Pastor Billington's Blog

Joshua 8

God can give the victory through miraculous means or by conveying clever strategy. In either case, obedience to His commands is what brings success! The Israelites also make sure that they fulfill God’s command from Deuteronomy 11:29 when they reaffirm the covenant. It seems that they copied the 10 commandments on the stones as a memorial, but read the entirety of the law out loud.

While the stones at Gilgal where they crossed the Jordan reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness, the monuments erected at Ai serve a different purpose. The stones over Achan (7:26) would remind the Israelites for generations of the danger of sin and greed, and the heap of stones over the grave of the king of Ai and the altar that was erected on Mount Ebal would remind them that, if they want to be victorious, they need to be faithful and obedient.

Thought for the day: Obedience still brings success and victory, but we have to make sure we understand what success and victory really look like!

John 14:23 (WEB) “ Jesus answered him, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’ “

Joshua 7

Apparently one person (and his family) decided not to follow God’s instructions at Jericho. As a result, the nation is routed at Ai. Joshua doesn’t understand at first and is very bold when he complains to God. God rebukes him and reveals that there is sin in the camp! Someone has stolen items used in idol worship, and that person will be revealed by casting lots over the congregation.

Thought for the day: Our passage reveals that disobedience brings displeasure and destruction. It affects more than just the person sinning. Very few sins that we commit (if any) only affect us. Even if we’re not caught doing something immoral or illegal (like Achan was), the way we act, behave, and think when we’re disobeying God has an impact on those around us. Our families are affected. Our friends are affected. Our communities are affected. Our jobs may be affected. And all of that can happen WITHOUT God taking an active hand in discipline.

Numbers 32:23 (WEB) “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Yahweh; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Joshua 6

Think of what the Israelites are doing from a psychological perspective, considering that the population was already on edge:

Joshua 2:9 (WEB) “She said to the men, ‘I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.’ “

Joshua 5:1 (WEB) “When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.”

Some speculate that the act of marching, then blowing the trumpets, and finally shouting caused something seismic to happen, or a resonance disaster. Maybe God instructed them to do that precisely because He knew that would happen. Or maybe it was a complete and total miracle. Either way, God instructed, they obeyed, and God gave them the victory! And the Israelites not only obeyed God to the letter (even with the destruction), but they emulated His faithfulness. Rahab and her family are saved, as promised.

Thought for the day: The ark of the covenant symbolized God’s presence. It was the focal point when the water was stopped in the Jordan, and it was a focal point as they marched around the city. Thankfully we don’t need an ark now. We are the arks!

John 14:16-17 (WEB) “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

Joshua 5

Finally reaching the promised land meant a new start for the nation. They re-established circumcision. They kept the Passover. There was no more manna, because they were able to eat from the land itself. Think of this as a rededication!

Isn’t it interesting that, even though circumcision had been given to them as a perpetual sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:9-14), they didn’t engage in the practice while they were in the wilderness? Can you believe these people? They’re a lot like us!

Thought for the day: The commander of the Lord’s army shows Joshua that the Israelites are not alone in their battle. Isn’t it awesome that we aren’t alone either?

John 14:16 (WEB) “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever.”

Joshua 4

Twelve men, one from each tribe, each take a rock out of the Jordan from where the priests stood. They carried them until they made camp, and then made a memorial pile as an on ongoing testimony to God’s awesome power. Did Joshua make a second memorial in the Jordan itself? Possibly, but it’s also possible that verse 9 should be translated, “Joshua set up 12 stones that had been in the midst of the Jordan.” Although their location was still known as of the writing of Joshua, their location has been lost to antiquity. This is one of seven memorials mentioned in the book of Joshua (7:26; 8:28–29; 8:32; 10:27; 22:34; 24:26–27).

Thought for the day: This memorial had a two-fold purpose: (1) to be an ongoing witness of God’s power to the nations, and (2) to remind God’s people of the need to fear Him.

Acts 9:31 (WEB) “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”

Joshua 3

After a leader of mythic proportions dies, how does the next person take on the mantle of leadership? God replicates an earlier miracle to affirm Joshua’s place. Instead of the Red Sea crossing we have the Jordan crossing, and God has them memorialize the spot for future generations.

Thought for the day: How are you at memorializing the faith stories from your life? Even if you don’t have family to share them with, the story of your salvation is a faith story that you should be willing to share with anyone!

Deuteronomy 4:9 (WEB) “Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children.”

Psalm 96:3 (WEB) “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.”

Joshua 2

The Israelites send men to spy on the land. They use a prostitute’s house as a place to hide, probably because it would be less conspicuous for them to come and go. When the authorities come looking for them, Rahab lies to hide them and gets a promise from them that they will spare her family when they invade.

Rahab shows us that anyone can do the right thing, that any life can be changed, that anyone can choose to follow God. In fact, she receives a very special honor for her decision to serve God, that goes beyond the salvation of her family:

Matthew 1:1-6 (WEB) “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.”

Thought for the day: Rahab’s family was saved by hanging a scarlet cord out the window. Could this be a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

1 Peter 1:18-19 (WEB) “knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ”

Joshua 1

The Lord challenges Joshua, and then Joshua challenges the Israelites. Moses is dead, and the Israelites are ready to enter the promised land. God encourages Joshua to be strong, courageous, and obedient. He is to lead the people into the promised land, and God promises that He will be with them. Joshua, in turn, challenges the Israelites to get ready, and then reminds the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh of their promise: they only get their inheritance if they help their brothers take the land!

Thought for the day: God’s charge to Joshua serves as an important reminder for us:

Joshua 1:8 (WEB) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.”