light.  We would be wise to ask Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal any hidden weaknesses in our lives:

Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

We need to prepare ourselves to be mighty warriors in the kingdom of God.

Consider this: The need to adhere to God's covenant is not just a mandate for us as individuals. As the collective church, we need to be careful to adhere to the holy teachings outlined in God's word. God does not condone the killing of children (abortion), injustice or rampant sexual sin of any kind. The church is to love and embrace people, but not their sin. This can be a difficult distinction to make, but Holy Spirit will assist us as we lean on him.

And as you have already guessed, there are national implications as well.

As a nation, America was founded on a covenant with God. We are devoted to Him, just as Israel was/is. Our original mandate was to make this nation free under God and to spread the gospel message from shore to shore and around the world. It is time for the Christians of America to do battle in the spiritual realm to take this nation back for Jesus Christ!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

I don't know about you, but I love leisure and comfort.  If I could have that 24/7, I would be tempted to take it!

But we are not on this planet for that purpose.  As soldiers in the kingdom of God, we are to wage war on our enemy.  We are to train ourselves for service through personal sanctification and holiness.  We are called upon to be an active member of our military unit (our individual church) and we are called upon to engage the enemy through prayer, declarations and Holy Spirit guided action. 

So I encourage you – join God's army today and get busy!

Let me offer you some relief:

It would be difficult for the enemy to trick us with things that are blatantly evil; we would see that trap a mile away.  Instead, his tactics are much more subtle.  He often uses innocent activities or interests to keep us so busy that we take our eyes off the spiritual realm.  When that happens, we become ineffective soldiers for the kingdom. 

But it doesn't have to be that way.  Examine yourself.  If you are spending less and less time in prayer and kingdom warfare, take the initiative to make a change!

Disengage yourself from some of the things that are taking up the time you should be spending in prayer, fasting and reading the word. Rededicate yourself to kingdom work!

Let me offer you some strength:

We know that as Christians, the battle never depends on our own strength or wisdom; the victory has already been won by Christ Jesus our Lord. 

So don't be weary or afraid to engage in battle.  The enemy is definitely going to fight back, but he is already defeated.  As we enforce the kingdom of heaven on earth we will have the privilege of working closely with the God of the universe; we will see him do mighty miracles on behalf of the church. 

Are you ready for battle?   

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Joshua 4:1 – When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua...

In our last post, we noted that the waters of the Jordan ceased to flow when the priests set foot in the river carrying the Ark of the Covenant.  This was similar to the parting of the Red Sea, which took place when Israel left Egypt.

One of the similarities was that neither parting was instantaneous.  In the case of the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to hold his staff over the water.  Once Moses obeyed, God sent a strong east wind which blew all night.  When the morning light dawned, Israel could see that the waters had parted.

Exodus 14:21 - And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

God often manipulates the laws of nature when performing miracles. In the case of the Red Sea, scholars speculate that the east wind caused the water to freeze and build up a temporary barrier which parted the sea and allowed the people to pass through. Miraculously, the ice barrier held until Israel passed over, and it melted at the exact moment when Pharaoh and his troops were in the midst of the sea.

In the case of the Jordan, the Lord most likely parted the water by means of an earthquake which caused a landslide.  This theory is supported by the fact that the Jordan valley lies along one of the major fault lines of the earth's surface.  

In addition, history records two verifiable landslides which dammed up the Jordan River – one in 1267 AD and one in 1927 AD.  The incident in 1927 occurred near the town of Adam (as did the one during the time of Joshua) and resulted in an interrupted flow of water for about 21 continuous hours. 

This possible explanation of what occurred does not diminish the miracle in any way; in fact it glorifies the Lord - it would take both God's perfect timing and his power over nature to accomplish this miracle.

Joshua 4:2-3 – "Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them saying, 'Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'"

In our last post, we noted that Joshua had selected twelve men for a dual purpose. 

One, they stood right beside the Jordan as the priests entered it; they were eyewitnesses to the miracle of the parting of the river. This way, each tribe had a representative that could confirm what really occurred there. Eyewitness accounts have the ability to crush crazy rumors that sometimes surface when people don't have all the facts.

Two, the twelve men were to wait until all the people had crossed over the riverbed, then each of them had to pick up a stone lying near the feet of the priests. They were to carry these stones to the first encampment of Israel in the Promised Land.

 

 

Joshua 4:4-6a – Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.  And Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you." 

The first few verse of this chapter show us a pattern that is evident all throughout the book of Joshua. We find the Lord giving a command to Joshua (verse 1), then Joshua relaying that command to the people (verses 4-5), and then the people obeying the command (verse 8).

This emphasizes that everything Israel did was done in obedience to the commands of God, not the commands of Joshua. This is important to keep in mind because some of the events that are about to take place may seem harsh according to the view of man (especially in our culture today), so we need to keep in mind that the actions of Israel were simply obedience to the commands of God, who is sovereign over all the affairs of men.

Stones taken from the riverbed itself were remarkable evidence that the river had actually stopped flowing so Israel could cross over.  In fact, the purpose of gathering the stones was to make a memorial for future generations.

As you probably already know, raising stones as a memorial was common in the Old Testament:

• Jacob built a pillar as a memorial to God after he had his dream of the ladder or stairway into heaven (Genesis 28:10-22).

• Jacob and his father-in-law built a memorial on Mount Gilead when they parted company (Genesis 31:43-55).

• Samuel set up a memorial stone called Ebenezer as a memorial of the victory that God gave to Israel over the Philistines (I Samuel 7:7-14).

This brings up an important question:   Why did God instruct Israel to gather these stones and make a memorial?  What was its purpose?

Joshua 4:6b-7 – "When your children ask in time to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?', then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."

The purpose of any memorial is two-fold.  First, it provokes questions from those who do not understand its purpose.  Second, it gives a testimony or a witness to something. 

In this particular case, the stones were to be a witness that God had parted the river in order to allow Israel to cross.  It was a testimony to the awesome power of God and to his love for Israel.  While man is capable of many great achievements, none of them can compare to the stupendous and astonishing things that God did for Israel – and the things he will do for the church as well!   

Furthermore, this memorial was a testimony that God could be trusted to keep his promises – he was assisting Israel to possess the land he had promised to give Abraham. Since God never changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8), every generation of God's people can/could use this testimony as an assurance that he would be faithful to them as well.

As we consider this story, we can't help but notice the number of stones – 12, one for each tribe. The stones represent a unified people, who will rule the nation according to the laws of God. In scripture, 12 is a number that represents governmental perfection. If the tribes are faithful to the laws of God, they can expect to live in peace and have the blessings of God poured out upon them and their nation.

When future generations of Israelites inquired about the stones, it was a chance for their parents to tell them about the greatness of God.  As one commentator put it, 'the stones must have tongues in order that their testimony may be complete'.  We might call the stones a 'teaching moment' - a chance to declare what God has done. 

You and I probably don't make memorials in the same way as ancient Israel.  Yet, it is still important for us to speak to our children about the faithfulness of God.  They need to understand that God is both present and active in our everyday lives.  

Joshua 4:8-9 – And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua.  And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.  And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.

As we noted in our last post, many scholars see the wilderness wandering as our time on earth, the crossing of the Jordan as entrance into eternity and the Promised Land as heaven.

There is also a common spiritual interpretation of this passage as well – the wilderness wandering is our time living in sin, the crossing of the Jordan represents our salvation and baptism, and the Promised Land is our time living as Christians on earth.

Spiritually speaking, we were dead in trespasses and sin, until Christ made atonement for us.  In the course of our salvation we have been buried with Christ, quickened with him, raised with him and seated with him in heavenly places:

Ephesians 2:5-6 - Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Here in the age of grace, the church is a 'memorial' (witness) founded upon the rock Christ Jesus (I Peter 2:1-6) and built upon the work of the 12 apostles. Our lives should encourage sinners to ask us why we are different, which provides us an opportunity to witness about the goodness of God. We are an eternal memorial to God's grace - Satan may hate us, but hell cannot prevail against us!

God now has a kingdom that includes people from every tongue, tribe and nation.  Together, we make up the family of God.  It is our responsibility to unify/work together to be an example of God's love to the lost.  Each of our lives is a fleshly memorial to the grace of God; we are 'letters' or examples of Christ known and read of all men (II Corinthians 3:2).

As a side note, consider this:  While it is true that our lives are living memorials to the lost, God has also given 'memorials' or outward visible signs of his mercy to Christians in order to sustain our faith.  These memorials are the sacraments of baptism and communion, which is to be observed until the Lord returns to earth again (I Corinthians 11:26). 

Joshua 4:10 – For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.

I think it would be very natural for at least some of the people to hurry across the Jordan. After all, there are different levels of faith; some people might have been apprehensive that the water would quickly return to its course. This small detail of the crossing assures us that the writer of this book (probably Joshua) was an eyewitness to this event.

However, there is something very puzzling in this verse - the reference to Moses 'commanding' Joshua. 

There is no doubt that Joshua received his instructions regarding the crossing of the Jordan (and the conquest of the Promised Land) directly from God.  He was not following prior orders from Moses on how to make the crossing, or how to erect the stone monument. 

We know this because in Israel's first opportunity to take the land, God had them approach from the west, which means they would never have crossed the Jordan to enter in.  Therefore, there is no way Moses could have 'commanded' or advised Joshua in any way about the crossing or the building of the memorial. Scripture does not tell us why God had them approach from the east the second time, but he did.

If that is the case, why does the scripture say that Moses commanded Joshua?  What did he command him to do?

The command of Moses refers to an order or mandate to hear and strictly obey all of the words of the Lord.  He makes reference to this in his farewell address to Israel:

Deuteronomy 3:28 - But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.   

So we find that God had instructed Moses to encourage Joshua because he was going to be the next leader of Israel; he would have the monumental task of leading the people in the conquest of Canaan.  Joshua could never hope to accomplish this task in his own strength or wisdom.  In order to be successful, he MUST closely listen to the Lord and follow his instructions to the letter. In so doing, Joshua would ensure success for himself and the people (Joshua 1:8). 

For the most part, Joshua does just that.  We will examine the few exceptions to this rule as we continue our study.

Joshua 4:11 – And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people.

God's holy word and his presence - in other words the ark - is the clear focus during all the events of the crossing. This makes sense because it was God who made the crossing possible:

• God's presence (the ark) went before the people; the water stopped flowing when the priests stepped into the river.

• Even though some of the people hurried across out of fear, the priests bearing the ark stood confidently and calmly in the midst of the river until all the people crossed over.

• The ark remained in the river bed as each of the 12 representatives picked up a substantial stone for the memorial.

Now, as many people as possible were no doubt looking back at the ark to see what would happen when it left the river.  As the waters came crashing back down and filled the river once again, the people clearly understood that God was in their midst and he was ushering them into the land.  

Joshua 4:12-13 – The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them.  About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Back in chapter one, we noted that these two and half tribes had already been granted land on the eastern side of the Jordan.  However, they had sworn an oath before the Lord to assist the other tribes in conquering the land west of the Jordan. 

Here we have an official notice that these men kept their oath. Although their wives, children, livestock and possessions stayed on the east side of the river, 40,000 armed soldiers crossed over to fight.

The interesting thing about this verse is the number – 40,000.  First off, we know this is an estimated number.  When you read about the numbers of fighting men throughout the Old Testament, the numbers are rarely exact – they are rounded.  That would be the case here.

Secondly, this number differs greatly from the census taken a year earlier, when Israel was camped in the plains of Moab (Numbers 26). At that time Reuben itself had 43,730 fighting men while Gad had 40,500 and the half tribe of Manasseh had 26,350. This totals 110,580 men. So why did these tribes only send 40K soldiers? Was that really a fulfillment of their oath?

The main reason they only sent 40K soldiers was because they could not leave their new homes, farms and families unprotected.  If they had sent all of the fighting men, another country would surely have swooped in and taken everything from them. 

In addition, these specific men seem to have been a chosen troop – they were the best of what these tribes had to offer.  Some scholars feel that these men formed the vanguard of Israel's army, taking the lead in the march across the plains to Jericho, where the opposing army would naturally have positioned itself.  There can be no doubt that these tribes kept their oath to assist their brothers.

Incidentally, the plain of Jericho is about seven miles wide.  During the time of this invasion it was thickly covered with a forest of palm trees.  Hence, Jericho is often referred to as the city of palms (Deuteronomy 34:3).      

 

Joshua 4:14 – On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses all the days of his life.

God used the miracle at the Jordan to accomplish several of his purposes:

It stirred up the faith of the Israelites, just before they embarked on battle. It was the method God used to get his people across the river. It instilled confidence and obedience in the people of Israel. They were ready, willing and able to follow Joshua, just as they did Moses.

Joshua 4:15-18 – And the Lord said to Joshua, "Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."  So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."   And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

Once the people had crossed the river and the twelve stones had been gathered, it was time for the priests carrying the ark to exit the river.  Once they set foot on dry ground, the flow of water in the Jordan was restored.

Although this action has already been mentioned, the author fully spells it out a second time, in order to call attention to this miraculous event.

Joshua 4:19 – The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.

As Israel exited the Jordan, they arrived in the plain of Jericho and made camp.  At last, the forty years of wilderness wandering were over!

Later on (in chapter 5), Joshua will re-name this land 'Gilgal'.  We will study the name more at the appropriate time, but for now it should be pointed out that from this moment forward, Gilgal became an important place in Old Testament history:

• It was the place where Israel stayed on their very first night in the Promised Land!

• It was the place where Joshua would circumcise all the men born during the forty years of wilderness wandering, after leaving Egypt.

• It became the military headquarters for Israel during the time of the conquest. This would be the place the army routinely returned to after their attacks against the inhabitants of the land.

• In addition to being the military headquarters, it became a fortified city where the civilian population and the livestock lived, waiting to take possession of the cities of Canaan.

• This was the place they celebrated their very first Passover observance in the Promised Land.

• This was the place the Israelites were staying when the miracle of the manna ceased.

• This was the place where the tabernacle was set up and the ark stayed until it was moved to Shiloh.

All in all, this was a very important encampment for Israel.  It was also very strategic.  The Jordan River provided a rear defense so other nations could not attack Israel from the east.  It also provided an immense supply of fresh water for the people and the animals.       

Joshua 4:20-21 – And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.  And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?'"

We know that Joshua 'set up' the twelve stones in Gilgal.  The question is, how did he set them up?  There are many possible answers:

• The stones were set up as a pile, in a kind of pyramid shape.
• The stones were arranged in a circle.
• The stones were set up on a tall base made of earth or masonry, so they were visible to everyone.
• The stones were formed into an altar.  Each individual stone rested upon its own pillar.

The list of possibilities goes on and on! 

We may not know the exact configuration of the stones, but we know the purpose behind them. 

Again, they were a testimony to later generations of Israelites.  Eventually all of the people who witnessed the power of God during the crossing of the Jordan would die.  But the testimony of the deliverance of God would live on in the verbal history of the people, building faith in the next generation.

Although we have not yet mentioned it, the stones also served as a warning to Israel to fear the Lord their God always (Exodus 14:31).  God is a jealous God, and he will not share the worship he deserves with any false god or demon (Exodus 20:5)!

The stones also served as a witness to the heathen nations because they would testify to the power and omnipotence of the God of Israel (Exodus 14:4, 18).

Joshua 4:22-24 – "Then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'  For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever."

This chapter stresses that God revealed himself to the heathen people of Canaan through the miracles he performed on behalf of his people Israel.  These miracles:

• Showed the eternal might, power and wisdom of God.
• Demonstrated God's protection and provision for his people.
• Revealed the futility of mankind in rebelling against him.

In conclusion, what have we learned from this chapter?

One lesson is that God intended for his message/law to spread all over the world.  This was one of the basic mission statements for the Jewish nation; they were to be an example of God to the heathen.  God provided miracles as a witness to that message. 

And guess what - that mission is still being carried out in our generation!  Jesus reaffirmed it just before he left earth:

Mark 16:15 - And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

What are we doing to spread that message?  Are we expecting God to do miracles today? 

Another lesson is that God required Israelite parents to teach their children about him:

Deuteronomy 4:9-10 - Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life: but teach them to your sons, and your sons' sons that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

He expects us to do the same.  This involves much more than just taking your kids to church once a week.  It involves living your life for Christ every single day and letting your children see that example.

In other words, make sure your children see you read your bible and pray. Let them hear testimonies of how God has answered your prayers. Let them see you worship and praise God in your daily life. Let them witness your faithfulness and confidence in God, even when times are tough!

It has been said that if we want our children to be happy, we must show them were happiness can be found – in a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today's post we looked at the concept of a memorial.  We noted that memorials provoke questions and testify about the goodness/power/mercy of God.    

Do you have any modern-day memorials sitting around your house that prompt your kids (or others) to ask questions?  Wouldn't that be an awesome and simple way to witness to anyone who visits your house?

Have you created any opportunities to tell your children/friends/family about the deliverance or mercy of God?  What did you use?  A photograph?  A trinket? A piece from a car wreck you miraculously walked away from?

If you have never created a memorial in your home, you might want to consider doing so. It would provide an easy opening to share about what God has done for you.

Let me offer you some relief:

The men of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh kept the promise they made before the Lord to assist their fellow Israelites to take the Promised Land. 

It would be wonderful if everyone kept their promises like they did! But we know that does not always happen. Perhaps you have been 'burned' or let down by someone who promised to be there for you but wasn't.

If that is the case, let me offer you some relief – God never fails to keep his promises! His timing may be different than yours, but you can count on his faithfulness!

Let me offer you some strength:

Imagine what it would have been like to be one of the priests carrying the ark.  Think about putting your foot into that cold, raging river!  It must have taken a lot of faith to make that first step into the water.

Taking a step of faith today can be just as difficult/scary.  Like the priest entering the Jordan, you may have a lot to lose!  But keep in mind that you also have a lot to gain because God honors and responds to the faith of his people.  If we place our trust in him, he will never let us down!  

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Joshua 3:1 – Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim.  And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

In our last post we considered the actions of the spies who were sent to Jericho in order to gather military intelligence.  We noted that God set up a divine encounter between the two men and Rahab, a prostitute who chose to place her faith in God. 

The men returned from their mission full of faith; they were absolutely certain that God was going to give not only Jericho but all of Canaan to the Israelites.

Having done everything in his own power to assure Israel's success, Joshua now orders the representatives from each tribe to go throughout the camp and inform the people that they were about to leave Shittim and camp by the eastern shore of the flooded Jordan river.  Very soon they will cross the river and begin to conquer the Promised Land.

This will be Israel's second chance to enter the Promised Land.  Let's discuss that for a minute. 

Forty years prior to this, after many miraculous signs and wonders, God called Israel to place their faith in him and move forward to claim the land he had promised them through Abraham.  As we know, they reacted in fear, rebelled against God, and refused to enter in.  They even considered choosing someone to lead them back into Egypt (Numbers 14:3-4)! 

At that point, God declared that they would wander in the wilderness until the current generation died (Numbers 14:20-23, 28-35); he would give the land to their children.  He instructed Moses to turn the people around and lead them back toward the Red Sea.

Immediately afterward, we find a group of people who tried to force God into a 'do over' – they gathered the next day, took up arms and attacked the Canaanites.  Needless to say, they were routed in battle:

Numbers 14:44-45 – But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp.  Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

What about our own lives?  Are there instances where you wish you could have a 'do over'?  I can think of a few in my own life and I bet you can too! 

The bad news is that in this life there is no such thing as a 'do over'.  Once you made your decision (or took that action, or opened your mouth and said that thing), it was done.  There was no going back. 

But there is good news too:  Our God is the God of second chances!

In this particular instance, God has once again brought Israel to the edge of the land he promised on oath to give them.  They have a second chance to place their faith in him and take the land. 

God will do the same for you.  He will forgive your past failure and at some point, he will give you a second chance to step out in faith and do what he has called you to do.  Or he will give you a second chance to build someone up with your words, instead of destroying them.  Or he will give you a second chance to bring him glory by resisting that sin.  Or he will give you another chance to testify on his behalf.  Or� well, you get the picture. 

So, if you have a 'do over' moment that still bothers you, talk to God about it today.  He is well able to redeem that failure in your life by giving you a second chance to succeed. 

Joshua 3:2-3 – At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it."

Remember, this group does not consist solely of able-bodied soldiers.  It also includes women, children, babies, old people, animals and possessions.  Everybody and everything associated with Israel is going to cross the Jordan, so they had to pack up and prepare.  Three days was a reasonable amount of time to get ready.

As they were packing up, the real question on everyone's mind was this:  How will they cross the raging river?   

They clearly knew that there was no way for them to get safely across during the spring floods.  But instead of filling their minds with thoughts of impossibility and failure, the people were instructed to keep their eyes on the Lord and follow his leading (watch the ark and follow when it moves).  

Remember, during this time God did not live in the hearts of his people as he does today.  His presence dwelt among Israel by being on the mercy seat of the ark.  So, following the ark was literally following God. 

The inference is that God was going to do something unusual or miraculous on their behalf.  Israel could only experience this miracle by following God in faith, trusting that he would make a way.  In other words, by faith they embraced a solution they did not see or comprehend in the natural realm. 

While that statement has clear implications for each of us as individuals, it also applies to the church of Jesus Christ.

The church's mandate is to win the lost to Christ and conquer the world for the kingdom of heaven.  There is no possible way to accomplish this solely in the natural realm.  Like ancient Israel, we must look to the Lord for a miraculous solution.  In other words, this battle must first be won in the spiritual realm through prayer and intercession.  Only then can we expect a breakthrough in the natural realm.

We too must keep our spiritual eyes fixed on the Lord and move forward under the divine leadership of Holy Spirit.  By faith we must embrace solutions that we do not see or comprehend in the natural realm.  As we follow his leading God will miraculously open doors (or dry up rivers) for us.    

Israel's only hope of taking the land was under the direction of God.  Likewise, the church's only hope of taking earth for the kingdom of heaven is under the direction of God, as revealed by Holy Spirit. 

Let each church seek God for specific direction on how to win their communities to Christ.  If we all do so, we will win the world.

Joshua 3:4 – "Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2000 cubits in length.  Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before."

The first thing we need to understand about this verse is the phrase 'you have not passed this way before'.  On first glance, it seems to refer to the land they were traversing, as in 'you have never been here before'.  But that is incorrect.  The phrase actually refers to the manner or method by which the Lord led them.    

In order to understand this fully, we must review the manner/method in which the Lord led Israel up to this point. 

So let me ask you this: When you picture the Israelites (over a million people) traveling around the wilderness, how do you picture them?  Do you see a big, chaotic horde of people and animals meandering along like a swarm of bees?

If so, let me give you some insight.  God never does anything in a haphazard or chaotic manner.  Even during her period of wandering Israel was very well organized.  You can read the exact details yourself in Numbers chapter two, but let me just give you a brief picture now:

The twelve tribes were divided into four 'standards'. 

• Judah was the leader of the first standard.  This division also included Issachar and Zebulun.  When it was time to move, they set out first, directly following the pillar of cloud/fire.  They could follow the pillar as closely as they desired.    

• Reuben was the leader of the second standard.  This division also included Gad and Simeon.

• The Levites, who were responsible for moving the tabernacle and its furnishings (including the ark) always marched in the middle of the procession, between the second and third standard.

• Ephraim was the leader of the third standard.  This division included Manasseh and Benjamin.

• Dan was the leader of the fourth standard.  This division included Asher and Naphtali.

When Israel moved from place to place, this was the order in which the column marched.   (Also, keep in mind that within each standard the tribes did not intermingle; they kept themselves separate from other tribes.) 

Incidentally, Israel also had a precise order in which they made camp, which was a square with the tabernacle in the middle and the tribes surrounding it, in a specific order.  Whenever Israel made camp, the pillar of cloud/fire would rest over the holy place in the tabernacle (Numbers 9:15-23).  

Anyway, my point is that until the time Joshua took over as leader, it was perfectly normal for Israel to closely follow the pillar of fire/cloud, which was clearly visible to all of them.  The ark itself traveled with the Levites and it was kept under wraps so no one could actually see it.

However, a change was now taking place.  The pillar of fire/cloud was a visible sign of God's presence specially granted to Moses.  Now that he was dead, the pillar was gone.  God's presence still traveled with/led Israel, but now the ark itself was the emblem they must follow in order to discern which way to go.  

We will take a look at the significance of this in a minute.  But first, let's take a look at the new buffer zone.

Joshua clearly cautioned the people not to crowd in around the ark.  They had to maintain a buffer zone of 2000 cubits (about 1000 yards).  There were a few reasons for this:

• It created an atmosphere of respect and holiness around the ark (presence of God).  God was in the midst of his people, but they could not treat his presence lightly or they would die.

• It helped the people to clearly see where the ark was going.  By hanging back a bit, it would be easier for the column of people to see the direction the ark was headed.

• It allowed the whole nation to witness the miracle God was about to perform.  This was very significant.  The Jordan River was at the bottom of a ravine.  As the people descended from camp on the heights, they would each have a chance to see the ark in the distance (although it would be very small). 

Those in the front of the column had a chance to see the priests enter the river.  They watched as the water drained away.  As they moved forward, those further along in the column would have seen the ark in the middle of the dry riverbed while the people easily passed over. 

Put yourself in their place and picture that astonishing sight:  As you walked down the mountainside, you notice that things are unusually quiet.  Then you catch a glimpse into the valley below.  Instead of the seeing (and hearing) the raging river, you witness four priests standing in the midst of a dry riverbed holding the ark by its poles.  The gold of the ark catches the sunlight and shines so brilliantly, you can't actually see it.  You notice the vast nation of Israel easily traversing the riverbed, which isn't even muddy, despite having been underwater just minutes ago! 

All your fears and doubts about entering the Promised Land vanish as you realize the power and might of your God! You move confidently forward, eager to experience the crossing for yourself! What a miracle!

So, we have established that God is going to begin leading the people in a new way or manner.  Specifically, his presence will no longer be visible by the pillar; the people must now keep their eyes upon the ark.  

This leads to some interesting implications:

The ark was a chest that contained the law of God (the Ten Commandments) written with the hand of God on two tablets of stone prepared by Moses (Deuteronomy 10:1-5, Exodus 34: 1, 28).  The mercy seat was located on the lid of the ark, where the presence of Jesus formed a shield of mercy between God and man. 

Therefore, we could correctly say that Israel marched into the Jordan, around the city of Jericho and into the heart of the Promised Land led by not only the invisible presence of God, but by his written law also.  

It was this law that brought about judgment to the Canaanites.  The same law also brought judgment (exile) to Israel when they disregarded it (I Kings 9:6-7).    

The same law was written on stones in the heart of the Promised Land, and it was declared to be the law of the land (Joshua 8:30-32). 

Conclusion:  The conquest of Canaan resulted in a people who declared and obeyed the law of God.  The nation itself was a testimony to the world about who God really is, and how he could be known.  It was a partial fulfillment of the blessing God pronounced on the nation through Abraham:

Genesis 22:18 - And in your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

Is this not also a foreshadowing of God's purpose for the church and for America?  As Christians, we too are to live by the invisible leading of God's Spirit and his written law – the bible.  We are to be a people who know and uphold the laws of holiness, grace, mercy and salvation.

God desires to have his law become the law of our nation, so that we can be a testimony and a light for him to the rest of the world. 

Unfortunately, like Israel, we have allowed our nation to move away from its foundation on the law of God.  But if we seek his guidance and follow his leading, there may yet be hope for America to be saved and to fulfill the destiny God has prepared for her.

Joshua 3:5 – Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."

Our text is not specific about the steps the Israelites took to consecrate themselves, however, we can assume they were the same steps outlined elsewhere in scripture. 

Under the period of the Old Testament, people consecrated themselves by taking a bath, washing their clothes and abstaining from sexual relations (Exodus 19:10-14).  The purpose of these actions was to cleanse their bodies and prepare/focus their minds on God so they could perceive his working on their behalf and follow his leading by faith.   

These steps of consecration were symbols or shadows of the consecration we are to practice under the new covenant.

We are to wash or cleanse ourselves from the sin of the world:

2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

And put on 'clean garments' that glorify the Lord:

Colossians 3:12-13 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

We are to keep our minds and hearts focused on God, so that we can perceive his working in our generation:

Colossians 1:9 - For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

It is important that we understand what God is doing in our midst for several reasons.

• One, so we can partner with him in the work.
• Two, so we can be strengthened by the testimony that his power creates.
• Three, so we can give him adequate praise and worship.  Four, so we can testify about his works to the world, who would love to give the credit to someone or something else.

Joshua 3:6-7 – And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people."  So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.  The Lord said to Joshua, "Today 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."

Here we see yet another reason for the upcoming miracle in which the waters of the Jordan are stopped so Israel can cross over.  God uses this event to confirm the commission of Joshua as his chosen leader over Israel. 

God had accredited Moses in the sight of Israel by the miraculous division of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:31) and he now accredits Joshua by a parting of the flooded Jordan river.  This miracle secured/established two things – Joshua's unquestioned authority as leader of Israel and consequently, the obedience of the people to his command. Both would be absolutely necessary during the conquest.

Joshua 3:8 – "And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"

God had clearly already spoken his full plan to Joshua.  The priests were to go ahead of the people bearing the ark.  As soon as their feet touched the water, the flow of water was stopped upstream, at a town called Adam.  Meanwhile, the rest of the water flowed on toward the Dead Sea, leaving a dry channel for the people to cross over. 

This was not an instantaneous event. The moment the priests put their feet into the water, God cut off the flow upstream, but it would take some time for the remaining water to flow past the priests.

They probably waited patiently near the shore until the water had receded. At that point, they advanced to the middle of the channel and then stood still until all of the people had passed over. Scholars estimate that it took half of an entire day for all of them to cross.

Let's change direction for just a minute.  Have you read or heard other teachings on this passage of scripture that associate the Jordan River with death?

I want to mention this because it is fairly common.  Many people feel that the wilderness represents life here on earth, crossing the Jordan refers to death (crossing over to eternity) and the Promised Land represents heaven.  This portion of scripture has often been used to give instruction and comfort in times of loss, which is entirely appropriate.   

But I see another lesson here as well - waiting on the Lord. 

Joshua heard the word/promise of God to Israel.  In faith, he relayed that message to the people and had the priests move forward to the banks of the swollen river.  They put their feet in the water, just as God commanded.  But as we noted, the results were not instantaneous.    

I am convinced that at first, it was hard to tell if anything had actually happened or not.  I am sure that there was a point where they couldn't detect any change in the water level at all.  Perhaps they grew weary and considered giving up at that point.  But they didn't.  As they waited on the Lord, they received strength to continue on and eventually the answer manifested in front of their eyes.

Psalm 37:34 - Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.  

What are you waiting on the Lord to do for you?  If it seems to be taking a while, let me encourage you not to give up.  Wait on the Lord and let him renew your strength; eventually the answer will manifest for you.     

Joshua 3:9-10 – And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God."  And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perrizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites."

Remember, the people have consecrated themselves; they are prepared to hear/receive the word of the Lord and see his mighty works.

Joshua now reminds the people that they serve the true God (Jehovah) who is living, active and powerful.  This is in opposition to the dead, useless, inanimate idols being worshipped by the heathen nations.

God will shortly demonstrate his great miraculous power, for he is sovereign over heaven and earth; nature is at his beck and call.

The miracle Israel is about to experience is not a pointless show of power.  It is an assurance that God will give them victory over the armies of Canaan.  The work that God began with the crossing of the Jordan will be completed or perfected when the people are taken into the land to possess their inheritance:

Psalm 138:7-8 - Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me.  The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures forever: forsake not the works of your own hands.   

Later, when Israel faces her enemies in battle, she can look back on this moment (the miracle of the Jordan) and know that God is actively present with her, and through him victory is assured.  In essence, this is a 'victory moment' for Israel to remember.  

Joshua 3:11 – "Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan."

Notice again how Joshua describes God – as the Lord of all the earth.  This means he is the ruler not only of nature but of all the elements on the planet; he can stop or dry up the water of the Jordan with a single command.  Furthermore, as ruler, the land belongs to him.  He will decide who has the right to live in it.

The ark itself, the repository for God's word, will go before the people into the Jordan.  Not only will God make a way for Israel to cross the river, he will watch over his word and keep the promise he made to Abraham to give his people the land of Canaan.    

Joshua 3:12-13 – "Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.  And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."

Why would Joshua call for a man from each tribe to come forward?

One reason would be to act as witnesses.  There are over million people in the nation and the closest people had to stay 1000 feet from the ark.  Although everyone could see at least part of this miracle, none of them had a close up view. 

So each tribe sends a reliable witness who will have a front row seat to the action.  These men either stood beside Joshua or very close to the priests who bore the ark into the river.  Each man could then return to his tribe and describe exactly what he saw.  This would eliminate the 'rumor mill' that normally occurs when people lack reliable information. 

This is not the first time a witness has been appointed from each tribe.  The same system was used by Moses on a number of other occasions (Numbers 1:44, Numbers 17:2-6, Deuteronomy 1:23, etc). 

In addition to acting as witnesses, Joshua has another job for these men to perform, which we will take a look at in chapter four.

 Joshua concludes his speech by revealing the miracle itself: when the feet of the priests bearing the ark enter the water of the Jordan, the waters will be 'cut off' or stop flowing at some point upstream, which will allow Israel to cross the riverbed on dry ground. 

As you know, this was the same miracle God performed earlier, when Israel crossed the Red Sea.  That event had been forever imprinted on the minds of Israel through the song of Moses:

Exodus 15:8 - And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as a heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

Songs can be very useful tools!  The Israelites would make up songs that glorified God by telling about his excellent deeds, his profound mercy and his perfect character.  These songs were not only history lessons, they were testimonies to the power and love of God. 

Scripture actually admonishes us to sing new songs to the Lord (Psalms 33:3, Psalms 98:1, Isaiah 42:10).  Have you ever made up a song to the Lord?  I have tried on a few occasions.  I admit that I am not good at it - it is actually much harder than it seems!

If music is too hard for you to write, consider writing a poem or keeping a journal.  The point of the song (or poem or journal) is to burn a testimony of God's power into your mind, so you never forget it.  A song/poem/journal also makes it easy to pass your testimony on to other generations. 

Joshua 3:14-15 – So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of the harvest),

Here the story is reiterated for us in broad strokes:  It was spring, during the time of the barley harvest.  The Jordan River was at its highest level of the year; it was overflowing with melted snow from the mountains of Lebanon.  Israel had no means to cross the river.

But God is the ruler of all creation.  As soon as the feet of the priests bearing the word of God touch the water, it congealed far upstream, at the city of Adam. 

Joshua 3:16 -  the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off.  And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

Meanwhile, as the water south of Adam continued to flow toward the Dead Sea, the riverbed became dry and the children of Israel passed over without any difficulty at all!

Their crossing occurred directly opposite the city of Jericho, one of the premier and best defended cities in Canaan. 

It seems doubtful that the people of Jericho witnessed Israel crossing the river.  If they had seen it, they would probably have called their army out to engage them in battle during this vulnerable time.

The inhabitants of Jericho probably felt they were safe from attack until the spring rains were over.  I imagine they were filled with dread when they work up one morning and saw that Israel had somehow crossed that river and they were now only eight miles away!   

Joshua 3:17 – Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

This is an additional testimony of the power of God.  The same power that parted the water kept it parted or cut off until all of the people, their animals and their possessions had passed over.   

When God begins a good work, he always completes it (Philippians 1:6).

Let me offer you some encouragement:

 The miracle of the Jordan River was not just a pointless show of power.  It was a testimony to the people of Israel that God was going to give them victory over the heathen nations of Canaan. 

Later, when they faced their enemies in battle, they could look back on this 'victory moment' and be encouraged in the Lord.

We all have victory moments in our lives – times that we watched God move on our behalf and give us victory.  I suggest that you make your own personal list of victory moments, and keep it handy.  Frequently remind yourself what God has done for you in the past.  These moments will serve to encourage you and build up your faith in the future, when new trials arise.  

Let me offer you some relief:

We serve a God of second chances.  Hallelujah!

If you have regret over some of the choices you have made in life, take that situation before the Lord.  He will cleanse you and cast your sin as far away as the east is from the west!

Ask the Lord to give you a second chance to do the right thing in that circumstance, then watch for the opportunity to present itself!  

Let me offer you some strength:

Are you waiting on the fulfillment of a promise from the Lord?  Don't become discouraged in the midst of the waiting period.  Remember, God is never late but he is seldom early!

Instead, focus your attention on God.  Remind yourself that he has not forgotten you!  He is waiting for the perfect moment to answer your prayer.  In the meantime, stay close to the Lord, and he will renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31) so that you can eventually receive your answer.

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Joshua 2:14 – And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death!  If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."

As we ended our last post, Rahab was in the middle of bargaining with the spies/scouts of Israel.  Both she and the scouts are fully aware that Jericho is going to fall to the Israelites; their destruction is only a matter of time because God is giving the land to his people.

In light of this, Rahab wants the scouts to swear an oath to God that they will spare her life and the lives of her family, because she spared their lives.

Oaths were a common yet serious commitment when given from one person to another.  However, oaths made between people can be subverted or broken, often without consequences. 

For example, let's assume this particular oath was only between Rahab and the spies.  Although she kept her part of the bargain by helping them escape, the spies could have broken the oath by simply letting her family die in the invasion and no one would have known.  In this scenario, no one would be able to hold the spies accountable for their oath.

But when God is involved, it's a whole different story! By making God a witness to the oath, the men essentially declare that if they fail to save Rahab (and her family) or if evil/destruction befalls Rahab because of negligence on their part, the spies will give their own lives in payment/exchange. The spies call upon God to punish them with death if they failed to do everything within their power to save Rahab. Thus, their oath cannot be broken; God will hold them accountable for their promise.

We can take comfort in knowing that God ALWAYS keeps his promises.  In fact, the prophet Jeremiah tells us that God actively watches over his word, to make sure that he keeps those promises:

Jeremiah 1:12 - Then said the LORD unto me, You have well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

For her part, Rahab must agree to do three things. First, she has to keep her mouth shut. She cannot divulge anything that she knows about the spies or Israel; she cannot mention them in any way, at any time, to anyone.

It is unlikely that the spies required this because they did not trust Rahab.  If she intended to do them harm, she would have already done so when the king's soldiers showed up at her door. 

If that is the case, then why do the spies demand that she keep quiet?

The request could have been made for her own safety.  If she continued to drop idle comments about the matter, people would begin to gossip.  Word would get back to the king that Rahab might know more than she was telling.  If this occurred, it was entirely possible that the king of Jericho might have her arrested or put to death and in that case, the men of Israel would be unable to deliver her.

Alternatively, there may have been a plan (unknown to us) in which Rahab somehow assisted Israel in taking the city.  As of this time, no one knew that God was going to miraculously deliver Jericho into Israel's hands.  Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that a plan may have existed, even though they ended up not using it. 

However, it is more likely that her silence was to prevent anyone else from taking refuge under the oath. For instance, if Rahab told her best friend about the matter, the friend would want to be saved too, along with her own family.  Those people would also want to save their families and friends, and so on and so on. You can imagine what a chaotic scene the spies would encounter at Rahab's house if large numbers of people were seeking refuge there.

For this reason, the spies were cautious when making the oath; they wisely insisted on the silence of Rahab as part of the agreement. They did not want to bind themselves to an oath that was too much for them to handle or that would go against the commands of God. Jericho and all its inhabitants were devoted to destruction; the spies want to make sure that she is the only exception to this command.

Later, we will see that Israel makes a rash oath with the Gibeonites (Joshua chapter 9) which they will immediately regret, but they are still bound to keep the oath they made. 

Joshua 2:15 – Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.

Once again, we find that this narrative is not in chronological order. Rahab did not lower the spies outside the city walls and then continue making plans by shouting to the men from her window! Obviously, the three of them covertly finished negotiating their business BEFORE she lowered them outside the tightly shut gates.

She was eventually able to help them escape because the wall of the city formed the back wall of her house. This meant that her window gave access to the open country outside the city wall. By the time she lowered the men down, it was well past nightfall and the darkness provided cover for them as they left.

Here are two trivia questions for you:  What other bible character escaped his enemies by being lowered in a basket outside the city walls?  Who was this person escaping from?   The answers are at the end of this post.

Joshua 2:16 – And she said to them, "Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned.  Then afterward you may go your way."

Rahab's parting advice told the spies the best way to avoid capture. 

The soldiers of Jericho were diligently searching the eight miles of road which led back to the fords of the Jordan.  For this reason, she cautions them to head straight for the mountains or hills that were close by the city and hide until the pursuers gave up the search. 

History tells us that a range of white limestone hills existed around the city, especially on the north side.  These hills rose to a height of about 1200-1500 feet, and they were perforated with many caves.  This provided a measure of safety, because it would be impossible for the soldiers to search every single one. 

The time frame of three days probably refers to two nights and one day. The first night was the night they left the city. The soldiers no doubt spent the entire next day searching for the spies during daylight hours. Failing to find them, they would probably return to Jericho sometime after nightfall. So, any time after that point it would be safe for the spies to head back across the river.

Joshua 2:17-18 – The men said to her, "We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear.  Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household."

The spies outlined three conditions that Rahab had to meet in order for them to be bound by the oath.  As we just noted, the first condition was silence. 

Secondly, Rahab had to tie a scarlet or red colored cord in the same window that she was going to use to get the spies out of the city. Since her window looked outside the gates, the spies would be able to identify her house immediately on the day of battle.

It is interesting to note that the original word translated 'cord' is most often translated 'web' or 'ribbon'.  So, the scarlet-colored item may not have been an actual rope or cord, which might have been difficult to see from the ground outside.  It may have been a larger piece of cloth, made from scarlet thread kind of like a flag. 

In either case, it must have been large enough to be easily identified by the spies when Israel returned to take the city.  It was something already in Rahab's house; it was not given to her by the spies.

As far as Rahab and the spies were concerned, the only purpose of the scarlet cord/cloth was to identify the house of Rahab.  But in retrospect, many scholars see a parallel with the spiritual realm.

Think back to the night before Israel left Egypt.  After killing the Passover lamb, they were to brush the blood of the lamb on the top and side door posts of their houses, and they were to remain in that house until morning (Exodus 12:7, 21-22).  The blood of the Passover lamb, which was a type/shadow of the blood of Christ, saved them from the death angel which passed through Egypt that night (Exodus 12:12-13, 23).

Similarly, in order to escape death Rahab had to hang a representation of blood (the scarlet cloth/cord) in her window and all of her family had to remain inside her house until they were personally rescued by the spies.

This brings our discussion to the third and final requirement of the spies – Rahab and all her family members who wished to be delivered from death had to be in her house with the door shut when the city was taken.

Joshua 2:19-20 – "Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.  But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear."

In a physical sense, the mandate to remain in the house was absolutely critical, for the soldiers of Israel had no way of distinguishing Rahab's family from any of the other people in Jericho. In order to stay safe, they had to separate themselves from the rest of the nation by staying indoors at her house. If anyone chose to go outside of the protection of the house, they were taking their life into their own hands; the spies were no longer under an oath to guarantee their safety.

In the spiritual sense, the scarlet cloth/cord represented the blood of Christ.  Rahab's family had to separate themselves from the sinful world around them and obediently remain under the 'blood' in order to be saved from certain death.  If they dallied outside of the protection of the blood, they could be subject to death.

This story is a beautiful foreshadowing of God's ultimate plan to bring the Gentiles into his kingdom:     

Isaiah 49:6 - And he [God] said, It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.

As a Gentile, I am so glad God opened up his kingdom to people of every 'tribe, tongue and race' (Revelation 5:9-10)!  What about you?   

Incidentally, Rahab has a lot of similarities to the Samarian woman who met Jesus at the well (John chapter 4).  What similarities can you find between these two women and their situations?

Joshua 2:21 – And she said, "According to your words, so be it."  Then she sent them away, and they departed.  And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

We don't know how much time passed between the spies being lowered outside the city and Rahab placing the cloth/cord in the window.

Hanging the cord immediately, well before the siege, may have caused her neighbors to suspect that she was up to something.  She probably waited to place it in the window until the army of Israel had surrounded the city.  At that time, no one was likely to pay any attention to it.

Joshua 2:22 – They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing.

The spies have been successful in their mission. They gained information about the crossing of the Jordan (specifically, that it would be impossible to cross without a miracle). They had seen the walls of Jericho, been inside the city and learned that the Lord had put a spirit of fear upon the people of Jericho, just as he promised he would.

Since they gained all of the information they desired, there was no further need for them to remain on that side of the Jordan. Rahab no doubt supplied them with provisions and they wisely hid themselves in the limestone caves near the city for a time, until their pursuers had given up the chase. Then they returned to the Israelite camp.

Joshua 2:23-24 – Then the two men returned.  They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.  And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands.  And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us."

The safe return of the men was a strong encouragement to Joshua.  God had divinely connected the spies with Rahab, given them the intelligence they wanted, and brought them safely back to the camp.  This was evidence of the divine protection and guidance of God.    

This verse also reveals the character of the men that Joshua sent into Jericho.  Many people, having faced the danger they did, would not be able to keep their mouths shut!  They would have burst into the camp and immediately began talking about their narrow escape from death.  This would have resulted in rumors and possibly fear circulating throughout the camp.  It could have caused a repeat of the defeat Israel suffered 40 years earlier!

But that is not what occurred.  Immediately upon their return, these men of integrity go directly to Joshua and give him a strong word of faith – the Lord was giving Israel the land!

Think about it for a moment – nothing had changed from the time of the ten spies until the time of the two.  The sons of Anak (giants) were still in the land.  The cities of Canaan were still just as fortified as ever and their walls were probably even stronger.  The army of Israel was still relatively inexperienced. 

Truthfully, the only change in the situation was the faith of the people!

What a difference faith made! Don't ever forget that faith is a powerful weapon! Faith in God moves mighty mountains (Matthew 17:20)!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The two spies came to Joshua full of faith, confidence and praise for God.  When they said to Joshua 'truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands' they were thanking God and testifying of a victory that was yet to come. 

Let me encourage you to act in the same manner.  When you are in a battle, do NOT let fear, despair or failure come out of your mouth!  Remember, your words have power:

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

With that in mind, make sure you are speaking victory over your life every time you open your mouth!

Let me offer you some relief:

Do the actions of Rahab disturb you?  If so, let me offer you some relief.

God's power to protect the spies was never dependent upon the words of Rahab.  It is true that she lied to the soldiers and secured their deliverance, but we can be sure that God could have protected them just as easily if she had told the truth. 

Rahab was acting in faith with the limited knowledge she had of God, and God honored her for that. Although we know more about God than she did, our understanding of God is still imperfect. Yet, we can be relieved to know that God will honor our faith too when we reach out to him using the knowledge that we have.

Let me offer you some strength:

What are we to learn from the lesson of the spies and their interaction with Rahab?  One thing is clear:  Though the hand of God was evident in everything that happened to Israel, the people still had a part to play. 

It was up to them to use the resources, intelligence and strength which God had given them in order to secure the promise of God. 

The same is true for us.  What promises has God made to you?  How are you using the talents, resources and connections God has given you to make that dream come true?     

TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWERS:

Hundreds of years after the invasion of Jericho, the apostle Paul escaped from the king of Damascus by being lowered in a basket from a window in the city wall (II Corinthians 11:32-33). 

Did you get the answers correct?  If so, be sure to reward yourself!

 

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Joshua 2:1 – And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho."  And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.

In this chapter, we have the account of the two spies sent by Joshua to gather military intelligence about Jericho. 

We can't help but be reminded of the failed mission that occurred some 40 years earlier when the 12 spies were sent into the Promised Land by Moses.  Let's take just a minute to discuss how these two events are different.

When Moses sent the 12 spies into the Promised Land, their mission was to survey all the districts in the land and bring back information to the rest of Israel.  They were to assess the goodness and fertility of the land, the magnitude and number of the cities, and the nature of the inhabitants. 

The object in sending the spies was to give a positive and amazing witness to the people, who would then move with alacrity to conquer the land.  In other words, the purpose of sending the spies was to build the faith and confidence of the people.

Unfortunately, due to a complete and utter lack of faith on the Israelite's part, 10 of the spies responded in fear and the people refused to take the land as God commanded.

In the present instance, Joshua did not send the two spies out to inspect the land; Israel already knows what the land is like.  Also, there is no need to build faith in this generation – they have already defeated several enemies and they are ready to march forward and claim their inheritance.

This time, the spies or scouts are sent specifically for military intelligence. Joshua wanted to know whether or not there was a passage over the Jordan, and if the people of Jericho were alert and ready for battle. The spies/scouts were also examining the city's fortifications and looking for any other unexpected dangers.

It's important to note that this did not reflect a lack of faith on the part of Joshua. Anytime we partner with God to get things done, we must be diligent to do our part; when we act prudently and prepare as well as we can, we can rest assured that God will do the rest. The key is that we must actively participate in the partnership by doing all we know to do. This is exactly what Joshua did.

The two spies/scouts set out and arrived at the house of a prostitute named Rahab. Although some scholars maintain that she was an inn keeper, the original Hebrew word in this passage clearly means 'harlot'. 

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

However, there is really no need to try and 'clean up' the image of Rahab; ALL of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

As we will see, Rahab plays a pivotal role in the success of the spies' mission.  In the end, she becomes an Israelite.  In fact, the lineage of King David passes through her.  We will take a closer look at this later on in our study, but for now we can meditate on the goodness and grace of God, who welcomed this pagan sinner into the fellowship of Israel.

Now, scripture simply says that the spies came to Jericho (approximately eight miles from the river) and entered Rahab's house.  How do you suppose they wound up there?

One thing we should keep in mind is that the spies would have been anxious to avoid any public places. Since strangers are always noticed and they didn't want to be arrested on charges of espionage, the fewer people who saw them, the better.

With that in mind, one theory is that Rahab was 'out and about' looking for business when the two spies came upon her. After reaching some agreement, she quickly led them directly to her house, which was built into the city wall. This is one scenario which would keep the spies out of the more public thoroughfares.

Another theory says that the prostitutes were probably located all together in a kind of 'red light' district which was avoided by a large portion of the population, especially during daylight hours.  It may have been that the spies went directly there to avoid being seen in the general marketplaces.

A third theory speculates that Rahab was outside the city gates traveling the public roads when a 'chance' (divine) encounter brought her into contact with the spies. After realizing who they were, she agreed to help them and took them into the city with her.

Regardless of how the scouts found Rahab, we can be sure that divine intervention and protection were involved because God led them to the one person in the city who was willing to help!

Joshua 2:2 –And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."

For the most part, the cities and towns of Palestine were individual kingdoms or states whose rulers were called kings.  This was clearly the case in Jericho.

The fact that the king of Jericho heard news of the scouts makes complete sense because news of the nation of Israel and her God had spread all throughout the region:

• God had delivered his people from slavery in Egypt.
• God led his people in a pillar of clouds and fire.
• God parted the Red Sea, and his people crossed over on dry land.
• God rolled the waters back upon Pharaoh and his officers, who then drowned.
• God provided water and food (manna) for his people as they traversed the desert.
• God fought for his people during their many battles.

In fact, the pagan nations of Canaan were terrified of Israel because her God was much more powerful than any of their multiple deities.

Given the circumstances, it is probable that watchman had been posted on the city walls and at strategic points within the city to watch for any/all suspicious strangers. Despite their best efforts to remain unnoticed, the scouts were spotted and subsequently followed to Rahab's house.  News of their presence was reported to the king, who waited for nightfall.

Joshua 2:3-4 – Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.  And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from."

Once the city gate is shut for the night, and escape seemed impossible, the king sent soldiers to capture the men he correctly believed to be spies of Israel. 

But Rahab had anticipated this possibility and as a result, she had hidden the men on her rooftop, under some drying flax.

When questioned by the soldiers, she answers wisely; she does not deny the men were at her house.  To deny their presence completely would have resulted in her own arrest along with charges of treason and probable execution. 

Joshua 2:5 – "And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out.  I do not know where the men went.  Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."

Rahab deceives the soldiers by falsely claiming that the spies abruptly left immediately before the gates closed for the night. 

This lie succeeded in misleading the officers sent by the king.  After all, her story sounded plausible enough – the spies would not risk capture by being locked up in the city overnight.  Plus, as far as the soldiers knew, Rahab had no reason to lie to them; if Jericho was overtaken she would suffer the same fate as her countrymen.  For these reasons, the soldiers believed her story.

Furthermore, she plants the thought in their minds that if they act quickly and immediately search for the spies outside the gate, they will find their enemies and gain an advantage over Israel.  Thus, she kept them from searching her house – the only obvious place for the spies to be!

By hiding the spies and misdirecting the soldiers of Jericho, Rahab is actually demonstrating her faith in the God of Israel.  We are specifically told this by the apostle James:

James 2:25-26 - Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Why would Rahab choose to side with Israel?

Her decision was based on spiritual awareness.  Rahab heard the same testimonies of the power of God that the rest of her nation heard.  But unlike her countrymen, she allowed those testimonies to build her faith in Jehovah as the only true God.  While they continued to trust in false idols and physical strength for deliverance, she cast herself on the mercy of the true God.  She did this in the only way possible – by assisting the scouts.   

This leaves us with a bit of a quandary... how can she be rewarded by God for lying?

This is a question that has been debated at length by many people. You are welcome to study this issue on your own, but for our purposes we will simply say this: Rahab was a sinner and a pagan who knew nothing of the holy ways of God. Upon hearing of Jehovah she reached out to him in faith in the only way she could, and because of that she was accepted by him despite her folly.

Hebrews 11:31 - By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Siding with Israel against her own people was a huge step of faith in God!

Joshua 2:6 – But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.

When was the last time you were up on the roof of your own house?  For many people that answer is 'never'!

Our roofs are steep/angled and they have only one purpose – to keep our houses dry.  But back in the days of ancient Israel, the homes were all made with flat roofs, which essentially made them additional living space.  They used them much as we would use a patio.  You could meet guests there, enjoy the cool breeze in the evening, eat or even sleep there.  For example:

• King David was on his roof when he first saw Bathsheba (II Samuel 11:2).

• The people of Israel used their roof tops to set up booths for the feast of booths (Nehemiah 8:16).

• The friends of the paralytic tore a hole in the roof and lowered him down into the house in front of Jesus (Mark 2:4).

Evidence also suggests that in ancient times, people (pagans and Israelites alike) often prayed on their roof tops.  This space could also be used for work or household related purposes, such as drying flax or hemp.

The roof was an obvious place for the scouts to hide and an easy place for the soldiers to search, yet they did not do so.  So, we see that God provided a safe place for his servants, even in the midst of enemy territory.   

Joshua 2:7 – So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

Based on the information of Rahab, the king's men leave the city and follow the same course the spies would have taken – the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan.  As we previously noted, this was a distance of about eight miles. 

The soldiers must have been searching for the men all along the way, in case they had hidden themselves.  This delay gave Rahab enough time to safely send the scouts on their way back to Israel.

Joshua 2:8-9 – Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you."

Having sent the king's men on a wild goose chase, Rahab now returns to bargain with the men of Israel.  She begins by mentioning two things which, in her mind, specifically confirm that Jehovah is the one true God. 

First, only the true God of the universe could have caused such utter terror to fall upon the people of the region.  The soldiers of Jericho were a formidable army who had often struck fear into the hearts of their enemies.  But now, hearing rumors of Israel and her God, they were so terrified that their strength and courage drained away like wax melting before a fire (Exodus 15:15).  This is exactly what God promised he would do for Israel:

Deuteronomy 11:25 – No one shall be able to stand against you. The Lord your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you.

Rahab is also firmly convinced that all of the land (the entire earth) belongs to the one true God, who is the ultimate ruler of the nations.  He is able to give the land to whatever nation he chooses.  She understands that God has resolved to give the entire region of Canaan (including Jericho) to his people.  Since this is the case, there is nothing that Jericho or its idols can do to stop Israel.

Let's consider the example of Rahab for a minute. She knew nothing of the covenant between God and Israel; she herself had no right to claim any of his promises. She had heard limited testimonies of the power of God and seen him perform one or maybe two mighty acts, yet she fully and completely believed on him, doubting nothing.

What about us?  We have a better covenant with God that Israel did.  We have the scriptures which describe, in great detail, the promises that God has made to us.  These promises include forgiveness, healing, provision, protection, power and many others.  Yet, we sometimes fail to trust him!  Why is that?  Where is our faith?

Joshua 2:10 – "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction."

It is interesting that Rahab brings up the crossing of the Red Sea when Israel left Egypt.  That event had occurred forty years before she met the spies.  Forty years is basically half of a lifetime.  If Rahab was alive then, she would only have been a child.  This means that her knowledge of that event came from others – the stories of her parents or grandparents.

There is a valuable lesson here for us.  We need to be diligent in starting our children off with a good foundation in scripture.  We can help 'hide' biblical truths deep in their hearts, so that these teachings will resurface later in life, just as they did for Rahab. 

Psalm 119:11 - Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Perhaps current events (the victories that Israel won over Sihon and Og) served to stir up and confirm the teaching she received from her parents as a child. Maybe this is why she responded to the testimonies of God with faith, instead of fear like the rest of her countrymen (Luke 8:37-39).

If you have a chance to impart scriptural principles or narratives into the children in your life, do it!  You are sowing seeds that will sprout in the future!

Joshua 2:11 –"And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath."

This is clear evidence that Rahab considered Jehovah to be the only true God, not just a minor deity among many others in this polytheistic society.

It was common for the pagans to believe in multiple gods (example: Egypt).  Their belief was that each god had power/authority/influence over a select region: 

1 Kings 20:23 - And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their [Israel's] gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

But Rahab declares, in absolute terms, that all power and might belong to the God of Israel alone; he rules and reigns over all of heaven and earth.  He will determine the outcome of the battle between Israel and Jericho because nothing occurs without his consent/permission.

Joshua 2:12-13 – "Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."

Rahab's faith is astonishing!  Israel hasn't even crossed the Jordan; Jericho certainly hasn't been threatened, yet she sees the 'things that are not as though they are'  – she is certain that Israel will be successful in breaking through the fortified walls of Jericho and capturing the entire city.  At that point, the people of Jericho, including Rahab and her family, will be at the mercy of Israel.

Because of her faith in of God, she has dealt mercifully with the spies. She now requests mercy in return – she wants safety for herself and her family. She is justified in doing so, because the Lord tells us that those who bless Israel will themselves be blessed:

Genesis 12:3 - And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.

She then asks the spies to do something significant – to swear an oath to the Lord.  An oath was the greatest security she could hope for in this situation.  All nations believed that their gods would avenge those who broke oaths.  She must have concluded that the God of the universe was no different; in fact, if an oath were sworn to him, it would surely be honored. 

When Rahab asks the spies for lives of her family, what exactly is she asking for? In her mind, the best possible outcome would be for them to remain alive as slaves of Israel.  But look how God honors her faith – the entire family is assimilated into the nation of Israel. Instead of being slaughtered, they are free people who enjoy all the covenant privileges given to proselytes of the faith!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

One of the central concepts in today's post is faith.  Obviously, Rahab had faith in God, which she demonstrated by showing mercy to the scouts.

But don't forget, the scouts had faith too!  When Joshua asked them to assess the military position of Jericho, they simply took the first step – they left camp and looked for a way to cross the Jordan.

They demonstrated their faith by moving forward with the assignment, trusting that God would open a door each time they needed it (as opposed to seeing the whole plan up front). 

God often works this way with us – we simply need to take the first step of faith, then he will provide the next open door when we need it. Whatever you are asking God for, I encourage you to take that first step of faith today! And remember, when God opens a door for you, no man can shut it!

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

In today's post we noted that Rahab deceived the soldiers who came looking for the spies.  Deception is an important strategy in warfare; military opponents are always trying to gain an upper hand through secrecy or deception.   

As Christians we need to remember that we are engaged in a spiritual war against Satan, the enemy of God. 

Satan is a master of deceit (Revelation 20:3).  His whole strategy is to deceive us into thinking that God is unfair, unjust or that he is withholding good things from us.  This is exactly what he implied when he convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6). 

But we can strengthen our faith and avoid being deceived by knowing the word of God and walking according to the Spirit.  When we do these things, we move confidently into the future being firmly convinced that God is always working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).  He is always good to us all the time! 

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Joshua 1:10-11 – And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, 'Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.'"

We have begun our study of Joshua.  Last time we looked at the renewed commission that God gave to Joshua after the death of Moses.  God assured Joshua that he was going to be the general who would lead Israel in the conquest of the Promised Land. 

And as we also noted last week, 'conquest' is the proper term.  God was going to lead, guide and give divine assistance to Israel, but they were going to have to step out in faith and fight to take the land.  No wonder God ordered Joshua to be 'strong and courageous' no less than three times!   

As we begin to look at the second half of chapter one, it is obvious that this story is not in chronological order.  Specifically, the events recorded in chapter two happened between verses 9 and 10 of chapter one.   

Please keep in mind that in our Western culture, we routinely relate events and tell stories in chronological order, but the Eastern people (including the Israelites), do not. They often group events together which they feel are related in some way rather than being concerned about the order in which they occurred.

In this case, it is obvious that the first nine verses of chapter one certainly came first - the nation mourned the death of Moses and subsequently God began to speak to Joshua.

However, the next event that certainly took place was the sending of the two spies into Jericho.  Just as certainly, we know Joshua sent these two men secretly. 

As you no doubt recall, the first time God invited his people to take the land, 12 spies were sent out to gather intelligence.  Upon their return, 10 responded in fear, saying that Israel could not take the land.  Only Joshua and Caleb responded in faith encouraging the people to go out at once and fight, since the Lord was on their side and would give them victory (Numbers chapter 13).

The end result was that because of their rebellion and unbelief, Israel was forced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that generation of fighting men had died.

Obviously, Joshua does not want a repeat of the last failure of Israel, but he still needs information.  Think about it this way:  Joshua wasn't going to blindly take a million-plus people (including women, old people and children), all of their possessions and all of their animals into a hostile territory without any military intelligence.  To do so would have been foolish; their enemies could have easily destroyed them all.

But once he had that intelligence, and spoke to the Lord about how to proceed, then he could issue the command to prepare for the move with utter confidence.    

We will examine that adventure of the spies in detail next week, but in the meantime, here is the report they gave Joshua:

Joshua 2:23-24 - So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:  And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD has delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us. 

So the command we see here in verses 10-11 (prepare to go over the Jordan) occurred after the spies returned and spoke to Joshua. 

The chronological order of events probably went something like this:

• 3^rd of Nisan – spies are sent out (Joshua 2:1)
• 6^th of Nisan spies return (Joshua 2:23)
• 7^th of Nisan the camp is moved from Shittim to the bank of the Jordan (Joshua 3:1), and the command to prepare is issued (Joshua 1:10-11)
• 10^th of Nisan – Israel crosses the river.

In addition, there can be no doubt that Joshua also waited until he received instructions from God before he gave word to the people that they would cross the river in three days. Remember, the Jordan was at flood stage and they had absolutely no means to cross over; God was going to have to divinely make the way for them.

Now that everything is in order, Joshua sends his officers as messengers among the people, instructing them to prepare their provisions and get ready for the move.

What provisions were there to prepare?

The word 'provisions' refers to items taken in hunting or gathering.  It likely refers to items they took from the nations they had already conquered (the kingdoms of Sihon and Og - Deuteronomy 3:7) such as corn, oxen, sheep, etc. 

Manna could also be included in that list because at this point, God was still providing manna for Israel six days a week.  However, as we will soon discover, the miraculous supply of manna will cease just a few days after the people cross the Jordan. 

Joshua 1:12-13 – And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, "Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, 'The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.'"

Here Joshua references a situation which occurred while Moses was still leading Israel.  When the people had traveled to the west side of the Jordan, the defeated several key enemies such as Og king of Bashan and Sihon, king of the Amorites.  (Israel obtained huge amounts of 'spoil' from their victories, which accounts for many of the provisions they prepared for themselves.)   

At that time, three tribes of Israel – Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh – asked Moses if they could simply settle on the western side of the Jordan, instead of crossing over into new territory:

Numbers 32:5 - Therefore, said they, if we have found grace in your sight, let this land be given unto your servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

This portion of land is often referred to as the 'Transjordan'; sometimes these three tribes are referred to as the Transjordan tribes.  So whenever you see that description keep in mind that is refers to the land possessed by Israel on the western side of the river.  Although this land falls within the overall boundaries of the land promised to Israel (Deuteronomy 11:24), the scriptures sometime seem to place these tribes outside of the Promised Land.  We will look at these instances as we find them in our study.  

I recommend reading the entire account of the Transjordan in Numbers chapter 32, but in case you don't have time, let me give you a summary:

When the three tribes made this request, Moses was seriously unhappy. In fact, he seems to be angry.  He made it very clear that it would not be fair for the three tribes to inherit this land, build houses and move on with life while their brothers still had to cross the river and wage war in order to take the bulk of the Promised Land. 

In other words, some/part of Israel could not enter into a state of rest, while the remainder was still actively fighting for their inheritance. The three tribes could not abandon their brothers before the war was over.

In the end, they were allowed to possess the land of Goshen provided that, at the appropriate time, all of the fighting men would cross the Jordan with their brothers and assist them until the land was taken/subdued for Israel.  Only then could they return home in peace.  Moses made it very clear that if they refused to do this, it would be a sin in the sight of God and they would be punished for it. 

Joshua 1:14-15 – "'Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Joshua now reminds the men of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh that it is time for them to keep the vow they swore to the Lord in front of Moses. Their wives, children and possessions could stay on the western side of the Jordan, but all the valiant men of fighting age must cross over and assist in the war.

Eventually we find that the three tribes sent approximately 40 thousand of their best soldiers (mighty men of valor) to assist the other tribes, while about 70 thousand stayed behind to protect the property they had already inherited (Joshua 4:13). 

Joshua 1:16-17 – And they answered Joshua, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.  Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you.  Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!"

The overall context of this verse occurs when Joshua is addressing ALL the officers of the people (verse 10).  He specifically reminded the officers of the Transjordan tribes of their obligation to participate in the conquest of the remainder of the Promised Land, but it would have been the officers of all twelve tribes that now freely pledged their allegiance to God and to his servant, Joshua. 

On behalf of the people they represent, these officers first promise obedience. This is not only obedience to Joshua as their governor/civil leader. In their role as soldiers, they are vowing to obey Joshua as their general. They are asserting that they will follow his battle commands without murmuring, and without disputing his decisions. They will immediately go wherever he sends them, regardless of how difficult or dangerous the mission seems to be. This was a serious commitment. There can never be war without death; many of those making this pledge would die in the conquest.

In the same way, as Christians we swear allegiance to our commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ. We are to be about his business, going where he leads/directs and taking ground for his kingdom without murmuring or rebelling against his orders. Although most of us will live rich, full lives, some people will be asked to pay the ultimate price for their service to God (martyrdom).

For his part, Joshua may have had reason to doubt Israel's loyalty to him.  If Moses had trouble with rebellion in the ranks, how could he expect any less?

But keep in mind that the extremely rebellious generation had perished in the wilderness wandering.  This new generation was a witness of that judgment, so they were much more inclined to be obedient.  Joshua could count on their pledge of loyalty.    

The officers also pray for God to lead Joshua, as Joshua leads them.  Their prayer is that God will be with Joshua, to bless and prosper him, giving him the same degree of success that he gave Moses.

When we read that, we can't help but be reminded of the New Testament command to pray for our own leaders:

1 Timothy 2:1-3 - I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Is this something you do on a regular basis?  If so, are you praying for ALL of your/our leaders?  It's easy to pray for those you agree with, but what about those who oppose your values and beliefs?

I readily admit that it is much more difficult to pray for leaders who follow our enemy Satan.  What/how can we pray for a leader like that?

First of all, let's remind ourselves that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against agents of Satan:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  

If the people in authority over you (such as our President and Vice President), are making decisions that war against the principles of God, we need to recognize that they are people who have been blinded by Satan, the ruler of this world (II Corinthians 4:4). 

We can earnestly pray for the light of the gospel of Christ to tear through the veil of darkness that blinds them to the truth.  We can pray for God to send Christians across their path, to sow (and harvest) the gospel in their lives. 

We can pray that God will bind the demonic spirits that control them and we can pray for Holy Spirit to make himself known to them. We can pray that they will be unsuccessful in establishing policies that oppose the will of God. We can pray that the Christians of this nation rise up and protest these policies. (Abortion, for example.)

In addition to this kind of spiritual warfare, we can also do things in the natural realm, such as supporting candidates/leaders who are in step with God's principles.  Ask God how you can be involved and if  you are a Christian, you should consider running for political office yourself!

Joshua 1:18 – "Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death.  Only be strong and courageous."

They were so fully committed to Joshua (and God), that the officers made it a law that any Israelite who disobeyed or rebelled against his command would be put to death.  Perhaps, if there had been such a law under Moses, many of the rebellions of Israel could have been prevented. 

In any case, there was a real need for this law during the time of the conquest – in times of war, military discipline is crucial to victory. If there is any rebellion within the armed forces, Israel will be divided against herself and she will be defeated by her enemies.

The officers may have based this law upon the command given in Deuteronomy 18:18-19.  In those verses, God commands Israel to obey the prophet/leader which he raises up to lead the nation; anyone who does not will be cut off from his people.  While we typically understand these verses to prophetically refer to Jesus the Messiah, Joshua would certainly be an Old Testament type or example of this prophet. 

Finally, the officers implore Joshua to be strong and courageous, just as God had commanded.  In essence, they are promising to do the same thing; to boldly and cheerfully (without murmuring or complaining) follow his orders.  This must have been a great encouragement to Joshua.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The book of Joshua is a story of conquest.  God was going to lead, guide and give divine assistance to his people, but they were going to have to step out in faith and claim the land. 

This is a very timely lesson for us today.  Jesus is at the helm of the church; he still leads, guides and gives divine assistance to his people.  But it is up to us to step out in faith and claim the world around us for the kingdom of heaven.

Today, I encourage you to do just that – every day, in everything you do, look for ways to push the enemy back and take people captive for Christ! He wants to expand the kingdom of heaven and build his church through you!

Let me offer you some relief:

In today's post, the people of Israel were told to prepare to enter the Promised Land.  Specifically, they were preparing the food they would need to complete their journey.

In the same way, Christians today need spiritual nourishment in order to complete the journey Christ has set before us.  We obtain that nourishment by reading the word, by receiving sound spiritual instruction, by praying (especially in the Spirit), and by encouraging one another. 

In addition, God has provided us with the 'water' of his Holy Spirit to sustain and refresh us as we conquer this world for him.

Are you fully prepared to conquer your world for Christ? If not, let me offer you some relief – you can stock up on spiritual supplies today. In this electronic age, it has never been easier to find good teaching as well as 'readable' versions of the Bible. Be sure to take advantage of the resources God has given you, and spend time in prayer this week! Get prepared to be a soldier for Christ!

Let me offer you some strength:

As a member of the church, you are one of God's chosen people! He has not chosen you for failure, but for victory! If you will do your part – live in faith and prepare for battle – God will do his part. He will make you successful in winning people for Christ and destroying the works of the devil.