Mar 16 Judges 1 Not Listening to God's Warnings

All of the tribes fail to drive out the Canaanites from  their assigned lands. Watch closely for the consequences - they won't be good.

Mar 15 Joshua 22-24 Warnings About Canaanites

God warns the Israelites to completely drive out the Canaanites. He warns them about turning away from Him - to ally with them, intermarry with them, and to associate with them. They will be snares to the Israelites and they will take on their evil customs. And of course, that is exactly what happens.

We are warned not to marry unbelievers because more times than not, they draw us away from God. I think we don't believe God and because we don't, it is a sign of turning away from Him. Single disciples of Christ have to look at what has happened to people throughout redemptive history who have not listened to God. Unbelievers consistently draw believers away from God. Don't start a relationship that you can't complete. "Oh we are just friends." Every couple who marries begins as friends.

Mar 14 Joshua 18-21 Promises Fulfilled

My relationship with God is strong because of His faithfulness. The last verse in Chapter 21 sums up God - Not one of all of the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. God has made many promises to us - we can be assured that every one of them will be fulfilled, also. That is enough to meditate on today.

Mar 13 Joshua 13-17 Caleb Wholeheartedly Served the LORD

Caleb, along with Joshua, was one of the spies who came back after a spy mission with enough faith in God to take the land. The 10 others did not. God promised Caleb a place in the Promised Land and now God makes good on that promise.

It should be all of our hopes that on our tombstone it is written, "He/she wholeheartedly served the LORD." It requires looking at what God has done in history (the Bible and our's) and trusting that He will deliver on His promises.

Mar 12 Joshua 9-12 Keeping Our Word is Important to God

The ruse of the Gibeonites to get the Israelites to make a covenant of protection with them is quite interesting. Joshua, although duped by deception into this covenant, was obliged to honor his promise. There appears to be no rebuke by God for Joshua's sense of integrity. I take this to teach that God (who is one who can be trusted) expects His people (who bear His name and represent Him) to honor their word.

Our yes should mean yes and our no should mean no. If we say we will do something, then we should do it well. If we say that we will be somewhere at a certain time, then we should be there. People say that some in some cultures, being late is to be expected. I would say that the ways of our God should always trump the ways of our culture.

The other interesting thing about this covenant is that the text does seem to chastise Joshua for not consulting the LORD before making this covenant. Presumably, God would have exposed this ruse. My takeaway is that I should always seek the wisdom of God through prayer and searching the Scriptures before getting tied into anything.

Mar 11 Joshua 6-8 Lust of the Eyes of Achan

Achan lusted after a robe and gold and silver. He coveted them after he saw them. What he coveted was not his and would never be his. But he took them any way and covered up his sin by hiding the articles.

Achan's sin drew in his entire family. They all conspired to hide the articles. One's irresponsibility inevitably draws in other people.

Achan's sin was found out and destroyed his whole family.

The LORD is generous to us and allows us all to live with what we need if we will only follow Him and obey Him. Covetousness exposes our heart and the ingratitude and envy it contains. The only cure is to be satisfied with the LORD and all He provides. This includes material and immaterial blessings that we have all received if we just open our eyes to Him - and close our eyes to the things of this world.

Mar 10 Joshua 1-5 Be Strong and Courageous

"Be strong and courageous" was God's exhortation to Joshua. All leaders need to exude confidence for people to follow them. But where does on summon strength and courage? Some would say from our inner selves. But the Bible tells us the true source of strength and courage - from God.

Notice in Joshua 1, God promises Joshua, "I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Once we understand that God is with us, we must ask ourselves, "Who can be against us?" The answer is no one nearly as powerful. When a leader understands that God is with him and will never leave him, then he can be strong and courageous.

But God continues with an important caveat - "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." For us Christians today, we need to be firmly rooted in the entire Bible as leaders. We must represent God well by modelling His holiness in our lives. If we do, we will continue to lead well in strength and courage - because He is with us.