victims of indiscretion

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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victims of indiscretion

Joshua 9:14-20 (JDV)

Joshua 9:14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek Yahveh’s decision.
Joshua 9:15 So Joshua established a relationship with them and made a treaty to allow them stay alive, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.
Joshua 9:16 Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them.
Joshua 9:17 So the Israelites set out and reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
Joshua 9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them by Yahveh, the God of Israel. Then the whole community grumbled against the leaders.
Joshua 9:19 All the leaders answered them, “We have sworn an oath to them by Yahveh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
Joshua 9:20 This is how we will treat them: we will let them stay alive, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

victims of indiscretion

Joshua and the Israelites had made a mistake by not consulting God when they made a treaty with the Gibeonites. Now, even though it would hinder their mission, they had to abide by that treaty. They had to stay true to their word. Why, because God’s wrath would fall on them if they didn’t.

Lord, make us people of integrity who stand by our commitments, but help us to seek your will in our decisions, so that we are not victims of our own indiscretion.

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caution and compromise

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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caution and compromise

Joshua 9:7-13 (JDV)

Joshua 9:7 The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “What if you actually live among us. How could we make a treaty with you?”
Joshua 9:8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
Joshua 9:9 They replied to him, “Your servants have come from a far away land because of the reputation of Yahveh your God. You see, we have heard news about him, and all that he did in Egypt,
Joshua 9:10 and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan – King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.
Joshua 9:11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey; go and meet them and say, “We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.”‘
Joshua 9:12 This bread of ours was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we left to come to you; but see, it is now dry and crumbly.
Joshua 9:13 These wineskins were new when we filled them; but see, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the extremely long journey.”

caution and compromise

The Gibeonites keep up the deception, even skirting around the very issue that Joshua brings up. They know that the Israelites are determined to eliminate the competition and inhabit the promised land without the temptation of outsiders. Yet they seek the alliance that would prevent that.

This story should help believers to be cautious about compromise.

Lord, give us insight into those who would pretend to join us, but have ulterior motives.

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Gibeonites among us

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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Gibeonites among us

Joshua 9:3-6 (JDV)

Joshua 9:3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
Joshua 9:4 they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
Joshua 9:5 They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies. Their entire provision of bread was dry and crumbly.
Joshua 9:6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a far away land. Please make a treaty with us.”

Gibeonites among us

The Gibeonites were wiser than the kings who had formed an alliance against Israel. They realized the truth to that old saying “If you can’t beat them , join them.” But they did not join Israel in integrity. They chose to deceive them into thinking that they had traveled from far away.

I think there are Gibeonites among us. Some appear to be in an alliance with Bible believers, but have really just sought our protection through deception. Like the Gibeonites, they will be found out.

Lord, give us insight into the real status of our “friends.”

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a united alliance

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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a united alliance

Joshua 9:1-2 (JDV)

Joshua 9:1 When all the kings heard about Jericho and Ai, those who were west of the Jordan in the hill country, in the Judean foothills, and all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea toward Lebanon – the Hethites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites –
Joshua 9:2 they formed a unified alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.

a united alliance

Not one of the pagan kings imagined any kind of treaty or cooperative agreement with Israel, but they were willing to put aside their petty rivalries and unify with all the other pagan kings against Joshua and Israel. They understood they were in danger. This advance had to be stopped.

When we are seeking to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and make kingdom changes in this world, we should expect a unified alliance against us. In fact, we should be concerned if we do not have opposition and persecution.

Lord, make us a threat to the powers of this age, as we advance your gospel and your kingdom.

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Ebal’s altar

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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Ebal’s altar

Joshua 8:30-35 (JDV)

Joshua 8:30 At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to Yahveh, the God of Israel,
Joshua 8:31 just like Moses Yahveh’s servant had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used. Then they offered burnt offerings to Yahveh and sacrificed fellowship offerings on it.
Joshua 8:32 There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites.
Joshua 8:33 All Israel – resident alien and citizen alike – with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark of Yahveh’s covenant facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses Yahveh’s servant had commanded earlier concerning blessing the people of Israel.
Joshua 8:34 Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the instruction – the blessings as well as the curses – according to all that is written in the book of instruction.
Joshua 8:35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the dependents, and the resident aliens who lived among them.

Ebal’s altar

Immediately after the destruction of Ai, Joshua built an altar and recommitted the people to obeying the law. But do not overlook the fact that Joshua also offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The renewal included more that a recommitment. The sacrifice was a celebration of God’s forgiveness by his grace.

Likewise, on that day, when our universe is once and for all cleansed of its defilement, it will not be the destruction of evil that we will celebrate. It will be the survival of life, brought about by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

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Ai’s smoke

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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Ai’s smoke

Joshua 8:18-29 (JDV)

Joshua 8:18 Then Yahveh said to Joshua, “Hold out the javelin in your hand toward Ai, because I will hand the city over to you.” So Joshua held out his javelin toward it.
Joshua 8:19 When he held out his hand, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They ran, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.
Joshua 8:20 The men of Ai turned and looked back, and smoke from the city was rising to the sky! They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now became the pursuers.
Joshua 8:21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.
Joshua 8:22 Then men in ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces, some on one side and some on the other. They struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained,
Joshua 8:23 but they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
Joshua 8:24 When Israel had finished killing everyone living in Ai who had pursued them into the open country, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the sword.
Joshua 8:25 The total of those who fell that day, both men and women, was twelve thousand – all the people of Ai.
Joshua 8:26 Joshua did not draw back his hand that was holding the javelin until all the inhabitants of Ai were completely destroyed.
Joshua 8:27 Israel plundered only the cattle and spoil of that city for themselves, according to Yahveh’s command that he had given Joshua.
Joshua 8:28 Joshua burned Ai and left it a permanent ruin, still desolate today.
Joshua 8:29 He hung the body of the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take his body down from the tree. They threw it down at the entrance of the city gate and put a large pile of rocks over it, which still remains today.

Ai’s smoke

When people read in the book of Revelation that “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever” they often get the mistaken notion that it is describing eternal conscious torment. But passages like this remind us that the metaphor of smoke rising signifies complete destruction. As verse 26 says “all the inhabitants of Ai were completely destroyed.” Verse 28 says “Joshua burned Ai and left it a permanent ruin, still desolate today.”

God is not obligated to keep his enemies alive forever, even in torment. His plan is to rid his people of the obstacle of their existence by destroying the wicked.

Lord, thank you for a future eternity without sin or sinners.

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what the king didn’t know

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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what the king didn’t know

Joshua 8:14-17 (JDV)

Joshua 8:14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, the men of the city hurried and went out early in the morning so that he and all his people could engage Israel in battle at a suitable place facing the Arabah. But he did not know there was an ambush waiting for him behind the city.
Joshua 8:15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten back by them and ran toward the wilderness.
Joshua 8:16 Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
Joshua 8:17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city exposed while they pursued Israel.

what the king didn’t know

Why did the king of Ai send all his troops to fight the Israelite soldiers? Why leave the city exposed by sending out all your fighting soldiers? I imagine he felt it would be a strong encouragement for all the soldiers to experience a victory like they had experienced before. He was acting a coach, who puts his second and third string players in the game after the score indicates that the opponent is weak.

But “he did not know” (verse 14). He did not know about the ambush. He also did not know that this was a different Israelite army. It was an army of a nation reconciled with God.

If you have come to Christ, and become born again, expect people to misjudge you. They are basing their expectations on the old you. But you are not the same person, with the same weaknesses.

Lord, thank you for the joy of regeneration.

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night with the troops

Posted on August 28, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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night with the troops

Joshua 8:9-13 (JDV)

Joshua 8:9 So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.
Joshua 8:10 Joshua started early the next morning and mobilized them. Then he and the elders of Israel led the troops up to Ai.
Joshua 8:11 All those who were with him went up and approached the city, arriving opposite Ai, and camped to the north of it, with a valley between them and the city.
Joshua 8:12 Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
Joshua 8:13 The troops were positioned like this: the main camp to the north of the city and its rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.

night with the troops

Joshua’s night with the troops is significant because he knew that they needed his presence. They needed his assurance that God had not abandoned them — that they would not suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of this small city again. He wanted to be with them, to pray for them, interceding and seeking God’s wisdom for the next day’s battle.

Thank you, Lord, for leaders who encourage us, take time for us, and seek your wisdom for the battles we will face.

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the second confidence

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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the second confidence

Joshua 8:3-8 (JDV)

Joshua 8:3 So Joshua and all the troops set out to attack Ai. Joshua selected thirty thousand of his ablest soldiers and sent them out at night.
Joshua 8:4 He commanded them: “Pay attention. Lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it, and all of you be ready.
Joshua 8:5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will run from them.
Joshua 8:6 They will come after us until we have drawn them away from the city, because they will say, ‘They are running from us like before.’ While we are running from them,
Joshua 8:7 you are to come out of your ambush and seize the city. Yahveh your God will hand it over to you.
Joshua 8:8 After taking the city, set it on fire. Follow Yahveh’s command – see that you do as I have ordered you.”

the second confidence

Joshua and his soldiers had been confident in attacking Ai before, and it had resulted in death and shame. Now, they come against the city again, with a new confidence, not based on their numbers or the presumed weakness of their opponents, but on their relationship with God. Joshua’s words were not “you can handle this” but “Yahveh your God will hand it over to you.”

Lord, draw us first to yourself, then give us the confidence of knowing you will give us victory.

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not the time

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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not the time

Joshua 8:1-2 (JDV)

Joshua 8:1 Yahveh said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all the troops with you and go attack Ai. Notice, I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, city, and land.
Joshua 8:2 Treat Ai and its king as you did Jericho and its king, except that you may plunder its spoil and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”

not the time

Why did God change the rules concerning the taking of spoils after the Achan incident? From the standpoint of the people, they had passed the test. They had eliminated the defiled ones, and removed the curse from among them. The destruction of Achan and all of his things cleansed the land of its impurity.

But there is another reason. I have been relating these events to the reality of God’s final punishment of the wicked in hell after judgment day. Gehenna will destroy all traces of evil from God’s universe. What will happen then? God’s people will be set free to enjoy all the beauty and glory of God’s creation, with no threat of defilement, and no prohibition. Our hearts will have been cleansed, so that the treasures among us can be enjoyed without idolatry and shame. Given that, it makes sense that God would allow the Israelites to take plunder after the Achan incident.

Lord, give us the wisdom not to hold on to earthly treasures today, because now is not the time for our inheritance.

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