Month: May 2023

Joshua 10:8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

Many times God (or an angel) appears to His people, and they are told, Fear not! In that context, when the natural response to the overwhelming presence of the Lord is to be afraid, God says, “Fear not, do not be afraid of Me, for I have Good News of love for you: good news for you, bad news for your sin.” The Gospel is salvation for you, but judgment for your sin. On the other hand, Fearing God is a good thing, for it means faith in a good God; and we love Him so much we are afraid to offend Him.

In this instance with Joshua, Fear them not means do not be afraid of your enemies, for I have delivered you from them. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” What happened next? God delivered! Five kings fought against Israel because of their alliance with the Gibeonites and their defeat of Ai. Then Israel defeated the five kings by the power of God, who hurled huge hailstones upon them. More of the enemy army died from the stones than from the sword. Joshua did not have enough day time to completely rout the enemy, so God did the remarkable miracle of causing the sun to stand still for a whole day. God delivered!

So it is the same word of Jesus to us today: Do not be afraid of your spiritual enemies, do not worry about tomorrow, be anxious for nothing. We respond to His promise by praying and believing the prayer, Deliver us from evil. Jesus fights for you and overcomes. Believe it! Fear them not! Your Lord will make the “earth stop in its orbit” if He has to, for your good. Our response to God’s Gospel Promise: no fear, no doubt, no worry, no anxiety, and no enemy.

Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

The Gibeonites were a local people, living in the land God gave Israel to occupy. But they lied to Joshua and the elders, claiming they were from a far country. Joshua believed their lie and signed a treaty with them, allowing them to live in the land that was supposed to belong to Israel. Joshua made peace with the Gibeonites, contrary to the command of the Lord. (As it turned out, this peace agreement became troublesome for Israel later.)

Usually. Joshua prayed and sought the counsel of the Lord before a battle; but in this instance of peace he asked not the counsel of the Lord. This peace deal was not God’s will, but he let himself be deceived and did not pray about it first. God would have forbidden it. Joshua “leaned on his own understanding,” and did not “seek first the kingdom of God.”

Many strategic decisions confront us daily, and we get into trouble when we plow ahead without giving the Lord a thought. Pray about it is wise advice. In fact, we pray daily, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Life is better when we surrender our own will, die to self, and pray that we will know and want to do the will of God. First, we believe and confess “Jesus is Lord,” then, we pray, ask his counsel, and determine to do His will, not mine. This is not so easy, and so we pray the Lord’s Prayer every day. Decision-making becomes easier, and blessed, when we practice (and it takes practice) asking counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

Joshua 8:34-35 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

An important part of the Joshua-led worship and thanksgiving response to the recent victory of the Lord was to read the Word of God, the Torah, the laws of Moses, to all the people. He was sure to include the women and children and the strangers living among them; the Word is for everyone. It may be that all the words refers particularly to the chapters dealing with “blessings and curses.” Law and Gospel is the essence of Scripture and the lens through which we understand God.

We understand this reading event to be a reading aloud of the words of God in a public gathering. Since most of the people could not read, the knowledge of God and faith in the Gospel came through hearing the Word. Illiterate people are actually better at listening and remembering the spoken word than we who are dependent on written words on paper (or computer).

But the concept of hearing applies to receiving both the spoken and the written word. When we read silently our brain is hearing. So the word reading applies to both aloud or silent. Either way, it is the hearing that is the significant response to the news of the victory and salvation of the Lord. Faith is brought by hearing, which increases the desire to hear the Word again and again. Thus the Christian responds by going to church to hear the public proclamation of the Gospel, which increases the desire hear the words daily in our alone with God time.

Joshua 8:30-31 Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift any iron: and they offered therein burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.

After the victory at Ai, Joshua built an altar to worship the Lord, make offerings, and thank the Lord. He acknowledged that he did not win the battle himself in his own strength, but that the Lord did it. Appropriately, he built an altar unto the Lord in order to worship the Lord and give thanks for the victory. He followed the Lord’s instructions given through Moses to use uncut stones, presumably to preclude any human good works to make oneself acceptable.

The continual response of Christians to the gospel victory of Christ’s Resurrection is a life of worship, praise, and thanksgiving lived out in everyday living, punctuated with weekly worship and daily devotions. We are always enjoying Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil. And it is good for us to pause for a bit to thank the Lord for a specific blessing or victory we just experienced. Thanking the Lord for everything marks the normal Christian life. And even if we don’t notice what the Lord just did for us we can always thank Him for the gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Recognizing God’s goodness in every circumstance strengthens us and brings internal joy and an external smile.

Joshua 8:18 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.

The city of Ai, that earlier routed Israel, was now under attack again, but this time under God’s command and direction. When the army began its ambush and attack, Joshua was told to stretch out the spear in his hand toward the city. As soon as he responded in faith and obedience, the army prevailed and took the city.

This event would have reminded Joshua of the battle he led against the Amalekites in the wilderness. At the time, when Moses lifted up his arms the army prevailed. Outwardly, to human reason, there is no obvious cause and effect relationship between holding up arms or holding out a spear and winning a battle. But inwardly, it was a matter of trust and obedience, doing what God says. In the heavenly realm God sees the response and acts in the earthly realm to win the battle. And so we march from victory unto victory.

To human reason it doesn’t make sense that the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross should bring victory and joy into our lives. But it does. Jesus was obedient unto death, stretched out his arms, and died. Surprise to the visible and invisible world! This obedience brought the enduring spiritual warfare to a victorious conclusion. It is finished! Surrender to God’s will is the key to a joyous and victorious life. We may not get the connection of the cross and the tomb to my life and death, but faith sees.

We can’t see the connection between our daily problems and taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Hold up the words of Scripture and point it toward the issues in your life. The Word works. Believe it. Joshua didn’t argue with the Lord and say, “Why do that?” He just believed and did it.

Joshua 8:1 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.

After the defeat by the city of Ai, Joshua and the people would naturally feel afraid and anxious, down and discouraged. But now the sin has been cleansed out of the camp with the execution of Achan. The Lord comes another time to say, “Fear not, stop feeling discouraged, get up and go again against Ai, for I have given you victory.” Upon hearing the Word of God, Joshua responded with faith, obedience, and courage. Energized by this word from God, he laid down his fears, took up new courage, and did what the Lord said. God’s strategy worked. This time they won: the enemy army and its king were killed and the city burned.

Jesus never fails. It always works when we do it God’s way. There will certainly be times in our life when we fail and fall, lose to the Enemy, when fear and worry sets in, and we become dismayed and discouraged. Then we are reminded of the Gospel. Then fear flees and renewed courage arises. This is our response when we go to church, listen to the gospel, take Communion, and remember that God baptized us. We become discouraged by setbacks in our spiritual warfare with our spiritual enemies (usually caused by sin). That’s when we need to hear an encouraging word from Jesus, and arise and go on to the next victory. We fear not!

Joshua 7:26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from his anger. Wherefore the name of that places was called the valley of Achor unto this day.

Since humans do not see God, His Holiness, or His Love, we all need reminders. In order that they might never forget, the children raised up a heap of stones upon the place where Achan and family were stoned and burned for stealing goods that were dedicated to God. When they see the heap they would never forget that the Lord is serious in all His Commands, that His Holiness cannot be polluted, and that although He is slow to anger Sin still offends Him.

After carrying out God’s judgment and setting up a memorial, the Lord turned from His anger toward sin. Actually, God had given many physical signs and symbols of His holiness and love in the sacrifices, rituals, clothes, and utensils, etc. in Leviticus and other Books of Moses. All of this was to serve as reminders: God is holy and that cannot be compromised; God is Love and that cannot be diminished. When you see the heap of stones you will remember.

The Lord has also given His NT people earthly reminders of heavenly truth in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are visible realities of Jesus, who has replaced and fulfilled all the OT reminders of God. NT believers respond by attending a gathering every Sunday to hear the Gospel, to remember Jesus, who took the anger of God upon Himself, and receive His blessing of forgiveness in Communion, and to remember our Baptism into Christ every day. We are reminded that Jesus was judged for our sins and God’s righteous wrath is turned away from us. Christians also build churches and memorials of all kinds in the valley of Achor (which means trouble), that is, in this Vale of Tears where we sojourn.

Joshua 7:20-21 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

“Thou shalt not covet.” This commandment covers two of the seven deadly sins, greed and envy. The seven deadly sins are deadly because they lead to actual destructive evils. Covetousness (greed) appears harmless since it is only in the mind, but it is a root of selfishness that causes a chain of events that ends in death and destruction. Achan coveted first, and then he stole what belonged to God; that caused death and defeat at Ai, in addition to the stoning and burning of his family.

Great, even widespread, evil usually begins with a simple thought in the mind. A small thing, like the tongue, can become the seed of great disaster. James 3:6: “The tongue is a fire, staining the whole body, setting on fire the whole course of life, and set on fire by hell.” Great oaks grow from small acorns, and wildfires from sparks. Thought sins like covetousness (and greed, envy, anger, lust, and such) leads to death and destruction, unless it is recognized and nipped in the bud. For this reason, a believer responds with daily repentance. Adam, Cain, Achan, Saul, and many others were all given a chance to repent and confess before they were caught, and in so doing could have cut the chain and saved lives.

Frequent confession and constant repentance and instant forgiveness affects the Christian’s life and behavior. And all is well.

Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

The Lord answered Joshua’s prayer by telling him the reason for the defeat at Ai. Israel sinned by stealing some thing that belonged to God. Everything in Jericho was devoted to the Lord for destruction. Achan stole from God. One man disobeyed, but it was regarded by God as if the whole nation sinned.

We cannot see the consequences and ramifications of every little sin in the spiritual world and upon other people. We say, “Oh, it was just a little white sin. It won’t hurt anybody.” We think that sins done in secret don’t really count, since no one knows and no one is hurt. But God sees it, and He sees it differently. One secret sin disturbs the heavenly realm and that affects the earthly world. But in His Word the Holy Spirit reveals (unveils) what’s really going on behind the curtain of our sight. This is one reason why the Spirit tells this gruesome story. It is written for our learning.

Take sin seriously! You will never see how many things and people are adversely affected by your so-called secret words and actions. Therefore, we respond by facing our sin and our self honestly, confessing it frankly without excuses, repenting in sincerity and truth, and receiving forgiveness for Christ’s sake by faith.

Achan did confess, but it was after he had been caught, sort of like Adam. Perhaps Achan, and Adam, and we also, could have avoided death by confronting, admitting, and confessing sin before being caught, and the harm sin caused others might have been avoided. When we sin and steal we respond with immediate confession and receive instant forgiveness. The Gospel covers sin, and repentance and faith diminishes its effects.

Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

Joshua and Israel had just experienced an unanticipated defeat at the city of Ai. Consternation and disappointment filled the camp. Why? Why did the Lord let this happen? Instead of complaining and blaming God, Joshua and the elders humiliated themselves before the Lord, repented, and sought answers in prayer. Ripping the shirt, falling prone, and pouring dust were outward signs of inward penitence, sincere faith, and heartfelt seeking the Lord. Why did this happen, what went wrong, and what should we do?

God answered Joshua’s prayer, forgave them, and told them what to do. God hears sincere penitence and honest seeking. The answer God gave was not what he wanted to hear and he certainly did not want to stone Achan. But he obeyed and did what God said, and Lord granted great success afterward.

The lesson for us is clear: humble yourself, repent, and seek the Lord in prayer. Be willing to repent and let no unconfessed sin go unspoken. Then arise, believe, and go forward. Seeking the Lord in prayer is always a healthy response.