Devotional

Jos 15:1, So this was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

The land is now being divided and it starts by assigning the borders of Judah! But within these borders Caleb was given Hebron!

Jos 15:13-14, Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron… CALEB DROVE OUT THE THREE SONS OF ANAK FROM THERE: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

Caleb at 80 years of age had the will and the strength to take the land from the anakim (the giants).  BUT HIS STRENGTH CAME FROM KNOWING HIS LORD; FOR HE FOLLOWED THE LORD WHOLLY!

Num 14:24, But My servant Caleb, BECAUSE HE HAS A DIFFERENT SPIRIT IN HIM AND HAS FOLLOWED ME FULLY, I WILL BRING INTO THE LAND WHERE HE WENT, AND HIS DESCENDANTS SHALL INHERIT IT. 

THE FATHER REWARDS THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM WITH FAITH KNOWING THAT HE IS (HEB 11:6). IF WE SEEK, FOLLOW AND SERVE THE LORD, THEN HE WILL BE LIFTED UP BY THE FATHER! JESUS SAID,

Joh 12:26, If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. IF ANYONE SERVES ME, HIM MY FATHER WILL HONOR.

Jos 14:6,7, 8 … And Caleb… said to him… I WAS FORTY YEARS OLD when Moses… sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land,… NEVERTHELESS MY BRETHREN WHO WENT UP WITH ME MADE THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE MELT, BUT I WHOLLY FOLLOWED THE LORD MY GOD.

Now Caleb was eighty years old and still more than willing to do the will of GOD!

Jos 14:11, As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

Psa 103:5, WHO SATISFIES YOUR MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS, SO THAT YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S.  

Jos 14:12, … give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; FOR YOU HEARD IN THAT DAY HOW THE ANAKIM WERE THERE, and that the cities were great and fortified. IT MAY BE THAT THE LORD WILL BE WITH ME, AND I SHALL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THEM OUT AS THE LORD SAID.” 

THE STRENGHT OF CALEB CAME FROM THE LORD! HE HAS SEEN THE LORD’S WORK; THE MIRACLES IN THE WILDERNESS, THE PARTING OF THE RED SEE AND THE JORDAN! HOW THE LORD FEED ISRAEL DAILY FOR 40 YEARS!  HIS FAITH WAS WHOLLY ON THE LORD! PUT YOUR FAITH WHERE IT COUNTS ON GOD AND HIS PROMISES!  TRUST IN HIM!

Jos 13:1, Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: “YOU ARE OLD, advanced in years, AND THERE REMAINS VERY MUCH LAND YET TO BE POSSESSED. 

As Christians there is no sense of retiring from the work of the LORD! BLESSED IS THE SERVANT WHOME HIS MASTER WILL FIND SO DOING WHEN HE COMES! Luke 12:43

Mat 9:37-38, Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW. THEREFORE PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST.”

Jos 13:13, Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but … DWELL AMONG THE ISRAELITES UNTIL THIS DAY.   

Later king David would marry a princess of Geshur who bore Absalom (2Sam 3:3)!  Absalom would go back to Geshur for 3 years and plotted against his father David!

Isa 40:28, Have you not known? Have you not heard? THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, NEITHER FAINTS NOR IS WEARY. HIS UNDERSTANDING IS UNSEARCHABLE. 

WE NEED TO READ AND OBEY HIS WORD NOT OUR REASONING! FOR HE KNOWS ALL AND IS ALWAYS WORKING FOR OUR GOOD!

Jos 12:1, These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed…

This chapter gives a list of kings that were defeated, by Israel with the hand of GOD! 

Jos 12:24, …ALL THE KINGS, THIRTY-ONE. 

IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN SO ISRAEL COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR THEM! REMEMBER!

REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE SLAVES IN EGYPT & WHAT THE LORD DID TO PHAROAH! REMEMBER HOW THE LORD PARTED THE RED SEA AND THE JORDAN! REMEMBER HOW HE FEAD YOU DAILY FOR 40 YEARS!

Deu 32:7, “REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD, Consider the years of many generations. ASK YOUR FATHER, AND HE WILL SHOW YOU; YOUR ELDERS, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU: 

Psa 78:3-4, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. WE WILL NOT HIDE THEM FROM THEIR CHILDREN, TELLING TO THE GENERATION TO COME THE PRAISES OF THE LORD, AND HIS STRENGTH AND HIS WONDERFUL WORKS THAT HE HAS DONE.

THE VICTORIES IN CHRIST SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND SHARED WITH YOUR CHILDREN! BECAUSE IT’S NOT BLIND FAITH WHEN YOU SEE THE FRUITS OF FOLLOWING HIM! HE IS FAITHFUL! REMEMBER!

Jos 11:1-2, …when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were from the north, in the mountains, in the plain south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,

Israel had defeated the kings of the south with the power of GOD on their side! Now the northern kings gather together a mighty army!

Jos 11:6, But the LORD said to Joshua, “DO NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE OF THEM, for tomorrow about this time I WILL DELIVER ALL OF THEM SLAIN BEFORE ISRAEL…

IF GOD IS WITH YOU WHY BE AFRAID? BUT, WE AS HUMANS ALWAYS NEED TO BE REASSURED AND HE KNOWS THIS!

Psa 103:14, FOR HE KNOWS OUR FRAME; HE REMEMBERS THAT WE ARE DUST. 

Jos 11:21, … JOSHUA CAME AND CUT OFF THE ANAKIM FROM THE MOUNTAINS:

THE LORD PREPARED AND TRAINED ISRAEL WITH EACH BATTLE! NOW THEY FACED THE ANAKIM WHOM THEY RAN FROM 40 YEARS BACK & THEY DEFEATED THEM! WITH EACH VICTORY HE BUILDS OUR FAITH & OUR TRUST IN HIM!  EVEN GIANT PROBLEMS LOOK SMALL WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE!

1Co 15:57, But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The 5 kings united to fight against Israel, by attacking the Gibeonites! 

Jos 10:8, And the LORD said to Joshua, “DO NOT FEAR THEM, FOR I HAVE DELIVERED THEM INTO YOUR HAND; NOT A MAN OF THEM SHALL STAND BEFORE YOU.”

Jos 10:11, … as they fled before Israel … that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah,…

Jos 10:12-13, Then Joshua spoke to the LORD… and he said in the sight of Israel: “SUN, STAND STILL OVER GIBEON; AND MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF AIJALON.” SO THE SUN STOOD STILL, AND THE MOON STOPPED…

Heb 10:31, IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. 

Jos 10:14, And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, THAT THE LORD HEEDED THE VOICE OF A MAN; FOR THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL. 

WE OFTEN IGNORE OR PUT TO ONE SIDE THE POWER WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS! PRAYER CALLS ON HIS POWER NOT OURS! YET WE TEND TO IGNORE PRAYER WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGHT! IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? 

Psa 118:6, THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME? 

Jos 9:4, they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 

The Gibeonites deceived Joshua to make a covenant with them! IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD TO DESTROY THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR IDOL WORSHIP (EX 23:23-24), YET JOSHUA WAS DECEIVED!

Jos 9:14-15, …BUT THEY DID NOT ASK COUNSEL OF THE LORD. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live…

2Sa 21:1, Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 

THE LORD HONORED THE COVENANT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE GIBEONITES, BUT LATER king SAUL KILLED THEM WHICH BROUGHT A FAMINE IN THE LAND! AND

Ecc 5:2 NLT, DON’T MAKE RASH PROMISES, AND DON’T BE HASTY IN BRINGING MATTERS BEFORE GOD.

BRING EVERYTHING TO THE LORD FIRST! ASK FOR WISE COUSEL AND SEEK HIS FACE!

Jos 8:2, 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.

The spoils of Jericho were consecrated to the LORD (Jos 6:19), but the spoils at AI were for the people! HE DESERVES THE FIRST FRUITS!

Pro 3:9, HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR POSSESSIONS, AND WITH THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ALL YOUR INCREASE; 

Jos 8:29, AND THE KING OF AI HE HANGED ON A TREE UNTIL EVENING. …

Gal 3:13-14, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, HAVING BECOME A CURSE FOR US (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

JESUS WAS TREATED AS A CRIMINAL; FOR OUR KING WAS HUNG ON A TREE, NOT FOR HIMSELF, BUT BECAUSE OF US! HE TOOK THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS AND WE TOOK THE BLESSINGS OF HIS RIGHTEOUS LIFE! HEAVEN IS NOT FOR GOOD PEOPLE, BUT IT’S FOR FORGIVEN PEOPLE BY HIS BLOOD THROUGH FAITH IN HIM! HE IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE KING! TRUST IN HIM FOR HE IS NEAR!

Jos 7:1  But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan …, took of the accursed things; SO THE ANGER OF THE LORD BURNED AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 

Jos 7:3-4, 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.

2 Things are wrong here! 1^st)  Achan took from the accursed things that Joshua clearly told them to stay away from! Joshua 6:18 “BY ALL MEANS ABSTAIN FROM THE ACCURSED THINGS, LEST YOU BECOME ACCURSED”.  2^nd) it never mentions that Joshua consulted the LORD in regards to the CITY OF AI

ANCHAN’S WHOLE FAMILY PAID THE PRICE!

1Co 5:6, …DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENS THE WHOLE LUMP? 

2 SINS, THE SIN OF COMMISSION (ACHAN) AND THE SIN OF OMISSION (JOSHUA).  YOUR SIN WILL ALWAYS BE REVEALED! YOU MUST DECREASE AND HE MUST INCREASE IN YOUR LIFE!

Jos 6:2, And the LORD said to Joshua: “SEE! I HAVE GIVEN JERICHO INTO YOUR HAND, ITS KING, AND THE MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR.

It’s already done in the eyes of God! HE HAS GIVEN (PASS TENSE) JERICHO INTO THEIR HANDS, BUT THEY HAD TO TAKE IT FROM HIM

Jos 6:17, Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. ONLY RAHAB THE HARLOT SHALL LIVE, SHE AND ALL WHO ARE WITH HER IN THE HOUSE, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 

GOD HAS MADE A WAY FOR ALL SINNERS, YES EVEN A HARLOT, MURDERER OR THIEF TO HAVE SALVATION! THE WORKS OF RAHAB ONLY CONFIRMED HER FAITH IN THE LIVING GOD!

JUST AS JERICHO WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. THEY STILL NEEDED TO DO THE WORK OF RECEIVING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN! IT’S A GIFT OF THE LORD!

Eph 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.

TAKE IT AND LIVE, FOR HE IS THE ONLY TRUE WAY FOR SALVATION!