Joshua 10 -- God Uses Even Our Mistakes

"When you make agreements with the enemy, expect to end up paying a price and having to defend them in order to protect yourself.  This is why God's people must remain separated from the world," my commentary said.

When five regional kings discovered that the large city of Gibeon had made peace with the invading Jews, they had to come together and attack, because a large barrier between them and Israel had been removed.  "The poor Gibeonites had made peace with the invaders and were now at war with their former allies ... God was using these events to accomplish His own purposes.  Instead of having to defeat these four city-states one by one, He would help Joshua conquer them all at one time!"

"The mistakes we make embarrass us, especially those mistakes that are caused by our running ahead of the Lord and not seeking His will.  But we need to remember that no mistake is final for the dedicated Christian.  God can use even our blunders to accomplish His purposes ... Whenever we believe the promises of God and obey the commands of God, we act by faith and can expect God's help."

In an amazing miracle, God assisted Israel by bringing a hailstorm to kill the enemy army.  Yes, it was a miracle, but my commentary said "an even greater miracle was the fact that the stones hit only the enemy soldiers ... When God's people are obeying God's will, everything in the universe works for them."

The last miracle recorded in Joshua resulted from Joshua's prayer for more time to finish the task.  We can be tempted to try to explain away the miracle of the sun standing still for an entire day, but we will likely make ourselves insane in the process.  God is not just God over the physical laws He created.  He is also outside of time, and our limited human understanding of things outside of time make it difficult for us to envision how God might even have crammed an extra day into a few seconds so that the sun appeared to remain motionless for a day!  It's not for us to understand by simply to believe.

"There's a word of encouragement here:  God can take even our blunders and turn them into blessings.  This isn't an excuse for carelessness, but it's a great encouragement when you've failed the Lord and His people."

Father, I pray that You will give me discernment to find Your will before I act, so that I won't make a mistake, but I also love Your care and provision for me when I do fail You, to use even my mistakes to further Your kingdom and to bless me!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Joshua 9 -- If You Make A Mistake ...

According to my commentary, the world's belief is that "it's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes.  In Joshua's case, however, doing nothing was his mistake."

My commentary also issued a warning to us:  "After an experience of great blessing, God's people must be especially prepared to confront the enemy, for like Canaan, the Christian life is a land of hills and valleys ... Satan sometimes appears as a deceiving serpent, and we must be alert and protected by the spiritual armor God has provided for us."

The Gibeonites made it look like there were a peace delegation who'd traveled for months to get there, when they actually lived only 25 miles away.  They knew they were on God's hit list, and they were willing to be slaves rather than die.  They were blasphemous in saying that they had come because of the name of the Lord.  My commentary said, "Satan's ambassadors can lie more convincingly that some Christians can tell the truth.  Satan knows how to use religious lies to give the impression that people are seeking to know the Lord," and we see this in people who approach a church claiming to be seekers when they only want a handout and have learned how to lie successfully about it.

The reason they were successful in their lies:  "Joshua and the princes of Israel were impetuous and didn't take time to consult the Lord.  They walked by sight and not by faith ... They took the scientific approach instead of the spiritual approach."

"The will of God comes from the heart of God, and He delights to make it known to His children when He knows they are humble and willing to obey.  We don't seek God's will like customers who look at options but like servants who listen for orders... God sees our hearts and knows whether we are really serious about obeying Him."

"True faith involves exercising patience (Heb. 6:12)  ... God's people today are living in enemy territory and must constantly exercise caution.  When you believe the enemy instead of seeking the mind of the Lord, you can expect to get into trouble."

"Joshua and his associates teach us an important lesson:  If you make a mistake, admit it, and then make your mistake work for you!"  These people were put to work as slaves hauling water and wood to the Temple for use in the offerings.  "There's no evidence in Scripture that the descendants of the Gibeonites created any problems for the Jews ... The fact that over 500 returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity suggests that they were devoted to the Lord and His house."

Father, thank You for this timely warning and reminder not to act rashly but to seek Your knowledge and Your will.  I need that right now!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Joshua 8 -- Organizing Victories Out Of Mistakes

The first attack on Ai had been a mistake based on overconfidence and the lack of oversight to have discovered what Achan had done.  But God was all about organizing victories out of mistakes.  My commentary quoted from a sermon from 1849:  "Life, like war, is a series of mistakes, and he is not the best Christian nor the best general who makes the fewest false steps.  Poor mediocrity may secure that, but he is the best who wins the most splendid victories by the retrieval of mistakes.  Forget mistakes; organize victories out of mistakes."

It also said Henry Ford defined a mistake as "an opportunity to begin again, more intelligently."  It continued, "No matter what mistakes we make, the worst mistake of all is not to try again; for the victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings ... Discouragement over the past and fear of the future are the two reactions that often accompany failure.  We look back and remember the mistakes we made and wonder whether there's any future for people who fail so foolishly.  The answer to our discouragement and fear is hearing and believing God's Word ...God never discourages His people from making progress ... God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him... Spiritually minded believers are victorious because they allow the Word of God to saturate their minds and hearts.  The Spirit using the Word controls their desires and decisions and this is the secret of victory."

There was an interesting note about changes in our lives as well:  "God is not only the God of new beginnings, but He's also the God of infinite variety ... God changes His leaders lest we start trusting flesh and blood instead of trusting the Lord, and He changes His methods lest we start depending on our personal experience instead of on His divine promises... It's very important that we seek God's will for each undertaking so that we don't depend on past victories as we plan for the future ... How easy it is for Christian ministries to dig their way into administrative ruts that eventually become graves, simply because the leadership fails to discern whether God wants to do something new for them."  

"The work of the Lord requires strategy, and Christian leaders must seek the mind of the Lord in their planning.  Like Joshua, we must get the facts and weigh them carefully as we seek the will of God ... Leadership demands planning, and planning is an important part of strategy."

Father, help us to realize when You are wanting to do something new in our lives.  Cause us to seek Your will and not our own personal experiences.  Let us not choose ruts that become graves.  Keep our ministries fresh and relevant.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Joshua 7 -- How We Convince Ourselves That It's Not Sin When It Is

This chapter is such a great reminder of how we can allow sin to enter our lives, thinking such a small thing won't really matter, and then find out just how badly things can go as a  result of our disobedience to God.

The Israelites, fresh from their stunning victory at Jericho, were thrashed by a small city they invaded next.  Yes, they'd probably been overconfident, but the real problem was the sin of one man and his family's efforts to help him hide it.  "Never underestimate the amount of damage one person can do outside the will of God," my commentary said.

It also detailed Achan's mistakes:

First, "he looked at the spoils a second time ... It's that second glance that gets the imagination working and leads to sin."

Second, "he reclassified those treasures and called them the spoils.  They were not the spoils; they were part of the Lord's treasury and wholly dedicated to Him... When God identifies something in a special way, we have no right to change it ... If God says something is wrong, then it's wrong and that's the end of the debate."

Third, he coveted.  "But each on is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (James 1:14) ... The imagination is the womb in which desire is conceived and from which sin and death are eventually born."

Fourth, he thought he could get away with his sin by hiding the loot.  "Be sure your sin will find you out."

"Unbelief is always content to settle for something less than God's best ... Achan and his family had turned from the true and living God and had given their hearts to that which God had said was accursed -- silver, gold, and an expensive garment.  It wasn't worth it!"

The words of verse 13 ring out in warning:  "The Lord, the God of Israel, says some of you are keeping things He commanded you to destroy.  You will never defeat your enemies until you throw away those things."  Achan, when caught, said, "I wanted these things very much for myself."  That says it all.

Father, thank You for this awesome reminder of how we can convince ourselves that our sin isn't really sin and that it's okay to allow it in our lives.  Help me not to want anything else but You, and what You've commanded me to destroy from life, give me the strength to do so.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Joshua 6 -- Warfare In The Bible

I admit that years ago I did what it mentions in my commentary -- wondered how a merciful God could have destroyed the people like He did at Jericho.  My commentary helps to set our thinking straight.

"You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict ... Our enemies are constantly waging war against us and trying to keep us from claiming our inheritance in Jesus Christ.  The World, the flesh, and the devil are united against Christ and His people ... We've forgotten that the main theme of the Bible is God's holy warfare against Satan and sin ... If you eliminate the militant side of the Christian faith, then you must abandon the cross, for it was on the cross that Jesus won the victory over Satan and sin ... Too many Christians cultivate only a sentimental emphasis on peace and goodwill and ignore the spiritual battle against sin, and this means they've already lost the victory, and are working for the enemy ... The Christian's warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against enemies in the spiritual realm, and the weapons we us are spiritual.  Satan and his demonic armies use people to oppose and attack the church of God, and if we don't take our stand with Christ, we've already lost the battle.  In the army of Jesus Christ there can be no neutrality.  'He that is not with me is against Me,' Jesus said.  And He spoke those words in the context of spiritual warfare."

Three principles of spiritual conflict and victory applicable to our lives:

Before the challenge:  Remember that you fight from victory, not just for victory.

During the challenge:  Remember that you overcome the enemy by faith.

After the victory:  Remember to obey God's commands and give Him the glory.

"We should also keep in mind that these historical events were written for our learning ... In the destruction of Jericho and its population God is telling us that He will tolerate no compromise with sin in the lives of His people ... Thank God He will not make peace with sin in my heart!"

Father God, show me how to do this in my life situations right now.  I want to be fighting with You and not against You by default.  I understand that there is no neutrality.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Joshua 5 -- Putting Off The Old Life

"God's people must be prepared before they can be trusted with victory," my commentary said.  They'd just crossed the Jordan in another miracle from God, and all of the kings of the city-states in the Promised Land had heard about it and were now cringing at God's power.  Did they immediately attack?  No.  God first disabled their entire army.

The people weren't prepared.  The covenant needed to be renewed, because God had temporarily suspended His covenant with Israel after their refusal to enter the Promised Land at Kadesh Barnea.  No young men had been circumcised since that event.  They couldn't celebrate Passover without being circumcised.  So Joshua stopped everything and got it done at God's command.  The entire army was disabled for likely two weeks at a minimum!  This tested their faith.

It also pictured some important spiritual truths, according to my commentary.  "Israel's crossing of the Jordan River is a picture of believers dying to self and entering by faith into their inheritance ... God doesn't want us to wander in the wilderness of unbelief.  He wants us to claim our inheritance by faith, conquer our enemies, and enjoy the spiritual test that He has for those who walk by faith."

"The Christian's circumcision is internal, spiritual surgery on their hearts ... for the believer, the whole 'body of the sins of the flesh' was removed.  When you accept this fact and reckon on it, you have victory over sins of the flesh that would enslave you.  Faith in the working of God can give you overcoming power."

The manna ceased arriving on the day after Passover ... The manna reminded them of their desire to go back to Egypt ... God fed His people the bread of heaven ... and yet they lusted after the food of Egypt.  God easily took His people out of Egypt, but it was difficult for Him to take EGYPT out of His PEOPLE."  Too many professed Christians contradict their profession by exhibiting an appetite for what belongs to their past life... You've crossed the river and are now in your inheritance ... Don't look back and desire the things of Egypt or the wilderness.  Let God feed you and satisfy you with the harvest in the inheritance."

Father God, thank You for bringing me out of my Egypt and into my inheritance with You.  Keep me from wanting to remember that old life and even from desiring my old sins.  Lead me to let You alone feed me and satisfy me.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Joshua 4 -- Something In The Water

God directed that twelve large stones be removed from the middle of the Jordan before the priests holding the Ark walked out.  The men who'd been assigned the task actually carried them 8 miles to Gilgal where the Israelites camped that night.  They were placed in a heap to remind the Israelites to tell their children the spectacular story of God's power in getting them into the Promised Land.  "When Israel crossed the Jordan, it was not the obedient  arm of a leader that brought the miracle, but the obedient feet of the people.  Unless we are willing to step out by faith and obey His word, God can never open the way for us," my commentary said.

Before the river returned to the flood stage it had been experiencing just before the crossing, Joshua had twelve other stones heaped up in the middle of the river where the priests had stood holding the Ark as the people crossed over into the Promised Land.  "It must have seemed a strange thing for their leader to do.  After all, who but God could see 12 stones heaped together in a riverbed?"  Years later, when parents recalled the crossing to their children, they could point out the stones at Gilgal.  And they could add, "'But there's another monument in the middle of the river where the priests stood with the Ark.  You can't see it, but it's there.  It reminds us that our old life has been buried and we must live a new life in obedience to the Lord.'  The children would have to accept this fact by faith, and if they did, it could make a great difference in the way they related to God and to His will for their lives," my commentary said.

Father God, remind me of the spiritual markers You've placed in my life, where my old life was buried when You forgave my sins and where my new life of faith began.  Remind me often of Your great grace and forgiveness and Your love for me in sending Your Son.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford