Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” –Paul to his apprentice, Timothy. Philippians 1:3-6

I spent many years mentoring and encouraging young leaders with this particular verse.  I used these words as final remarks to many communications with them.  But today, as I read Joshua 13, I am realizing this “good work” in us from a new, deeper perspective.  “The Work” is telling others of the work of Jesus who came to save us by taking the punishment for our sins that we deserve; paying our debt in full.  The Work in us is to trust that He did what God told him to do with assurance that his work reconciled us to God in a new intimate, loving relationship with God.  “No one goes to the Father except through Me,” says Jesus.  (John 14:6) But the work of telling, baptizing, discipling will not be complete until Jesus comes back again. (Matthew 28:20) We might lead some to Jesus’ saving grace in our lifetime; but there will still be souls that need saving.

Remember: We tell; Jesus saves. God doesn’t need us to do this work but delights in inviting us to His work!  We are not responsible for saving souls; but we are responsible and commanded to go and tell. It is Jesus who transforms lives by the power of His Holy Spirit living in all who believe.  We must tell all who are weary from carrying a load of sin of this Good News!  This is the work.

The work in us is made complete by Jesus Christ.  But the work of Christ still goes on through those who will come after us.  Jesus mentored his disciples with;

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” –Jesus, John 14:12-14

Some say that Jesus’ last words on the cross, “It is finished,” really means He was just getting started as the work continues through all who believe and follow Him in the work of God with the love of God.  As Moses mentored Joshua; Jesus mentored his disciples to carry on what Jesus began—but only Jesus saves.  All scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—points to the love of God who sent His Son to save us so we could be reconciled (reconnected) back to God.  God wants us to love Him back with all our hearts, minds, and souls.  When we do; “the work” is just getting started as God does His work in us and through us.

Joshua did the work God gave him to do, “leaving nothing undone” in the assignment given to him; but there were still more lands to be conquered by those who would come after him. We can almost hear the words of God to Joshua, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”  These are words we all want to here when we pass from this life to life forever with God!

Joshua 13

Land Still to Be Taken

13 When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

² “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, ³ from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites ⁴ on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites; ⁵ the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

⁶ “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, ⁷ and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

Division of the Land East of the Jordan

⁸ The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned it to them.

⁹ It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, ¹⁰ and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. ¹¹ It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah— ¹² that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was the last of the Rephaites.) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. ¹³ But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maakah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

¹⁴ But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

¹⁵ This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans:

¹⁶ The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba ¹⁷ to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, ¹⁸ Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, ¹⁹ Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, ²⁰ Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— ²¹ all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. ²² In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. ²³ The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.

²⁴ This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans:

²⁵ The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; ²⁶ and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; ²⁷ and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee). ²⁸ These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, according to their clans.

²⁹ This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans:

³⁰ The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan—all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, ³¹ half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.

³² This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. ³³ But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Moses demonstrated his love, faith, trust and obedience to God.  God knows our days are numbered but His work must go on.  So, God bought up Joshua as the next leader to Moses.  Moses mentored Joshua in all the ways God had mentored him on that mountain top all those years ago on the wilderness journey.  Who’s after Joshua? Stay tuned!

Pause to ponder:  Who is mentoring me?  Who am I mentoring?  This is part of THE WORK from God as a member of God’s Kingdom. 

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” –Paul to Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:1-2

There are many people God will send to pour what they have learned from God into us.  Pause to remember them and give God thanks for them!  Ask God to lead you to someone who needs what God has taught you.  He loves to answer prayers like this one! 

One last thought—The word disciple in our language is translated from the original Greek with this meaning: “One who learns.”  The work of God in us, as disciples of Jesus, is to be people who never stop learning, growing, and maturing in our relationship with God—continually developing the love of God in us.

• God created us in his own image. Genesis 1:27
• Jesus, God’s Son, was sent to reconcile us back to God who created us. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
• God’s Holy Spirit lives in all who believe God and are reconciled to God through Jesus.  His Spirit leads us as a Helper/Counselor and guides us to all Truth.  John 16:13-15

Believe and be saved.  Do the work God calls each one of us to do, leaving nothing undone that He directed. Begin with the top two commands; Love God.  Love each other.  Then, go and tell the story of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit to those walking in darkness who are in need the Light of Salvation.  God will tell us exactly what to say and when to say it.  Jesus’ work is now our work until He comes back again to claim his own.  Jesus, Himself reveals this to John who writes it all down to encourage us in the work:

“And he (Jesus) said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:6-7

Ah, yes, come, Lord Jesus.  I’m Yours.  I’m listening.

Lord,

I stand in awe of you this morning and I am humbled by your teaching for today.  I think of all the people you sent to nurture me in my past years and I am grateful. I ask that you bless those who are still encouraging and teaching me your ways.  I pray for your guidance as I mentor those who you now have sent for me to tell of your great works in all who believe while point the Way to Jesus who reconciles us to you.  I offer my life to you again today, seeking your will in all the details of my life. I trust you with all my life for you are Life to me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Do you keep a list of those things God helped you overcome and conquer? 

Maybe we should! Maybe we need to refer to that list often and give God praise for all He has done and is doing in our lives!  We need to remember the list of all the times our Overcomer helped us overcome evil and conquer it once and for all!  We need to remember why God helps us—because of His love for us.  We need to remember those conquering moments especially in those times the Enemy tells us how unworthy, useless, unloved, inadequate, and unwanted we are as judged by others and ourselves.  When we are weak, remember God gives wisdom and fortifies His strength in us.

WARNING:  When we attend self-pity parties where no one but us and the Enemy are in attendance, we lose all memories of victories in Jesus. We forget we are standing daily in His Holy Presence, our Victor, the King of kings, and Lord of all!  We lose the attitude of gratitude and joy once felt when we fall to degrading ourselves on things not yet accomplished and assume somehow, we are not quite “enough” in the eyes of the world.  It is not the world we need to please—it is Christ alone!  His Holy Spirit grieves when we are lost in self.

DANGER:  When we fall into people pleasing our thoughts lead us to slippery slopes of despair.  We “feel” we must DO more, our deceitful hearts tell us, when what we really need is to BE more in touch with our Savior, the one we trust with our lives because He is Life.  God gives us more than enough to overcome with Him. He is the one who sent His Son, Jesus, The Overcomer who conquered the world of darkness with the Light of His glory and grace!  We are more than conquerors because of Jesus!

Joshua led Israel’s army to many victories over the Canaanites. Though the Israelites were outnumbered, God is never outnumbered. He encouraged, supported, and brought victory to them. After seven years of campaigning, the Israelites destroyed the alliance of Canaanite tribes.  Thirty-three kings are named in Joshua 12, beginning with Sihon and Og whose lands were east of Jordan and had been conquered under the leadership of Moses (vv. 1–8; Num. 21:21–35). The sixteen kings defeated in the southern campaign are listed in Deuteronomy 12:9–16 and the fifteen northern kings in verses 17–24.  Here is Joshua’s List.

Joshua 12

The List of Defeated Kings

12 These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah:

² Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.

He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. ³ He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee^[a] to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

⁴ And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

⁵ He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

⁶ Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.

⁷ Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. ⁸ The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings:

thirty-one kings in all.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Joshua conquered because He obeyed God, leaving nothing undone in His instructions from God.  Joshua could not do it alone.  Only by God’s gifts of strength, wisdom and guidance, with an army of God’s people with Him was Joshua able to conquer the kings of evil in the Promised Land.

Jesus, Son of God, promised Messiah, was sent to earth with a similar but more extensive assignment.  He was born and lived as the Son of Man and moved into the neighborhood of humanity to demonstrate the Love of God in ways humans had never known.  Jesus then conquered the enemy of death once and for all which led to the forgiveness AND removal of all repented sins of those who believed Him. 

Jesus was not sent to form armies but instead sent to seek and to save the lost, heal and forgive. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39

Jesus, KING of kings and LORD of lords!  Through Him, we win the victory over sin and death.

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Help me to live the life of the redeemed and set free!  May all I think, say, and do be pleasing to you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Just yesterday I spent time with a young mom who told of the miracles of God that had happened in her family.  Then I shared the recent miracle of God in my family.  How God must smile when we remember those times, sharing those life altering events that happen and are solved in unexplainable ways, and then immediately give HIM all the glory for helping us—even before we knew we needed help! 

She shared the time her dad was cutting grass using his riding lawnmower like he always did.  Suddenly the mower stopped working for no apparent reason.  He got off the mower and pushed it back to the house to work on it when he saw the hemlock growing wildly where the mower had stopped working. Had he mowed right on through the growth, he would have died from the poisoning plant be ripped apart.  Her parents called professionals to come and remove it immediately.  The next day, the mower started effortlessly.  God protected her dad before he knew he needed protecting.  There are so many ways God protects us that we sometimes fail to take notice.  It’s time we thank God for daily for being involved in all the details of our lives. 

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephania 3:17

When we draw near to God; God comes closer to us so we can hear Him more clearly. Believing, inquiring, listening, trusting and obeying God gives us life and more life with power, energy, renewed minds, clearer vision no matter what obstacle is thrown in the path.  Asking God before acting for God pleases Him.  To inquire of God before doing anything of significance, especially those things that will affect all those around us; is required to understand God’s directives more clearly. Obedience to God demonstrates our love for God. 

There is no one like our God!  God does for us what He knows we cannot do for ourselves. Always and forever—God is God. 

God hears our prayers.  In the battle between God and evil; Joshua learns that He can also call out to God in the heat of battle and God will answer.  Joshua shouts to the heavens and asks for the sun to stand still—and God did exactly that!  Only God, the Creator of all, could do that!  Imagine, a generation later of an Israelite family sitting around the table in conversation.  Imagine one family member getting everyone’s attention as says; “But, remember that day the SUN STOOD STILL—FOR A WHOLE DAY!  Then they retell the story of what God did that day for Joshua and his army in a buzz of praise to God with details of the event coming from all seated at the table.  “Ah, that day was special, the day God made the sun stand still at high noon for a whole day!  Yes, there’s no one like our God!”

Joshua 10

The Sun Stands Still

Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. ² He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. ³ So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. ⁴ “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”

⁵ Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

⁶ The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

⁷ So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. ⁸ The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

⁹ After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. ¹⁰ The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. ¹¹ As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

¹² On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
¹³ So the sun stood still,
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. ¹⁴ There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

¹⁵ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Five Amorite Kings Killed

¹⁶ Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, ¹⁸ he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. ¹⁹ But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

²⁰ So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. ²¹ The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

²² Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” ²³ So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. ²⁴ When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.

²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” ²⁶ Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

²⁷ At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.

Southern Cities Conquered

²⁸ That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

²⁹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. ³⁰ The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. ³² The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. ³³ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. ³⁵ They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

³⁶ Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. ³⁷ They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

³⁸ Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. ³⁹ They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.

⁴⁰ So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. ⁴¹ Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. ⁴² All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

⁴³ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God did not promise the Israelites the land without giving them the strength to conquer it. Where God guides; He provides.  God helped Joshua lead the people into possession of their land.  God does not give us commands or lead us to decisions and and then leave us to fight the obstacles in our own strength. That’s not how God works.  If God leads us to it; He will lead us through it! Remember the Red Sea and the Jordan River crossings?  Yes, we learn that God strengthens us and guides us in every detail of our lives.  He “delights” in the details of our lives and loves us deeply, relentlessly, unconditionally, and completely! 

“Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord, when we wait upon the Lord…” is the chorus based on Holy Scriptures coming into my mind right now as I am reminded that we humans are an impatient creation.  We want God to act as soon as we trip on a small stone of irritation in front of us. However, if trust in God trumps our feelings and emotions, we will quickly give up our control to God.  We learn that as we grow and mature in our faith relationship with God we realize what we don’t know—the future!  Why would we want to control what we cannot see?  Trust God and His timing.  He does know! 

When we struggle with God’s timing and demand control; we slip into needless, wasted worries that lead to all kinds of ailments that are unnecessary. These times of worries that lead to despair can stunt our growing, intimate, loving, trusting relationship with God.  Be patient. “Be still (let go of control) and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) God is using today’s difficulties to strengthen us for tomorrow. He is equipping you and I in the process as He see fit for each one of us. The God who makes things grow will help us bear the Holy Spiritual fruits of His character when we “wait upon the Lord” by trusting and obeying. (A list of the bountiful fruits are found in Galatians 5:22-23)

God did not bring us this far to leave us.  God promises He will be with us always—even until the end of the age—when Jesus comes back again.  God is faithful even when we are not.  God’s promises are true and reliable because God does not lie.  How refreshing in a world of darkness who has fallen for the Liar, the Enemy of God. 

“Just trust me,” says the God who loves us most and gives His best to save us.

Lord,

Thank you for your reminders of your power, your glory, and your love.  I will meditate on what you say all day long and into the night. I’m listening because I am yours. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

We cannot hide our unrepented sins from God who sees the hearts of all who walk the earth.  Our sins that we think are kept hidden, locked up behind closed doors, beyond the reach of our children and their children are known by God and will soon be known by all.  When we sin against God by doing exactly what God told us not to do; we affect the lives of everyone who knows us and relates to us daily.  God, in His timing, will reveal the sin that enslaves the sinner.  God’s plan is not meant to harm us but to give us a future filled with hope.  God loves us. God’s desire to rescue, save, help, and counsel us is blocked by our attempts to thwart His Plan of redemption—designed for our good and His glory! 

When sin is found out in God’s church; everyone suffers from the shock. Sins revealed shatters and shakes our trust in people but it should not dismantle our trust in God who is the reason for our faith.  Our Hope is in Jesus sent from God to save us.  How firm is our foundation of faith?  How strong is our trust in God whose love and faithfulness never fails us?  Pause, pray, respond to God.

There is sin in the camp of Israel.  Achan saw the greatness of God as God caused the walls of Jericho to fall flat before them.  All God’s Chosen had to do was march around the city seven times in worship to God alone.  God is the Commander. We get our marching orders from God.  “Do not take the spoils for your own—put it in the treasury of God” was the second order to be obeyed after the walls fell.  But one man decided the “devoted things” of beauty was his for the taking. You had one job, Achan and you decided to steal from God and then lie about it by hiding it under your tent? 

Joshua 7

Achan’s Sin

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.

² Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

³ When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” ⁴ So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, ⁵ who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. ⁷ And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! ⁸ Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? ⁹ The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

¹⁰ The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. ¹² That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

¹³ “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

¹⁴ “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. ¹⁵ Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”

¹⁶ Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. ¹⁷ The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. ¹⁸ Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.

¹⁹ Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

²⁰ Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: ²¹ When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

²² So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. ²³ They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.

²⁴ Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. ²⁵ Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. ²⁶ Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

TAKE NOTE:  In our passage today the Hebrew term “devoted things” refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them. The term appears first in verse 1 to explain the disobedience of Achan as one who turned against God. You will also see the term in verses 11, 12, 13 and 15.  The Valley of Achor was named appropriately and translated as the Valley of Trouble.

After dreaming of a homeland for forty years and tasting victory in Jericho, Israel suffered a stunning defeat at Ai. One man, Achan, stole plunder from Jericho and brought God’s judgment on all the people. God helped Israel conquer Ai after the sinful man and his family were destroyed. 

When we sin, we affect everyone around us.  We cause our family to join in our sin by asking them to hide it, too!  The results are the same.  Hiding our sin only gives birth to more sin!  At this point, the enemy of God, the evil one, has us right where he wants us.  We sinners grow weary of carrying our load of lying which we should not be carrying around!  We are putty in the hands of evil who manipulates our thinking in our tiredness and uses us in his evil schemes before destroying us completely.  He is called the Deceiver, The Prince of Lies, by Jesus Himself.  Jesus knows him well. Satan and his demons know Jesus well—and tremble.

Why do they tremble?  Jesus, is the One and Only Way to turn our lives around.  Repenting, (coming clean to be cleaned) to Jesus is the Only Way to reconcile (reconnect) us fully and completely to God.  God resumes His role as The Master Potter, who with delight molds and shapes us back into his image for our good and His glory. God wants nothing less than His best for us!  

Life or death—our choice! One is a blessing the other is a curse. But it is up to us—we choose.

James talks about how our desires, left unchecked, gives birth to all that is not good for us and leads to death after sharing how to be blessed in persevering in our faith in God—

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1: 12-18

Don’t hide what God already knows—that’s fruitless!

So, how will we respond?  Do we choose blessed perseverance with the hope of glory?  Or do we just keep trying to hide the evil desires that entice and addict us to death?  Don’t be deceived…Choose wisely!  I have learned that our best choosing is done daily…as an “offering to God”.  (See Romans 12:1-2) With each new day that God allows us to live on earth; we must decide who we will follow all day long and into the night.  I choose Him because He chose me.  We love Him because He first loved us.

“Choose this day whom you will serve,” Joshua declares to God’s People.  He follows up with; “As for me and my house, we will serve our Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Lord,

Sin has no bounds in the destruction of our relationship with you and with each other.  However, because of your love which has no limits, demonstrated on a cruel cross to save us and forgive us our sins; we have victory over death! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

I was once asked by a young college student, “I want to be you when I “grow up;” how did you get to where you are?” Oh my, was my first inner response. Nobody had asked that of me before this moment in time.  Then, my life “flashed before me” as I began remembering all the prep work God had to do in me before doing the work He gave me.  I remembered the battles with losses and gains but God was in it all and made all things new and good.  I remembered standing firm when all around me seemed to be falling apart.  I remembered how God led me through the high waters and would also still my soul by quiet streams for renewal.  But the first thought expressed out loud was, “I didn’t seek position—only God.”  God prepped me for this current work in over thirty years of volunteer work.  I didn’t just arrive here and I have not yet arrived.  God is still working on me and I love that He does.  God uses everything in our lives to prepare us for His next thing He wants to do in and through us.  This might not have been the answer she was looking for but it was the truth. 

Backstory:  At that time, I was a national leader in the area of Youth and Family which included discipleship ministries for our denomination of churches.  This work included organizing discipleship training events, taking college kids on mission trips to teach and nurture them while helping others, overseeing compatible curriculum, and writing curriculum, when necessary, that fit our goals of discipling others.  It was not a position I sought but led into by God’s hand.  I was happy being a public school teacher who volunteered locally and on the state level as a youth leader with my husband who was also a teacher.  He also volunteered to be a leader in various ways to promote the good health of churches, using the command of Jesus to “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them…”  He was led by God into full time ministry as a pastor.

However, our side gig of teaching kids why choosing to follow Christ as the most important relationship they will ever have with how to live a life pleasing to God took time but oh so rewarding!  However, at that time, it also was in opposition, if you can believe it. We were deemed “heretics” to those used to the old ways of compelling kids to repent by putting the “fear of God” in them—preaching loudly about God as a punisher who would send them to hell if they did not repent.  “Turn or burn” was the mantra of the messages. It seemed loudness was the predicter of truth.

But this is what God was calling us to do at that time—teach.  We led our state church camps, meant to save our “young people” from hell, with teaching kids about Jesus with showing them how to be like HIM as the perfect example to follow.  “Alter calls” came after information was taught as to who God was, why His Son came, with more in depth teaching, using Jesus’ words. This calling was not easy.  We were reprimanded for “y’all teaching too much” and not bringing kids the altar nightly.  Many in the established church were very set in their ways with leaders who solely relied on passionate “altar calls” to get sinners to repent without including the “making and teaching disciples” part of God’s command through Jesus. (Matthew 28:20) It was a battle, a “holy war”, so to speak, that prepped us for future works God would do in and through us while standing firm on the promises of God.  

The final response to my young protégé was this: “Do you really want to be me?”  I would rather you be like Jesus.  What He calls you to be and do is between you and God who knows your heart and his prepping you right now!  The prep work will be personally unique and will fit you perfectly. 

Joshua is not Moses.  He is a leader who loves God like Moses with a committed, compassionate heart; but he is not Moses.  God has called, consecrated, and anointed Joshua to a new work.  Joshus will lead God’s People into the land God promised Abraham centuries ago. God has prepped Joshua throughout his life to do God’s work for the good of His People which will declare His glory. First assignment—Take Jerico! 

Joshua 5

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

² At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” ³ So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.

⁴ Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. ⁵ All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. ⁶ The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁷ So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. ⁸ And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

¹⁰ On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. ¹¹ The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. ¹² The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

The Fall of Jericho

¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

¹⁴ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

¹⁵ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

TAKE NOTE of how the relationship between God and Joshua is growing as God tells him what to say with what to do. The more love Joshua has for God correlates to how quickly and reverently he obeys God. What does that teach us?  Ponder this question as I am. Take all the time you need.

IT’S NEVER ALL ON US!  The commander of the Lord’s army appeared to Joshua, which showed Joshua that he didn’t have to bear the responsibility alone of conquering Jericho.  

GOD’S TIMING IS VITAL TO VICTORY!  The events described in Joshua 5 took at least ten days, and then the people marched around Jericho for six more days. God waited over two weeks before giving His people their first victory in the land. Are you presently struggling with accepting God’s timing rather than your own?

SURRENDER—With a surrendered heart, ask Godhonestly for His perfect, pleasing will along with His timing. When we do; His peace will fill us as we wait for God to act in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. He always has for me and I believe He always will for all who surrender to His will—He promised!     

WHY WAIT?  We might have expected Joshua to mobilize the army immediately and attack Jericho. After all, the people of Israel were united in following the Lord, and the people of the land were paralyzed by fear. Perfect time—from the human point of view! But God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah. 55:8, 9).  Joshua was resolved to get his orders from the Lord, not from the military experts.

As believers, we are constantly challenged to see the situation through God’s perspective rather than our own.  I believe this “training of perspective” is also a vital part of our prep work provided by God before asking us to join Him in HIS work, whatever that work will be!

GOD’S CALLED HAVE THESE THINGS IN COMMON—

• They know to “be still, (let go), and know that He is God.” Joshua inquires of the Lord before doing anything for the Lord.  Jesus was our perfect example.  “I only say and do what the Father tells me,” the gospels proclaim.
• “Perfect submission; all is at rest.”  The Lord came to Joshua that day, not just to help but to lead. “For without Me you can do nothing”, says Jesus (John 15:5). We must also submit daily, offering ourselves as an “offering” to God, seeking His perfect and pleasing will.  Romans 12:1-2
• “Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord” –”those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
• Obedience demonstrates our love for God.  “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 Do all that God says and don’t leave anything out for any reason for God has the best plan—always. 
• Train others to do what you do.  With joy what them do it even better than the way you do it as they rely on God’s help and leading.  Then they will know God is in charge and leads the charge to do His will in His time.  2 Timothy 2:2

Lord,

Thank you for these lessons in leadership as we read of Joshua’s obedience to you.  We have not obtained perfection in all things but we are grateful that you perfect forgive us.  Thank you for not giving up on us but instead turn our messes into messages that tell of your greatness!  To You be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen