first reaction

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

first reaction

Joshua 7:6-9 (JDV)

Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of Yahveh until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.
Joshua 7:7 “Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan!
Joshua 7:8 What can I say, Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?
Joshua 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the land. Then what will you do about your great name?”

first reaction

Joshua should have known better. His first reaction to the incident at Ai is to blame God.

Truth is, that is our first reaction when bad things happen to us all too often. Instead of stepping back and looking at a hard situation rationally, we look for someone to blame. If we were to go back over the history — as Joshua should have — we would see that God has warned us about all that might happen should we choose the wrong side.

Lord, you are great and good. Forgive us our failures, especially the tendency to blame you for our problems.

Posted in blasphemy, sin | Tagged | 1 Comment

each link is important

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

each link is important

Joshua 7:4-5 (JDV)

Joshua 7:4 So about three thousand men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.
Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them and chased them from outside the city gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people lost heart.

each link is important

Observers of the battle of Ai might have imagined all kinds of reasons for this unexpected defeat. But there was no way that these men could have defeated the men of Ai, because the failure did not come from them. God allowed the Israelites to be defeated because one man had betrayed him. A three thousand man army is only as strong as its weakest link.

Lord, build commitment and dedication to you into each one of us.

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the only number that matters

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

the only number that matters

Joshua 7:1-3 (JDV)

Joshua 7:1 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and Yahveh’s anger burned against the Israelites.
Joshua 7:2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and scout the land.” So the men went up and scouted Ai.
Joshua 7:3 After returning to Joshua they reported to him, “Don’t send all the people, but send about two thousand or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don’t wear out all our people there.”

the only number that matters

The scouts were not thinking straight. They somehow got the idea that it was their large numbers which defeated Jericho. But it was God who had empowered them to defeat Jericho. But now God would not release that power, because one man among them had proven unfaithful. It would not matter how many people were dispatched to defeat Ai. Even all the people would not be enough.

When it comes to faithfulness, the only number that matters is one.

Lord, without your help, it does not matter how large our numbers are. Give us the wisdom to be faithful, one at a time.

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leaving the rubble alone

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

leaving the rubble alone

Joshua 6:26 -27 (JDV)

Joshua 6:26 At that time Joshua imposed this curse: The man who undertakes the rebuilding of this city, Jericho, is cursed before Yahveh. He will lay its foundation at the cost of his firstborn; he will finish its gates at the cost of his youngest.
Joshua 6:27 And Yahveh was with Joshua, and news about him spread throughout the land.

leaving the rubble alone

The reason it was so important that Jericho not be rebuilt is that it was symbolic of the whole system of sin and corruption that stands between humanity and God. The kingdom will overthrow that system permanently.

Lord, give us the wisdom to leave the rubble alone and let your victory prevail over our past.

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spared

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

spared

Joshua 6:20-25 (JDV)

Joshua 6:20 So the troops yelled, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the troops gave a great yell, and the wall collapsed. The troops advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city.
Joshua 6:21 They completely destroyed everything in the city with the sword – every man and woman, both young and old, and every ox, sheep, and donkey.
Joshua 6:22 Joshua said to the two men who had scouted the land, “Go to the prostitute’s house and bring the woman out of there, and everyone who is with her, just like you swore to her.”
Joshua 6:23 So the young men who had scouted went in and brought out Rahab and her father, mother, brothers, and everyone who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.
Joshua 6:24 They burned the city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of Yahveh’s house.
Joshua 6:25 However, Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and everyone who belonged to her, because she hid the messengers Joshua had sent to spy on Jericho, and she still lives in Israel today.

spared

The story is a true story, but it is also a symbol of another reality. Rahab is a symbol of how to be spared from the coming destruction. The Bible tells us that the wicked will be permanently destroyed in hell, just like the citizens of Jericho were destroyed by the invading Israelites under Joshua. But Rahab and those in her household were spared. How were they spared? They made the crucial decision to switch allegiances and trust God rather than their own gods. They sought the protection and provision of God’s people, which was an act of rebellion against their own city. They trusted in the protection of the divine covenant, as symbolized by the scarlet cord.

Unbelievers today have the same option. They can be spared the coming wrath and its consequence of permanent destruction, but not without making the same choice that Rahab did.

Lord, draw more Rahabs to yourself.

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dedicated or destroyed

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

dedicated or destroyed

Joshua 6:15-19 (JDV)

Joshua 6:15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times.
Joshua 6:16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the troops, “Yell! Because Yahveh has given you the city.
Joshua 6:17 But the city and everything in it are set apart to Yahveh for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will stay alive, because she hid the messengers we sent.
Joshua 6:18 But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it.
Joshua 6:19 You see, all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to Yahveh and must go into Yahveh’s treasury.”

dedicated or destroyed

Barnes comments on verse 19: “Every living thing was put to death (Rahab and her household excepted) as a sacrifice to God, and the indestructible goods were brought into the treasury of the sanctuary.”

Why was Rahab and her family to be spared? She had dedicated herself to Yahveh and the preservation of his people. The whole city was dedicated to destruction — a prefiguring of the coming day of destruction commonly called hell. When Jesus returns, all those not dedicated to his kingdom will be destroyed. The “indestructible goods” will return to his treasury, because our creator has always owned them.

Sinners are not indestructible. Jesus reminded us that we should not fear man, but God, because he is able to destroy body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). But God is also able to make those dedicated to him indestructible. Paul says this will happen when Jesus returns:

1 Corinthians 15:52 “in a split second, in a blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. Because it will blast, and the dead ones will be woken indestructible and we will be transformed.”

Faith in the gospel is our scarlet cord, protecting us from this day of terrible and irreversible destruction. There is no other decision more important in this life that the decision to follow Christ and be a part of his coming kingdom. On that day, you will be dedicated to him. You will either be dedicated for permanent life or dedicated to permanent destruction.

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “They will pay the penalty of permanent destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength on that day when he comes to be glorified by his devotees and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.”

LORD, draw more Rahabs to yourself this day!

Posted in deliverance, destruction in hell, faith | Tagged | 1 Comment

silent soldiers

Posted on August 14, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

silent soldiers

Joshua 6:8-14 (JDV)

Joshua 6:8 After Joshua had spoken to the troops, seven priests carrying seven trumpets in front of Yahveh moved forward and blew the trumpets; the ark of Yahveh’s covenant followed them.
Joshua 6:9 While the trumpets were blowing, the armed men went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard went behind the ark.
Joshua 6:10 But Joshua had commanded the troops: “Do not yell or let your voice be heard. Don’t let one word come out of your mouth until the time I say, ‘Yell! ‘ Then you are to yell.”
Joshua 6:11 So the ark of Yahveh was carried around the city, circling it once. They returned to the camp and spent the night there.
Joshua 6:12 Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the ark of Yahveh,
Joshua 6:13 and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of Yahveh. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed men went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of Yahveh.
Joshua 6:14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

silent soldiers

The Lord had commanded Joshua to have all his troops give a strong yell, but not until the seventh day of the march. So, Joshua told them to remain silent until then. It takes a tremendous amount of self-discipline to stay quiet in such a circumstance. As a soldier, you know the role of noise for intimidation. It took faith and courage for these soldiers to remain silent until the time was right.

As soldiers for Christ, we also need to know when to speak up, and when to remain silent. We must be wise, knowing what tactic best succeeds at accomplishing our commander’s will.

LORD, give us the wisdom to know when to speak up, and when to remain silent.

Posted in obedience, spiritual warfare, submission, wisdom | 1 Comment

symbol of fear

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

symbol of fear

Joshua 6:6-7 (JDV)

Joshua 6:6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests together and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven trumpets in front of the ark of Yahveh.”
Joshua 6:7 He said to the troops, “Move forward, march around the city, and have the armed men go ahead of the ark of Yahveh.”

symbol of fear

We are not used to thinking of the ark as a symbol of fear, but that was what it was for the inhabitants of Jericho. For seven days, seven priests blew seven trumpets as the people of Jericho watched. An army preceded the ark, but it was God’s presence in it that brought terror to the hearts of these people.

Until we are ready to see our God in all his almighty power, we have not seen him yet. Until we learn to respect his greatness, we are not prepared for his goodness. We must learn to abhor and fear the consequences of our sin before we can embrace his grace.

Lord, you are surrounding us with your power. Break down our walls so that we can experience the power of your renewal through repentance.

Posted in fear, renewal, repentance, reverence | Tagged | 1 Comment

conditional victory

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

conditional victory

Joshua 6:1-5 (JDV)

Joshua 6:1 Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites – no one leaving or entering.
Joshua 6:2 Yahveh said to Joshua, “Notice, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its ablest soldiers over to you.
Joshua 6:3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.
Joshua 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets.
Joshua 6:5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the troops give a strong yell. Then the city wall will collapse, and the troops can advance, each man straight ahead.”

conditional victory

God knew not only that the wall of Jericho would collapse, he knew when it would happen, and under what circumstances it would happen. His omniscience is revealed in this passage, as well as his omnipotence.

Yet neither of these doctrinal truths serves as grounds for passivity for Joshua and the Israelites. In fact, their obedience to God’s directives are a condition required for the victory to happen.

God’s sovereignty is never an excuse for us to be disobedient or passive, presuming upon his favor.

LORD, make us warriors who follow your directions, so that victory is sure.

Posted in obedience, sovereignty of God | Tagged | 1 Comment

all ears now

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

all ears now

Joshua 5:12-15 (JDV)

Joshua 5:12 And the day after they ate from the produce of the land, the manna stopped. Since there was no more manna for the Israelites, they ate from the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Joshua 5:13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
Joshua 5:14 “Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of Yahveh’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?”
Joshua 5:15 The commander of Yahveh’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did that.

all ears now

He looked like a man, so Joshua knew how to size up a man. His only question to the “man” that he saw was essentially “whose side are you on?” But, after he learned that this “man” was actually the captain of Yahveh’s angelic army, Joshua’s attitude changed. He was suddenly “all ears” now — wanting to know the message that the LORD was sending through his messenger.

LORD, we are all ears. Tell us what you want to say.

Posted in listening, presence of God, relationship with God | Tagged | 1 Comment