Ephesians 1:1-14 (Greetings/Spiritual Blessings in Christ)

Ephesians 1:1-14

In this beginning section of the book of Ephesians, we see Paul describe to the church at Ephesus the spiritual blessings we find in Christ. He begins by describing how God selected us to stand holy and blameless before him. He then says that we have been loved into and brought into his family, adopted as sons through the grace he showed through Christ on the cross. He reminds them that they have been redeemed through the blood of Christ, and that God is doing all of this in an effort to unite all peoples to him. He says that as children of God, we have an inheritance, and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day when we can claim our inheritance.

Several interesting things I find in this section. First, an idea I have always really liked. I really like the idea that God has adopted me as a son. We always talk about God being the father, and I just think it is a really great way to describe how our relationship with God works by describing by adoption. When adoption in the world works properly, the adopted child becomes a member of the family, having the same rights and even an inheritance from the father as the legitimate son has. It is incredible to me that this is what God wants my relationship with him to look like: to be an obedient son to him, and for him to lavish all the rewards and inhertance of his son Jesus Christ on me.

"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." Deuteronomy 7:6

"who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began," 2nd Timothy 1:9

The other interesting thing to me would be the discussion of the Holy Spirit. I find it interesting how Paul here describes the Holy Spirit serves as a seal for us for the inheritance we will be able to claim in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of that inheritance that we hold on to and have until the day of possession comes. It just kind of makes me wonder what that day will look like, what the day when I claim my inheritance, basically to stand blameless and holy in front of my God, what that day will look like. I really have no idea, because I have never experiences perfection. It just brings a longing to me to know what they day is going to be like, but I know that I can't know that until I get there.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32

"and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2nd Corinthians 1:22

The application I pull from this verse is to remember and to act as an adopted son and not as the red-headed step child. God loves me not begrudgingly, but sincerely loves me and wants to be with me. He loves me he loves his son, and I need to start acting like his son would act, obedient to the last and certain of the father's love. I don't have to guess that God loves me, I just know.

LORD, help me today to know that you love me as a son, and not because I am completely blameless and holy now, but because I have the Son, and all you see his him and his perfection. And God, may I act this day as your son would act, knowing that you love me and obedient to your commands. Amen.

Joshua 24:29-33 (Joshua's Death and Burial)

Joshua 24:29-33

Here in this simple conclusion to the book of Joshua, we discover how Joshua, the leader of the people, dies and his buried. We are also given mention of several other leaders of the nation who died as well.

The important thing I can pull from this simple text would be in verse 31. There it says that the nation of Israel followed the Lord all the days of Joshua and the leaders who outlived Joshua. That says to me that the church is in need of men of God who are truly submitted and following God, and when that is present, then the church will follow the Lord in obedience. Our world is such where we try and emmulate the leader. If our leader is a godly man, then we strive to be like that.

I need to be a leader in the church who seeks whole-heartedly after my God, in hopes that they will not try and copy me, but will see Christ in me and will long to be near him. If I am to be a leader, then my life must be an example of submission to Christ.

LORD, help me remember today that I am called to be a leader, and as a leader I set an example. Help me to be totally submitted to you, so that those who I lead will be drawn to you and will hopefully seek to be totally submitted to you as well. Amen.

Joshua 24:14-28 (Choose Whom You Will Serve)

Joshua 24:14-28

In this section, we see Joshua posing his final challenge to the people of Israel. He challenges them to put away the gods of the ancestors and serve and worship Yahweh faithfully. He says that today they should choose who they would serve, and to make a choice and deal with whatever consequences come from that decision. We then see the people quickly fire back their response, saying that certainly we will not forsake the Lord who has brought them through so much. We see them recalling how the Lord protected and delivered their ancestors and them also. We then see Joshua become very negative and telling the nation that they will not be able to serve and follow the Lord, and that God will not forgive them if they fail. They assure Joshua that they will follow only the Lord. He tells them that they are witnesses against themselves and that they need to turn away from other gods and follow only Yahweh.

The thing I pull from this passage would be that how often we set ourselves up for great things, and then we fail because we are sinners. Here we see the Israelites saying that they will serve only Yahweh and will turn away from him. But in having read more of the Israelite story, I know that they do in fact turn away, and they do in fact worship gods other than Yahweh.

"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3

"But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation." Jeremiah 10:10

I see this also in my own life, where I say I will serve and worship only the Lord, but soon after that my attention is diverted to something else, and I am guilty of idolatry, because I have made something more important than God. I need to arrive at a place in my life where I rely on God's strength, and I don't make promises to him that I can't keep, because I am gonna mess it up, it is just a fact. I need to remember to make God the only true god in my life, nothing else before him, he is the almighty and the truth, the one God.

LORD, today, help me rely on you. Help me to not commit anything to you that I am not truly willing and able to give. Help me to not make a liar and idolater out of myself in your presence. Thank you that you do forgive me when I fail. Amen.

Joshua 24:1-13 (The Covenant Renewal at Shechem)

Joshua 24:1-13

In this section, we see God reminding the people of the covenant he made with Abraham a long time ago. The section then begins to walk through step by step how the promise was continued but never really fulfilled until now the Israelites see a partial fulfillment, but the most seen in a long time. Throughout the whole thing, God through the prophet is quick to remind them that it was he and not by their might that they were delivered from their enemies and brought into the promise.

I think the big deal here is just another reminder, and I doubt if we could ever be reminded of this too much, that God is in control, and it is by his might and not ours that we are blessed and given what has been promised to us. It is not by our forcing of God's promises to come to us, it is by the fact that God delivers on his promises. May we not forget that.

LORD, help me today to remember that what you promise you deliver, and by your might and love alone, not by anything I can do. Help me to remember to draw close to you and rely on your strength and not mine. Amen.

Joshua 23:1-16 (Joshua's Charge to Israel's Leaders)

Joshua 23:1-16

Here in this first part of a two part farewell speech, we find Joshua addressing the leaders of the nation of Israel. We see him begin by reminding the leaders of what they have seen the Lord do for them, how Yahweh drove out the nations from before the Israelites and how no man could stand against them. Joshua seems to be imploring the leaders to look back and praise God for what He has done for them. Next we see him telling the leaders to hold fast to God. It was probably pretty enticing to begin worshiping the gods of the Canaanites, but Joshua is reminding them that Yahweh is the true God, he brought them through the wilderness and conquered the land for them, and he is worthy of their worship. Finally, Joshua reminds them of the consequences if they turn from obedience and worship of Yahweh and focus it on the gods of the Canaanites.

"Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God" 1st Chronicles 29:3

"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD,"I remember the devotion of your youth,your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown." Jeremiah 2:2

"I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." 1st Corinthians 7:35

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ." 2nd Corinthians 11:3

In these verses we can find a very important principle for the modern church, quite simply to hold fast to God. We as Christians in the 21st century live in a world where everything is fighting for our attention, our worship, our devotion. But the truth of the matter is that God is the only one deserving and worthy of our worship and devotion. We would be well advised to heed the warning of Joshua and not commit apostasy, but to hold fast to being obedient to God and to give our full devotion to him and no one else. We should be devoted to no other thing, lest God punish us as he punished the Israelites when they turned from devotion to Him.

LORD, help me and we as the modern church to remain devoted solely to you. May we not be lured away by technology, pop culture, the world in general, but may we hold fast to you and your righteousness. May I become more fully devoted to you every day, and may my only desire be to worship and serve you. Help me to be devoted to you today. Amen.

Joshua 22:10-34 (The Eastern Tribes' Altar of Witness)

Joshua 22:10-34

In this section of scripture we see an interesting scene occur between the tribes on either side of the Jordan. The tribes on the western side set up a large altar on the west side of the Jordan as a remembrance to everyone that they do have an inheritance with Yahweh and that they are a part of God's people. The people on the western side of the Jordan however, see this as an alternate altar, and are worried that the eastern tribes are going to bring the wrath of God on them all. After the west sends a delegation to the east, everything gets sorted out.

"Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithfulbut abundantly repays the one who acts in pride." Psalm 31:23

The important lesson here as I see it would be that we do not need to be quick to jump to conclusions about the spiritual state of other people. The western tribes did jump to a conclusion and it almost ended in war. We need to be ready to handle other people and their walks with the LORD very maturely, seeking out the reasons why they do what they do. We absolutely need to be concerned with faithfulness to God only, but jumping to conclusions does not help anything.

LORD, help me today to approach other people with maturity and to not jump to conclusions about their condition with you. Help me to be concerned that my fellow man is faithful to you Lord, keep that concern on my heart. Amen.

Joshua 22:1-9 (The Eastern Tribes Return Home)

Joshua 22:1-9

In this section, we see how the people of the 2 and a half tribes whose lands were back on the other side of the Jordan River are finally able to return to their homes. It has been more than seven years, and it is time for them to go home.

In this section, the real value I see in it is that when we are faithful and obedient to God, he will eventually reward us with the rest and the blessings he promised us in the beginning. The 2 1/2 tribes could have very easily stayed in their lands and not helped their brothers conquer the land of Canaan, but they didn't do that. They knew that the Lord through Moses commanded them to be obedient and to help their brothers, and that eventually they would be able to go back to their land.

I think we need to be obedient to God no matter the circumstance, even when it doesn't seem to be what we should do or the smartest choice, I think we need to be obedient and serve the Lord as he commands, and rest assured in the fact that if we are obedient, he will bless us. Now what that blessing looks like I don't know, but I do know that if we are obedient, he will bless us.

LORD, help me today to be obedient and to follow your commands even when they don't make sense to me. Amen.

Joshua 21:1-45 (Cities and Pasturelands Alloted to Levi)

Joshua 21:1-45

In this section of Joshua, we find another lengthy chapter filled with names of cities that are hard to pronounce. While the first 40 verses or so seem to have little value to us today, these long chapters about the allotment of the land show and important point, and that is summed up best in the last few verses.

"Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." Joshua 21:43-45

In these verses, we see that once the nation of Israel stopped trying to do it their own way and finally surrendered and trusted the Lord their God, then the Lord fulfilled everyone of the promises he had made to them. The conquest of the land of Canaan was not a small task by any stretch of the imagination, and though it took some time, the Lord did give the Israelites what he promised to give him.

I think we need to remember that as the Lord promises, so he does. God does not break promises, he does just what he says he will, but we have to be willing to submit and trust to him. I need to submit to and trust him more daily.

LORD, help me today to submit to your will and plan for my life and to trust you to do what you say you are going to do. Amen.

Joshua 20:1-9 (The Cities of Refuge)

Joshua 20:1-9

In this section of Joshua, we see the allotment of land for what are called cities of refuge. As is described in the text, these are cities, three on each side of the Jordan River, where anyone guilty of manslaughter, or unintentional killing, can flee from the avenger of blood. The avenger of blood's job was to carry out justice for the society by killing anyone guilty of murder, and anyone guilty of manslaughter who stepped outside of the cities of refuge. The person guilty of manslaughter was required to stay in that city until the time when the High Priest dies, then he is freed.

This is an interesting concept to us today to be sure. But if you do a little digging about this concept, there are some interesting things to be had. First, you learn that the roads and markers leading to this city were always kept up with, they were not allowed to fall into disrepair. We also learn that there were actually people stationed along the road to direct others towards the place of rescue.

Now without question, we can hopefully see a redemptive quality in the cities of refuge. It seems to be God's way of allowing those who have made a pretty big mistake, killing some one all be it accidentally, and gives them a second chance, gives them a chance to be redeemed, to be forgiven. And when they are set free at the time of the high priest's death, we see that forgiveness can come at any time after screwing up, for the man in the city for 30 years to the man only there for 3 months.

So what does this say about us as Christians in the modern day? We who have been redeemed by the death of our great High Priest Jesus Christ, how does this apply to us? We are to be the ones along the road, standing next to markers, pointing and shouting "Come this way, this way to safety, this way to redemption, this way to forgiveness!" I think this could definitely be an allusion to our role in the life of God's church, to direct the fallen and broken to the city of refuge, only our city of refuge is not a city at all, but a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.

May we take this role seriously, because the fallen and broken and lost are also being chased by the avenger of blood, the almighty Judge, the one who requires Justice for the wrongs done against him. If these people do not enter into the city of refuge, the God is certainly within his right, and is completely justified in destroying them for the sins they have committed against him.

"And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere." Luke 9:6

"Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans." Acts 8:25

LORD, today, make me a signpost for the city of refuge that is your son Jesus Christ. May I take the sins of others very seriously, and may I be positioned along the way to lead them to your son, to speak truth into their lives, and hopefully help lead them to your throne. God you are just and you do deserve the blood of those who are your enemies, and I thank you for sending your son, whose blood pays the price that was on my head for the wrongs i have done against you. Amen.

Joshua 18:1-28 (The Rest of the Allotment)

Joshua 18:1-10

Joshua 18:11-28

Joshua 19:1-9

Joshua 19:10-16

Joshua 19:17-23

Joshua 19:24-31

Joshua 19:32-39

Joshua 19:40-48

Joshua 19:49-51

In this section, there is not a lot of necessarily theological significance, nor will there be in the next few sections of scripture, besides one point. Within all of this land allotment business, we see that the God of Israel, the same God who we as Christians worship today, was faithful to fulfill the promise which he made to the Israelites and their ancestors.

I think sometimes we forget that God is faithful to the end, and what he has promised us will most certainly come true. May I become a person who trusts and remembers that my God is faithful, he does not break the promises he has made, and he is faithful especially to never leave me. How quickly I sometimes forget it.

"Into your hand I commit my spirit;you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God." Psalm 31:5

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1st Corinthians 1:9

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1st Corinthians 10:13

LORD, today, with all that goes on in my life, and how the things of this world sometimes don't life up to what they promise me, may I never forget that you are a faithful God who loves me, who has my best interests at heart, and will keep all the promises you make no matter what. Thank you Lord for being more faithful than I can imagine or know what to do with. Amen.

Joshua 16:1-17:18 (The Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh)

Joshua 16:1-17:18

In this section, we see more of the trend started in the previous chapter, the alloting of the land to the people of Israel. Here we see the allotments given to the two tribes of Joseph, which were two of the next biggest tribes under Judah. These tribes lands who house some of the most important places in all the land of Israel, such as Shiloh where the tabernacle was for a long time.

The big thing to note would be the tribes lack of contentment with what was given to them. They actually asked for more land, they were not content with what God had given them. They thought because they were larger, they deserved more of the land, but the land Joshua offered they weren't crazy about because they didn't want to have to drive out the Canaanites from the land. But we know that after Joshua gives them the land, they are unable to drive the Canaanites out of the land fully, and eventually are enslaved by them.

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11

Often in our lives, we are not content with what God gives to us, and then when he gives more, we cannot handle it. May we be content with what God gives us and trust in faith that what he has given us is exactly what we need at that moment.

LORD, help me today to be content with what you give me. May I remember that you know my needs far better than I do, and I should be content with what you give when you give. Lord, give me a spirit of contentment today. Amen.

Joshua 15:1-63 (The Allotment for Judah)

Joshua 15:1-63

Okay, so I have reached the type of scriptures that everyone dreads to come across when reading the bible. Here in the book of Joshua, the writer has started to go into the division of the land among the tribes. Here in this chapter in particular, he starts with the largest of the tribes, that being Judah. This section is ended by the writer letting us know that the tribe of Judah was unsuccessful to drive out the Jebusites from in and around Jerusalem, and that the Jebusites live among the people of Judah for a long time.

Now there is something of a spiritual value that we can pull from the passage with a whole lot of quasi-difficult names to read. The principle lies in the last verse, where we are told that the people of Judah did not fully push out the Jebusites, and how they remained in the land for years. Now in my studies of the rest of the bible, I am aware that chronologically after the events in Joshua, the people of Canaan were a terrible nuisance to the people of Judah and Israel as a whole, causing them to fall to idolatry often and bringing about the wrath of the Lord.

"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." Deuteronomy 28:1

"Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God." Deuteronomy 12:28

"If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well." 1st Samuel 12:14

So the principle to be learned here is to follow the commandments of the Lord exactly as he gives them, don't half way obey the Lord. We need to be either all in or not, but none of this half way business. As can be seen here and in other biblical passages, when we don't follow the direct commandments of the Lord as we should, we open ourselves up to temptation and more than likely will eventually fall to that temptation. In my own life I know often I go half way when it comes to obeying the Lord, and that normally leads me into trouble. I need to be willing and ready to go full in to obedience of the Lord.

LORD, help me today to be fully obedient to you, and to not slack when it comes to obeying what you command me. Lord, may I learn to true full obedience and may I learn from the mistakes of your people in the bible. Lord, help me to obey you today. Amen.

Joshua 14:6-15 (Caleb's Request and Inheritance)

Joshua 14:6-15

In this section we see something amazing to behold in the scriptures. In this little story, we see Caleb, one of the original spies, request and gain his inheritance. Now if you don't remember, Caleb was one of the original spies who went into Canaan, but Caleb along with Joshua were the only two who brought back a favorable report. Because of that faithfulness, Moses promised the land in which they had spied out to Caleb and his family. Now, as Joshua is dividing up the land, Caleb approaches Joshua and reminds him of what Moses had promised him. Caleb requests his inheritance and says that at 85 years of age, he is still as strong now to take the land as he was when he was forty. Joshua does indeed bless him and Caleb does go and take the land as his inheritance.

Now what is so cool to me about this passage would be the use of the phrase "wholly followed the Lord." In doing my research, I find that that phrase is only used to refer to Caleb and one other time in all the Old Testament. This seems to say to me that Caleb was dedicated to the Lord despite the people being against him, despite the difficult circumstances, and despite the waiting he had to do, he remained wholly devoted to the Lord his God and served him as best he could. This is an incredible testimony to Caleb, as he is now remembered in the scriptures as being wholly devoted to the Lord.

"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD,"I remember the devotion of your youth,your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown." Jeremiah 2:2

"I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." 1st Corinthians 7:35

May that be said of me, that I was wholly devoted to the Lord, despite my circumstances, despite how people feel about me and what I say, and despite how long I have to wait for God's promises. I know that that is not how I live, but it really does need to be how I live, and I need to strive to be wholly devoted to the Lord, despite everything else. My devotion belongs wholly to the Lord, and I should give him that.

LORD, help me today to be wholly devoted to you and to ignore all else around me but be wholly yours today. God, may it be said of me after I am gone that I was wholly devoted and committed to you and to keeping your word and commandments. Amen.

Joshua 14:1-5 (The Inheritance West of the Jordan)

Joshua 14:1-5

In this small section, we are really just given a recap and an introduction into the next section of the book of Joshua. The narrator is setting the stage and reminding the reader that the land boundaries about to be read are actually in the land of Canaan for the 9 1/2 other tribes, and he also reminds us that the Levites were not given an inheritance and the 2 1/2 other tribes are east of the Jordan. We also are introduced to Eleazar, the high priest, who was to help Joshua, or maybe even run the lot casting to divide up the inheritance.

I think there is an important principle to be learned from this. Up to this point we see Joshua as the sole leader of the Israelites, he has been in charge the entire book to this point. Now we see Eleazar step in and help or maybe even take a little more control, it is unclear. But I think the wisdom we can pull from this is that God is going to put one or more leaders in place as a system of checks and balances, so one doesn't become to powerful or selfish, and so hopefully the leaders are continuing to listen to God. I think that is why the New Testament churches split up their leadership into many different offices, Elder and pastor and deacon.

"The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,and humility comes before honor." Proverbs 15:33

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1st Peter 5:5

But I think the thing I personally need to learn here is that I am not to run the show, it is not about me and it never should be about me, and I am going to need help, not only logistically but also to keep my pride in check.

LORD, help me today to remember that this leadership role in the church that you have given to me is not at all about me, and I need to remember that it is all about you and obeying you. Surround me with people God who will help keep my pride in check and won't let me run around on your people. God, break me of any pride I have over being able to lead. Make me a humble servant as your Son was when he was on this earth. Amen.

Joshua 13:8-33 (The Inheritance East of the Jordan)

Joshua 13:8-33

In this section, we see a lengthy description of the inheritance given to the 2 1/2 tribes whose land lied beyond the eastern bank of the Jordan River. This land portioning is very lengthy and very detailed. We also see here, and are reminded from early passages in other books, that the tribe of Levi was given no inheritance, for their inheritance was God.

I think what I take from this is something very much for me personally. As a minister, I believe I am called to claim God as my inheritance, in reality we all are, but I feel that specifically ministers are to keep themselves from gaining material wealth in this world and should focus on serving the Lord's people instead of accumulating wealth. The Levites were given no land inheritance, but would receive things from the offerings the people brought to Yahweh. It seems to me that the Lord did not want the people directly responsible for serving him, those whose job it was to do his work, to be caught up in materialism. I think that same call goes out today to minister in the church. We need to be free from materialism and solely seeking out God as our inheritance.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

LORD, help me today to not seek material wealth Lord, but to consider you my only inheritance and seek after you as the world seeks after material things God. May I be your servant today. God may I remember today that it is all about you and not about me. Amen.

Joshua 13:1-7 (Land Still to be Conquered)

Joshua 13:1-7

Here in this section, we see the Lord beginning by reminding Joshua that he is getting up there in years. It seems that this reminder is to serve the purpose of letting Joshua know that even though he was older, he was still needed to complete the task. We then go into a fairly lengthy section about the land that was left to be conquered by the Israelites, a seemingly large number of cities. Upon God's revelation of what cities remained to be conquered he says to Joshua he himself will drive out the rest of these peoples from their lands, but Joshua must be faithful to allot the land to the Israelites as the Lord had commanded.

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations," Deuteronomy 7:9

"But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.At an acceptable time, O God,in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." Psalm 69:13

"He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." Psalm 98:3

I think we can see here is God's faithfulness to the end. God doesn't take the Israelites half-way in and then leave them, but he promises that he will take them the rest of the way as long as they continue to obey his commandments. I believe the same thing holds true for us today, God is promising to be with us till the end of the task he has laid out before us, and we don't need to feel alone or overwhelmed, but we need to be ready to obey what he had commanded and then go and let God work how he is going to work. Often we feel alone and like God has left the rest of the task for us to do, when in reality we just needed to continue to obey him and we would realize that he was right their still leading us.

LORD, help me remember today that in the tasks you have given me to do, you are going to stay with me to their completion. You are not going to abandon me, you are not going to make me go through part of it alone. Lord, may I continue to obey you even when it seems like you are gone so that I can come back to the realization that you are still leading me. Amen.

Joshua 12:1-24 (Kings Defeated by Moses and Joshua)

Joshua 12:1-24

In this chapter, we see a simple list of the kings defeated in the land of Canaan by Moses and by Joshua. This is list is there to show two things I believe. The first thing we can see from this chapter is the scope of God's faithfulness to the promise he made to the Israelites. He overthrew 31 kings that stood in His people's way so that they could indeed have the inheritance he promised them. God faithfulness has no limits, what he has promised he will see through to completion, even today. What God has promised to do for us, he will do, it just might take some time. The second thing that can be seen is that in Israel's fight to purge the sinful Canaanites out of the land, it was a long and trying task. This is how it will be in my life, in our lives. The act of purging the things in our lives that tempt us takes time and effort, but is necessary for us to remain in fellowship with God.

"The Rock, his work is perfect,for all his ways are justice.A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,just and upright is he." Deuteronomy 32:4

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!" Psalm 40:11

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." Romans 6:11-12

LORD, help me today to not forget that you are faithful, and your faithfulness is neverending. Lord help me to also rely on you to help me purge the sin in my life that will cause me to stumble and fall away from you Lord. In all things, teach me better to rely on you. Amen.

Joshua 11:1-23 (Conquests in Northern Canaan)

Joshua 11:1-23

Here in this section we see the conquest of the Israelites through the Northern areas of Canaan. The majority of their battle here is fought against a much larger army more experienced in battle and with more modern war technology. This battle, for all reason, should have been a battle that Israel lost. But as is becoming common in the book of Joshua, we see the Lord telling Joshua to not be afraid, and that the very next day the Lord will hand over the the Israelites their enemies, slain. Here Joshua was given specific instructions to destroy all of the Canaanites weapons of war (horses and chariots), presumably so that Israel would continue to rely on God and not on their own military strength.

In the next paragraph we see the actual conquest of the cities and we see the interesting concept of herev, or the devotion to destruction. Basically Israel was commanded to destroy all the people in the cities, and they did, so that they would not mix with their people and adopt that idolatrous practices but continue to worship and trust Yahweh. We are then told that Joshua slowly took all the land in the North, but warred a long time with these peoples, but brought the sword to all of them and fought with all of them. We are told at the end of this chapter that the Israelites came face to face with the giants who had frightened them away from the land years earlier, and how they destroyed a considerable number of them. The section is concluded by saying that the land had rest.

“Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you…” Psalm 55:22

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 15:4

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

It seems to me what is important in this section is the importance of perseverance, of endurance, of following God into battle and following his leadership to the letter, and then enjoying the victory. We have seen a lot of military conquest thus far in this book, and here in chapter 11 is the first mention of any sort of peace or rest. Israel has been going and going this whole time, and as a strategy that works pretty well, but they followed the Lord and obeyed his commands, and they waited on him for their rest and their inheritance.

I think that is an important concept for us to remember, that we need to follow God and obey him, and wait on him for our rest. God will give us the rest and peace we are looking for if we will only obey him and follow him to find it.

LORD, help me today to follow you into battle, and to follow and obey you and wait for the rest and peace you will give. Let me not seek out my own rest and peace Lord, but may I wait patiently upon you for the rest you will bring to my soul and to my body. Amen.

Joshua 10:29-43 (Conquest of Southern Canaan)

Joshua 10:29-43

In this section, we are really given just an overview of the conquest of the Israelites through the south of Canaan. Not much detail is given about each battle, nor is it clear if the cities mentioned were the only cities or just representative cities. What is very clear is that in all the land that Israel took over in the South, the Lord fought for Israel. It was not of their own doing, but the Lord handed over all of these nations to them.

I think the importance of this section does lie in that phrase "the Lord fought for Israel." I think all to often we think we have to fight all of this on our own, that God has given us this battle and we are the loan warrior. I think it would serve us well to remember that today, as we go through the battles we face in life, we are not alone, God goes with us and when we have victories, he is the one who is the victor, not us. I think in addition to that, we need to be ready to draw near to God when we are in the midst of the fight. That is most definitely a hard thing to do, but I think the outcomes will be better for us if we remember to draw near to God because he is right here waiting on us to do so. We need to be seeking God out in the midst of the storm, not waiting for him to come find us, because he is right there waiting to be sought.

"But for me it is good to be near God;I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,that I may tell of all your works." Psalm 73:28

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1

"Seek good, and not evil,that you may live;and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you,as you have said." Amos 5:14

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6

LORD, help me to remember that you walk with me daily, and that I am not alone. You fight this battle with me, and you don't leave me to fend for myself. Thank you for being a God who is near me. Amen.

Joshua 10:16-28 (Five Amorite Kings Executed)

Joshua 10:16-28

Here in this section, we go back to a theme that was presented in the first few verses of Joshua; be strong and courageous. The sun is still up and we see the five kings hiding in a cave. Joshua orders the men to seal up the cave with the kings and go on and destroy the cities. The Israelites did as Joshua commanded and went on and devoted those cities to the Lord through destruction. Once those cities had been destroyed, Joshua went back to the cave with all the people and had the Kings brought out. Joshua then tells the people to be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do to the rest of their enemies what Joshua was about to do to the Amorite Kings. Then Joshua slayed the Amorite kings and hung them on trees until sun down.

I think the importance that I see in these verses will be the reminder that the Israelites were given. We see a return to the command to be strong and courageous. Up to this point, there had been defeat and deceit, and I think it was good for the Israelites to be reminded to be strong and courageous and trust the Lord. The battle was finally going there way and it was still raging, and Joshua took the time to encourage the people and remind them that they were claiming what Yahweh had promised them.

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!" Psalm 31:24

"as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20

"teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

I think for me personally, this is just a reminder that when I am in the raging battle that I fight against the things I struggle with, I am to be strong and courageous and continue trusting in the Lord. Even after I have suffered a defeat, I should continue to be strong and courageous and trust my God who has my best intentions on his mind.

LORD, today as I face the things I struggle with, help me to remain strong and courageous, even after failing, so that I may continue to trust you and know you are there with me. God may I trust you when it is hard and may I remember to find my courage in you. Amen.

Joshua 10:1-15 (The Sun Stands Still)

Joshua 10:1-15

In this section of scripture, we see one of the most incredible, and in my opinion coolest miracles in the bible. After their defeat of Ai and their treaty with Gibeon, Israel was preparing to take the rest of Canaan. Now in the South, the King of Jerusalem didn't like the advances Israel was making, and decided to call on four other kings in the south of Canaan, and have them come up and help him attack the Gibeonites, who they must have viewed as traitors. Now upon their attack of the Gibeonites, the Gibeonites called out to Israel for protection. Israel, trying there best to be obedient to God, decided to lend aid. The Lord said to Joshua that he should not be afraid, because he had already given their enemies into his hand. So Joshua marched Israel all night and surprised this southern confederation. As the confederation was in confusion and trying to flee, the Lord through down large hailstones and killed many of the Canaanites. Upon seeing the progressing victory of the Israelites, Joshua prayed to God and ask very specifically that the Sun stop moving so that they could continue the battle and defeat their enemies. God granted Joshua's request, and the sun stood still and Israel kept up their attack for longer than a normal day would last. The section ends with us being told that the Lord fought for Israel and Joshua returned with the whole nation to Gilgal.

Now the important thing I pull from this section, besides the incredible power of God, would be the necessity of the persistence of the people of God. I can't imagine right at the beginning at the Israelites were all the crazy about going up and protecting the Gibeonites. I am sure it would have been much more to their liking to let them fight amongst themselves and then Israel go up after and attack and destroy all of them at once. But Israel was obedient to the Lord and to the covenant they had made with the Gibeonites, and they went out even when the didn't want to.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you." Philippians 3:13-15

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

I think this is an important principle for us, and it is one I would do well to remember. There are going to be times when I don't want to move forward, whether in my spiritual walk, or in ministry, but if I have made a commitment to the Lord or to the church, I have to move forward even when I don't want to. I need to remember that I am called to serve the Lord even when I don't necessarily feel like it. I think all to often my service is based on my mood for that day, and it shouldn't be like that. I should be ready to serve all I can at any time, regardless of how I feel about what I am doing or what I think should happen.

LORD, help me today to move forward even when I don't want to. Help me to serve you and my fellow man wholeheartedly even when I don't feel like it. Lord help me follow through on the commitments I have made, so that I will be obedient to you and a man of integrity. Lord, help me today to be obedient to you in every area of my life God, cause admittedly I didn't do that yesterday. Thank you for loving me even though I mess up often. Amen.

Joshua 9:1-27 (The Gibeonite Deception)

Joshua 9:1-27

In this chapter, we see another failure by the nation of Israel to obey Yahweh, or to even rely on him for wisdom. Here we see a small group of cities in the middle of Canaan coming to the Israelites, dressed up like they were from a far away land, and playing the part of travellers. They said they were from a far off place and that they had heard of what the Israelites were doing and wanted to make peace with them. Now Joshua and the elders of Israel were suspicious, but they eventually did make a treaty with them. Three days later they found out that the Gibeonites were actually a people that were very close to them. Israel realizes there mistake, but they also realized they had to keep the covenant they made with the Gibeonites, so they make them their servants.

Now this seems to be a very hospitable move on the part of Israel, but the Gibeonites were from Canaan and were up to be destroyed. And since Israel did not seek out the Lord's wisdom, they made a mistake and would have to reap the consequences of their mistake.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

"yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;" Proverbs 2:3-6

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

It seems to me that the lesson to be learned here is that we should seek out the Lord's will. We should be in prayer to God to ask for wisdom in the decisions we are supposed to make. I know in my own life that I make several decisions on my own and don't even ask for God's wisdom, and sometimes those decisions come back to bite me. I need to rely on God's wisdom more than my own.

LORD, help me today to rely on your wisdom in the decisions I am going to make. Help me to seek out your will in the decisions I can make, and help me to not jump into anything before I have sought at your will. Thank you that you want to guide me through life Lord. Amen.

Joshua 8:30-35 (Joshua Renews the Covenant)

Joshua 8:30-35

In this section we see an act by the nation of Israel that would stun many modern military strategists. They have just achieved to huge victories in Canaan, and the people of the land are no doubt scared, so naturally they would continue in their momentum and take the rest of the land. What they actually did was much more important, they stopped and took time to worship their God who had given them victory. Joshua led his people on a 30 mile side trip, and when they reached their destination, they set up an altar and worship Yahweh. On the altar Joshua had some portion of the Law of Moses written on it to be a reminder to the people of their covenant with Yahweh. He also had the entire law of Moses read to the people as a form of renewing their covenant with Yahweh.

It seems as if Israel realized after their initial defeat at Ai that this conquest of Canaan was not just a military exercise, but a spiritual conquest as well. It seems as though they realized that if they were to have any success, they would have to follow Yahweh and keep his commandments. They also seem to have realized that when they won, their victory was obviously not of their own doing, but they had been given Ai and Jericho by the hand of the Lord. And because God had given them the victory, he was worthy of their worship. I think they also needed to be reminded that they were in a relationship with God, and they needed to focus on that more than on focusing on their military conquest.

"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High," Psalm 50:14

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" Psalm 95:2

"We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." 2nd Thessalonians 1:3

In my own life I think I need to be more aware that any sort of spiritual victory I have over temptation or doubt or even in just growing closer to God, that I need to stop and worship the God who made that possible. Quite obviously I need to worship God for the greatest spiritual victory given to me which is salvation, but I know that the other victories I have are also not of my power, and God deserves my worship for those victories as well as for my salvation.

LORD, thank you for the spiritual victories you give me in my life. Thank you for my salvation that was not by any works on my part but solely by your grace. Thank you for the victories you give me over temptation and the victories you have given me over the doubt that I struggle with so often. Lord thank you for the victories I experience when I grow closer to you. Lord may I grow and walker closely with you today. I love you Lord, thank you for your love. Amen.

Joshua 8:1-29 (The Fall of Ai)

Joshua 8:1-29

In this section, we see the redemptive victory over the city of Ai. The passage begins with Joshua being told by the Lord to get up and not be discouraged, for he was going to hand Ai over to them. The plan is quite elaborate; they are to have a small force in ambush behind the city and the rest of the force in front of the city. When the men of Ai come out to meet the army of Israel, Israel is to turn and flee from them, and Ai would pursue. This would then signal the small unit to go into Ai and burn the city. Then the rest of the force would turn back around and put everyone from Ai to the sword. The difference between this battle and Ai is that they could keep any of the spoils of war, as long as they devoted all its people to destruction. The battle played out exactly as the Lord commanded. The King of Ai was hung on a tree and the city was left a heap of ruins.

I think the big thing we see from this story would be how, after we have fallen and been restored, it is important to follow the Lord closely when he takes us back to the scene of a great defeat. The people of Israel followed the Lord closely so that they would be able to defeat the people of Ai.

"And Asa cried to the LORD his God, "O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you." 2nd Chronicles 14:11

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God." Isaiah 50:10

"Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." 2nd Corinthians 1:9

In my own life, I need to be careful to follow God closely when I return to an area where I am normally tempted and where I have fallen before. I need to remember to let God lead me through that temptation and bring me out on the righteous side, because obviously when I attempted to do it on my own power I failed.

LORD, help me today to walk with you in those areas where I know I struggle and fall often. Lord, just remind me that I don't need to be discouraged, but that I need to follow you and you will bring me through the things I can't get through myself. Amen.

Joshua 7:10-26 (The Sin of Achan)

Joshua 7:10-26

Here we see the Lord's and the nation of Israel's response to their defeat at Ai. The section begins by God telling Joshua to stop is complaining. He says that the nation of Israel has disobeyed and kept things that were to be devoted to destruction. He says that they will be destroyed unless the items taken are destroyed as are the people who took them. The Lord the gives Joshua commands on how to discover who took the items. It basically boils down to the people assembling, and the Lord taking the group responsible. starting with the tribes, and working his way down into individual households and families. After obeying the directions of God, Achan's is chosen. Joshua gives Achan a chance to repent, but all Achan does is say what he took. After they check to make sure he really had the items, they take Achan and his entire family and stoned them to death and then burned them with fire. Upon the destruction of Achan, the Lord's anger subsided.

I think there are two important things to pull away from this passage. The first would be the inevitability of punishment. We see in this story that Achan's hidden sin was revealed to all in the end, and that because he was unrepentant, he was punished severly. I know a lot of times in my life, I think I have hidden my sin so well, and then it is exposed. Sometimes I also think that because God loves me, he won't punish me for the wrong I do. But God does punish, not necessarily with stones and fire, but in other ways. I know of specific instances in my own life where I thought punishment would not come and it did. I need to be reminded that my hidden sin will be exposed, and that I am not above some form of punishment.

"How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:29

The second thing I find is that God wants to restore his people. He wants to bring us back. He did not just destroy them the moment that Achan messed up, but gave a chance for repentance, and when they did, he restored them to his side. I think a lot of times we think we are beyond redemption, but in reality we need only repentant, and though the shame of our mess up might remain, we have been restored to God's side.

"After this I will return,and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it," Acts 15:16

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for." 2nd Corinthians 13:9

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." 2nd Corinthians 13:11

LORD, help me today to know that you know my sin, and you will let me reap the consequences of my actions. God, may I also be reminded that you are willing to restore as long as I am repentant. And so Lord, I confess to you that I have messed up today, I have fallen to things you never meant to make me happy. Lord, help me to turn away from these things and restore me to your side. Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of your son. Amen.