April 29, 2013
Be strong, and of good courage
Categories: Biblical
This morning, I read the book of Joshua, Chapters 6 through 8. Something(s) about a sermon I heard on Sabbath really stood out for me… was a very timely message. I needed to investigate some stuff in there.
The chapters talked about two conquests under Joshua – the cities of Jericho and Ai. There was also chapter 7, that spoke about Israel initial defeat to the people of Ai. When spies were sent to Ai, they came back saying that there [Ai] were so few in number, that they could just send a few thousand warriors up to take the city. Unfortunately, Ai sent them back running, and they lost 36 men that day.
Joshua, disappointed, cried out to the Lord – he fell on his face before the Ark of the Lord, and he and the elders but dust on their heads (verse 6)
But God had some choice words for him:
“So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 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.
“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.
“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.””
— Joshua 7:10-13
I can’t summarize 3 chapters in this small space, but this is where Achan was discovered, and he and his family put to death. Israel went on to conquer Ai in a dramatic way. (I keep saying that the Bible is better than TV!) God is serious about sin, and we should be too – it usually is the keep-back to progress in our lives.
Here are the last couple verses of Chapter 8, and then a couple verses that God said to Joshua – way back in Chapter 1. They stood out for me, and that’s what I want to leave with you today.
* * *
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. 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.
— Joshua 8:34-35
“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.
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.”
— Joshua 1:8-9
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