2-28-2022 Devotion: Walking on Water

 Matthew 14: 28-29: "And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.'" The disciples are in their boat in the middle of the sea being tossed by the waves. They look and see Jesus walking on the water. Impetuous Peter wants to walk on the water. Jesus tells him to step out and he does. Peter is walking on the water until he looks at the circumstances of the wind and he sinks. Of course, Jesus stretches out His hand to save him. This is another text that can be easily misinterpreted which will lead to frustration and unbelief. The passage doesn't say you can do the impossible if you keep your eyes, and therefore your faith, on the Lord Jesus Christ. The key is that the Lord directed Peter to come. If you have a divine directive from the Word of God (and not some voice in your head), you can accomplish the impossible if you keep your eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Your circumstances may attempt to sink you, but if you are following the Lord, you will be able to accomplish the impossible like Peter, he walked on water.

Nineth Lesson of the Quarter: Conquest Completed

 Today's lesson comes from Joshua 11: 1-12, 15, 23. The study deals with Joshua's northern campaign. As we look into the material, you need to understand the size of the enemy force the Israelites are facing. It is massive. They have chariots and horses, and Joshua only has an infantry. It is appropriate to draw some spiritual lessons because many times in this life we face huge problems.

After completing the southern campaign, Joshua and the troops return to their base in Gilgal. The people rested at Gilgal briefly before hearing word that a coalition of the cities of the north was forming. The Israelites marched northward and as they came closer to the Sea of Galilee, they learned that the enemy were assembled at the waters of Merom. The spring was nine miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee. 

The first section is: "A Multitude Against Israel." (v. 1-5) Jabin was the leader of the Canaanite forces. He was king of Hazor, a main city in the northern region. After hearing about Joshua's victories, Jabin sends word to all the surrounding cities and kings to come and join him. The historian Josephus estimated the combined army was 300,000 foot soldiers, 10,000 horses, and 20,000 chariots. In the natural, Joshua had no chance. He only had an infantry, no horses or chariots. The chariots had long scythes. A scythe was a long shaped curved blade for cutting grass or wheat. With the scythes, the chariots could sweep through a line of infantry men and cut them to pieces. Thank God that Joshua was not depending on human means. He had marching orders from God and that was his assurance. Joshua would attack first.

The summary points of this section are:

1. It is not by human strength we prevail, but by the power of God. 

2. Sometimes it is best to attack the spiritual enemies first. 

3. While we don't ignore the physical circumstances, we must see the spiritual realities and follow God's Word.

The second section is: "Israel Smote Them." (vv. 6-9) The LORD gives Joshua some additional assurance in verse 6. "Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel."  Further, God tells Joshua to disable their horses and burn their chariots. This would prevent them from creating a new army to attack Joshua. 

Joshua uses a technique he used at Ai and Gibeon. He launched a surprise attack when the enemy was not ready. This threw the Canaanites into confusion, and "the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel." The enemy split into two sections. Some fled westwards toward Zidon and the other eastward toward Mizpeh.  It was a total victory!

The summary points of this section are: 

1. The more intense the battle, the sweeter the victory.

2. What God promises, He will deliver.

3. God is able to intervene into the lives of unbelievers to bring about the victory for His people.

The third section is: "All the Cities Taken." (vv. 10-14) Having slain the enemy forces, Joshua retuned to the city of Hazor. The city was now defenseless without its army. Joshua took the city and killed the king. Further, Joshua slew all the inhabitants of the city, and then he "burnt Hazor with fire." Hazor became a symbol of the futility of resisting Israel. It was clear that Israel could destroy any city in Canaan. 

Joshua continued his campaign in the north taking all the cities of the coalition. He killed all the kings and the inhabitants of the cities in obedience to God's commands. However, he took spoil of these cities and the cattle (v. 14), but they left no person alive.

The summary points of this section are:

1. It is not enough to merely defeat the enemy; they must be destroyed less a new foe should arise.

2. We get spiritual spoils when we win spiritual battles.

3. God wants sin destroyed in our lives so we must leave no place for it to reside.

The fourth section is: "As the Lord Commanded." (VV. 15, 23) Verse 15 provides the chain of command: the LORD commanded Moses and Moses commanded Joshua and Joshua obeyed. "He left nothing undone." Joshua did not question the commands, nor did he cut corners or take a lesser stand. You can read a summary of the military campaigns and conquests starting at verse 16 until the end of chapter 12. It was God's will to utterly destroy those people because of their idolatry and evil.  Verse 23 provides a summary for the first 11 chapters of the book: "Joshia took the whole land."  It is also a preface for the rest of the book: "Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel." Now, "the land rested from war." The major conflicts were now over, but there was still much land to be possessed (13:1). There would be minor skirmishes that would still need to be fought, but the major battles were over.

The summary points of this section are:

1. When we come to Christ, our sins are forgiven and the major fight over, but there will still be temptations we will have to face.

2. Obedience brings the best results in our lives.

3. Never question the Word of the LORD.

The Golden Text is: "He left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses." (Joshua 11:15) There was no decline in spiritual obedience from Moses to Joshua. The promises given to Moses would be fulfilled in Joshua's time. In the same way, we owe the generations to come behind us the same degree of spiritual obedience that we received from our elders. This does not to be occurring in our churches today. Today, too many churches preach a watered-down gospel. My expression is that "the pastors are driving a yellow happy bus with their congregations with the next stop hell." May we be faithful to preach the whole gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Next week: "Caleb's Inheritance." (Joshua 14: 1-14)

2-27-2022 Devotion: Limiting People

 Matthew 13: 57: "So they were offended at Him (Jesus). But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his house.'" This was an ancient proverb similar to the modern phrase "familiarity breeds contempt." The people had known Jesus as a small boy and a young man and concluded that there was nothing special about Him. This happens so often in life. Your family and closest friends are the ones most likely not to recognize your achievements. You should recognize the power of the saying and if Jesus was subject to its power, so are you. The sad conclusion is found in verse 58: "Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." It is important to understand what this verse is saying and what it isn't saying. The people's unbelief did not limit Jesus' power and authority. The Sovereign God will not force Himself on anyone. The people did not limit God, they limited themselves. We have the benefit of over 2000 years and we have no excuse not to believe in the Sovereignty and Power of the Living God. You can trust Him completely to do what is best for the Kingdom in your life. It might be healing and prosperity or might be sickness and lack. Either way, we are to praise Him for His love for us.

2-26-2022 Devotion: Tell the Truth

 Matthew 13: 3: "Then He (Jesus) spoke many things to them in parables, saying: 'Behold a sower went out to sow.''' Jesus would explain that the parable meant that the sower sowed the Word of God. He went on to explain the different types of ground the seed would fall on. Different grounds included the hard wayside, the stoney places, the thorns and finally the good ground. Jesus spoke in parables , "because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." (verse 13) Regardless of what you think about this text, the truth is that most people when they hear the Word will not receive it. It won't bear good fruit. Only a few will follow the narrow way. Most will enter in the wide path of destruction. Our duty is to sew the uncompromised Word of God. I don't water it down. I don't try to make it more appealing. I try to give the Word just as it is found in the Scriptures. God has His elect and they will hear the truth of God's Word and they will come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those that come to Him, He will never send away. Our evanglistic duty is to give truth and we can be confident that God's elect will respond in faith. Be empowered today to just give the truth.

2-25-2022 Devotion: Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

 Matthew 12: 31: "Therefore I say unto you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." This is referred to as the unpardonable sin. This is the big one. Commit this sin and to hell you go. There can be no forgiveness. What is this sin? It is intentional, willful, with complete understanding and knowledge, attributing the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to Satan. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees. They knew who Jesus was, yet they said He was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub (Satan). It was an intentional act for them. Some particular religious sects, notably Charismatics, like to use this if you criticize them for acting weird. Some Charismatics (not all) have been known for barking like dogs, roaring like lions, advocating the prosperity doctrines, visiting heaven and back more frequently than I go to work, eavesdropping on the Father and Son having private talks in the throne room,  having strange "critters" trying to have physical relations with them and that heaven is like a "Candyland" game with lots of jello. To point out Scripturally their error is not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In fact, if you have any concern that you may have committed this offense, rest assured you have not. Those who have committed this offense have no interest in the things of God. If you are following the Lord Jesus Christ, rest in your faith and thank Him for His grace.

2-24-2022 Devotion: Come and Rest

 Matthew 11: 28-30: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." The Pharisees were a strict religious group. They made many laws as a requirement to be saved. In contrast, Jesus says, "Come to Me." What a beautiful expression. Jesus says to come to Him. He is still calling people today. He wants us to rest from our labors to save ourselves. "Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)." When we come to Him in repentance and faith, we will learn from Him. We will learn that salvation is because of what He has done for us in dying on the cross, being buried, rising from the dead and ascending to the glories of heaven for us. No one can hear Jesus say, "Come to Me," unless you have received grace and faith from the Holy Spirit first. When you hear the Master call, respond immediately. Admit you are responsible for your sins and turn away from them. Jesus will never turn away anyone who comes to Him. He is the Lord Jesus Christ and He will teach you.

2-23-2022 Devotion: Dealing with Confusion

 Matthew 11: 2-3: "And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'" John was the one that said Christ would bring judgment and "burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." John  had to be confused. He was in prison and instead of bringing the fire of judgment, Jesus Christ healed people in Galilee, far from Jerusalem, the city of the King. This is not a question of doubt on John's part, but rather an issue of whether he had misunderstood Jesus' mission. Jesus doesn't rebuke John's disciples, but instead sends a message of what He is doing in His ministry. The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised up, and the gospel is preached to the poor. We can learn much from this passage with regard to dealing with our expectations of others. John did the right thing, he asked what was the meaning of what was taking place. Instead of allowing doubt, anger or confusion to settle in, he sent for information. When we are dealing with people and we don't understand their actions, we should start by asking the person directly. The enemy loves it when he can get us to be upset with a brother or sister in the faith, make assumptions and act on those assumptions. Over the years, I have seen many situations resolved peacefully, simply because someone asked a question instead of assuming the worst. Be like John.

2-22-2022 Devotion: A Sword

 Matthew 10: 34: "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." This devotion is linked to yesterday's verse. The Lord Jesus Christ's mission was to reconcile and bring peace between the believing soul and the Father. However, before there is ultimate peace, there will be confrontation and discord. 1 Peter 2: 7-8 calls the Gospel a rock of offense and a stone of stumbling. 1 Corinthians 1: 18 states that the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. There is nothing soft about the Gospel. Many today, as soon as you preach against sin, they will say you are unkind and mean-spirited. He says He is bringing a sword. The sword is the Word of God. It cuts asunder. It divides truth from error, righteous from unrighteous and heaven from hell. This does not mean we go looking for a fight, but it does mean we don't compromise the Gospel to keep peace with the lost. I would rather offend them into heaven than comfort them into hell.

2-21-2022 Devotion: He Must Be Your Lord

 Matthew 10: 3233: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." This is not a simple statement of "believing in Jesus," or "accepting Jesus," or "making a decision for Jesus." In fact, Jesus is not going to save you. That may shock you, but read the Scriptures. If you are going to believe for salvation, you will acknowledge Him as Lord. Romans 10: 9 states: "That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, that shalt be saved." This is the great heresy of the modern church. The prosperity preachers want to lure you with greed. They tell you to give them money and God will provide for you. Interestingly, they want your money and tell you to trust God. The compromised ministers won't tell you the truth because they don't want to offend you. True Gospel preachers will stay true to the Word. May I ever be true to your souls and be a truth giver. Confess Him as Lord today.

Eighth Lesson of the Quarter: Amorites Defeated

 Today's lesson comes from Joshua 10: 5-15. Joshua was a great military leader. He used exceptional strategies to gain the advantage over the enemy, yet he constantly relied on God to give the victory. He leaned upon the promises of God and played his part in accomplishing God's will. This is essential to understand. God is Sovereign and will bring about His perfect plan. However, He uses secondary causes to execute His Providence. Those secondary causes can be people. The point is that God had given the land to the Israelites, but they had to play apart in obtaining the success. 

Another point is that the Israelites marched through the night to engage the fight. To prevent the enemy from reaching fortified cities and regrouping, the Israelites pursued them and continued to fight through an "extra" long day. There may be times you feel like giving up but hold on because victory may be on the horizon. Sometimes, you just have to wait a bit longer. It is blessed to be able to "wait upon the Lord" and renew our strength.

In the lesson today, the Canaanite kings were troubled. Word had spread of Joshua's victories. The king of Jerusalem contacts the kings of four other cities: Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. They agreed to join together and attack at Gibeon (remember last week's lesson and the league the Gibeonites made with Israel). Their goal was to put an end to anyone who would join forces with the Israelites.

The first section is: "The Gibeonites Attacked." (vv. 5, 6) The Amorites were the most numerous and powerful of the Canaanite tribes. The armies of the five kings assembled at Jerusalem and marched five miles to the city of Gibeon. Through "Gibeon was a great city," and its men were "mighty men," they were no match for the forces that had assembled outside their city walls. They sent a messenger to the Israelite camp to "Come up quickly, and save us, and help us." Since the Gibeonites had made a league with the Israelites, they were obligated to help them. The Gibeonites were Israel's servants and as a result, they had the right to ask for help.

The summary points of this section are:

1. Former associates will persecute you if you identify with God's people.

2. God will protect His own.

3. When you are in trouble, call upon the LORD. 

The second section is: "The Amorites Slain." (vv. 7-11) Joshua receives the request for help and realizes the ideal opportunity before him. Instead of having to fight against walled cities, the five kings are in the open field. The LORD tells Joshua, "Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand...." The march from Gilgal (the place of the Israeli camp) to Gibeon was about a twenty-five-mile march uphill. They march all night and arrive at dawn. 

You may ask, why the rush? God had promised victory so why take such drastic steps as marching all night? The commentator Matthew Henry said, "God's promises are intended, not to slacken and supercede, but to quicken (make alive) and encourage our endeavors." We are to trust in God's Providence to bring about His desired end, but we have human responsibility to respond to His Word. 

As dawn broke, Joshua launched a surprise attack on the Amorite forces, and the Lord "discomfited them before Israel." The enemy was thrown into a state of confusion. There was a "great slaughter" of the enemy forces. The Amorites fled westward toward Upper Beth-horon. The distance was about nine miles. Israel pursued them as the enemy went westward to Lower Beth-horon. Between the two Beth-horons was a mountain pass and a descent of 800 feet. As the Amorites made their way down the pass, the LORD cast large hailstones falling on the enemy. God kept the hailstones falling for a distance of thirteen miles. More Amorites died from the hailstones than the Israelite swords. Joshua and his men pursued the Amorites an additional ten miles. Overall, the Israelites pursued the enemy over thirty-two miles (and that is after marching uphill all night).

The summary points of this section are: 

1. As a Christian, we must "endure hardness as a good soldier."

2. The battle is always the LORD's, and He will do much more than our efforts.

3. We must be faithful to do our part in spiritual warfare. 

The third section is: "The Day Extended." (vv. 12-15). Joshua makes a public prayer "in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon." Joshua needed more time to complete the battle. The prayer was an expression of Joshua's faith in God. The answer to the prayer would inspire the Israelite army and renew their confidence in God that He would give them complete victory. God answered the prayer, "And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies."

There have been may explanations as to how this occurred. Joshua was praying in the middle of the day, for "the sun stood still in the midst of heaven." Verse thirteen says the sun "hasted not to go down about a whole day." It could have been that God slowed the rotation of the earth on its axis. The sun's descent toward the west was greatly reduced which gave Joshua the time to overthrow Israel's enemies. Truly, "the LORD fought for Israel." 

The summary points of this section are:

1. Nothing is impossible with God.

2. Sometimes, leaders need to be bold before the people. 

3. Battles are won through a combination of God's Power and Providence and our human responsibility.

The Golden Text is: "Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand." (Joshua 10:8) God is Sovereign. Today's churches don't preach this much, however, the preachers of previous eras understood the concept. We don't need to live lives of fear because God's Sovereignty and Providence are directing the affairs of men. And "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us," and nothing, "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39).

Next week, "Conquest Completed." (Joshua 11: 1-15, 23)

2-21-2022 Devotion: Stand Strong

 Matthew 10: 16: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." This holds true for us today. The world hates Christ and we are not above our Master. If you stand for Christ, the world will hate you also. Yet, we are sent out into the world to bring the message of salvation to all those God has chosen to salvation. We don't know who they are as God didn't give them a special mark so we could identify them. We are to use Godly wisdom and our intellect in the process. We are to be loving and kind and not aggressive. In nature, the dove is a timid bird that scares easily. Also, the dove represents the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit is not afraid, He is timid. He can be pushed away. As we go into the world to share our faith, know the world is watching and will take every opportunity to mock us and our mission. They spit on our Lord Jesus Christ, pulled His beard, placed a crown of thorns on His head, nailed Him to the cross and crucified Him. He did it all for us. We can take a few insults or be canceled by a culture that is taking people to hell, for Him.  Stand strong for the Gospel.

2- 19-2022 Devotion: All In

 Matthew 9: 9: "As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him." I have always been impressed with Matthew. Some other disciples, like Peter, were fishermen. They would leave their nets and follow Jesus. If it didn't work out, they could always go back to fishing. However, Matthew was turning his back on a very lucrative job that would replace him very quickly. He couldn't go back. For Matthew, being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ was an all or nothing proposition. He was wholly devoted to the Lord. He would write the first book in our New Testament called "The Book of Matthew." When he was older, he would travel to Ethiopia. He would die a martyr there being impaled on a stake and beheaded. Matthew teaches us much about wholly following the Lord. We need to be prepared to lose everything for Him. We need to turn our backs on anything that would hold us back. "He is our all in all or He is nothing at all." Follow Him closely.

2-18-2022 Devotion: Fruits

 Matthew 7: 16: "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? I have used this word numerous times over the years. Sometimes it is the test that will protect you from someone that intends to harm you. You can't get a grape from thorns and you can't get a fig from thistles. A righteous person will have fruit coming forth from their life that you can see. It will be really clear. I remember being in a doctoral apologetics class. The entire class came down to one question: "So, how is that working out for you?" Years later, I was witnessing to a man who believed in New Age chakra points. I asked him, "How is it working out for you?" He said, "Not very well, I've just been charged with my third Driving Under the Influence charge." I gave him the truth of the gospel because he at least listened because he knew that the fruits of his belief system were rotten. Always be ready to share the truth. You may produce some good fruit.

2-17-2022 Devotion: Judging

 Matthew 7: 1: "Judge not, that you be not judged." People that never read the Bible know this verse. Warn them that their conduct is sin and be prepared to hear, "Don't judge me!" Was Jesus prohibiting judging others? No, He was not. In verse 5, He calls someone a hypocrite. In verse 6, He references people He calls dogs or swine. There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise with care. Hypocritical and self-righteous judgement are forbidden by Jesus' words. When we do find ourselves in a position that we are to judge another's actions, we are to do so in love. We are never to judge with anger or evil motives. Judgment when exercised in love can be the means God uses to bring a soul to Him. We should not be afraid of Matthew 7:1. We should make sure that our eyesight is good and we can see honestly. Love others and judge when it is for the purpose of evangelism. 

2-16-2022 Devotion: Be Light

 Matthew 6: 22-23: "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness." The words spoken by Jesus were an idiom. For example, if I said, "It sure is raining cats and dogs." You would know that I meant that it was really pouring. People from another time period might argue whether it was really raining cats and dogs. However, you would know what I meant. In Hebrew idioms, having a good eye that was full of light meant you were generous to others and you looked on other people positively. To the contrary, to say the eye is bad and full of darkness meant you were stingy and had a negative outlook on other people. Jesus is teaching us to look at people in the light most positive about them. Don't think the worst about people, even if they deserve it. Be kind and try to help those in need. If you want to change the world, start with you.

2-15-2022 Devotion: Prayer

 Matthew 6: 9: "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." In  first century Judaism, there were two main types of prayer: the public formal prayer in the synagogues and the more informal private prayer. The private prayer was spoken in the ordinary language of the day. It did not require formal training as the public prayer did. It is believed by some scholars that Jesus was referring to private prayer when He gave His instruction in these verses. Jesus was encouraging His disciples to speak honestly and without pretense to the Father. This is good advice for us today. Too often, we think we must have the right words and say the right thing to bring about the desired outcome. This is false. Follow Jesus 'advice and begin to just speak to your Heavenly Father. A good approach is to not make prayer a time of just asking for things. If you have been born again, you have all you need in this life to get to the glories of heaven in the next life. Spend your time on thanksgiving, praise and forgiveness of others. Don't use fancy words, use your words. And remember, He is listening.

2-14-2022 Devotion: Love

 Matthew 5: 44: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you...." Is Jesus asking the impossible of us? How can I love someone I can't stand? There are four Greek words that are translated to love in English: Eros (romantic love), Phillia (affectionate brotherly love), Agape ( a selfless love that seeks to do good to all men). and Storge (a love for our parents, children and other members of our family). Jesus is using the Greek word "agape." Jesus knows we can't work up affection for those that we don't care for. He doesn't expect us to treat the enemy as a family member. Nor does He expect us to have romantic feelings for our enemies. However, we can act out love by doing acts of love for those that seek to hurt us. Agape is the God-kind of love. You can bake cookies for someone you don't like. You can help fix a flat tire for your enemy. That is what Jesus meant when He said, "Love your enemies." Notice, He didn't say it would be easy.

Seventh Lesson of the Quarter: Deceived by the Gibeonites

 Today's lesson comes from Joshua 9: 3-16. Joshua and the elders of Israel make a decision without taking time to seek Divine leadership. The natural evidence is so strong and convincing that the conclusion appears foregone. When people lean solely on their own rational skills and natural intelligence, they can very easily miss the will of God. As you go through the lesson, think about a time in your life that you were kept from making a tragic error because you took time to pray. Or you can think back to a time when you did make a serious mistake in choices because you did not take the time to pray. Either way, this lesson contains a Biblical lesson that is as applicable today as it was when it occurred thousands of years ago.

Following the victory at Ai, Joshua goes to Mount Ebal and erects an altar for sacrifices. Joshua inscribes the laws of God on the stones and reads to the people "all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings." However, the enemies of God's people decided to have a counterattack. Kings from six nationalities united to "fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord." The Gibeonites decide on a different course. They wanted to make peace with Joshua.

The first section is: "Deception Planned." (vv. 3-5) The city of Gibeon was not a small village. It was "a great city, as one of the royal cities." (Jos. 10:2) It was a principal city in a league with three other cities. (Jos. 9:17) They did not have a king but were led by a group of elders. When the news reached the Gibeonites of what "Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai," they decided to disguise themselves as being from a far country. They dressed in old looking clothes and carried worn out wineskins. They had dried out and moldy bread. They were hoping that their appearance would deceive Joshua and the Israelites.

The summary points of this section are:

1. Appearances can be deceiving.

2. Enemies of God will conspire together to deceive God's people.

3. God does not want His people ensnared by heathen's gods. 

The second section is: "Suspicion Aroused." (vv. 6-8) Joshua's base camp was at Gilgal. Gibeon was less than twenty-five miles away. The Gibeonites came into the camp and said that they had "come from a far country." They said the purpose of the journey was to make a league with Joshua. Such an agreement had certain responsibilities on both sides. 

The men of Israel begin asking questions because they were suspicious. Israel knew that they were directed by God to: "smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them." (Deut. 7:2) The Israelites knew God's will was that they make no league with those in Canaan. As a result of the questions, the Gibeonites feigned submission, "We are thy servants." Joshua was not convinced, and he said, "Who are ye? And from whence come ye?" The Gibeonites never answered the first question. To divert Joshua, they began a string of lies in answer to the second question. 

The summary points of this section are:

1. Things are not always what they seem to be.

2. Satan would have us just to live with evil instead of waging war against sin.

3. Ask questions and demand answers when you consider an alliance with someone.

The third section is: Lies Told." (vv. 9-13) The following was the deceptive plot:

1. Feign admiration for the LORD God.

2. Lie about the reason for their coming (defeat of Sihon and Og not Jericho and Ai). 

3. Press for an instant decision based on what the Israelites heard and saw.

4. Present false evidence such as dried bread and torn wineskins.

5. Appeal to logic, look at our old shoes and clothes. Can't you see we have travelled a long way.

The summary points of this section are:

1. Beware of hasty decisions.

2. Don't give in to high pressure situations.

3. Don't trust everything you see.

4. Sometimes logic can be wrong.

The fourth section is: "A Covenant Made." (vv. 14-16) The men of Israel looked at the evidence, relied on their own sensibilities and powers of reason. They accepted as evidence things that were highly questionable. Remember, they never got an answer to the first question, "Who are ye?" They "asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD." Israel was allowed to make covenants with people "very far off," and to allow them to become servants to Israel. (Deut. 20: 10-18) However, the inhabitants of Canaan were to be destroyed. So, they did not pray and agreed to make the covenant with Gibeonites.

The covenant was made in the name of the LORD. It could not be broken even though it was made as a result of deception. Three days after the covenant was made, word came to the Israelites that the people they made covenant with, "were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them." The deception was exposed. Verse 19 explains why the Israelites didn't attack the Gibeonites: "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore we may not touch them." Years later, Saul disregarded the oath made with the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1-6). As a result, there was famine in the land of Israel. The Gibeonites would be allowed to live, but they would be "bondmen and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God." (v. 23)

The summary points of this section are:

1. Commit every major decision to prayer and seek the LORD's counsel.

2. Sooner or later, deception will be exposed.

3. If you make a covenant in the name of the LORD, keep it.

The Golden Text is: "And the men...asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD." (Joshua 9:14) Satan will always try to have you rush major decisions and not seek the LORD. Our role is to expose this tactic to any Christian who is seeking to make a decision without prayer. We are to take the time to pray and then wait until we know we have a word from heaven on the subject. This is not some "pie in the sky" or voices in the head. This is a firm understanding in your spirit that the Word of God has been made clear to you. Stay until you know.

Next week: "Amorites Defeated." (Joshua 10: 5-15)

2-13-2022 Devotion: Blessed

 Matthew 5: 3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is the beginning of what is called the "Sermon on the Mount." It is the core teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word "blessed" means literally "happy, fortunate, and blissful." Jesus is referring to something far more than a surface emotion. The world will tell you that happiness is found in riches, merriment, abundance, leisure and other things that pass away. The truth is just the opposite. True happiness is found within. Those that are "poor in spirit" are the opposite of self-sufficiency. You gain this true happiness when you realize that you are spiritually bankrupt apart from God. Those that are "poor in spirit" will obtain "the kingdom of heaven." In other words, when you realize that you can't obtain heaven on your own merits, and that the only way to enter heaven is through God's grace, now you are ready to receive the blessing that comes from being "poor in spirit." Remember, not one work you do, or one prayer you pray will ever entitle you to heaven. Salvation is all of God's grace through faith (And even faith is a gift to you from the Father). Stay humble and be blessed.

2-12-2022 Devotion: Priorities

 Matthew 4: 3-4: "Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Jesus had been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. Satan would tempt Jesus three times. All 3 of Jesus' replies to Satan were taken from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. The quote today comes from Deuteronomy 8: 3 which states that God allowed Israel to hunger so that He might feed them with manna and teach them to trust Him to provide for them. It was a fitting response to Satan's temptation. Jesus wants everyone to know that the Word of God is a more important source of sustenance than food. Being nurtured spiritually is far more important because it benefits us eternally as opposed to only temporal relief from hunger.  Always emphasize the spiritual over the temporary. Before I eat in the morning, I will have first read my Bible and prayed. I encourage you to do the same.

2-11-2022 Devotion: Repentance

 Matthew 3: 1-2: "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"John the Baptist begins his ministry before the Lord Jesus Christ begins His public ministry. Both preached "repentance," as a necessary condition to becoming born again. Paul and Peter preached the same message. To repent has been described as a change of your mind about sin. However, it is more than that. To repent meant that you had not only had a change of mind about sin, but you also changed your behavior. If you lived in Virginia Beach, VA, you would shop at grocery stores in Virginia Beach and get your mail there. However, if you moved to Tampa, FL, you would shop at stores in Tampa. You would have a new way of life. The same is true when you repent from sin and turn to God. Your old way of life is gone. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says you are a "new creature" in Christ. This is a problem in many modern churches. They are afraid to preach repentance because it will offend people. That's right, it will offend the sinner! And that is required to become born again! Today, know that you can't do this on your own. It takes the grace of God. He will change you and you will follow. That's how salvation works.

2-10-2022 Devotion: Idols

 Exodus 20: 1-3: "And God spoke all these words, saying: 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.'" I remember preaching evangelistic services in India. I visited a small town and actually saw an idol maker. It was a small shop about 400 square feet. There were shelves with different gods ready to be purchased. There was so little food for the people to eat. Yet, I saw a woman bringing a small plate of food to a "tree god." She placed the food on the ground in front of the tree, said a prayer and left. We can look upon these idols and practices with disdain and amazement. Yet, I fear we may do the same type of thing in our land. People make all sorts of idols today, just they aren't sitting on a shelf somewhere. Today, idols include a church denomination, career, automobiles, clothes or the home you want.  We need to heed the words of today's Scripture. Anything you place between you and God is an idol. God makes it very clear, He wants nothing between Him and us. Make sure the path is clear.

2-9-2022 Devotion: Live Rejoicing

 Exodus 16: 3: "And the children of Israel said to them, 'Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.'" Talk about what have you done for me lately! God had performed ten plagues against the Egyptians to bring about their deliverance, plus dividing the Red Sea. A couple of things strike me about their complaint. First, they were totally ungrateful. Second, they were most disrespectful. Third, they were focusing on their flesh. God Almighty had caused them to be set free and now they complain. I wonder how often we act the same way. The Lord Jesus Christ has died for us, risen from the dead for us, ascended to heaven for us, and makes intercession for us. Yet, we may be complaining about the temperature, the price of gasoline or our families. We should go about our days rejoicing because of what Christ has done for us. He is doing so much for us every day! Be thankful.

2-8-2022 Devotion: Stepping Out in Faith

 Exodus 14: 14: "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." The Egyptian army is barreling down on the Israelites. Pharaoh has changed his mind about letting them leave. This is an example of what a depraved heart looks like. Throughout Egypt, every home is hurting from the death of their firstborn. Yet, the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he is chasing Moses and God's people. The verse today is the words of Moses expressing faith to the people. The LORD did cause the Red Sea to divide. The Israelites passed through dry ground, but then when the Egyptians followed them, the Red Sea returned to normal and all the Egyptians drowned. Some Biblical scholars trying to remove the supernatural from the Bible have stated that at some times during the year, the Red Sea where this took place is only six inches deep. So, it would have been very easy to pass to the other side. If you believe this, you will have to admit it must have taken quite a while for the entire Egyptian army to drown in six inches of water! Ancient Jewish authorities tell us that the Israelites were required to walk into the Red Sea in faith until the water was at chin level before God parted the waters. Sometimes in life, when we are trusting God, we may have to step out in faith and only at the point of desperation will we see God's Mighty Hand move. But, it will move.

2-7-2022 Devotion: Under the Blood

 Exodus 12: 12: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgement: I am the LORD." This was the final plague sent by God to Pharaoh to force him to release the Israelites. The firstborn of every house would die unless the doorframe of that house was covered with blood from the sacrificed lamb on the doorframes. That night, the LORD "passed over" the houses with the blood applied. When all the firstborn died, Pharaoh released the Israelites. This is a type and shadow of what was to come with the LORD Jesus Christ. Consider the following: were the firstborns that were passed over any more righteous than those that died? Did the firstborns that lived have any special talent or worthiness that saved them? Did they say the right words or give any money? No, they were safe because they were under the blood. For us, we are not saved through any actions we do, or any personal righteousness, or any other act of our will. We are saved when we get under the blood of Jesus Christ. When we repent of our sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him Lord over our lives, we are safe under His blood. One final point, if any Israelite home didn't appreciate the danger they were in, they would not have covered their doorposts with blood. In the same way, no one is saved today unless they see himself or herself as a lost sinner. Have you ever realized that you were a lost sinner without the Lord Jesus Christ?

Sixth Lesson of the Quarter: Defeat at Ai

 Today's lesson comes from Joshua 7: 1-12. Last week we studied how Jericho was destroyed. Joshua gave specific instructions about the precious metals found there. All the precious metals were to go to the treasury of the LORD. No one was to take anything for himself. The metals from Jericho was to be a type of firstfruits unto the LORD. Verse 1 states: "But the children of Israel committed a trespass...." Though the sin was hidden from the eyes of man, it was not hidden from the eyes of God. There is a principle that the children of Israel were soon to find out: "One way or another, sooner or later, secret sins will be brought to light" (Matthew Henry). There have been other instances in Israel's history when the sins of individuals halted the progress of the nation:

1. Miriam's murmuring against Moses. The camp could not go forward until judgment had been meted out.

2. In the New Testament, the Corinthian church had to deal with an individual who was living immorally. If the church didn't act, condemnation would have been upon the entire church. 

In our study today, Aichan's sin of covetousness and disregard for God's commands had to be dealt with. God hates sin and He wants His people to feel the same way  

The first section is: "Disheartening Defeat." (vv. 2-5) After the victory at Jericho, Joshua makes plans to attack the city of Ai. Ai is smaller having about 12,000 people. Joshua sends spies to search out the land. he spies report back and advise Joshua that it would take "two or three thousand men to defeat the people of Ai. However, Joshua was unaware of the hidden sin committed by Achan. Three thousand Israelites are sent to take the city. The men went to the gate of the city, but suddenly the troops of Ai surprise them. The Israelites "fled before the men of Ai." Thirty-six men lost their lives. News of the defeat spread among the people. They became discouraged and they became weak "as water." 

The summary points of this section are:

1. When God departs from you, no amount of planning will make a difference.

2. Never underestimate an enemy.

3. It is God who brings the victory, not man.

The second section is: "Pointed Prayer." (vv. 6-9) As a result of the defeat, Joshua does the following:

1. Goes into mourning (tears his clothes and dust on his head).

2. Goes to prayer to seek the LORD.

3. Goes before the ark of the LORD.

4. He asks questions of the LORD.

Joshua didn't know what to do. What would he tell the people? How could the defeat be explained? Had God brought them across the Jordan River to abandon them now? What would happen to God's great name when the word of the defeat spread among the Canaanites? The last question was Joshua's strongest argument, his concern for the glory of God. 

The summary points of this section are:

1. When you have trouble or are defeated, go to the LORD in prayer.

2. Make the name of our LORD your primary concern. 

3. God is faithful and unchanging.

The third section is: "Divine Direction." (vv. 10-12) The LORD answers Joshuas prayer as follows:

1. Get up.

2. Israel hath sinned.

3. Israel has transgressed His covenant. 

4. Israel has taken of the accursed thing and stolen.

5. As a result, Israel cannot stand before their enemies. 

6. They are accursed.

7. He will not be with Israel anymore unless Joshua destroys the accursed from among them.

God is clear in His response to Joshua. To allow sin to go unpunished is an affront to the name and nature of God. Sin cannot be covered up. It must be exposed and dealt with.

The summary points of this section are:

1. When God has made something clear, it is time to cease praying and start doing.

2. "Be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32: 23)

3. Never tolerate sin in your life or in your community of faith.

The Golden Text is: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Prov. 28: 13) The end result of our lesson today is that Achan, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, all he had, was stoned by all Israel. The principle from this lesson is clear. First, do not commit sin and violate the commandments of the LORD. If you do sin, quickly confess and repent. In doing so, you will receive mercy.\next week: "Deceived by the Gibeonites." (Joshua 9: 3-16)

Next week: "Deceived by the Gibeonites." (Joshua 9: 3-16)

2-6-2022 Devotion: Be Like Butter

 Exodus 11: 10: "So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land." The ninth plague was darkness. Pharaoh is steadfastly refusing to let the Israelites go and worship the LORD.  The LORD is done with Pharaoh and will now bring the final plague. All first born will die, except for those who are under the blood of the Passover lamb. God hardens Pharaoh's heart. This means that God is going to make sure that Pharaoh doesn't change his mind at the last minute. God is going to make an example of him. At first, this seems so unfair. It isn't because God didn't take Pharaoh anywhere he didn't already want to go. The same sun that hardens the clay melts the butter. It is the same sun. The person or substance receiving the outside influence determines the result. Pharaoh wanted to be hardened and God just took where he already wanted to be. The lesson for us is to always keep our heart tender to the LORD. We want to be ready to receive His goodness or His rebuke. He knows what is best. Stay tender and be like butter. 

2-5-2022 Devotion: How God Works

 Exodus 10: 13: So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all day and all that night. when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts." This is the eighth plague the LORD has brought on Pharaoh and Egypt. The first seven were: Water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock diseased, boils and hail. God calls them "my plagues" in chapter 9: 14. God's use of the possessive pronoun specified what should be clear to Pharaoh that the events were God's own doings. The concept we draw from today's text is how God works sometimes. God is bringing the plague of locusts. He uses an east wind which is a natural occurrence. God can work a miracle. A miracle is an interruption of natural law. For example, someone is dying of cancer and has about a day to live. That person will die without a miracle. However, most times God uses secondary causes. Think of these secondary causes as a "means" to an "end." They are natural events that act in accordance with natural law. God weaves all these secondary causes together to bring about His perfect plan. What's so special about an east wind? Nothing really, unless God uses it to bring locusts!

2-4-2022 Devotion: One More Night With the Frogs

 Exodus 8: 9-10: "And Moses said to Pharaoh, 'Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.' So he said, 'Tomorrow.'" This is the second plague that God has sent to Pharaoh and all of Egypt. Frogs are everywhere, in the house, bedroom, bed, on the people, in the ovens and in the cooking utensils. Pharaoh calls for Moses and says he will agree to let the Israelites go and worship the LORD if the frogs are removed. Moses asks when he wants this to happen. Pharaoh says, "Tomorrow." I never understood this. Why would you want one more night with the frogs? Sometimes, we overlook that God is willing to move on our behalf, but we delay. Delay can result from disobedience or sin, intentional or unintentional. We should be constantly seeking the LORD and trusting Him to perform His will in our lives. Don't ever stay one minute longer than you have to walking with the frogs.

2-3-2022 Devotion: Persecution

 Exodus 5: 7: "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves." Moses has gone to Pharaoh to ask permission for the Israelites to go and hold a feast to the LORD in the wilderness. Pharaoh has a very negative reaction to the request. The people need straw to make bricks. They have a daily quota and without straw they won't be able to meet that quota unless they gather the straw themselves. This means more work and they are already worked to the level of exhaustion. Pharaoh punishes the people for wanting to worship God. Many times it seems like when you try to do the right thing before the LORD, people in authority don't like it. You get punished for trying to obey God. This is called persecution and Jesus told us it would happen to His followers. Persecution is real in the USA. Stand up against homosexual marriage or denounce transgenderism as an affront to the LORD or abortion. However, our response must always be to obey God. It is better to obey God than man. We have the assurance that in the end, we will see God's justice on those that come against His people.

2-2-2022 Devotion: a Burning Bush

 Exodus 3: 11: "But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Moses must have really not wanted this job! He is arguing with a burning bush that has a voice coming from it. God chooses people for different tasks in the kingdom. This is called election. God chooses who He chooses and passes by those He doesn't choose. If you have been called to a certain job, you should take comfort in that no matter how things look or what the circumstances seem to indicate, who God chooses will be successful. Some people are offended by the doctrine of election. However, offended or not, election is clearly in the Bible. Jesus Himself said, "You did not choose me, but I have chosen you...." (John 15:16) If you know that you are doing what you have been called to do, you can face any obstacle no matter how difficult. If you are not sure what your calling is, go look for a talking bush.

2-1-2022 Devotion: Evil Plans

 Exodus 2:10: "And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, 'Because I drew him out of the water.'" A new Pharaoh took over in Egypt. He was afraid that the large Israelite population might revolt against Egypt and join with their enemies and fight against them. So Pharaoh decided to make the Israelites slaves and kill all newborn male children as soon as they were born by casting them in the river. Moses was born and his mother puts him in a basket and floats him down the river. Pharaoh's daughter finds him and decides to keep him as her son. She calls him Moses which literally means "drawn out" because she drew him out of the water. Later, Moses would lead the Israelites out of bondage. The Red Sea would be parted and the Israelites would pass over on dry land but the Egyptian army following behind them would be drowned because the Red Sea came back together. God has a way of taking the evil plots of wicked men and turning it back on them. The point is that we, as believers, need not fear the plans to hurt us, but rather, we are to trust in God's Providence to guide us through our own Red Sea and escape the plots against us.