Joshua 16 & 17 - Distribution for Ephraim and Manasseh

LINK: Joshua 16 & 17

BACKGROUND

Do not forget the link to that excellent map: http://classic.net.bible.org/map.php?map=ot4

Since Joseph kept the whole family of Israel alive during the famine in Egypt, Jacob said that Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, would be heads of tribes (Genesis 48:5). Note that Ephraim's men did not completely drive out the Canaanites in Gezer. In the time of the Judges, these Canaanites rose up and enslaved the Israelites. They did not fully obey the Lord, and it came back to bite them!

Note that the five daughters of Zelophehad received their allotment because their father had died (also see Numbers 27:1-11). Women had and continue to have rights in God's economy!

These tribes did complain about their allotment, even though it was the best in Canaan. This is what the Life Application Bible says about this:

Notice the two contrasting attitudes toward settling the promised land: Caleb took what God gave him and moved ahead to fulfill God's plan for him (14:12). He was confident that God would help him drive out the wicked inhabitants and that he would soon fully occupy his land (15:14, 15). In contrast, the two tribes of Joseph were given rich land and lots of it, but they were afraid to drive out the inhabitants and take full possession of it. Instead they begged for more land. But Joshua asked them to prove their sincerity first by clearing the unclaimed forest areas. They agreed, but they failed to carry through (Judges 1:27). 

REFLECTION

Joseph's descendants were not content with what God had given them, and they longed for something bigger, better, and easier to manage. God does not always give us what we consider to be the ideal, but it is what God planned. Instead of idealizing what could be, we need to ask Him what purposes He has in what has already been allotted to us. 

Recently, I talked with someone who was questioning what God had given. That person was wondering how their life would be different if another situation had been provided. I encouraged that person to not idealize about what could have been but rather ask God what His purpose is in the reality of what He had given.  Letting go of our ideal is so hard for some! There are great difficulties in that person's situation and great faith will be required to clear out the "opposing inhabitants" of that person's land, but I know there is a destiny, and I am praying that God gives that person the faith and attitude of Caleb rather than the descendants of Joseph.

APPLICATION

Are you content with the life that God has allotted to you? Ask God to reveal His purposes for You in the midst of it. Pray for faith and courage to drive out opposing forces. GET HELP if you get stuck!

PRAYER

Lord, I lift up the reader of this post to Your great care. I pray the You would reveal Your good, perfect, and acceptable will, and You would reveal Your battle plan for him or her. Strengthen their faith and give them the heart of a Caleb. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. 

Joshua 15 - Allotment for Judah

LINK: Joshua 15

BACKGROUND

Joshua 15:1 - 19:48 explains the allotment for the remaining tribes west of the Jordan. 

Judah, as the largest tribe, was the first to receive an inheritance. Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49:8-9 is remarkably fulfilled. It was surrounded by foes (Moabites, Edomites, Amalekites, and Philistines). Thus, it would need strong rulers, like David, in order to survive. It was also suited for planting vineyards (Genesis 49:11-12). 

Scarlet Thread of Redemption

Judah was the tribe in which Jesus would come (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:1, 3; Luke 3:23, 33)!

REFLECTION

Are your eyes glazing over from all the details of land allotment? If you own a home, you may not know all the details of the deed to your house, but I am sure you are glad you have that deed and know the borders of your land. It provides a sense of security.

This is exactly what these details provided for the Israelites.

APPLICATION

Do you know what you "possess" because of what Jesus did for you? Meditate on Ephesians 1:3-14. This is one "deed" that I never get bored reading!

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for allotting to us a RICH spiritual inheritance in Christ Jesus. We are so grateful! Amen.

Joshua 14 - Caleb Who Followed the Lord Fully

LINK: Joshua 14

BACKGROUND

Joshua 14 begins the allotment of the land west of the Jordan to the nine-and-a-half remaining tribes. Their assignment was by lot (14:2, 18:8, 19:51, Numbers 26:54-56). The Jewish tradition explains that this was done by drawing from two urns. One urn had the name of the tribe, and the other had the boundary lines of the territory.

This chapter also explains how Caleb was promised "the land on which he had set his foot," because he had "followed the LORD fully" (Deuteronomy 1:36). What is very significant in this chapter is that Caleb was NOT an Israelite originally. He was a Kenizzite. Genesis 15:19 explains that the Kenizzites were a tribe of Canaan in Abraham's day. His family was originally outside the covenant. Their faith was not the result of heredity but of true faith in the living God. 

Again, this shows that God loved ALL peoples who would come to Him in faith. Caleb displayed faith by standing up to the pessimistic report given by the other ten spies before they entered the Promised Land in Numbers 13. Because of his faith, God promised him a special reward (Numbers 14:24), and instead of requesting an easy land, he requested a difficult land with difficult inhabitants because he said, "Perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken" (14:12).

What faith!

APPLICATION

The secret of Caleb's life was that he "followed the LORD God of Israel fully" (14:14). I find that verse so challenging. Meditate on it. Are you following the LORD fully?

PRAYER

Lord, teach us what it means to follow You fully. Amen.

Joshua 13 - Distribution of the Land

LINK: Joshua 13

Joshua 13-21 involves the division of Canaan. Joshua is estimated to be at least 100 years old at this time. This part can be tedious, but read through it. After many years without a home, they are in Canaan and can settle down!

A picture speaks 1,000 words. Here is a link to a map of the division of the land: http://classic.net.bible.org/map.php?map=ot4

KEEP READING! You are doing great!!! 

Joshua 11 & 12 - The Northern Victories and Summary of Campaigns

LINK: Joshua 11 & 12

BACKGROUND

Joshua 11 includes the Northern Campaign in the conquest of Israel. Joshua 12 is a review of the 31 victories led by Joshua but achieved in the strength of the Lord.

The conquest of the land is estimated at seven years based on the life-span of Caleb. At the beginning of the conquest, he was 78 (Joshua 14:7, Deuteronomy 2:14). The conquest of Hebron occurred when he was 85 years old (Joshua 14:10).

APPLICATION

What are the "victories" you have enjoyed over the last year? Have you had any breakthroughs in the strength of the Lord in any of these areas?

• the use of your tongue
• the use of your money
• your relationship with your spouse, parents, or neighbors
• sharing your faith
• helping people grow in the Lord
• controlling your temper
• self-control in a difficult area of addiction  

(List adapted from The Daily Walk, March 2008)

Have a "review" of your victories like the one in Joshua 12. Spend time in praise to God for His victories in your life this year.

Every February, the pastors and leaders of our valley meet for days of prayer together. This year (2014), we met for a "mini-summit" and part of what we did was report what God had done since February. I went in weighed down with burdens, but I was able to reflect on all He had done in just a few months, and I was so encouraged! We should review victories often!

PRAYER

Lord, You are our strength. You give us victory. Help us to rely on You to overcome strongholds in our life. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Joshua 10 - Battle with Five Kings

LINK: Joshua 10

BACKGROUND

Joshua had originally attacked the land of Canaan, splitting the country in two and preventing the north and south from uniting against Israel. Now, the five southern Amorite kings from the hill country of Canaan (Genesis 14:13-16) united to attack Joshua's deceitful allies, the Gibeonites. Some believe Joshua was obligated to help the Gibeonites since they had made a treaty with them, but the Scriptural record does not indicate a defense pact. Joshua did it because it was a strategic way to see all these kingdoms conquered in one campaign, not to mention that God said He would give the Israelites the victory. He gave them that victory by providing hailstones and an extra-long day. A fun thing to note is that the sun and the moon were important deities to the Canaanites. At the prayer of Joshua, the Canaanite gods had to obey!

With the defeat of the five kings, southern Canaan was secured!

No Reflection and Application today. It is a "keep reading" day!

PRAYER

Lord, I thank You that the victory is Yours. Teach us to be strong and courageous when You give us something to do that is "God-sized." Lord, I know there are some who are reading this blog who face many fears. I pray for an extra measure of faith today to move forward in spite of fear if You are calling them out to new territory. I ask this in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen.

Joshua 9 - Gibeonite Guile

LINK: Joshua 9

BACKGROUND

Emmanuelm at en.wikipedia [Public domain or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)],
from Wikimedia Commons

A sense of common danger caused the kings over the hill country (that would later belong to Judah and Ephraim), the low country (that stretched from Carmel to Gaza), and the Mediterranean coastal country (that stretched from the Isthmus of Tyre to the plain or Joppa), to unite against a common enemy: Israel. The Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite occupied the majority of Canaan! See the map above for the location of most of them.   

The people of Gibeon and three dependent cities of the Hivites, descendants of Canaan, son of Ham (Genesis 10:17), decided to fight with craft and deceit rather than the sword. The Gibeonites must have known about God's command to wipe out the cities in Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:10-18; 7:1-2), so they lied and said they had come from a distant land. While they mentioned how they had heard of Israel's many victories, they had not mentioned the more recent ones in Jericho and Ai, probably because this would have given away the fact that they were not really from a distant land. 

Sadly, Joshua and the Israelites believed the Gibeonites because they "did not ask for the counsel of the LORD" (9:14). When they discovered their error, they did not break their oath with them though. That is commendable.

In the end, the Gibeonites became slaves to the Israelites. Maybe working as woodcutters and water carriers in the house of God rubbed off on them. Later God worked a great miracle among the Gibeonites (10:10-14), the tabernacle was settled for a time at Gibeon (2 Chronicles 1:3), and the Gibeonites helped Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah 3:7). So, in the end, it all worked together for God's glory!

REFLECTION 

This passage reminds me of James 4:13-15:

 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say,  "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

We make a mistake by not asking the Lord's will in everything. This was a significant decision for the Israelites, and they did not seek the counsel of the Lord (9:14). 

It would be easy for me to condemn their actions; but in 2010, I got excited about a proposition made to me about going on a bike trip in Southeast Asia in early August 2011. George had some pause, but I was hearing we should go.  After all, we are bikers, and we love Southeast Asia, right? What could be more perfect? Instead of pressing in more to explore George's pause, we went ahead instead of continuing to pray about it until we got clear and specific direction from the Lord.  Our thoughts were that this was a GOOD thing, but the GOOD is always the enemy of the BEST. 

It is a long story, but the short of it is that we were hearing a "yes" from the Lord about Southeast Asia, but the timing (Later in August instead of early August as originally proposed, thereby running into already committed fall obligations.) and focus of the bike trip changed between November and May. God knew that was all going to happen though, but this was probably in George's "pause" (he is so wise, and I am too enthusiastic sometimes). 

We started "seeking the Lord's counsel" (9:14) again in early May, and God opened up His desires for us. We withdrew from the bike trip, and God left us without doubt within 24 hours that this was the right move!  It was hard to disappoint the leader (a sweet 74 year old leading his last trip), but God knows best, and we are not here on this earth to please people but God (a lesson I am continually learning the hard way, but significant progress has been made as I heal from a relationship with a constantly disappointed and disapproving mother). We could have continued on that course to please others, but it would not be God's BEST! We trust that the other group will have a blast, but we will not be there to enjoy it! Sadly, the sweet leader accused us of being "Jonahs"! Sigh.

BOTTOM LINE: We (I) needed to inquire more of the Lord (9:14). We learned a valuable lesson and will do better next time. Thankfully, we had not made a binding covenant (in fact, the covenant that we were in the process of developing was what made us realize it was not the right direction). So, we felt free to withdraw from the trip. Even as I type this, I have been reviewing all the emails that have gone back and forth over the last few months, and God has again confirmed the decision to not go forward with that trip!  I love how Bible Book Club is always hitting me where I am at on this journey! Yippee!! 

(Update 2014: We ended up going on a trip to Southeast Asia that summer, but we did not go on the bike trip (which turned out to be a disaster for the people who did end up going - they even left early). We went another place God had put on our hearts many years ago. God blessed that trip and amazing things are happening now, and we are not JONAHS! In addition, this trip was earlier in the summer and with the focus the bike trip was supposed to have.) 

APPLICATION 

What is your first reaction when making a decision? Do you pray or plunge into it headfirst without hearing from the Lord? Is there something you need to inquire about? Set aside that time! It is so important!

PRAYER

Lord, we seek Your will in our decision-making. Help us to hear Your voice and to press in for Your good, perfect, and acceptable will (Romans 12:1-2) when we have hesitation. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai God's Way

LINK: Joshua 8

BACKGROUND

After a defeat like Ai, one could see how Joshua might be tentative, but God tells Him to "not fear or be dismayed." The sin of Achan was one thing that prevented the Israelites from taking Ai, but you will also notice that Joshua did not consult God on Ai in Joshua 7 but relied on the advice of his spies. This time, Joshua listened to God's strategy and took the city of Ai and Bethel by means of an ambush. Ai in Hebrew means "the ruin."

Joshua built an altar at Mt. Ebal (Shechem) according to Moses' command in Deuteronomy 27:1-8 which is the same spot where Abraham had built an altar in Genesis 12. They made an altar of uncut stones and sacrifices were made. This was a public act of worship to proclaim faith in the one true God in this pagan land.

REFLECTION

God had given Joshua the general plan of conquering the land, but he employed his own strategy for conquering Ai by listening to the advice of the spies rather than consulting God. Chapter 8 is Joshua's "course correction." He listened to God's strategy and Ai and Bethel were conquered.

I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten a word from the Lord to go forward into uncharted territory and bravely gone forward with great zeal and enthusiasm only to find myself utterly defeated, falling on my face, and crying out to the Lord and asking Him, "Why? Why? Why did you lead me here?" I had heard right about the "general plan," but I had not gotten specifics from the Lord. Bad idea.

In Joshua's case, if he had inquired of the Lord before trying to take Ai the first time, he would have heard from the LORD about Achan's sin and gotten the Lord's strategy; but Joshua did not inquire, he listened to bad advice and zealously went forward.

One specific example from 1985 burns in my memory. God had spoken very directly and specifically to me about discipling a woman. After a year of meeting together, we met some major road blocks in our relationship. I had done with this woman what I had always done before when discipling women, but Jennifer was different from anyone I had ever discipled, and it was tough! I really began to question God's leading.

As I poured out my heart in frustration to my friend, Tom White, he looked at me with his piercing blue eyes and gently said, "Carol, one thing I have observed about you is that sometimes you let your zeal get in the way of the Holy Spirit's leading."

God hit me right between the eyes with that statement. I had gotten the Lord's directive right, but I was not employing the Lord's strategy for helping Jennifer! Zeal has its drawbacks. It was time for course correction. Instead of giving up on Jennifer, God gave me His strategy, and it made all the difference!

I cannot tell you how many times over the years I have replayed those wise words from Tom. (Actually, I would say it was a rebuke, but Tom has a way of making you feel really good while he is rebuking you.) 

In 2005, I heard directly from the Lord about helping women grow to be all that God intended for them to be, but I jumped into a ministry that left me exhausted, defeated, and flat on my face before the Lord again saying "Why? Why? Why?" But God gently reminded me of Tom's words. Now, I go forward with the same vision God gave me, but it is His slow and steady strategy and not my own (or someone else's), and God is blessing! 

2011 Update - I wrote this three years ago, and I am so glad I listened to God's "slow" plan! I was going in a direction in 2008, but I felt hesitation in my spirit about a long-term commitment to that ministry. I loved the people I was working with, but it was not the ultimate plan that God had for me that He opened up in late 2009. This ministry allows me to work with George (the other ministry involved just women and was totally separate from him, and we make a great team), utilizes my gifting, draws on my unique experience, causes me to use the abilities I have gained along the way, and gives me great joy! I am in God's "sweet spot" of ministry! 

Although I no longer work with the people I was working with in 2008, those people have become our biggest prayer warriors! On top of all that, many of the women that I worked with in that ministry to women in 2005 have also become our biggest prayer warriors. God had a purpose in all of it! 

2014 Update - Still doing that ministry with my husband, and we recently spoke to a big group about it. Many of the people there were women from the ministry I led in 2005! One friend came up afterward and said, "You are definitely in your "sweet spot," and I agree! It is so fun to wait and listen to the Lord rather than rush ahead of Him! 

2017 Update - Two of the women from the 2005 leadership group are now doing the ministry we are involved with. That ministry was worth it, even though I fell flat on my face at the end. It keeps me humble.

2023 Update - I get "offers" regularly, but I listen to the Lord's advice, and the advice of people who know me well! I say "no" much more than I say "yes" these days! 

APPLICATION

I see two different responses to this reflection:

Some of you are probably saying, "Well, I do not like to move forward so I am going to just stay in my safe place on the other side of the Jordan. I do not want to end up flat on my face like Joshua (or Carol)."

All I can say is that you will miss out on God's blessing if you play it safe. Joshua learned from his mistake and went forward and was blessed with victory. Move out. You may make some mistakes along the way. Be open to "course correction" from the Lord (and the rebuke of wise friends).

Others of you are like me, you have listened to the Lord and zealously plowed forward and employed your own strategy. Stop and reevaluate! Cultivate a listening and teachable heart every step of the way. Do not let your zeal get in the way of the Holy Spirit's leading like I did!

Move forward my friend! He may have you step out of your comfort zone in sharing Christ with someone or helping others grow in Him. I am sure that God has GREAT things planned for you!

PRAYER

Lord, Your ways are perfect! "Let us hear Your unfailing love in the morning, for we have put our trust in You. Show us the way we should walk, for to You we lift up our souls" (Psalms 143:8). Amen.

Joshua 7: Defeat at Ai and a CHALLENGE

LINK: Joshua 7

BACKGROUND

Because Achan did not destroy the devoted things "under the ban" when they defeated Jericho, Israel suffered the needless slaughter of 36 soldiers at the hands of the "few" inhabitants of Ai. Joshua's fervent prayer revealed Achan's sin. Consequently, Achan, his "things under the ban," sons, daughters, livestock, and property were all destroyed.

The "beautiful mantle of Shinar" was probably a garment made of fine materials from Babylon. Babylon was famous for its garments that were interwoven with pictures of various colors.

Joshua said Achan has been "trouble" for Israel. The name Achan is believed to mean "troubler," and the Valley of Achor means "valley of trouble."

REFLECTION

I am not going to lie. This passage is hard for me. I have struggled for the last half hour to write words, but they are not coming. Achan did a sinful thing. The punishment was death. Yet, even his sons and daughters were killed for Achan's sin? That is tough. 

Deuteronomy 24:16 says that children are not to be punished for their father's sins and everyone will be punished for their own sin. So, can we assume that they were part of the coveting and cover-up and deserved to die along with Achan? I think that we have to since it is a command of God. I have to look at this and trust that God is sovereign, holy, wise, good, loving but also just. 

It is interesting to note that there is no mention of Achan's wife being stoned to death in this passage. We do not know why. Maybe she was not part of it or maybe she was dead.

I also want to look at this and consider where I might be holding on to things that are forbidden and must be destroyed to allow all that I have to be totally devoted to Him.

APPLICATION

Are there any thoughts, practices, or possessions that hinder your devotion to Him? Dispose of them promptly!

Here is a fun application: 

JOSHUA WALK CHALLENGE

Challenge: Take a walk around the perimeter of any area that needs to be claimed for Jesus for six days. Then take seven laps around the perimeter on the seventh day. It could be your neighborhood, children's school, courthouse, workplace; or anywhere you are sensing "spiritual walls" that need to come down.

Come on and get your shoes on!

See more about Prayerwalking HERE.

PRAYER

Lord, we want to be totally devoted to You. You want all of us and when there is sin in our lives, You cannot have all of us. Please root out all those things that are displeasing to You and use us for Your glory. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Many Aspire, Few Attain

Things were more important to Achan than people! This reminded me of this principle in Many Aspire, Few Attain:

13. Walk by Faith (or Stay in the People Business) 

In the beginning living by faith has an excitement which is unlike anything else. But after a while, the novelty of it begins to wear off and it begins to seem more desirable to have some security--to be able to count on something rather than trusting God all the time. 

And then, slowly things begin to become more important. What you have, rather than what God can provide becomes your security. We can easily push this to the extreme. One woman I know does not like to have people in her home because they mess it up. If your home, or any of your possessions, become more important than people, you are already out of the battle. God is interested in people, and when our security is in Him, what happens to things is no longer important. If your rugs, sofa and cut glass bowls are more important than people, you will never qualify for the battle.

Joshua 5 & 6 - Circumcision at Gilgal and the Fall of Jericho

Sun and Shadows in Jericho, originally uploaded by Flopas.

LINK: Joshua 5 & 6

BACKGROUND

A new generation had entered the Promised Land. Therefore, they needed to be circumcised to fulfill the covenant. For an explanation of this, see the post for Genesis 17 here. 

The Israelites were in the Promised Land with their enemies right there. Circumcision would require a recovery period, but the Israelites had enough faith in God to be circumcised even though an attack could be a real possibility. It was not likely though since the inhabitants' "hearts melted and no longer dared to face the Israelites" (5:1).

After circumcision, they celebrated the Passover for the third time. The first time was before they left Egypt (Exodus 12). The second was at Mount Sinai just before they moved toward Canaan (Numbers 9). Passover could not be eaten until they were circumcised. The inauguration of Passover also marked the end of the manna! Yippee!

Joshua 5 starts a new section...

Conquering the Land (5:13 - 12:24)

Joshua saw a commander of the army of the LORD. It is believed that this was a "theophany": an Old Testament appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Joshua's response was worship. Note that the Angel of the LORD's sword was drawn. The iniquity of the Amorites was full, fulfilling God's words to Abraham in Genesis 15:16. The Israelites were to be the instruments of God's divine punishment.

The LORD promised the fall of Jericho, but it was all His battle. He instructed the Israelites to walk around Jericho once every day for six days. They were to do this while following armed guards, seven priests with trumpets, and the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, the priests would blow on the trumpets. At one long blast and a shout, the walls would collapse.

They obeyed, and Jericho was taken. Only Rahab and her family were spared. Note that the New International Version says they were not to take the "devoted things." The New American Standard Bible says "Things under the ban." I like this better! Deuteronomy 20:16-18 said that they were to destroy everything so that they would not be corrupted by the Canaanite practices. They could keep the silver, gold, bronze, and iron because this could be used for the Tabernacle and its services (stay tuned to see if they obey this command).

Then Joshua cursed anyone who tried to rebuild the city, and this was fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34.

Archaeological note: Jericho was one of the oldest cities in the world. Many archaeologists date its habitation as far back as 7000 B.C. There are extensive pottery remains found on the mound that was once Jericho and in the tombs of the area that point to the occupancy of Jericho until about 1400 B.C. There is a thick burned layer of ash under the pottery that points to major destruction. This seems to match up with Joshua's destruction and eventual burning (Joshua 6:24) of the city (A Survey of Israel's History by Leon Wood, pp. 94-99).

REFLECTION (Written in 2008)

I have lived in my neighborhood for five and a half years. For the first year, I was pretty discouraged. It was almost like there was a big "wall" that surrounded this place much like the walls of Jericho. Then the LORD led me to take "Joshua Walks" around the neighborhood (something I had learned from my mentors in college). I would get up early in the morning and circle the outside perimeter of my neighborhood. Then, I would walk and pray for each house with the neighborhood directory in hand, praying for each person by name. I did this for six days. On the seventh day, I circled the perimeter seven times. I had no trumpet and gave no shout, but . . .

the walls came tumbling down!

There are many stories, but one happened shortly after these walks. To get to know my neighbors, I baked each of them a loaf of bread over 18 months. I had baked a loaf of bread on Easter of 2004, but then I realized that most of our neighbors would probably be doing things with their families. Then, I remembered that we had Iranian neighbors who were Baha'i. So, I assumed they would not be celebrating. George and I went to deliver the bread, and Iraj answered the door. His jaw DROPPED! 

He said, "I told Nourieh (his wife) just before you rang the bell that I would really like to have a loaf of homemade bread!" 

They invited us in, and we spent the rest of that Easter afternoon with our Iranian neighbors. It was delightful! Now, Nourieh and I study the Bible together every week, and they have become great friends! In fact, last July, Nourieh planned a surprise birthday party for me with the women of the neighborhood!

God has made the walls fall down in this neighborhood, and I know it is a result of prayer!

(2014 Update: Sadly, Iraj died of cancer last fall. I saw Nourieh the other day, and we decided to resume meeting again.) 

2023 Update: Just last week, while meditating on Jesus being The Bread of Life, I felt led to bake bread for a recently widowed neighbor. Read a story of the blessed time we had HERE (my personal blog). 

I am challenged to "Joshua Walk" my neighborhood once again. Please read tomorrow's post for more about that. 

APPLICATION

Are there any "walls" of Jericho in your life? Why not put your shoes on and walk and pray them down?

This summary of the stages of life in the book The Critical Journey has "The Wall" in it. I find many people get stuck here. Where are you on your journey? 

Another possible application: Days 21-30 of the 30-Day Prayer Guide for ISIS are based on the events in Joshua 6. You are given an opportunity to "Joshua walk" around their cities by looking at maps.  When I wrote this original post, they were a major threat. While downgraded as a threat, they are still active. Read this article for more information:

ISIS is a Problem Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Stay tuned for the "Joshua Walk Challenge" tomorrow! 

PRAYER

Lord, give us the faith to believe that the battle is not ours but Yours. Help us to fight those battles through prayer. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Joshua 3 & 4 - Consecration, Crossing, and Memorial Stones

LINK: Joshua 3 & 4

BACKGROUND

Joshua prepared the people to cross the Jordan River and invade Canaan with one faith-filled command:

 Consecrate yourselves, 

for tomorrow the LORD 

will do wonders among you. 

(Joshua 3:5)

And God would not disappoint! The flow of the river was stopped when the soles of the priests who were carrying the ark rested in the water so that the Israelites could pass on dry ground.

Before entering, they were to prepare through consecration. This was a purification ceremony done before sacrifice, but it was also done before witnessing a mighty act of God. Just like we might prepare ourselves to meet someone famous, the Israelites were to prepare for this manifestation of God by getting rid of any uncleanness in them so they could see this miracle with a pure heart.

They were to let the ark of the covenant lead the way. It was no longer to be the pillar of the cloud. The ark was the most sacred treasure of Israel and a symbol of God's presence and power. It symbolized God Himself. See the Exodus 25 post for an explanation of the Ark of the Covenant.

One of the reasons God did this was so that Joshua would be exalted in the sight of Israel so that they would know that He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses (3:7).

As a sign to future generations, the LORD directed Joshua to take twelve men, one from each tribe, to make a memorial of twelve stones from the bed of the river to be erected at their first encampment at Gilgal. During the process, Joshua also erected twelve stones right IN the riverbed.

The stones had a broader purpose beyond being a sign to future generations of Israel. The memorial was so "that all peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty" (4:24).

As I have said in previous posts, this is the bottom line of the LORD's miracles . . . that other peoples, not just the Israelites, would know the monotheistic God of Israel.

Historical Note: Egypt was nominally in control of Canaan at this time. Amenhotep III (1414-1378) ruled but was not interested in maintaining an empire. The Tell el-Amarna letters depict him as ignoring the Canaanite pleas for help against the "Hapiru" which were the Israelites. There was no central government in Canaan at the time and each individual city had its own king. Amenhotep III left the individual cities of Canaan to themselves during the conquest by Israel.

REFLECTION

I think we are all creatures who are prone to forgetfulness. Sometimes, I end the day having no remembrance of what I learned from the LORD in my devotional time that morning, having gone on "auto-pilot" all day. In fact, I was just thinking of that weakness before I started this post. The "memorial stones" were a good reminder that I want to work on that weakness in my life. How about you?

I did think of times when I have been more intentional about "memorial stones." I have often written key verses on cards or sticky notes. I have many verses that God gave me while dating (and waiting for) my husband, George. They are reminders to me of a time of uncertainty but also of a precious time of hearing the assuring voice of the LORD when circumstances seemed otherwise.

My journals have been my "memorial stones" also. I have documentation of the mighty power of God in my life since 1978! They are an excellent way for me to remember the fingerprints of God in my life.

I have also collected different mementos that remind me of key encounters with God. They are things like shells from the beach, river water, sugar cubes from Spain, a nest, a cup, and a little clay pot. They hold no meaning to others, but they remind me of significant times in my relationship with the LORD. I keep them as treasures on the table near my "quiet time corner" in my office or in my window where I do dishes. I can look at them and "remember."

What are your memorial stones?

APPLICATION

Look for God in your life today. The crossing of the Jordan was a big miracle, but God is constantly trying to reveal Himself through little miracles every day. We just need to open our eyes to see them. When You see His fingerprint, set up a memorial stone: journal, write a poem, write a verse on a card, draw a picture, gather a memento. Do anything that will cement the remembrance of Him in your heart and mind.

Examen Prayer is an excellent way to "remember" ways you have seen God's hand in your life on a daily basis. I have linked this to a blog post on my ministry website, and don't miss the downloadable handout for it. 

My husband and I often take a walk and recall our "memorial stones" of God's faithfulness throughout the week. Pray as You Go has a Saturday Examen that helps you review your whole week. 

I pray an Examen for the entire year (it is copyrighted, but I have purchased the rights to unlimited usage). that I go through during a Day of Prayer on New Year's Eve.

As you remember, think about sharing this with a friend so that they might see the "memorial stones" in your life and be encouraged. 

PRAYER

Lord, we confess our forgetfulness. Help us to remember and memorialize Your mighty power in our lives so that we may fear and reverence You forever (4:24). We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Joshua 2 - Rahab Helps the Spies and Meets God

LINK: Joshua 2  

BACKGROUND 

Joshua was a part of the 12 spies who explored the land (Numbers 13-14). He and Caleb were the only ones who brought back a good report. In this chapter, he sent spies to go and check out Jericho before they went to possess it. Jericho was a walled city that was the gateway to the passes of the Jordan Valley. My kids and I studied Jericho in home school history, and it may be the world's oldest discovered city. According to the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History, "Jericho grew rich by trading with other communities, and people in the nearby villages became jealous. To protect themselves, the people of Jericho built a massive stone wall around the town" (p. 109).  There are many pictures on the web of the site. 

(By the way, the book I referenced above was our favorite home school history book for the elementary years, but the first 100 pages talk about evolution. I did not let this deter me from liking the rest of the book and just skipped it in the grammar stage (Grades 1-4). I used it to talk about creation versus evolution in the logic stage of their maturity (Grades 5-8). It can be healthy for kids at this stage in their development, to learn critical thinking from looking at other viewpoints. I do not believe in "throwing the baby out with the bath water" even when it may have viewpoints I do not agree with.) 

REFLECTION 

This is a story about the faith of an unlikely woman who made it into the "Hall of Fame" of faith: 

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she welcomed the spies in peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

Many people get caught up in the fact that she lied to protect the spies and that she was a sinful woman. You might ask, "How could God put her in this 'Hall of Fame of Faith'?"  

The Bible says her faith was approved, and that her works proved it (James 2:25). So, isn't this a story about God's amazing, crazy grace that we just cannot wrap our heads around?  Rahab declared her faith in Israel's God: For the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (2:11).  Her faith saved her (Genesis 15:6), and this is what saves all of us!

APPLICATION 

As you read and meditate on Joshua 2, it is important to not just walk away from it and forget about it because James 1:23-25 says: 

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Rahab was a doer. She did something with her faith in Israel's God. We are not just reading through the Bible so that we can check it off our "To Do" list. We need to ask God, "How do you want me to respond to this? Below is my application, but it does not have to be yours! Also, God speaks to us at the moment. So next time I read this, my response will probably be different.

My "I WILL" Application (today):

When I meditated on this chapter, I thought that I must respond in praise because I am no better than a harlot, and if God can put a harlot in the Hall of Fame of Faith, there is hope for everyone!  My mind has gone back to 1979 when I had to make one of two choices. I sincerely believe that one choice would have led me to destruction. The other choice of faith led me to the full, rich, meaningful life I live today. God saved me from destruction just as he saved Rahab in the destruction of Jericho. I am so eternally grateful, and I have already shared my story with others this morning so that they might learn too. I am praising Him with all my heart.  

Our applications are all different. What do you walk away with as you meditate on this chapter? How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you today?

PRAYER

Lord God, thank You for teaching me the meaning of true love. Thank You that the story of Rahab gives me such hope. I love You. Amen. 

Joshua 1 - Be Strong and Courageous

Some of you are reading through the whole Bible Book Club from Genesis to Revelation. If this is the case, take a look at the Bible Bookcase. We have completed the first five books of Moses called the Law on the Shelf. It is also called the Torah and Pentateuch (for five books). Congratulations!


The next twelve books, stretching from Joshua to Esther, are called the History books because they tell the history of God's people from their entrance into the Promised Land to their captivity, exile, and return. 

Introduction to Joshua

Throughout the books of Moses, we kept hearing about the Promised Land. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, an exceedingly good land. Now, Joshua, the newly appointed leader of Israel, is poised on the edge of the Jordan River and ready to take possession of this new land.

The book of Joshua is the story of the conquest (Joshua 1 - 12) and distribution (Joshua 13-24) of this land.

Since much of the book seems to communicate a firsthand account of the events, most evangelical scholars believe Joshua was the author with additions by Eleazar the high priest, and his son Phinehas (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Volume 1, p. 325). 

LINK: Joshua 1

BACKGROUND

The first thing that popped out to me as I meditated on this chapter was that God spoke directly to Joshua! After all these years of watching God speak to Moses, the mantle had been passed on to his successor, Joshua.

The second thing that popped out to me in this chapter was the key phrase repeated three times . . .

"Be strong and courageous"
"Be strong and courageous"
"Be strong and courageous"

I cannot imagine what it would have been like to follow in the footsteps of the "greatest prophet." I think this is why God kept repeating this phrase and reminding Joshua that He would be with him just as He was with Moses.

REFLECTION

The Life Application Bible is simple and to the point regarding this chapter:

"Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed Joshua must: 

1. be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, 
2. obey God's law, and 
3. constantly read and study the Book of the Law -- God's Word. 

To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world's standard, but you will be a success in God's eyes -- and his opinion lasts forever" (Life Application Bible, p.334).

I can say a hearty AMEN to that today. I had something happen in the last week that reminded me once again that I needed to "be strong and courageous," stay the course, cling ever closer to the LORD, and do not worry about the opinion of others. I serve an audience of ONE, and I do not need to be afraid of anything but be in fear of HIM alone! I cannot look back at the wilderness, but I need to look ahead to the Promised Land!

APPLICATION

Are fear, disobedience, or lack of an abiding relationship with God in His word keeping you from moving forward in your walk with the LORD and experiencing the wide-open spaces of the "Promised Land"? Talk to God about it right now!

Another application of this chapter might be to meditate on and then memorize a key verse from it:

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1:8) 

You might even want to continue into Joshua 1:9 since it holds that key repeated phrase:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. 

For meditation, I would like to suggest you try Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading). This is an opportunity for you to meditate more deeply on these two verses in these simple steps:

Recenter and Relax Yourself

Recenter your scattered senses on the presence of God. Still your mind, heart, and body. Let go of all other distractions. Relax in His presence and attend to Him.

Read the Passage (Lectio)

Read slowly and attentively, followed by a time of silence.

Reflect on it (Meditatio)

Listen for a word or phrase that shimmers for you. In what way does it touch your life? Let thoughts surface that connect the text to your life.

Respond to God (Oratio)

Converse with God about the word or phrase and what it has triggered. Think of God in the second person (“you”). Tell God what you are thinking and feeling. Be honest! What do you want of God? What help do you need?

Rest in Him (Contemplatio)

Rest in God’s presence. Be silent and without words. Move on when you are ready. (Note: Praying Scripture has nothing to do with “getting through” passages; it has everything to do with letting the meaning sink into your life.)

Take a word or phrase with you and repeat it as you perform your daily activities.

Take time to listen to God’s voice and journal something so you will remember the encounter.

Then, put it on a card and memorize it!

Joshua 1:8 is in The Topical Memory System. I memorized these 60 verses in college, and they have so helped me navigate the waters of life! 

Here is a list with links to the verses and a "mini-sermon" by LeRoy Eims. (I had breakfast with him once. So, it is special to hear his voice.)

Topical Memory System Audio Library

PRAYER

Teach us Lord where we need to let go of fear and be strong and courageous. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.