Week 66, Day 4: Caleb’s Reward
Today’s Reading: Joshua 14:1-15
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
While in the process of dividing the land, Caleb comes forward to request his portion. Caleb was like Joshua, the only ones out of the 12 spires to speak favorably about taking the land. For his faithfulness towards God he was promised th land he had traveled upon. Caleb tells us some additional information about the timing as well. He was 40 when they first spied out the land and he is now 85. This means that they have been fighting in the land for 5 years now. I find it also interesting that he mentions that his energy and strength is the same as when he first entered the land. God had preserved Caleb’s ability to enjoy the land as well. God is good to keep His promises and to make it possible for man so that he can enjoy those promises.
Question: Who are the Anakim?
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Week 66, Day 3: Divide the Land
Today’s Reading: Joshua 13:1-33
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
By this time in Israel’s history, Joshua is an old man. The Lord tells him that much of the land still remains to be possessed. It is not clear exactly how much time has lapsed since Israel crossed over the Jordan. It would be reasonable to say that it is possible that the time was several years. We are then told some additional information regarding the land that was left to take and the land that had been taken by Moses. In a way this chapter adds well to the list of kings defeated by Israel in chapter 12. In this chapter we are told of all the territory that had already been taken by Moses. This adds well because it emphasizes how much God has done for Israel. Granting them great victories over their enemies. This could be a very good encouragment for those who will be tasked with removing the rest of the inhabitants.
Question: Why do you think that the land was to be divided up instead of keeping Israel together while finishing taking the land?
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Week 66, Day 2: The defeated kings
Today’s Reading: Joshua 12:1-24
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Chapter 12 lists out for us the kings who were defeated under Joshua’s leadership. We will see that the defeat of these 31 kings makes it now possible for Israel to have control of the land to where they can divide the land up for each tribe. The job of defeating all of the inhabitants still lay ahead of them, and this task would be given to each tribe to follow through on in their alloted portion of land.
Question: What problems could potentially come upon Israel because they were so sucessful? What problems regarding the taking of the land did happen after this point in time?
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Week 66, Day 1: Numerous as the sands
Today’s Reading: Joshua 11:1-23
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After Joshua was given victory over the five kings of the Ammorites, a group of kings from the north rallied their armies together. We are told that this army had as many people in it as the sand of the seashore (vs. 4). I am always impressed with the thought of things like this. Here Israel faces a HUGE army. They also have chariots and many horsemen. And yet Israel is able to utterly smash this army as well. There is no way that someone can try to explain away how Israel was able to have such utter victory over the inhabitants of the land. Their victory was nothing less than God granting them such victories. Remember that the nations inhabiting Canaan are all stronger than Israel (Deut 7:1). As we read through the conquest of the land, keep these things in mind. God is providing a series of great victories for Israel. These events of God providing Israel with these victories also makes me think of the time when Elisha was surrounded by the army from the king of Aram. His servant dispaired but Elisha told him, “do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then the eyes of the servant were opened so that he could see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:16-17).
Question: How can we apply God’s provisions and fulfilled promises in this chapter to our lives today?
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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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