Joshua 1:1-18

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: ² "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." ¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ¹¹ "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess. " ¹² And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, ¹³ "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land. ¹⁴ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, ¹⁵ until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise." ¹⁶ So they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage."

In chapter 1 of Joshua we learn that Moses is dead and the Lord directs and encourages Joshua to take the command of the children of Israel, and go over Jordan with them to take possession of the land of Canaan, and divide it to them (vs. 1-4) Next we learn of the gracious promises and strong assurances of His presence, and some good advice with respect to their conduct (vs. 5-9). Then we learn how Joshua orders the people to be ready in three days to go along with him (v. 10-11). The chapter concludes with Joshua addressing the Reubenites and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, and puts them in mind of what Moses had ordered, and they had promised, to go along with their brethren, and assist them in conquering the land, which they willingly agreed to do, and promised obedience to him in all (vs. 12-16).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." The Hebrew verb (hagah) for meditate conveys a variety of meanings in the Old Testament. For example, the word may refer to the "growl" of an animal (Is. 31:4) or the "moan" of a person in distress (Is. 59:11). It may also refer to "speaking" (Job 27:4), "muttering" (Is. 59:3), "planning deception" (Ps. 38:12), "studying" (Prov. 15:28), or "meditating" (Ps. 1:2). The word is related to a term meaning "to muse over." God was commanding Joshua to remember His law by "muttering" it to himself, "pondering" it, or "musing over" it. The Scriptures command people of faith to mediate on God's law (1:8) and His works (Ps 143:5). It means much more than just contemplation. The idea here is that one should reflect upon God's Word in a thoughtful way, appropriating its truths personally and applying them to life.

Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, personal contacts, and a desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes far beyond these beliefs. He said that to succeed Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God's law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law ? God's Word. To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes ? and His opinion lasts forever. Let me just say one other thing, when you meditate on the book of the law make sure you are able to see JESUS, the fulfillment of the Law. Meditation without Jesus will lead to self-righteousness and a lack of joy in serving the Lord.

I pray that you would know His prosperity and success.

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 2:1-24

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. ² And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country." ³ So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country." ⁴ Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. ⁵ And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them." ⁶ (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) ⁷ Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. ⁸ Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, ⁹ and said to the men: "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. ¹⁰ For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ¹¹ And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. ¹² Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, ¹³ and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." ¹⁴ So the men answered her, "Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you." ¹⁵ Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. ¹⁶ And she said to them, "Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way." ¹⁷ So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear." ²¹ 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. ²² They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. ²³ So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. ²⁴ And they said to Joshua, "Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us."

In chapter 2 of Joshua we learn of the account of the spies sent by Joshua to Jericho, and of their entrance into the house of Rahab, who hid them from the king's messengers (vs. 1-7). Next we learn of Rahab's treatment of the spies and the Israelites promise to her (vs. 8-21). The chapter concludes with the two spies being let down by a cord through the window of her house, they made their escape to a mountain, where they lay three days, and then returned to Joshua, and made their report (vs. 22-24).

The verses that stand out to me today are Joshua 2:8-11 ⁸ Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, ⁹ and said to the men: "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. ¹⁰ For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ¹¹ And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Rahab's use of God's personal name Yahweh, translated here as Lord, indicates that she had come to faith in the living God.  The Lord had graciously opened the heart and mind of this foreign prostitute to accept Him as Lord. "The terror of you has fallen on us": Israel's reputation went before them. God already had dramatically delivered the Israelites in many ways, and the report had been spread throughout the nations. Rahab mentioned two miraculous deliverances: the crossing of the Red Sea and the victories over two kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og (v. 10; see Ex. 14; Num. 21:21). Rahab makes another dramatic statement of her faith in the Lord in verse 11.  "He is God in heaven": She affirmed God's sovereignty over heaven and earth in language reminiscent of the Psalms (compare Ps. 113:5, 6) and not unlike the confession of Melchizedek to Abram (Gen. 14:19, 20). We must be careful to make a distinction between Rahab's faith and the way Rahab expressed it. The Bible praises Rahab because of her faith in God, not because of her lying. I believe she did the best she could with the knowledge she had at the time.  The Bible calls Rahab a prostitute, but we are not meant to take that as an endorsement for immorality. Rahab, like the rest of us, had a mixed character, but she believed in God and purposed to honor Him and His people. That is what draws her praise. We should honor Rahab the way the Bible does. She was a great heroine of the faith, who came from the most surprising place. In time, her name would be honored not only for what she did for Israel, but for what she became-a mother in the line of Jesus (Ruth 4:18; Matt. 1:5).

I pray that you would know intimately the "God in heaven". I pray that HE and HE alone would be LORD of your life.

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 3:1-17

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. ² So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; ³ and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. ⁴ Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before." ⁵ And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." ⁶ Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. ⁷ And the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. ⁸ You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan. " ⁹ So Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God." ¹⁰ And Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites: ¹¹ Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. ¹² Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe. ¹³ 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." ¹⁴ 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, ¹⁵ 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), ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

In chapter 3 of Joshua we learn how the Israelites camp changes from Acacia Grove to Jordan (v. 1). Then the people are directed to follow the Ark and to sanctify themselves (vs. 2-5). The priests with the Ark are ordered to lead the van (v.6) and Joshua is "exalted in the sight of all Israel" and made commander in chief (vs. 7-8). The chapter concludes with Joshua giving the Israelites notice on what God is about to do for them (vs. 9-13) and then the Jordan is divided, and Israel is brought through safely on dry ground (vs. 14-17).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 3:5 "And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." In this verse Joshua emphasizes the idea of holiness. The basic meaning of holiness is separation from things that are unclean or common. Sanctify yourselves - This is the same instruction given by Moses, Exo_19:10-14. They were to wash themselves and their garments, and abstain from everything that might distract them from encountering God's presence. It may denote that sanctification is necessary to our passage over Jordan, or through death to the heavenly Canaan, for without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Wonders translates the Hebrew word for what today are called miracles. These mighty acts of God astonished people and prompted them to praise Him (Ps. 9:1; 96:3). We read in this passage that the time had come to cross the Jordan River, which was now in flood state. The priests were instructed to go forward, carrying the Ark of the Covenant. The people were ordered to follow the ark at a distance, but always keeping it in view. When the priests' feet touched the water of the Jordan, a miracle occurred, the waters piled up there in a heap. The Israelites had experienced the "wonders" of God as a result of their obedience to the Word of the LORD.

I pray that you also would experience the "Wonders" of God as you stay obedient to God's Word.

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 4:1-24

And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: ² "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, ³ and command them, saying, Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight. " ⁴ Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; ⁵ and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, ⁶ that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, what do these stones mean to you? ⁷ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." ⁸ And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. ⁹ Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day. ¹⁰ So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. ¹¹ Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. ¹² And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. ¹³ About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. ¹⁴ On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life. ¹⁵ Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, ¹⁶ "Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan." ¹⁷ Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up from the Jordan." ¹⁸ And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. ¹⁹ Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. ²⁰ And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. ²¹ Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, what are these stones? ²² then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land; ²³ 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, ²⁴ 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."

In chapter 4 of Joshua we learn how Joshua commands one man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to take up a stone on his shoulder, out of the midst of the Jordan River, and carry it to the other side, to be set up as a memorial (vs. 1-7). The leaders set up the stones in the place where they encamp the first night (vs. 8-9). Next we learn how the priests stand in the river, until all the people pass through (vs. 10-11), and how from the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 40,000 fighting men pass over with the other tribes (vs. 12-13). Joshua is then exalted in the sight of the people, and the children of Israel fear him as they did Moses (vs. 14). The priests are commanded to come up out of the river, which, on their leaving it, immediately returns, and overflows its banks as before (vs. 15-18).  We learn next that this miraculous sign takes place on the tenth day of the first month (vs. 19). The chapter concludes with the stones being set up in Gilgal, and Joshua teaches the people what use they are to make of them (vs. 20-24).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 4:6 "that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, what do these stones mean to you?" The Hebrew term for sign can mean "miracle", but here it means "memorial marker." The same idea is found in Exodus 12:13, 14; 13:8, 9, where there are instructions for celebrating the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These observances were signs to the Israelites and their children that God had miraculously delivered them out of Egypt. "when your children ask": The stones would inevitably stimulate a child's questions in the same way that the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread would. These questions would be opportunities for instruction (Ex. 12:26, 27; 13:8). An important principle is revealed here. In addition to remembering God's gracious work in our lives, we need to tell our children about it also, in other words "Pass it on!"

I pray that you would have opportunity to "Pass it on" today. God has done wonderful things in your life and the "sign" of your salvation needs to be expressed to others.

Be Blessed,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 5:1-15

So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel. ² At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time." ³ So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. ⁴ And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. ⁵ For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. ⁶ For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord-to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, "a land flowing with milk and honey." ⁷ Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. ⁸ So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. ¹⁰ Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. ¹¹ And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. ¹² Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year. ¹³ 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?" ¹⁴ 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?" ¹⁵ 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.

In chapter 5 of Joshua we learn how the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites are afraid and disheartened because of the children of Israel (v. 1). Then the covenant of circumcision is renewed with the children of Israel (vs. 2-9), and the feast of the Passover was celebrated at Gilgal, where the manna ceases (vs. 10-12). The chapter concludes with the Captain of the Lord of Host appears to Joshua (vs. 13-15).

The verses that stand out to me today are Joshua 5:13-15 "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?" ¹⁴ 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?" ¹⁵ 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."

It is interesting to note that the "Commander of the army of the Lord" did not respond to Joshua's question, but instead identifies Himself. The very presence of this "Commander of the army of the Lord" caused Joshua to humbly worship. Rather than asking any further questions about this Man's loyalties, Joshua asked how he could serve this One great than himself. The Book of Job ends in a similar manner. God did not answer Job's questions either. In reality, it was the encounter with God that mattered most (Job 42:5, 6). With both Moses and Joshua, questions were silenced, and humble worship was expressed to the One with authority. One last interesting fact is that the command given to Joshua to take your sandal off your foot is virtually identical with the one given to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:5). This reinforces the theme developed in the Book of Joshua about Joshua's filling of Moses' role as leader of Israel. Joshua was confronted with the living God, who had all authority, just as Moses had been (Ex. 33:9). The truth is both of these men moved out in authority because they recognized TRUE authority.

My prayer is that the leaders of our homes, communities, states, country, and nations of the world would recognize TRUE authority by having an encounter with "The Commander of the Army of the Lord".

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 6:1-27

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. ² And the Lord said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. ³ 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. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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." ⁶ Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord." ⁷ And he said to the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord." ⁸ So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. ⁹ The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. ¹⁰ Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, Shout! Then you shall shout." ¹¹ So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. ¹² And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. ¹³ Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. ¹⁴ And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. ¹⁵ But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. ¹⁶ And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! 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. ¹⁸ And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. ¹⁹ But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord." ²⁰ So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. ²¹ And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. ²² But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, "Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." ²³ And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. ²⁴ But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. ²⁵ And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. ²⁶ Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates." ²⁷ So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.

In chapter 6 of Joshua we learn of the defeat of Jericho (vs. 1-6).  Joshua instructs the children of Israel to walk around the walls of Jericho for six days (vs. 6-14). Next we learn of the conquering of Jericho into the hands of the children of Israel on the seventh day (vs. 15-21), and the preservation of Rahab and her family (vs. 22-25). The chapter concludes with a solemn warning as a curse is pronounced upon the man that should dare to rebuild the city of Jericho (vs. 26-27).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 6:22 ^"But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, "Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." Joshua made sure that the two spies kept their word to Rahab. It is evident that the town walls were not demolished universally, at least all at once, for Rahab's house was allowed to stand until her relatives were rescued according to the promise given. The two spies who had visited Rahab's house went into her home and rescued her and her entire family. These two men rescued her so that there would be no mistake about whom they were to rescue. Remarkably, this prostitute, who was saved from utter destruction, became a member of the family line of Jesus (Ruth 4:18; Matt. 1:5). The faith that brought the walls down (Heb. 11:30) also brought ... Rahab and her relatives out (Heb. 11:31). The grace of God not only made provision for her safety but also elevated her to a place in the ancestry of David and ultimately of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace not only saves us from destruction but also grants us salvation (Rom. 8:29, 30). The statement at the end of verse 25, "and she lives in Israel to this day," refers to the continuation of her family line. Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, is included in the genealogy of the Savior, Jesus Christ (Mt 1:5), thereby participating in the Lord's ultimate triumph of grace.

I pray that the story of Rahab's life would remind you of God's amazing Grace. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).

Standing because of His Grace,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 7:1-26

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. ² 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. ³ 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." ⁴ So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. ⁵ 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. ⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. ⁷ And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all-to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! ⁸ O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? ⁹ For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?" ¹⁰ So the Lord said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. ¹² Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. ¹³ Get up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." ¹⁴ In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes shall come according to families; and the family which the Lord takes shall come by households; and the household which the Lord takes shall come man by man. ¹⁵ Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel. " ¹⁶ So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. ¹⁷ He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. ¹⁸ Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. ¹⁹ Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me." ²⁰ And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: ²¹ 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." ²² So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. ²³ And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. ²⁴ Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ 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.

In chapter 7 of Joshua we learn of the trespass regarding the accursed thing (v. 1). Joshua sends men to spy out the country (v. 2), and the men return with a favorable report regarding Ai (v. 3). Three thousand men are sent out against Ai, but are they are defeated, and thirty-six Israelites lose their lives (vs. 4-5). As a result of the defeat, Joshua is greatly distressed and prostrates himself before the Lord to inquire of Him (vs. 6-9). In Joshua's humiliation and prayer, God instructs him on what to do (vs. 10-15). Joshua inquires in what Tribe the guilt is found, and finds it to be in the tribe of Judah; in what Family, and finds it to be among the Zarhites; in what Household, and finds it to be in that of Zabdi; in what Individual, and finds it to be Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi (vs. 16-18). Joshua exhorts him to confess his sin, Jos_7:19. He does so, and gives a circumstantial account (vs. 20-21), and Joshua sends for the stolen articles (vs. 22-23). The chapter concludes with Achan, and all that belonged to him, being brought to the valley of Achor where they are stoned and burnt (vs. 22-26).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 7:15 "Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel."

The relationship between obedience and blessing and disobedience and cursing is well illustrated in this chapter. Israel would have no further successes until the sin had been uncovered. We need to see that severe judgment has everything to do with unbelief. Not only did Israel not acknowledge God before battle but Achan thought he could actually hide something from God and His people. The Hebrew word translated a disgraceful thing denotes a blatant and senseless disregard for God's will (vs. 15). In the New Testament we learn of the story of Judas and his covenant attitude. Judas' actions were also a blatant and senseless disregard for God's will. We must remember from this chapter that when God devotes something to destruction He has purpose.

I pray that you would discern what has been devoted to destruction (sin) and continue to allow the Word of God to keep you from yielding to temptation.

Be Blessed in His Word,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 8:1-35

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. 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. Lay an ambush for the city behind it." ³ So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night. ⁴ And he commanded them, saying: "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. ⁵ Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that we shall flee before them. ⁶ For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, They are fleeing before us as at the first. Therefore we will flee before them. ⁷ Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. ⁸ And it will be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the Lord you shall do. See, I have commanded you." ⁹ Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people. ¹⁰ Then Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. ¹¹ And all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now a valley lay between them and Ai. ¹² So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. ¹³ And when they had set the people, all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. ¹⁴ Now it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. ¹⁵ And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. ¹⁶ So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. ¹⁷ There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel. ¹⁸ Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. ¹⁹ So those in ambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to set the city on fire. ²⁰ And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. So they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. ²¹ Now when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. ²² Then the others came out of the city against them; so they were caught in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they let none of them remain or escape. ²³ But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua. ²⁴ And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. ²⁵ So it was that all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand-all the people of Ai. ²⁶ For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. ²⁷ Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua. ²⁸ So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day. ²⁹ And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day. ³⁰ Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, ³¹ 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. ³² 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. ³³ 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. ³⁴ 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. ³⁵ 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.

In chapter 8 of Joshua we learn how the Lord encourages Joshua, promising him of the defeat of Ai, and instructing him in how he is to proceed in battle (vs. 1-2). Joshua then takes thirty thousand of his best troops, and gives them directions concerning the strategy of taking Ai (vs. 3-19). Then Joshua and his men turned against the men of Ai, and, at the same time, those who were designated to ambush the city began to attack them in the rear; therefore the men of Ai were defeated, their king taken prisoner, and twelve thousand persons fell to the sword (vs. 20-26). Next we learn how the Israelites take the spoils, and hang the king of Ai (vs. 27-29). Then Joshua builds an altar to God on Mount Ebal, and writes on it a copy of the law of Moses (vs. 30-32). The chapter concludes with the elders, officers, and judges, standing on each side of the ark, one half over against Mount Gerizim, and the other against Mount Ebal, and read all the blessings and curses of the law, according to the command of Moses (vs. 33-35).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 8:26 "For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai." This verse shows that Joshua maintained his arm outstretched, with his spear in hand, until the defeat of Ai was completed. The upraised spear was more than a signal to start the battle; it was also a symbol of God's presence and help in the battle (v. 1). This episode closely parallels that in Ex. 17:8, where the Israelites battled the Amalekites, and Moses stretched out his hand with "the rod of God" in it (Ex. 17:9). In that account, Moses' outstretched arm stood for God's presence, because the battle went in Israel's favor when Moses' hands were up, and against Israel when he tired and dropped his hands. This episode in Joshua shows yet another way in which Joshua was the worthy successor to Moses.

Ai was defeated this time because of the presence of the Lord that was upon the people of Israel. The absence of sin (Achan hiding that which was devoted for destruction) allowed for the presence of the Lord to be known in the battle.  This is a fresh reminder that we cannot engage in battles where sin is dwelling in our hearts. However, 1 John 1:9 say's ^"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We are also reminded in James 5:16 to, ^"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

I pray that you would experience great victories today as you walk in HIS presence by maintaining HIS righteousness in your heart.

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 9:1-27

And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon- the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite-heard about it, ² that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. ³ But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, ⁴ they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, ⁵ old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. ⁶ And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us." ⁷ Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?" ⁸ But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?" ⁹ So they said to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, ¹⁰ and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan-to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. ¹¹ Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us." ¹² This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. ¹³ And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey." ¹⁴ Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. ¹⁵ So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. ¹⁶ And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. ¹⁷ Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. ¹⁸ But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers. ¹⁹ Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. ²⁰ This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them." ²¹ And the rulers said to them, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them." ²² Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, We are very far from you, when you dwell near us? ²³ Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves-woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." ²⁴ So they answered Joshua and said, "Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. ²⁵ And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us." ²⁶ So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. ²⁷ And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

In chapter 9 of Joshua we learn how the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, unite forces against Israel (vs. 1-2). Next we learn how the inhabitants of Gibeon, hearing what Joshua had done to Ai, sent ambassadors to him, pretending to come from a very distant tribe, requesting to make a covenant with them (vs. 3-13). The Israelite elders are deceived, and make a covenant with them, which they confirm with an oath, however after three days they are informed that the Gibeonites belong to the seven Canaanite nations, yet they spare their cities (vs. 14-21). The chapter concludes with Joshua calling the Gibeonites and pronouncing that they will be spared, but that they will be make woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord (vs. 22-27)

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 9:14 "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord." The Israelites took some of the Gibeonites' provisions in order to inspect them, to confirm the Gibeonites' words. Significantly, the Israelites did not ask counsel of the Lord, contrary to God's explicit instructions to Joshua (Num. 27:21). The problem was that the Israelites' confirmation of the Gibeonites' claim was in their own strength and on their own initiative. The mistake on Israel's part was not so much that they were deceived, but that they did not ask for the Lord's counsel. So quickly we can find ourselves in difficult or unsuccessful circumstances because we rush to a decision without properly consulting the Lord, His Scriptures, and His people for guidance.

I pray that you would, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV)

Love in Christ,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 10:1-43

Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it- as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king-and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, ² that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. ³ Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, ⁴ "Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel." ⁵ Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it. ⁶ And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us." ⁷ So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 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." ⁹ Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. ¹⁰ So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. ¹¹ And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. ¹² Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." ¹³ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 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. ¹⁵ Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. ¹⁶ But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ And it was told Joshua, saying, "The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah." ¹⁸ So Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them. ¹⁹ And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand." ²⁰ Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities. ²¹ And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace. No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. ²² Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave." ²³ And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. ²⁴ So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." And they drew near and put their feet on their necks. ²⁵ Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." ²⁶ And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening. ²⁷ So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day. ²⁸ On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them-all the people who were in it. He let none remain. He also did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho. ²⁹ Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah; and they fought against Libnah. ³⁰ And the Lord also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword. He let none remain in it, but did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. ³¹ Then Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish; and they encamped against it and fought against it. ³² And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah. ³³ Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he left him none remaining. ³⁴ From Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it and fought against it. ³⁵ They took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; all the people who were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. ³⁶ So Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it. ³⁷ And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword-its king, all its cities, and all the people who were in it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were in it. ³⁸ Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and they fought against it. ³⁹ And he took it and its king and all its cities; they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who were in it. He left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king. ⁴⁰ So Joshua conquered all the land: the mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. ⁴¹ And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon. ⁴² All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. ⁴³ Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

In chapter 10 of Joshua we learn how the King of Jerusalem gathers four other kings with him to war against Israel (vs. 1-6). Next, we read how Joshua receives help at Gibeon, the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven, and the sun and moon stand still (vs. 7-14). Then we learn how the kings are taken, their armies defeated, and they are put to death (vs. 15-27). The chapter concludes with seven other kings defeated and slain (vs. 28-43).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 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 learn in this chapter that in the sight of Israel, Joshua commanded the Sun and the Moon to stand still over Gibeon until the Israelites had revenged upon their enemies. The Book of Jasher (mentioned again in 2 Sam. 1:18) confirms what the Book of Joshua reports here. This miraculous event played a key role in Israel's victory that day. Of course, we do not know exactly what happened. What we know for sure is that God intervened in the normal course of nature at exactly the right moment to give the Israelites victory over their enemies. As the writer of Joshua points out, the greatest marvel lies not in the occurrence of the miracle itself but that "the Lord heeded the voice of a man". This is plain proof that one person can gain God's attention in prayer. Is anything too hard for the Lord? The answer to Joshua and the Israelites is NO! Proclamation was made to the neighboring nations that the God of Israel is like no other.

I pray that you would take time to thank the LORD for HIS miraculous works in your life. And remember, nothing is too difficult for GOD.

Psalms 72:18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁸ Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things!
¹⁹ And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.

Blessings,

Alan J. Schrader

Joshua 11:1-23

And it came to pass, 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, ² 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, ³ to the Canaanites in the east and in the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mizpah. ⁴ So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. ⁵ And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. 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. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." ⁷ So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them. ⁸ And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who defeated them and chased them to Greater Sidon, to the Brook Misrephoth, and to the Valley of Mizpah eastward; they attacked them until they left none of them remaining. ⁹ So Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. ¹⁰ Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms. ¹¹ And they struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was none left breathing. Then he burned Hazor with fire. ¹² So all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. ¹³ But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, which Joshua burned. ¹⁴ And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the children of Israel took as booty for themselves; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they left none breathing. ¹⁵ As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses. ¹⁶ Thus Joshua took all this land: the mountain country, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the lowland, and the Jordan plain-the mountains of Israel and its lowlands, ¹⁷ from Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, even as far as Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings, and struck them down and killed them. ¹⁸ Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. ¹⁹ There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. All the others they took in battle. ²⁰ For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²¹ And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. ²² None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. ²³ So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.

In chapter 11 of Joshua we learn how the kings of Hazor, Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, with those of the mountains, plains and various chiefs of the Canaanites and Amorites, met together to fight against Israel (vs. 1-5). The Lord encourages Joshua, and the people of Israel attack and defeats the enemies of Israel, taking spoil and destroying many of their cities (vs. 6-15). Next we read the account of the country taken by Joshua (vs. 16-18), and how the Gibeonites only make peace with Israel (v. 19). All the rest resist and are overcome (v. 20). The chapter is concluded with an account of Joshua cutting off the Anakim from various parts, which finished the conquest of the whole land (vs. 21-23).

The verse that stands out to me today is Joshua 11:6 . 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. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." In this verse we learn how God promised to deliver Israel's enemies into their hands by tomorrow about this time. This is especially significant in light of the impressive numbers of enemies that gather together against Israel. These are the same words used many years later by Elisha to predict the escape of Samaria from a siege imposed by the Syrians (2 Kin. 7:1). In both cases God's promise came true. The LORD is the Great Promise Keeper. If He say's it, you can believe it. I want to encourage you with one of the most important promises of all. HIS RETURN:

Acts 1:11 (NKJV)
¹¹ who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

2 Peter 3:8-13 (NKJV)
⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

My prayer for you today can be found in 2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Love in Christ,

Alan J. Schrader