Week 65, Day 5: Battle with 5 Kings
Today’s Reading: Joshua 10:1-43
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The people of the land are not going to remain inactive. After they find out that Gibeon has joined itself to Joshua, 5 of the kings of the Ammonites come to fight against them. Gibeon calls for help from Israel and Joshua comes. We are told several details in this account that need to be mentioned. First, Gibeon is said to be a great city, like one of the royal cities (vs. 2). Gibeon’s choice to join itself to Israel was no small thing. They were a significant city. Also, we are told that in the victory over the 5 kings that God hurled large stones upon the people (vs. 11). We are told that more people were killed from the stones being hurled down from heaven than all those slaughtered by Israel. God was fighting with and for Israel. God brought Israel a great victory against these kings and their cities. Can you imagine what kind of panic would have been spreading after these events?
Question: Why did Joshua have the sons of Israel put their feet on the kings’ necks before slaying them (vs. 24)?
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Week 65, Day 4: Deception of the Gibeonites
Today’s Reading: Joshua 9:1-27
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are told that after taking Ai and Jericho, the inhabitants of the land gather themselves together to fight Israel. But one group of people craft a way for them to trick Israel into entering into a covenant with them. This is a very unfortunate situation to see with Israel. Why? Because it should have been a simple matter for Israel to find out who the messengers were and what to do with them. But we are told plainly that the sons of Israel “did not ask for the counsel of the Lord” (vs. 14). The failure of Israel to seek God’s counsel marks this event with Gibeon as so bad. Israel suspected when the messengers came from the Gibeonites that these were perhaps men living in the land who were trying to trick them into entering into a covenant with them. So they were suspicious but they used their reasoning to decide what they would do. They reasoned that these people were from a far away country based on what they saw (their bread, their wineskins, their clothing). So we have an example here of what happens when man tries to use his reasoning, his wisdom to decide what to do instead of seeking the counsel of God.
Question: What should a Christian do when they are faced with making a decision in life?
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Week 65, Day 3: Taking Ai
Today’s Reading: Joshua 8:1-35
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After Israel has repented of the sin commited by Achan, the Lord commands Joshua to go up and take the city of Ai. The Lord promises to give the king and his people into Joshua’s hand. Joshua uses a smart strategy to lure the people of the city out and afterwards slaughter them. We are told that the number of those killed from the city were 12,000 men and women. This city was not a large city at all and yet it had shown Israel that if they did not fully obey God then they would not succeed in taking the land. I find it interesting to see how Joshua still imploys military strategies to win the battle. God still required effort from Joshua and the sons of Israel. I think this is interesting because God has promised Joshua victory and yet still requires Joshua and Israel to act to receive His promise. This could be for several different reasons: testing their obedience, teaching them to trust in Him, teaching them things they will need to know (warfare, dependance on Jehovah, etc). Sometimes we think of God’s blessings as coming gift wrapped or in easy to open packages. Perhaps we should think of things with the perspective that God knows what is best for us, will always be with His faithful children, and that He is the source of all blessings – but we may not see the good that can come until much later.
Question: Why do you think it is appropriate at this point in time to have Israel stand on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to recite the promises for blessings or cursings (keep in mind what event has just happened)?
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Week 64, Day 5: Circumcised
Today’s Reading: Joshua 5:1-15
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Entering the land is the beginning of a new phase for Israel. They have never possessed a land of their own as a nation. They have now spent 40 year wandering in the wilderness. Upon entering the land Joshua is told to circumcise the men of Israel. Apparently the people had not been keeping this command while in the wilderness. This action is the mark of the covenant they have with God and seems like a very appropriate action to take at this point. The act of circumcizing Israel seems like a renewing of the covenant between God and His people. It is unfortunate that the people have not been keeping this command already and may thus indicate what kind of people they will be in the future. Israel also partakes of the passover feast here. They are able to enjoy the fruit of the land for the first time and the manna they have eaten for all these years stops being sent the next day. A lot of things will be changing for Israel in the next few years. Finally they will have a land of their own and a place to remain. God has begun the work of delivering to them the promised land.
Question: Why did the manna cease once Israel entered the promise land?
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Week 64, Day 4: Memorial Stones
Today’s Reading: Joshua 4:1-24
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Upon crossing the Jordan on dry ground, Joshua has a man from each tribe take a stone from the riverbed and set it up in Gilgal. These 12 stones were to serve as a memorial to this miracle. Man has often needed reminders. These stones would serve as a constant reminder for those who passed by.
I also found it fascinating to visualize what happened as soon as the priest set foot out of the river’s path. As soon as the priests feet had stepped onto the other side the Jordan river returned to it place as before. Amazing. The scriptures do not tell us how long this whole process took. I imagine the scene was quite impressive. The Jordan dry from the city of Adam downward. The water piled in a heap at Adam. The multitude of Israel crossing with all their livestock and goods. Remember that you have over 600,000 men of war alone. So when you factor in children and young people under the age of 20 and the women of Israel you have an impressive amount of peope crossing the Jordan. I still think it also impressive to consider how this would have impacted the residents of Canaan. All of a sudden Israel is on their side of the Jordan and are coming!
Question: Why were the memorial stones helpful for Israel? How could they become detrimental?
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Week 64, Day 3: The Crossing
Today’s Reading: Joshua 3:1-17
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
When Israel goes to cross the Jordan, they are to be lead by the ark. They have camped opposite Jericho and the priests are to take the ark and lead the people. We are told that the Jordan overflows its bank in the days of harvest, vs 16. When the priests set foot into the Jordan, God causes the waters to stop flowing down. The water is held up and “rose up in one heap”. The waters did this at a “great distance” away at the city of Adam. Adam was about 15 miles away from where Israel crossed over. And we are told that the people crossed over on dry ground. This miracle is impressive to consider. Rahab had already told the spies that they had heard of the crossing of the red sea some 40 years ago. Can you imagine what would happen to the hearts of the people of Canaan when they hear that Israel has cross the flooded Jordan in a similar way. The people of Adam must have been amazed to see the waters of Jordan stand in one heap near their city. Amazing.
Question: Why were the children of Israel to keep a 2,000 cubit distance between them and the ark?
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Week 64, Day 2: Hiding the spies
Today’s Reading: Joshua 2:1-24
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Joshua begins immediately to set into motion plans to cross over the Jordan to take the promise land. He has told Israel to be ready in three days. He sends out two spies into the land with instruction to especially check out Jericho. The spies do not get far before they are noticed and it is reported to the king of Jericho. Were it not for the kindness of a harlot, the men would certainly have been killed. Rahab recognizes that Jehovah is God of heaven and the earth. She points to knowing this because the news of the miraculous crossing of the red sea and the deliverance of Sihon and Og have been known by the people of the land. Rahab recognizes that God will deliver the land over to Israel and makes a deal with the spies for the deliverance of her family.
Question: What conditions did the spies give Rahab for them to show mercy to her and her family?
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Week 64, Day 1: Strong and Courageous
Today’s Reading: Joshua 1:1-18
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
God speaks to Joshua after the death of Moses and warns him not to depart from the law given to him by Moses. In three days time they are going to be crossing the Jordan and begin the process of taking the land. Finally!! There could be that excitement that what they have been waiting for all this time is about to come true. But there could also be fear. The land is known to be full of people strong and well fortified. This is what caused the first generation to not enter the land. God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous (6 & 9). I believe God told Joshua this beause they were about to enter the land but even more so because Joshua was going to be leading the people in following God’s commands. If Joshua lead them well in following God’s law, they he would lead them well in the physical taking of the land.
Question: Why do you think that the people also encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous in verse 18?
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Week 63, Day 5: No prophet like him, until…
Today’s Reading: Deut 34:1-12
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
In the final chapter of Deuteronomy we are told about the death of Moses. Moses is shown all the promised land from the mountain top. It appears that Moses went by himself and God spoke with him there on the mountain. After Moses dies, God buries him in the valley of Moab. I have always thought it interesting that no one knew where Moses was buried at. I have often wondered if such things were God’s way of keeping man from making pilgrimages to such places. Man wants to focus on the physical instead of keeping his eyes on the spiritual goals.
At the end of the chapter we are told some additional detail about Moses’ service. Since the time of Moses no prophet arose in Israel like Moses. The Lord knew Moses face to face, God showed many marvelous signs and wonders through Moses’ hands, and God displayed great power through Moses’ deeds. This passage made me think about how Moses had stated to Israel in Deut 18:15, & 18-19 that God would raise up a prophet from among their contrymen who was like Moses. God would put His words in that prophet’s mouth and all the people were to listen to him. We know from the NT that this was speaking of Jesus. When you think about the wonders and signs and great power demonstrated by God through Moses’ hands, and then you consider the great multitude of signs Jesus performed it is an impressive comparison. Jesus raised men up from the dead, healed a man blind from birth, healed over distances by speaking the word, and He emphasized repeatedly that His words were not His own but that they came from the Father.
Question: What came upon Joshua after Moses died and why was this needed?
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Week 63, Day 4: Moses blesses each tribe
Today’s Reading: Deut 33:1-29
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
In preparation for his death, Moses speaks a blessing to each of the tribes of Israel. Notice that he addresses each of the tribes as they were born and not based on their inheritance. In otherwords he includes Levi and speaks to Joseph instead of addressing Manasseh and Ephraim separately. I also found it very interesting to look at what is said about each tribe. These kind of accounts shine light on what each of the tribes were like. Many times we know of Judah or other prominent tribes but know very little about the others. Some of the statements made about the lesser known about tribes were interesting to consider. As usual Joseph seems to be favored. He is richly blessed with everything. But then there are references made such as those to Zebulun and Issachar (vs 18) were very little is said. It does make you wonder if there was a lot of jealousy among the tribes. Were the smaller tribes content to be overshadowed all the time or was there a bit of rivalry. This kind of account makes you wonder about lots of different things.
Question: Moses ends the chapter by mentioning “who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty!” What ways would you use to describe the God of creation?
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