What to do after the Failure

 Read Joshua 8. 

He is called the God of the second chance for a reason.  When one fails the first test, the LORD will bring that person right back to the same situation in order to pass the test and move on with His plan for their lives.  It is pitiful when some wastes their entire lives failing the same test over and over. 

The failure for Israel happened in chapter 7.  But then the LORD encouraged Joshua to go back to the same place, better armed with a better plan, and ready to succeed.  The plan came with a promised blessing.  This time they were allowed to take all the plunder for themselves.  Unlike when they failed, they knew exactly what God wanted done and dispatched ten times the resources to destroy this little city. 

While the implementation of the battle strategy makes for fascinating reading, it is not the point of the story.  This was the second generation who received a second opportunity to obey God and reestablish themselves in the Promised Land.  Therefore, after the battle was won, Joshua took care in following all the instructions in the second giving of the law (Deuteronomy). 

It is a wonderful picture of how to get back on track after a train wreck failure.

1. He built an altar.

Joshua went to the place God had chosen for public worship.  Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us to increase meeting together "as you see the Day drawing near." 

2. He presented offerings to the LORD.

Worship and giving are inseparable. 

3. He wrote out his own copy of the word of God and read it just as Moses instructed.

Today, we can simply purchase a Bible or download an app.  But reading it, knowing what it means, putting it into practice for our blessing requires the daily discipline of a true disciple. 

Let's move on.  Today is an opportunity to pass God's tests and be blessed.

 

4 lessons from a Disaster

 Read Joshua 7. 

The first battle for Israel in the new land was a huge success.  God's power was demonstrated; the goal was accomplished; Joshua's leadership and fame was established throughout the land. 

"But..."  This is the first word in chapter 7.  God gave clear instructions to destroy everything, except some precious metals and those were to be dedicated for holy use by the priests.  In the attack, a man named Achan saw a beautiful coat, some silver and gold and decided to keep it for himself.  In fact, this was stealing from God and disobeying what He had said.  As a result, the Lord was angry with the entire nation and no one seemed to be aware of it. 

Then a second problem arose.  In planning for the next battle, pride and self-confidence crept in.  Joshua decided to send only a few soldiers to capture a small town.  After the extensive plan God had given them for Jericho, there appears to be an absence of dependence upon God and seeking His marching orders for the city of Ai.  This explains why Joshua did not know that God was angry.  He never inquired of Him.  The attitude of "we can handle this on our own" is a statement that says, "We do not need God."  The result was Israel's first defeat.  Thirty-six men paid for it with their lives. 

A devastated Joshua fell on his face crying and praying.  There are times when God desires such an outward display of humility toward Him.  This is not one of those times.  "The LORD said to Joshua, 'Get up!'" (v.10).  Joshua's prayer questioned God, instead of realizing that the disaster had been self-inflicted. 

Verses 12-13 state that further defeats would be happening unless the sin was removed.  Finally, Achan was identified and his sin cost the lives of his entire family. 

Lessons from a disaster:

1. There is no such thing as a victimless crime.  One person's sin does affect all those around them.

2. Getting rid of sin sometimes involves a painful decision.  The followers of God must be willing to obey and make the tough call.

3. God offers forgiveness for those who respond rightly to Him.

"Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back." (Isaiah 38:17)

4. A life lived on its own is a recipe for disaster.  It is only when we cast our dependence upon God that we know what He wants done and He can bless our lives. 

The old hymn by Annie Hawks and Robert Lowry says it best:

"I need Thee, O I need Thee, Ev'ry hour I need Thee!  O bless me now, my Savior-I come to Thee!"

When there is a Mess focus on the Mission

 Read Joshua 6. 

Conventional warfare against a high walled city like this would have involved a long-term siege.  Demands from the attackers followed by pronouncing curses upon each other were common.  The attacking army would encamp around the city and build ramps against the wall.  If the city was unprepared, quite often the attacker waited until starvation destroyed the people inside. 

None of this happened to Jericho.  There were no demands, no cursing, no ramps.  Indeed, the battle plan issued by the LORD was silence and simply marching around the city.  The only sounds were the ram’s horns and marching feet.  After that, they went back to their base camp.  To the fighting men of Israel this must have been some of the most conflicted moments of their lives.  They were ready to attack but not allowed to do so.  This they did once every day for six days and seven times on the seventh day.  

Inside the city walls, the people of Jericho would have been preparing for the worst.  But each day nothing happened.  The scripture tells us that they had already lost their courage to fight.  The shear dread and fear from this daily routine is unimaginable. 

But on the seventh day, on the seventh lap, the horns sounded, and Joshua ordered, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city."  It has been proven by archaeological digs that the walls fell downward in place.  Only Rahab and her family were rescued. 

Other instructions for this battle included total destruction, but anything made of gold, silver, bronze, and iron was to be given to the priests for their use.  They were dedicated to the LORD. 

There are at least three life applications for us here.

1. Reject the things banned by God. (vv.17-18)

A believer in Jesus must be aware and on guard moment by moment to love the things that God loves and hate the things that God hates. 

2. Reclaim some things for God. (v.19)

In the midst of the mess there is most always something that can be pulled out to use for God's purposes.  Look for it in problems, broken people, and other shambles of life. 

3. Rescue people who respond to God. (vv.22-23)

Despite all the fear, the warnings, and the pending doom not one citizen of Jericho put their trust in the God of Israel except Rahab's family.  They were not only kept alive, but they united with and were embraced by God's people.  Seeking those who are responsive to the message of Jesus is our daily responsibility as His followers.  "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

 

How to prepare for your Future

 Read Joshua 5. 

What happened at the Jordan River and the crossing of the nation of Israel had spread throughout Canaan.  The result was a complete loss of courage to war against these people of the Living God.  To a military mindset, this would have triggered an immediate urge to attack and begin subduing all the major cities and kingdoms of the land.  Not so with God’s plans. 

Conquering the land would not be a physical fight only.  When moving forward on God's plans the most important preparation is spiritual readiness.  This generation was not ready to take on what the LORD had promised to give them.  First, they had to prepare themselves. 

1. Personal Commitment.

Circumcision was an outward sign of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants.  This began in Genesis 17.  It was a statement of belonging to the LORD from generation to generation.  All males were circumcised prior to leaving Egypt in preparation for the Exodus.  However, that was 40 years ago.  Because of the constant and unpredictable movement through the wilderness wanderings, no one born along the journey had been circumcised.  Evidently, they could not allow for the necessary time of healing. 

The Prophet Jeremiah clarified that this outward sign was to represent the commitment of the heart to the LORD.  "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem..." (Jeremiah 4:4)  The Apostle Paul goes further and states that what really counts is obedience to God.  "For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God." (1 Corinthians 7:19) 

2. Corporate Worship.

God's timing is perfect.  The date of this preparation was the exact time for celebrating the Passover.  They were to stop and remember their redemption from slavery.  It took the shedding of blood and the personal application of a substitute sacrifice for God to passover them in judgment.  Dr. Donald Campbell wrote, "Remembering the past was an excellent preparation for the tests of the future." 

"For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) 

3. Private Worship.

The commander of the LORD's army appeared to Joshua in private.  Here is another example of a preincarnate appearance of Jesus.  This is not an angel.  Angels are forbidden in scripture to receive worship.  Once Joshua realized who was standing in front of him, he fell on his face.  He was on holy ground because God Himself was there.  

We are not told what the message to Joshua was, if any.  It may have been simply the reassurance to this leader of God's presence and power as he faced the future.  

Jesus taught, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)

 

What to do with a Miracle

 Read Joshua 4. 

Imagine standing in the middle of a river at flood stage, with the hand of God holding back the water and millions of people crossing on dry ground.   

Why did God lead them to this spot and then perform this powerful miracle?  Why did He not instead lead them north on the west side of the Dead Sea and avoid this?  I believe there were at least three reasons:

1. Generational.

The previous generation, after crossing the Red Sea on dry ground and witnessing God's power to take care of them, rejected God's leading the nation north into the land of Canaan.  They feared the inhabitants, they feared the fight ahead, and they feared the high walled cities of the land.  Indeed, they embraced their fears instead of acting on their faith in God to take care of them.  Now, 40 years later, God gave the 2nd generation a similar water-crossing miracle and led them straight to one of those high walled cities.

2. Theological.

God's miracles are never performed for show.  They are not intended merely to wow the people.  Rather, the miracles always were used to validate God's message.  In 3:10, Joshua explained in advance why God was going to do this miracle.  "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the (the inhabitants of the land)."

3. Memorial.

The LORD instructed that a representative of each of the twelve tribes go back into the middle of the river bed and for each of them to shoulder a stone out to the west bank.  There they were to stack them as a monument.  To this day, monuments are built, usually by governments, for reasons of honor, memory, and teaching about people and events.  This is exactly the case here. 

"When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?'  Then you shall tell them..." (4:6) 

"So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever." (4:24) 

When God answers a prayer, when we see His hand move in circumstances, it is an opportunity to honor Him by telling others what this means to us and how mighty the LORD is.

 

Are you ready for a Miracle?

 Read Joshua 3. 

The dictionary defines a miracle as an event or effect that contradicts known scientific laws; a supernatural event demonstrating divine intervention.  This chapter tells of one such intervention by God in order to fulfill His promises to Israel. 

This nation of several millions of people was encamped on the east side of the Jordan River, just north of the Dead Sea.  The river is about 65 miles long and ranges from 1/2 mile to 2 miles wide.  Verse 15 states that the river was at flood stage, making the crossing humanly improbable, if not impossible. 

Before God acted there were three elements of preparation at work:

1. They were Organized.

Without some structure of procession, moving millions of people anywhere would have been chaotic, disastrous and dangerous.  In the book of Exodus, God organized how the nation would position themselves to move and to camp.  The Tabernacle was in the center with three tribes each on the north, south, east and west.  Tribes and families stayed together.  In this instance the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant over half a mile ahead of the people to show direction.

2. They Communicated.

The communication system included verbal orders from the leader to the leaders of the tribes to the leaders of the families, etc.

3. They Consecrated themselves.

This was not just a time of packing their belongings.  They were by faith to prepare themselves spiritually to experience a miracle from the LORD.  He is holy.  He expects His people to be holy. 

Question:  How can we know from the scriptures that there is no other explanation for this occurrence other than a miracle from God?

1. The Timing of the Miracle (3:13-15).

The prediction was that the waters would not part until the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped on to the top of the water.  Think of their faith in God marching toward a flooded river.  Often God is waiting to see if we will obey before He will intervene.

2. The Flooded River (3:15).

This was no shallow creek through which they could wade.  They had children, animals and goods to transport.

3. The Tributaries (3:16).

The waters coming from the north stopped and "rose up in a heap".  The result was that the river bed south going to the Dead Sea had no water during the crossing.

4. The Dry Ground (3:17).

When the priests stepped into the river, the waters not only were cut off, but the ground was immediately dry.  The people did not slosh through a muddy river bed.  This is the same experience of the previous generation in crossing the Red Sea in Exodus.

5. The Timing of the River's Return (4:18).

The priests stood in the middle of the river bed until the last person crossed.  The water flow resumed to normalcy at the exact time the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant crossed to the other side. 

Performing a miracle is the work of God.  Preparing obediently to experience a miracle is our responsibility.

 

It is the present, not the past, that determines your future.

 Read Joshua 2. 

Joshua knew the value of reconnaissance.  He had been a spy for Israel in the book of Numbers.  Back then, Moses sent 12 spies, one from each tribe.  Only two, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a faith-filled report.  So, this time Joshua sent only two.  Their assignment was to gather intelligence on the city of Jericho.  When the nation crossed the Jordan River headed west, Jericho would be the first major city in its path.

The spies came to the house of Rahab.  She was able to tell them all they needed to know about the city and how God had already struck fear in the people.  The people of Jericho knew about the Red Sea miracle and the power of Israel's God.  While everyone else lived in dread, Rahab placed her faith in the LORD.  That made all the difference.  Her faith changed her life, her legacy, and her destiny. 

1. Rahab in the Past tense.

She was a Canaanite.  These were the current inhabitants of the Promised Land.  God's order was to root them out so Israel could possess what was rightfully theirs.  The Canaanites were pagans.  They worshipped various sorts of made up deities, often fashioning them with wood or metal.  She was a prostitute.  Her reputation for immorality and loss of character would seem to have her on an opposite path from God. 

2. Rahab in the Future tense.

In Matthew 1, we read the family tree of Jesus, the Messiah.  Several women are particularly noted in that passage.  In verse 6 is the name of Rahab.  After the fall of Jericho, she and her family lived with the nation of Israel.    She married a Jewish man who was in the very lineage of the Messiah.  In Hebrews 11:31, when examples of great faith in the LORD were listed, Rahab is given as a prime example.  In James 2:24-26, Rahab is again shown to be a person who did not just express belief in God, but proved it by her actions. 

3. Rahab in the Present tense.

There are four spiritual responses by Rahab in Joshua 2 that are true of everyone who put their faith in God and experience an eternal change of life.

     A. She heard about God.

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)

     B. She believed what she heard about God.

"'...what must I do to be saved?'  And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'"  (Acts 16:30)

"Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

     C. She obeyed God as proof of her sincerity. 

Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples." (John 8:31)