Joshua 21

And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock." So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their common-lands:

(Jos 21:2-3)

The Levites had no inheritance of their own. In the Promised Land, they were sort of “loaned” cities and parcels of land within the land belonging to the other tribes. We read over and over in the books of the law that the Levites had no inheritance of their own, for the LORD WAS THEIR INHERITANCE.

I love this concept, and I think it really applies to us as Christians. The Bible tells us in the book of 1^st Peter that we are a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS. The entire church has become like the tribe of Levi… we all have access to the presence of the LORD. When I read today’s passage, it reminds me that all that I possess doesn’t really belong to me; it is on loan from the LORD. My house, my car, even my wife and daughter ultimately don’t belong to me… they belong to Jesus.

I just returned a guitar that I had been borrowing from a friend for a while. It is an old guitar from the 70’s, a really cool guitar. When I had that guitar I was careful with it because it didn’t belong to me. I wanted to be sure to return it to it’s own in the same condition I got it in… no new dings, scrapes, or scratches.

We need to see everything we have as the Lord’s, and take care of it that way. Ask yourself questions like, would the Lord want me to spend HIS money this way? To treat HIS family this way? When we remember that all we have belongs to someone else, it helps us not to be too attached to things here on earth. Possess the things the Lord has given you, use them for His glory, and never let THEM possess YOU.

Joshua 20

These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.

(Jos 20:9)

This was first commanded back in the book of Numbers, and now we see the Israelites obediently putting these cities into place. Can you imagine how scary it would be to run from somebody that WANTS to kill you? You would be looking for a refuge, a place where you were safe and protected from your enemy. In this passage, that is what these cities were all about. If any of the Israelites was responsible for the accidental death of another individual, these cities provided them with a place of protection.

They provide us with a picture of the refuge that we have in Jesus Christ. In many ways Jesus is our REFUGE. We are all guilty of sin; in fact, we are all guilty of sin so heinous that the penalty of it is death. We are looking for refuge, somewhere, anywhere that we can run to be protected from the certain death and judgment that awaits us. In Jesus we have a REFUGE.

So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.

(Heb 6:18-19)

We can be confident in JESUS; the refuge that we have in Him has brought us into the very presence of God, where we not only have protection, but FELLOWSHIP with the God of the Universe. I love these verses, “we who have fled to HIM for REFUGE can have GREAT CONFIDENCE”. When we are trusting in the Lord, we have nothing to fear!

Joshua 19

These were the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country.

(Jos 19:51)

The dividing was finished, but the work was far from done. They had entered the land, conquered parts of the land, and divided the land… but much of the land still need to be possessed. The land was theirs, it had been given to them by the Lord, now they needed to move into it, to settle down in it, to build their homes and establish themselves.

As Christians we are told in 2 Peter 1:3 that “His divine power has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness”. Like the children of Israel had been promised the entire Promised Land, the Lord has provided us with everything we need to live life as He intended us to. The ALL THINGS of what God has given us doesn't mean ANYTHING if we don’t put them to use in our life. Just like the land, we need to tear down, build up, and move forward. God has given us the resources, but we still need to appropriate them.

Like a blank check that was never cashed, much of the Promised Land was never possessed or settled. Canaanites were left in the land as servants, others were never even attacked; the land was the Israelites by divine right, but that right was never made a reality. I don’t want this to be our testimony; I want us to take advantage of all that God has given us, to be able to say like the apostle Paul that we accomplished ALL the work the Lord had given us to do. The Lord want’s to use us; He just needs us to make ourselves available to Him.

I leave you this morning with one of my favorite passages in scripture… “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

(Php 2:12-16)

Joshua 18

Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.

(Jos 18:1)

A place of rest. The Israelites had come to Shiloh, a place of rest. For the first time in their history, the tabernacle was to be set up in a permanent place. The Israelites were home. We read here that the land was subdued before them, they had conquered the enemy, and 5 of the 12 tribes had possessed their land. They were literally at home for the first time in their history, enjoying the land that the Lord had promised and prepared for them.

I love the fact that when they reach this place of rest, the first thing they do is set up the Tabernacle. It was the house of God, the place where worship happened, the place where man could come before God and talk to Him, the place were God could speak to man. The tabernacle was the central point of Jewish culture. All of life revolved around the Lord, and community couldn’t exist apart from Him.

How different than our world today! What is the center of our society here in America?

Is it the white house, where the political decisions are made?

Is it Hollywood, were our celebrities are worshipped?

Is it the sports arenas, or the colleges; the shopping malls, or the court house?

As Americans it seems that our lives can center around pretty much everything BUT the most important thing! Can you imagine how different life would be if the central focus of our entire nation was the worship of God? I think it would change a lot of things about the way our country is.

We can’t change our country, but we can change our own lives, and reach out and touch the lives of others one at a time. Is the central focus of your life the tabernacle, the place where God is met? Or, is it more like an amusement park, or a movie theater? Is your life all about knowing the Lord, or is it about being entertained? Just think about that for a while, and ask the LORD to speak to your heart, and show you how you can bring Him to the center!

Joshua 17

But the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."

(Jos 17:18)

There are two phrases that caught my eye in today’s chapter: “Cut it down” and “Drive them out”. The house of Joseph had been given the mountain. There was a forest there… it was thick with trees; but they were going to cut them down and clear themselves a place to live. The Canaanites were strong, they had iron chariots; but the house of Joseph would drive them out. I want to once again look at how this can apply to our own lives… how we can cut down the thickets and drive out the enemy.

1. CUTTING IT DOWN – Forests are cool to visit, but you can’t really live in one. There is no space to build a house, or to assemble any kind of a community. The trees have to come down before the city can be built and established. The town I live in (Reston) is unique because of the large amount of protected forest that is part of it. But, there would be no Reston if some of those trees were not cut down, and the land made inhabitable. When we come into a new stage of life, a new chapter in the story that God is writing in and through us, there is often a period of “tearing down” that must take place before there can be any building up. In the New Testament we read often about the need to crucify the old man, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. When we do this, we are tearing down… tearing down our own ambition, our own fleshly desires, our own worldly thoughts and opinions. In a figurative sense we are cutting down the forest so God can build us into what He wants us to be. If we don’t first cut down, there will be no room to build. If we only do the job partially, we limit God in what He can do in and through our lives. The Lord wants from us a heart that is totally surrendered to Him. He wants a heart that is prepared for Him to build!
2. DRIVING THEM OUT – The Canaanites are described here as being strong, and possessing iron chariots. This tells us that the enemy wasn’t going to give up without a fight. They were equipped for battle, and they were resolved to fight. The word strong that is used here carries with it the idea of unrelenting intensity. Like a fierce storm, or a long and tireless drought, the Canaanites were going to put up a fight. Though the fight would be long, the house of Joseph would win it… for the Lord was on their side. Oftentimes in the Christian life, we act as though the flesh won’t put up a fight. When it does, we often give up. The Lord wants us to be resolute as we war against the flesh, taking ground step by step, occupying the territory that we take. The flesh is equipped by this world, and ready to do battle… BUT THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE. Don’t be deceived friends; the battle against the flesh will go on until we go home to be with the Lord. Our responsibility is to continue to fight, to keep taking ground, and holding that which we have gained. The Holy Spirit wants to give us the victory; all we must do is choose to walk in Him. We can win each battle we fight if we will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, and realize that the flesh will never surrender. Though the battles are won, the war rages on… DON’T LET DOWN YOUR GUARD!

Joshua 16

And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

(Jos 16:10)

In this chapter, we have another instance of a failure to drive the enemy out. I want us to look at three reasons why this could have happened, and relate those reasons to us driving sin out of our own lives.

1. God didn’t deliver the Canaanites into their hands because of the sin in their lives. When there is sin in our lives that we have not repented of, we should expect to reap the consequences. When I am in a losing battle with the flesh, this is often the first thing I look at. “Is their sin in my life that I am not dealing with?” If God has shown us something He wants us to deal with, and we won’t deal with it, we can expect that He will turn up the heat. Not only that, but He won’t move on to something else until the sin is taken care of. Do you remember what happened with Ai? They couldn’t win that battle until Achan’s sin was dealt with. In our own lives, the victory we achieve will be directly related to just how much of our lives we are willing to give to the Lord. The moment we hold something back is the moment we stop moving forward.
2. They didn’t achieve victory because of their SLOTHFULLNESS. I believe that often in our lives we miss out on what God wants to do because we are lazy. I can be a procrastinator, putting things off that I don’t want to do. THIS IS A PROBLEM. When we continue to push things off… when we are lazy about the work God has called us to do… then we miss out on what He has for us. The Lord wants us to be faithful diligent servants, not lazy sluggards! He has given us so much, but we must go in and posses it!
3. Maybe they let them stay for reasons of their own COVETOUSNESS. It is possible that the Israelites saw in the Canaanites a possibility for gain… and so they let them stay. I think we often do this with the things of the world. The Lord wants us to chase them out of our lives, and take back the territory they possessed for Him; but instead we let them stay because we like them. Are there worldly things in your life today because of your own covetous heart? You say you can’t defeat them, but the truth of the matter is that you DON’T WANT TO. I think that we have good reason to believe this was the case in this passage. We read that the Ephraimites made them slaves… but this isn’t what God had commanded them to do. God said “chase them out”, but the Ephraimites said, “Not so fast, I think we can use them”. Let’s not do that with the things of the world, if Jesus says it should go, let’s trust Him and get it out rather than trying to use it for our own purposes.

I hope as we go through these passages you are starting to realize the importance of doing ALL the Lord commands. In the end, partial obedience ALWAYS ends up hurting!

Joshua 15

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

(Jos 15:63)

This verse strikes a very sad chord in my heart. “The children of Israel could not drive them out.” - It speaks of failure to posses all that God had given failure to fully realize what God had for them. Tonight at youth group Hector read one of my favorite verses… Psalm 20:4 – It says, “May He (God) grant you all your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.” It tells us that the Lord wants to FULLY REALIZE His perfect plan and purpose for our lives. The Jews here in our passage today, could only say they “partially” fulfilled the LORD’S purpose.

I want to be a man that fulfills all that God has called me to do. I don’t want to leave the Jebusites living in Jebus! (Look it up, that’s really what they called it – Judges 19:10-11) I want to fulfill all of the purpose God has for my life, I want to accomplish the work He has called me to do.

The failure to drive out the Jebusites was not God’s fault. When it says that they couldn’t do it, it doesn’t mean that God wasn’t strong enough… it just lets us know that the Israelites weren’t really relying upon Him. Think about how central Jerusalem would become to Jewish worship… It is no wonder that it was such a difficult place to posses! It is often like that in our walk and relationship with the Lord, the most difficult battles are often the most crucial. It was David, a man after God’s own heart who would eventually drive the Jebusites out. I think we can learn from that… The only way to gain victory in those crucial areas is to be people who are literally seeking after God’s heart; wanting to love what He loves, and to live like He wants.

Are their any Jebusites hanging on in your life today? Territory that the Lord has commanded you to conquer, yet the enemy is still controlling it? Maybe today would be a good to change that story… Just like David follow after the heart of God, and allow HIM to drive out those last remnants of the world!

Joshua 14

Joshua 14
The Miraculous Works of the Lord

“And now, behold, Jehovah has kept me alive these forty-five years as He said, even since Jehovah spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. And now, lo, I am eighty-five years old today. As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in. And now give me this mountain of which Jehovah spoke on that day. For you heard in that day how the giants were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. If Jehovah will be with me, then I will be able to drive them out, as Jehovah said.”
(Jos 14:10-12)

Remember Caleb? He was one of the two spies O so long ago who entered the land of Canaan and was actually for conquering it. He was also the only person close to Joshua’s age, seeing that everybody else died. He is probably the only other person was a slave in Egypt with Joshua. Finally, here he is at the end of his life, and he is remembering the promise that God made him. Caleb has faithfully served the Lord and now he feels the Lord is calling him to conquer his inheritance. There is one problem, Caleb is 85 years old.

Remember yesterdays lesson? Joshua was old. Therefore those days of conquering were coming to an end. It is the practical works of the Lord. Today we gaze upon the miraculous works of the Lord. Caleb conquering the land was anything but practical. He was already old, therefore he could only slow down the army. He was one of two who had been with Moses for quite a time and experienced Egypt, therefore he probably had great wisdom to impart. They did not want this guy to die. He was a friend to Joshua. If he conquered the land, he did not have much life left to enjoy it. But what did he have to drive him? He had the promises of God. He knew what the Lord had told him, therefore, despite what the world might think, this old critter was going to conquer.

I hope to live a life like Caleb. We do not hear much about his life. What we do know is that when he heard the promises of God, he believed them. God told them to conquer Canaan and so he wanted to conquer. God told him he would have this mountain therefore he was going after the mountain. What promises has the Lord shown you? What promises does he lay down in His Word. The promise that always sticks out most for me is that the Lord is coming back. Wake up, and live with hope in God. The problems before us may seem insurmountable. The practical approach may tell you everything is wrong, however, God works in miraculous ways, and He will keep His promises.

Promises of the Lord:
Romans 8:28
Matthew 5:1-11
Revelation 22:12-14
Hosea 11:1-11
2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Joshua 13

Joshua 13
The Practical Works of the Lord

“Now Joshua was old, going on in days. And Jehovah said to him, You are old, far along in days, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed” (Joshua 13:1).

I love the Lord. Here is Joshua…and he is old. The Lord comes down to tell him he is old. Why would the Lord do this?

1) The Lord was telling Joshua that the adventurous, battle filled life was coming to a close. He had proved to be Israel’s greatest warrior. He came in and he conquered, but most of all, he followed God. I love how practical the Lord is. Joshua is getting old, therefore the work is done. God will use you in amazing ways, and most of them are practical! I have never led worship. There is a very practical reason for this (Psalm 33:3). I have never worked in arts and crafts at VBS. There is a very practical reason for this. However the Lord has used me to teach and the Lord has used me to disciple. He has used my skills in sports. Our God is practical and He wants to use the gifts He has given you.

There is a neat story. A man is on an island and he cannot get off. Naturally, he falls down on his knees and prays and begs God to save him. Minutes later a boat shows up. The captain asks the man if he needs help and the man replies, “No. I am waiting for the Lord to save me.” The man once again falls down on his knees and prays and this time a helicopter shows up. Once again, an opportunity is there to be saved and the man denies it because he is “waiting for the Lord to save him.” I believe the moral of the story is obvious enough.

Do not always be looking for the crazy miracle or amazing act of the Lord. He wants to use you practically. Do not despise the gifts He has given others. He wants to use you and your gifts. Instead realize that we are one body, each performing our own special function for the Lord.

2) For Joshua it was time for a new ministry to start. This ministry would be administrative. Sometimes the Lord uses the practical things of the world to lead us in an entirely new direction. This could come in different ways. The Lord closed off a semester at Bible College for me by not providing for me the funds to go. In that time I assisted Tommy with the Jr. High. I would not trade that education and experience for the world. Joshua, you are old (Try 110). No more battles. Now its time to do paper work and to make sure each of these people get appointed their land.

Pray to the Lord today. He wants to use you practically. Consider your gifts, whether music, sports, teaching, following, speaking, knowledge, etc. Allow the Lord to practically use you today.

Joshua 12

Joshua 12

This chapter gives us a chance to breathe. The previous chapters have been action packed. This chapter is a summary of the kings Moses and Joshua conquered. Moses conquered numerous kings before entering into Israel. These kings would be all kings east of the Jordan river (Because we know Moses never entered into the Promised Land). Joshua conquered the kings West of the Jordan river, or those inhabiting the Promised Land. This chapter tells us the roster of those kings conquered by Joshua. Joshua conquered a total of 31 kings.

Here is a map of what Israel had conquered. Now read what Deuteronomy 11:24 tells Israel.
"Every place on which the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours, from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even to the furthest sea shall your border be."

Sure they have conquered a lot, but they have not conquered everything God promised them. In fact, to this day they have never possessed that land. This tells us that one day in the future Israel will!

Joshua 11

“And Joshua came suddenly, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom. And they fell on them” (Joshua 11:7).

Joshua and Israel is gaining quite the reputation. After what happened at the City of Gibeon, the whole area was starting to get nervous. Therefore the kings do what seems reasonable. They all gather together to fight against Joshua and the army of Israel.

There are two words that often describe my walk with the Lord. The first word is faith. If I am following the Lord I am a man of faith. I am taking bold steps towards the Lord and His will for my life. In fact, following the Lord implies that you are following by faith.
The second word is fear. This is what breaks up my following the Lord. The times I fall into sin are quite often the times I am fearing about something. My response is to fix it by myself. It could be to take my eyes off the Lord so I can see what is happening behind me. Fear is a great enemy which does not belong in our walk with the Lord.
When I read this chapter I think, Joshua could of done one of two things. He could have seen all the armies surrounding him and feared because of it. He could of then run away from the battle altogether. He could of also heard the word of the Lord and timidly obeyed. He could of waited for their armies to come just so he can “make sure” this is the Lord’s will. Finally, he could have been a man of faith, which he truly was.

Notice Joshua in our verse up above! He “came suddenly.” Do I have faith like this. This is faith that hears from the Lord and obeys immediately. He did not second guess what was happening. He simply got the “go ahead” and went with it. Make sure you to pray to God this morning over those issues in your heart. Listen to what He tells you. If He directs you a certain direction, have faith like Joshua. Just do it, and He will take care of the rest.

Joshua 10

Joshua 10

When we study the history of Israel we notice that they always seem to be holding on by a thread. All through out history nations are rising against them or conquering them in one way or another. We see Egypt and Babylon rule over them and later Rome. We find them battling all the surrounding armies. They were chased out of Egypt. In fact, they were not even a nation for 2,000 years. All of this happened because of sin. Now let’s observe them when they are following the Lord.

Imagine, here you are as a nation. You have been living peaceably for quite some time. You have heard rumors of this nation which has broken free of Egypt, the world empire at the time. They are coming into your land at rapid speed and they are conquering in the name of God! Rivers and seas are parting for them. They finally reach your proximity and take down the largest walled city in the area. As this chapter tells us, the great city of Gibeon becomes their slaves in just the fear of what may happen to them. You better believe you would be making some alliances.

“So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the men of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And Jehovah said to Joshua, Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. There shall not a man of them stand before you.” (Joshua 10:7-8).

When God is on your side it does not matter what comes against you. These verses just get me stoked. Joshua’s army brutally overtakes the armies of these five nations. As Joshua comes in from the front with his “men of valor,” God throws “great” hailstones down at the enemy armies. We often read in history about how one army uses the terrain as an advantage against the other army. Israel had God fighting for them. Finally, the point comes where the only way for the enemy to escape is darkness. Joshua says before the Lord and says:

Then Joshua spoke to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun! Stand still on Gibeon! And, moon, stand still in the valley of Aijalon! And the sun stood still, and the moon stood still, until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? And the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and did not hasten to go down about a whole day. (Joshua 10:12-13)

The following verses tells us that this is the only time in history that the Lord heeded the voice of man. “for the Lord fought with Israel.” God was with Israel. Do not get in Israel’s way.

The Lord was with Israel. Do you remember what the angel told Mary to name the baby? The name was to be, “Immanuel,” or “God with us.” Do we truly believe this? Do we truly live in such a way that God is with us and He is just as much on our side as He was on Israel’s during this great conquering? I am challenged. How often I act as if God cannot conquer the smallest battles in my life. I need only look at Joshua 10.

Joshua 9

Joshua 9 (Sorry about the late post)

“And they received the men because of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord” (Jos 9:14).

Living is simple. Life may not be simple, but living is simple. It can be summed up in two words: follow Jesus. The world, however, is crafty. Read Joshua 9:4, “They worked craftily…” Check out James 3:16, “For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing is there.” As the switch foot song puts it, “Living is simple…I’ve had my choices, I’ve chosen today. I’ve had my choices, the choices remain.”

Living is simple, yet, we live in a world of constant choices and these constant choices each take their effect. What can be even harder is the choices that have been laid before you today and now you have to make some decisions. I do not know about you but the things that come into my life can be scary, thought provoking, and altogether thought engulfing. I can spend a whole day worrying about a choice I have to make and thinking about every little circumstance that can arise from that choice. Is this right? NO! I need to think about one thing today, and that is, “Follow Jesus.”

The men in Israel fail to do this in this chapter. They are presented a lie. Instead of going directly to the Lord, they take out their magnifying glasses and carefully inspect everything. The nation of Gibeon dotted all their I’s and crossed all their T’s. Therefore, “they did not ask counsel of the Lord.”

Whatever decision you may be facing today, go to Jesus. The world is tricky, crafty, and confusing. Satan packages things in lies, therefore go to Jesus. Do not worry about tomorrow, be anxious for nothing, but rely on Jesus who works everything together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Let Him make the choices. Look at what ended up happening to Israel. They were fooled. They now had to live with this crafty, worldly nation in the midst of their Promised land.

Joshua 8

Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool." And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

(Jos 8:30-35)

The way Joshua responds to this great victory over Ai blesses me. When they had accomplished all God had asked them to do, they didn’t go and relax; instead they worshipped Him, and read His Word. Compare this to what happens immediately after their first victory, the battle of Jericho. There is a strong contrast, and we can learn an important lesson in the details of that contrast.

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few." So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

(Jos 7:2-5)

No prayer, no seeking the Lord, instead Joshua bases his plans on the counsels of men. “No problem” they say, “we can take ‘em with a small army”. They had forgotten that the victory was the LORD’S and they were merely vessels He worked through. They experienced miserable defeat because they didn’t wait on the Lord. The Lord didn’t even want them to go fight yet, because there was sin in their own camp that needed to be dealt with!

This second battle with Ai is different: it begins with a clear command from the Lord - Now the LORD said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it."

(Jos 8:1-2)

The plan was given to them, and in obedience to the Lord, they took action. After they were finished, they worshipped God, and publicly read His Word. This gives us a clear example of how we should do things.

1. When the Lord grants us victory, we shouldn’t automatically assume the next step, we should wait on Him.

2. We shouldn’t do anything without seeking Him first.

3. After a victory, we should worship the Lord, and remember the role He plays in our lives. When He accomplishes something great in us or through us, we should give Him the glory due His name.

Joshua 7

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.

(Jos 7:1)

And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."

(Jos 7:20-21)

And Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day." So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.

(Jos 7:25-26)

In the last chapter we jut learned all about the tremendous victory Israel had over Jericho, as they exercised real faith and obedience. This chapter shows us the hidden side to all of that, and it starts out with a big BUT. In the midst of the great victory, there was some serious hidden sin; Achan had stolen the accursed things!

Look at what Achan took – A beautiful Babylonian garment, a handful of silver, and a large chunk of gold. They had looked so good, so tempting, that he just couldn’t pass them up. What deception! Achan was totally ripped off by the devil! Look at what he did with the stuff he took… HE BURIED IT IN THE GROUND! He couldn’t wear the garment, spend the silver, or display the gold… it all had to lay hidden away. This stuff he took could bring him NO ENJOYMENT.

Whenever I read this I flash back to when I was in high school. I didn’t bury stuff in the ground; I just buried it beneath my socks and underwear. Mostly tapes and CDs I wasn’t supposed to listen to. I lived in constant fear of getting caught, and the worst part is that I never even enjoyed those tapes and CDs! If I did listen to them, it was late at night with one side of my headphones on, and the other ear listening to see if my parents were coming. It was so LAME. I was living in fear, and living in darkness. The lie that the devil told me was that it was worth it because I got to experience what I had been missing out on. It was a lie for sure… I wasn’t missing anything. I was like Achan, I thought, “I have this stuff, but now what am I supposed to do with it?!”

The saddest part to me is this: Achan’s sin affected everyone else. It wasn’t like it stopped with him! That means that our hidden sin can affect the others around us. Our moms and dads, our brothers and sisters, our friends… sin doesn’t just stop with us.

So, my question for you this morning is this: Do you have anything buried under your tent? If you do, it would be best to dig it up now. If we don’t deal with that sin, it won’t remain hidden for long!

Joshua 6

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."

(Jos 6:1-5)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

(Heb 11:30)

FAITH AND OBEDIENCE… Today we have a beautiful picture of real faith that is patiently obedient to the LORD. A lot of times when I think of faith, I think of David charging at Goliath, or Jonathan taking his armor bearer and attacking the philistines alone. These were instances when God put something on a guy’s heart, and he ran forward with reckless abandon; clinging to God’s promise alone, risking it all for His kingdom.

Today we see faith of a different color. Faith that patiently waits, that does things that seem foolish to the natural man. SIX DAYS! For six days the Israelites left camp, circled the city of Jericho, and went home. On the seventh day, they march around the city 7 TIMES! 7 TIMES! If you ask me, that seems like the worst possible way to prepare for battle. March for miles and miles in all your battle gear, and THEN go and fight!

Joshua and the Israelites didn’t see like men see. They saw with eyes of faith, from the LORD’S perspective. Human reason could have never predicted what was about to happen… but it was exactly what God had promised. It turned out to be the BEST way to prepare for this battle, because the LORD made the walls fall down! All of Jericho knew that day that they were not fighting against mere men… they were fighting God Himself!

There are so many times that the LORD has us do things that run contrary to what we would naturally do. If we really trust the LORD, we will obey even in those difficult situations. It takes faith to wait. REAL FAITH. Faith that is able to say, “I don’t understand why LORD, but you said it and that is enough for me”. Do you have that kind of faith?

Joshua 5

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" Then the Commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

(Jos 5:13-15)

THE WRONG QUESTION. Joshua asks the Angel of the LORD (AKA Jesus) the wrong question. It is a question we are often guilty of asking God, putting ourselves in a place we should never be in… “Who’s side are you on?!”

Joshua sees the Angel of the LORD come and immediately asks, “Are you for us, or for them?” You see, all of the nations were now scared of Joshua and his men, and I think maybe this was going to Joshua’s head a little. “Are you gonna join us, or am I gonna have to kill you?” That is how I take this question he asks.

I love the answer Joshua gets… NO! I am not for you, or for your enemies… I command the LORD'S armies. It is almost as if the implied question thrown out to Joshua is; “are you for the LORD?” It wasn’t Joshua and His armies that would be winning these battles; it was the Lord and HIS armies. It shouldn’t have been Joshua doing the asking… It should have been him doing the answering.

I love Joshua’s response; he humbly worships, and offers his service. We can learn a lot from this. Often when we face challenging times, we say to God, “just who’s side are you on anyway?!” This isn’t right at all. The real question is: Will I take the Lord’s side? Will I serve Him and fight for Him? Will I await His command rather than trying to give Him orders?

We need to remember who is really in control. Even when the Lord puts us in positions of leadership, we need to realize that He is still the commander in chief… we are taking orders from Him, not giving them. This was a real turning point for Joshua. It was here that he learned just whose battles these were, and who would be doing the real fighting. I pray that we can learn the same lesson!

Joshua 4

And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

(Jos 4:20-24)

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

(1Sa 7:11-12)

EBENEZER – not Scrooge, but the stones of remembrance. In both of these passages these monuments of stones were erected to serve as reminders of what God had done. Here in Joshua, we see them taking steps to ensure that as a nation they would not forget the faithful work that God had done on their behalf. They had just experienced a miraculous work of God, and by remembering it, they could continue to trust in God’s faithfulness.

In the passage from 1^st Samuel we see similar circumstances. The Lord had just granted them a miraculous victory, and Samuel wanted to take steps that would ensure they remember these things. Samuel announced to all the men around him that this monument was to be called EBENEZER, meaning “thus far, the Lord has been our help”. The idea here is that if God has been our help thus far, we can trust Him to continue to work on our behalf.

In our life, I think it is important that we setup Ebenezers of our own. I don’t mean literal piles of rock all over the neighborhood… I mean taking note of the times when God has brought us through difficult circumstances. There may be a physical object you save, our journal entry you write, or just a memory that you come back to…whatever it is, the important thing is that we take steps to remember how the LORD has brought us to where we are, and as long as we keep our eyes on Him, He will continue to lead us on.

The other day I came across a journal entry I had written after a trip I took in high school to minister to kids in Philadelphia. It was incredible to read and see what God was doing in my heart then, to recount His faithful work in my life until today. It reminded me of just how important it is to trust in Him. I may not know what the future holds, and the Israelites definitely didn’t either… but we do know the one who holds the future, and we can rest secure in HIM.

Here are the words to a hymn that I love… they are based on these passages of scripture.

Come thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the Mount I’m fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Hither by Thy help I’m come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me while a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

Oh to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be

Let Thy goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart Lord take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Joshua 3

“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap." So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

(Jos 3:13-16)

I love the picture that we get here in this passage. It is a beautiful illustration of what it means to walk by faith rather than sight. Joshua and the Israelites had God’s promise. It was a promise of protection, a promise of guidance, a promise that ALL of the Promised Land would be theirs. Now their faith in that promise was to be tested.

Imagine for a moment that you are Joshua, and as you approach the Jordan River with over 2 million people following, you realize that it look the same as ever. You start to wonder… is it all real? Is God really going to get us across? Did He really speak to me, or was I just hearing things?

Joshua chose to see with eyes of faith. Walking by sight, they would have all turned around, viewing the river as impassable, and the situation as impossible. How often do we do just that? We are following the Lord as he leads us onward, and as soon as we reach that first challenge, that first difficulty, we freeze… and all too often we GIVE UP.

Eyes of faith meant that regardless of the circumstances, they would believe what God had said. Eyes of faith meant that the Lord would go before them, and they would follow Him wherever he went. The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant were the first ones into the water. I wonder if they were scared that the current might make them stumble and fall, maybe even drop the ark. Regardless of how they “felt” they went in, believing God’s promise.

As soon as their feet sank into the water the river divided, and the waters “piled up” to one side. Not a moment sooner, not when it was too late… but RIGHT ON TIME. The Lord is always on time. He is always faithful to keep His promises. All we need to do is keep following Him.

WALK BY FAITH.

BELIEVE GOD’S PROMISES.

KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS.

Just like the ark went before the people, Jesus will ALWAYS go before us. Follow Him!

Joshua 2

So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear." Then she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

(Jos 2:17-21)

I love this story. Here we have Rahab, a harlot; and she provides us with a beautiful picture of God’s grace. She protects the spies of Israel from those seeking them, and asks for only one thing in return: she wants for her and her family to be SAVED. They ask her to do something rather interesting. They want her and all of her family to stay in the house, and to hang a scarlet colored cord out the window…

The question this makes me ask is, “why scarlet, and why a cord”?

First of all, the cord was right there, for the men of Israel say to her THIS CORD. I believe it was probably the same cord that she used to let them down. In that we see a beautiful example of the scriptural principle that those who show mercy will receive mercy. The same rope she used to save these men would be used to save her and her family.

Secondly, I don’t believe it was any sort of “accident” that the cord was scarlet. If you think back to the book of Exodus, can you remember any other scarlet colored markings that protected people from death? THE PASSOVER! Here we have another picture of what the blood of Jesus can do to protect an individual from the judgement of God. A provision is given, and the scarlet signifies the blood of Jesus.

All throughout the scriptures we have picture after picture of the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This scarlet thread is just another small piece in the beautiful picture the Bible paints for us of the love of God.

A heathen harlot who BELIEVED that what God had promised was true. She believed that He really would give the Israelites the promised land. She was sinful. She had a lot of problems. She wasn’t your typical “Christian” woman. Yet because of her faith, she was saved. God’s love reaches to the deepest parts, to the darkest regions… all a person must do is BELIEVE, and He will wash all their sins away!

Rahab’s story is such a beautiful picture of the power of God’s grace, that her faith is referred to by 2 of the new testament writers… (she is also referred to in one of the geneologies). Can you find those 2 references? If you find them, post them in the comments section. Also, write what you think they teach us about faith.

Joshua 1

The book of Joshua is SWEET!!! I am so excited that we get to study it together this month. It picks up where Deuteronomy leaves off, and it marks a transition for us. Where Moses was a picture for us of the law, Joshua is a picture of Jesus. Moses couldn’t take the people into the Promised Land, just like the law cannot bring a person into real relationship with God. Moses brought them right to the border, but they needed Joshua to lead them in. This is like us… the law can bring us right to the place of decision, but we need Jesus to bring us into the glorious reality of eternal life.

Here in chapter one, we see God speaking to Joshua. 3 times He tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous”. Fear was a real thing that Joshua was dealing with, but the Lord wanted Him to take courage. What was Joshua’s strength and courage to be founded on? It was to be rooted and grounded in the PROMISES OF GOD. Joshua wasn’t told to be strong in himself, or to take courage for courage sake. Joshua’s strength and courage were directly connected to God’s promise to be with him, to never leave him nor forsake him.

Joshua was also given a way to KEEP this courage and strength. He was to make God’s Word his meditation day and night… Thinking about it, talking about it, keeping it right at the center of all he was doing. God had a marvelous plan, and He wanted to use Joshua in a marvelous way; He just needed Joshua to TRUST IN HIM.

It is the same for us today. We can be strong and courageous as we STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD. What has God promised you? As you read through the opening chapters of Joshua this week, make note of the promises God gives, and allow them to stir up strength to stand for Jesus, and courage to be a bold witness for Him. The task Joshua had been given seemed impossible, but he could do it with boldness as he rested in God’s promise. The Lord would say to us today, “have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous!”

Deuteronomy 34

Up until now we have studied what is known as the Pentateuch or “the Law.” We close this with the death of Moses, a “servant of the Lord.” Moses’ death is quite deserving of an entire chapter. This chapter tells us that none has arisen like Moses to this day. I love verse 7 which says, “And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor had he lost any of his natural vigor.” He was on fire for the Lord up until the moment he died. I hope the same is said about me.

We are going to dwell on the mystery behind verse 6. This verse tells us that no one knows where Moses is buried. This being so, it is no use trying to find out where he was buried. However, we do know that God buried him. Notice in the beginning of verse 6 that “He” is capitalized. God buried Moses.

In Revelation we find two witnesses. We often speculate who these two witnesses are. I believe it is Elijah and Moses. In Revelation 11:6 it reads, “These have authority to shut up the heaven, that it may not rain in the days of their prophecy. And they have authority over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.” Remember when Elijah prayed to God and the heavens were dried. This would make sense that he be Elijah. Also, Elijah was one of two men with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17). Who was that other man? It was Moses! Moses turned the water into blood and cast down various plagues upon Egypt. These verses in Revelation seem to fit these two characters.

There is also the proof that Elijah never died. He just got taken up into heaven. Wait, would this work with Moses? After all he was buried by God. Deuteronomy simply says “Nobody knows the grave to this day.” Check out Jude 9, “But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the Devil, he argued about the body of Moses, he dared not bring a judgment of blasphemy, but said, Let the Lord rebuke you!” Michael and Satan are fighting over the body of Moses in this verse! There are numerous interpretations of this, some saying it belongs to Jewish folklore, and so on. I, however, read this and start to think. Maybe God is reserving Moses’ body for that day where he would walk the earth again as one of the two witnesses.

Or God could just make Moses a new body.

Either way, I find this interesting. I find it interesting that it is specifically noted that God buried Moses and that his grave cannot be found. I find it interesting the miracles the two witnesses would perform. I find it interesting tat Moses and Elijah were with Jesus on the mountain during the transfiguration. I want to open this up to any of your thoughts.

What do you think?

Deuteronomy 33

“Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, O people saved by the Lord...” (Deuteronomy 33:29).

I remember reading the Count of Monte Cristo. There is one part where Edmond Dante is on an island with the Pirate Luigi and his gang of thieves. They force Edmond into a duel with one of the rebels of the ship. Whoever won would prove themselves worthy to live but whoever lost…was dead. In the end, Edmond gets the upper hand on his enemy, but rather than kill him, lets him live. In return, the enemy spends the rest of his life as Edmond’s right hand man.

I see this picture and wonder why I do not always act the same way towards my God. In this verse, Moses is blessing Israel for being a people saved by God. Not only is Israel a people saved of the Lord, but we are too! Think about all you owe Jesus today. He died on the cross for me and you and sometimes its as if we cease to remember this and go and do our own thing. We have been bought at a price, we are bondslaves, and we are to live as a people saved by God.

Imagine if someone were to save your life today, or even just randomly come up and give you a candy bar. How would you treat them? For those reading this, take a moment just to realize the awesome sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Take a moment to remember Him and start your day not in your own strength, but as a bondslave bought at a price.

Deuteronomy 32

The Song of Moses

Have you ever heard a song that lasted 7 to 10 minutes long? Those songs go on forever! In this chapter, we read of a song that lasts well over ten minutes, unless it is a rap song, which I doubt. The Hebrew word “song” means to be “musical.” I find music to be one of the most mysterious things we have. Think about it…music is both on earth and in heaven. It is extremely influential. It has the ability to make a statement, ask a question, or talk about nothing at all. It comes in all sorts of forms. Every civilization has it. It is used to worship God in heaven and on earth. It is used to turn people away from the Lord and for self worship. It is truly mysterious.

Moses wrote a song to the Lord. Immediately, before anything, he “ascribes greatness to our God.” I believe this is an extremely important principle to remember. We all live with a song in our heart. The Christian has a song. People of the world have a song. We all have a song ascribing greatness to our God. For most, this god is themselves. We often here songs about how amazing somebody is, or perhaps how loving somebody is. There are tons of songs written about people. Most songs are written about love, but not godly love, but worldly love. We are to walk around with songs or worship. As Switchfoot says in the song Beautiful Letdown, “I will carry a cross with a song where I don’t belong…” If you are ascribing greatness (or giving praise) to our God, you have a song of worship. Make sure this is in your heart, and not a song of self. David, the man after God’s own heart, certainly lived with a song of praise in His heart:

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song I will praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7).

“Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with shouts of joy.” (Psalms 33:3).

“And He has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God; many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.“ (Psalm 40:3).

“The Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, my prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8).

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He is my salvation.” (Psalm 118:14).

As you read through Moses’ song, consider where he had gone in his life and where he was going. In this song are prophecies, praises, judgments, mysteries, and salvation. Investigate it. Now that you have the day ahead of you, consider what you have just endured and what lies ahead of you. Is Jesus going to be the song in your heart today? Will you be singing of His mercies and peace, His love and kindness? I certainly want to live a life like Moses and David, a life of praise and song to the Lord. I want my life to be the longest love song ever written, and not just ten minutes long.

Deuteronomy 31

Deuteronomy 31

“Be strong and of a good courage. Do not fear nor be afraid of them. For Jehovah your God is He who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you,” (Deut 31:6).

Yesterday we examined one of the promises of God. He promised Israel that should they be banished to the ends of the earth, He would bring them back. Today we read the next promise of the Lord to Israel. This one can be summed up in one word: Immanuel.

“So, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14).

The greatest promise Israel ever received is Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us.” Moses had seen the back of God’s glory. Yet God promised that one day, He will be with Israel. Not only is this the great hope of Israel, but it is our great hope as well.

There are a few things to realize. This promise will come true for Israel. In many ways it already has. Jesus has come. He was born of a virgin and given the title, “Immanuel.” They did not recognize their savior and still wait to this day for Immanuel. Jesus will come again. He will come and save Israel and set up a holy kingdom on the earth. He will rule with them for 1000 years and Satan will be bound. They will then know who Jesus is. They will know that they had not recognized Him before, but they will recognize Him now.

Of course Immanuel is so true in our own lives! Imagine if you truly lived life as if God was right there watching your every move. Wait a minute…He is! Truly our faith comes in display when we acknowledge the Lord’s presence, whoever we may be! When I was a kid I would often be hanging out with a bunch of friends. We would be talking about one thing, but when a parent entered the room immediately talk about another. Do not be like the Jews who did not recognize their savior, realize that God is with you.

Simeon says it best in Luke 2:29-32, “Lord, now You will let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation which You have prepared before the face of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

God is with us, He is the a light of revelation to us the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel.

Deuteronomy 30

Deuteronomy 30

“If you are driven out into the outermost parts of the heavens, Jehovah your God will gather you from there, and He will bring you from there.” (Deut 30:4)

I have learned over time that it is not that hard to fall away from the Lord. It can happen when you are going to church every Sunday. It can happen when you are alone. It can happen when you are with a bunch of people. It can happen through circumstances. It can happen through trying to help. It can happen when you make fun a deeper priority in your life than reading your Bible. It can happen easily. It always happens when you stop looking to God to help you and start going to your own means.

This verse is a promise to Israel. We know Israel had been given a set of laws to obey. In fact, the Book of Deuteronomy is reviewing those laws right now! Israel would break every commandment. In doing so, they were falling away from Jesus. We finally see this come to a head when they sacrifice Jesus, their savior, on the cross without acknowledgment of whom they had killed. By then their priests were corrupted (Pharisees), their king was corrupted (Herod), and they were in captivity. They had allowed the gentiles to walk on their land, set up their own rules, and push God out of the way. God then scattered Israel. Who would of thought He would bring them back together? Think about this, a nation scattered to the utmost parts of the earth, yet in 1948 Israel became a nation. Bible believing Christians knew it would happen thanks to verses like this and Ezekiel 37!

Israel was driven to the outermost parts of the heavens, and brought back together by the hands of God. That is only the work of Jesus. Though this verse applies to them, it gives us good insight into the heart of God concerning our own lives. He seeks to bring us from wherever we were, whatever we were doing, and take us under His banner. He seeks to restore us and snatch us out of this world. Live for Jesus. Do not journey away from under His banner toward that of the world. The lure is out there. It comes in the form of fun and a good time. The lure will be more enticing some days then it is other. Nevertheless, make sure that you belong to Jesus. Allow Him to use your spiritual gifts for His glory.

Deut 29

Deuteronomy 29

“The secret things belong to Jehovah our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our sons forever, so that we may do all the words of this Law” (Deut 30:29).

The secret thing belongs to God. What is the secret thing? The obvious answer to this is, “That is what makes it a secret!” I find there are tons of mysteries in the Bible. How is it that God allows us to have free choice yet He knows what is going to happen? How is it that God is everywhere? How is that I can know that God is with me even though I cannot see Him? How did God make everything. How is that God just exists. Why is it that if we look upon the face of God we die? Why does Jesus love us?

I believe all of us have asked these questions once in our life. I believe God, in His perfection, answers us accordingly, or does not answer us at all. This chapter is a recap of where Israel had come from and where they are going. It is similar to our nation’s State of the Union Address. In this speech, the leader of the country, the president, comes before the people and shares where America has come from over the last few months and where America is going. In the end, not all the questions are answered, but some are. In the end, everyone thinks over what the leader said and comes up with their own opinions. In the end, everyone wants to know more.

I feel that this very much resembles what the Lord does in our lives. He sits us down and says, this is the state of your life. He then proceeds to tell us everything we are doing right and everything we need to work on. I know in my life what seems to be the issue is, what happens next? Here I am, before God, and He tells me what I need to do now and I am concerned about what happens next. I want to know everything about my life. I want to know where I am going to end up. I want to know the secrets God has stored for me. Instead God tells us, “Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Instead He tells us, “The secret things belong to the Lord…”

Gang, God has something in store for all of you. Ultimately, all secrets will be revealed in heaven. I am so encouraged that God has gone to prepare a place for us. Heaven is being prepared for us! Remember to serve the Lord, today! Do not worry about the secrets, because God’s timing is best, and the secrets belong to Him.

Deuteronomy 28

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:

(Deu 28:1-2)

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

(Deu 28:15)

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

(Gal 6:7-8)

God makes it crystal clear here in Deuteronomy. If a man is going to sow seeds of faithful obedience to the Lord, he will reap a crop of blessing from the Lord. On the other hand, if a man chooses to continue to sow the sinful seed of disobedience, he should not be surprised when he begins to reap a harvest of bitter destruction. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

This principle is universal. It applies ACROSS THE BOARD. If I sow corn seed, I’m gonna reap corn. If I sow barley, I will reap barley. You never plant one thing and then magically harvest another. If it works this way in the natural realm, we shouldn’t be surprised to find that the principle carries over into the spiritual. You can say you love Jesus, read your Bible, and pray daily… but if you continue to treat everyone else like junk and live to satisfy yourself, you will reap a bitter, destructive harvest. I think sometimes we forget this. We think that we can somehow “make-up” for sins we deliberately, willfully commit by doing “good things”. We are almost calculating about it, to the point where I think sometimes we even tell ourselves, “it’s okay to do this wrong deed now, because of the good things I’m gonna do later.” – DON’T BE DECEIVED, YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

If you want to reap blessing from God, you need to be a DOER of His Word. Your life needs to be RADICALLY AFFECTED by the Spirit of God as He teaches you to live like JESUS. If we are content with where we are today, if we aren’t striving to become more like Jesus, then I believe we are sure to be sowing bad seed.

What kind of seed are you sowing?