Joshua 10-Reflections

The Sun Stands  Still

Fear can affect us in so many ways. It affects our thinking and when our thinking is affected, our actions or behaviour are also affected. Before the start of this journey, God spoke to Joshua and reminded him in Joshua 1:9 of what he must do:

• Be strong
• Be courageous
• Do not be afraid;
• Do not be discouraged 

WHY?? for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!!
God knew what the journey ahead would look like so he reminded Joshua of what he must do. He knew that the size of the enemy could cause fear in Joshua so he reassures him. In this chapter, five kings heard of the strength, the conquest of Isarel so they decided to join forces to attack Israel through Gibeon.

I like the way,Joshua helped the Gibeonites out even though they tricked them. This would have been a good chance to get out of the vow with Gibeon but no! Joshua stuck to his promise! He helped the Gibeonites and they won the battle.

With the assurance of God's promise in vs 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.'
Joshua did not sit back passively and watch but went out and fought! 

Joshua 10: 12-15
'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.” 

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

WOW! I had to re-read this part of the chapter. I just thought wow, Joshua was so connected to God that he knew without any shadow of a doubt that his God would be true to His Words! How great and mighty is the God we serve!! He can do the impossible! Joshua knew his God! 

Joshua 7: Reflections

Achan's Sin

God's command in Chapter 6 was for no one to take any valuables from Jericho because all that belonged to the Lord. However, Achan stole some and hid it in his tent! He must have thought that no one would find out.

When Joshua sent 3 thousand men to the next city of Ai, they were chased and defeated and some were even killed. I could just imagine what Joshua was thinking! How could this be possible?

In this time of crisis, Joshua a man who loved and feared the Lord, went before God with the church elders. Achan was found out and he had to be removed. vs 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.'

Israel could not fight in God's power unless they walked in obedience to God and their hearts were clean!

To win my battles, I need to be obedient, confess my wrong ways, stay in His presence and have fellowship with Him. Oh Holy God!

Joshua 6: Reflections

The fall of the walls of Jericho

The Israelites  were instructed to walk silently around Jericho 7 times. Joshua gave instructions and they all shouted, the walls came crumbling down!

It may seem strange walking silently around the city wall but this was a walk of faith. Lessons learnt from this chapter and why their plan was successful:

• Faith- they did not question the orders but just followed the plan
• Obedience-they followed the plan exactly
• Courage- they had the courage to follow the plan despite the dangers. They could have easily been attacked but they continued.
• Endurance- it may have looked like that nothing was happening as the days went on but they continued with the plan.
• Trust- they trusted God and His way.

Father, sometimes the methods you give us may not make sense to us because we want to see results happen straight away. Teach us to be sensitive to your voice and to trust your Word and your ways because you say in  Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The presence of the Ark of Covenant was a reminder to the armed men that though Jericho was a strong city, their God was with them. All they needed to do was remain focussed on the Ark of the Covenant in front of them. Father, sometimes we face challenges and they may come in different forms, may this story serve as a reminder that the God we serve is faithful and His faithfulness is our  shield and rampart. Psalms 91:4

 

Joshua 5-Reflections

Military are circumcised 

As I read the chapter, I questioned why the men were circumcised right outside of Jericho.  Wouldn't the circumcision make these men weak and vulnerable? They could have easily been overpowered by the enemy! 

I love their faith!
Joshua chose to obey God's Word and the people chose to obey God's Word! They knew that God knew what He was doing. They remembered the miracles God performed for them.

Right outside the enemy's camp at Gilgal, outside of Jericho, they had their circumcision. This was a powerful act of consecration to God. This means that they were:

•  making a conscious, willing decision to dedicate their soul, mind, heart, and body to God.
• stepping out in faithful obedience
• dying to self and surrendering to His will and purpose
  

Joshua 4-Reflections

Reaching the other side of Jordan

WOW!! 40 thousand armed men crossed over to the other side! That is a huge number!! Not counting the ordinary people!

vs 4-7: 'So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, ⁶ to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ⁷ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.'

A stone memorial was set up in the middle of the Jordan as a memorial to remind the people of the greatness of God and what he had done.

I admire Joshua, a leader who obeyed God's voice and I believe he remembered the words spoken to him by God at the start of this journey. Joshua 1: 8 'Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.'

Look what happened as a result of his obedience: vs 14-'That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses.'

A stone memorial was not only set in the middle of the river Jordan but also on the other side at Gilgal. Oh the importance of remembering the Lord both in our 'dry' times and victorious times!!

Joshua 3-Reflections

Crossing the River Jordan
The instructions to the Israelites were:
1. vs 3-  'When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.'

The Israelites knew the importance of allowing God's presence to lead. vs 4-Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. Because He is an Omnicient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent God, He knows what lies ahead.


2. vs 4- '.... keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.'
Maybe the distance will allow everyone to see the Ark of the Covenant, God's presence. Being ab;e to see it reassures them that they are going the right way!

Father, when our eyes are focussed on You, Your Presence,You ALWAYS lead us in triumphal procession. We will only watch and see the miracles You do along the way!

3. vs 5- 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.' Joshua knew that this was a spiritual battle so he wanted the people to separate themselves from the usual things and focus on the Lord. 

I am a visual learner which means I like to draw or sketch or have images to help understand ideas or concepts that I'm reading! The visual above captures my thoughts about this chapter!

Oh, the importance of hiding God's Words deep inside our hearts! It needs to be put into action! When we allow the presence of God to lead us, take over our situation or be in the middle of our impossibilities, He will MAKE A WAY!!

Joshua 2 - Reflections

 Rahab Encounter

In this chapter Rahab's story unfolds. I like how she helped out the men sent by Joshua. She knew deep in her heart that these men were different. She even acknowledged that their God is the God in heaven above and on earth below.

Rahab helped the Israelites to advance to the promised land.

I love the fact that this story shows that women can be used by God, no matter what position they have in life!

Joshua 1- Reflections

For the next few mornings I will be meditating on the book of Joshua, the lessons he and the children of Israel learnt and what I learn from their experiences.


vs 3: 'I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. '

vs 5: 'No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

Father, Joshua is about to embark on his journey of leading the Israelites to the promised land and I believe that you understand Joshua just like you understand each of us. Before we venture out into the new challenges or a new chapter, we have feelings of uncertainty because we do not know what lies ahead of us. To encourage and reassure him, I like the way you are reminding Joshua about the things you have done in the past, great and miraculous things. You encourage him to be strong and courageous! You still do that to us today! You remind us through your Words!

vs 9: 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.'

You remind him about the importance of reading your Words, meditating on it and doing everything that is in it. Only when they do that, then they will be prosperous and successful.

vs 8: 'Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.'

 Why should they do this? because your Words have POWER!! 

How well do you know Him?

This morning I am reminded of the conversation that Moses had with God. Exodus 33:15 "Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here." 

In chapter 32, God refused to accompany His disobedient people because they broke their covenant and built a golden calf. This resulted in 3000 of their sons and brothers being killed then in desperation Moses tried to make atonement for the nation’s idolatry.

In chapter 33, the people repented of their unbelief and Moses went on his face before the Lord to plead for forgiveness and prayed that the Lord would still accompany them and that His presence would continue with them.

I could imagine Moses thinking ‘no way am I going anywhere without my God. He has done so much for me and for us, how can I take a step without Him!’

Moses knew His God, he knew God’s power, His love, His faithfulness and His goodness that he couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from Him. In verse 15, he pleads with God, …..’if Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.” Moses knew that he was nothing or they were nothing without God. His experiences and His knowledge of God led to his desperate plea.

There are so many lessons that can be learned here but my take away this morning is despite all that is happening around me, I need to dig deeper into His Word to know Him, to know His grace, His faithfulness and His goodness.

Lord Your presence is what I desire. May it go before me and with me everywhere I go.

Father's love

Isaiah 61:10

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels

The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, is a love story and it’s also about forgiveness, repentance, acceptance and second chances. Oh the significance of the gifts given by the father to his returning son!!

Robe -Represented the acceptance and the authority given by a higher authority.

Ring-Confirmed that authority. In most cultures of the world today a ring is a sign of a covenant or an engagement; it is a sign of love and acceptance.

Sandal-The giving or exchange of sandals represented ownership of the land.

Fattened cow- The father was ready for his son's return, and the servants did not need any explanation as to which calf they were to kill and prepare for the feast. They had been witnesses to the father's preparations, to his faith that his son would one day come home again

I imagine how our Heavenly Father awaits us on our return. Many of us take a while to find our way back to His loving arms but when we do return, He awaits us with His loving gifts!!!Why don't you return to Him today? It doesn't matter how far you gone or how dirty or bad you've become, His love for you has never ever changed. He will welcome you back with open arms!

Did Jesus Appear in the Old Testament?

WOW! This revelation has inspired me to dig deeper into the Word of God.

Rejoice

I'm gonna dance and praise Him
It doesn't matter what comes my way
The greater One lives inside of me
His name is Jesus
I'm born a winner
More than victorious
I'm a heir of the kingdom
Filled with the Holy Ghost