The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 55 -- God Judges And Restores The People – Jephthah’s Vow To The Lord

After Abimelech died Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, was the next person to rescue Israel.  He judged Israel for twenty three years and died.  Jair judged Israel for the next twenty two years, which completed forty five years of Israel obeying God.  Then as was true to form, Israel went back to idolatry and served Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia.  The practice of serving these manmade gods required sacrificing their infants and young children by throwing them into the fire.  God allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to oppress Israel for eighteen years.  When Israel cried out to God, He said, “No more will I rescue you, petition your pagan gods and idols.”

Judges 10:14 KJV Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

Then Israel put away the foreign gods and began to obey and serve the LORD; but the Ammonites were gathered for battle and Israel needed a leader.  There was a man named Jephthah of Gilead, he was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute.  Gilead’s wife had sons and for fear of having to share their inheritance with their half brother, Jephthah, they drove him away.   It was not long and Jephthah had assembled a band of rebels to follow him.  Then the Ammonites made war against Israel and the elders of Gilead went out to find Jephthah.  They begged him to be their commander and the leader over all of the people and he agreed.  Then he sent messengers to the king of Ammon and tried to make peace, but the king wanted war.  So Jephthah;  assembled the army to fight against the King of Ammon and he vowed to the LORD,  saying, “If you will give me a complete victory over the Ammonites, then I will sacrifice whatever comes out of my house to meet me after I have made peace with Ammon.”

The LORD gave him victory over twenty cities and completely subdued the Ammonites.  When Jephthah came home from the victory, his only child, his daughter came dancing out with a tambourine to greet him.  As soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and lamented; but the daughter submitted to her father and told him to do to her as he vowed to the LORD.  She made on request, “Let me go and roam in the hills with my friends and weep for two months, because I will die a virgin.”  Jephthah agreed and when she came back, he sacrificed her to God.

Judges 11:34-40 ESV Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.  (35)  And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow."  (36)  And she said to him, "My father, you have opened your mouth to the LORD; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."  (37)  So she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions."  (38)  So he said, "Go." Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains.  (39)  And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel  (40)  that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

This is always one of the hardest stories for me to read because my daughter is my only child.  Why would a man make such a vow?  Surely his thought was that his faithful dog would have come out to meet him; and though that would be a great sacrifice; peace in the land would have been worth it.  Never in his wildest imaginations did the thought cross his mind that his daughter would greet him first and become the sacrifice.  There is no record of Jephthah petitioning the LORD or any thought whatsoever of trying to get out of his vow.  He lived in obedience and obviously brought up his daughter to do the same. 

Why did the LORD not intervene and stop Jephthah like He stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac?  First of all, Abraham did not make such a vow.  That was the LORD’s requirement.  Secondly, it is a huge lesson for all who read it.  We all need to be more mindful of what we say and especially of what we vow.  We all say things in frustration and in desperation that we really don’t mean.  What if the LORD required us to fulfill our words?  Actually, Jesus Christ says that we will have to give an account for every word.  This story laid the foundation for what Jesus would later teach. 

Matthew 12:36 KJV But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

The LORD took Jephthah’s words very seriously and an example was made out of his careless words.  Our words can get us into great trouble and cause great trouble as well.  Have you ever wished for death out of frustration; or that it would have been better never to have been born?  Do you ever speak idle curses or say silly and foolish things? Do you ever gossip or say hurtful words about others behind their back, or speak harshly to their face?  Our words have power, as do our thoughts.  God is listening to both.  Take the time to read these proverbs about the tongue.

Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  (17)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  (18)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  (19)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 12:18 KJV There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 18:21 KJV Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 21:23 KJV Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

James 3:8 KJV But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:2 KJV For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

LORD God, Almighty Father; help me to bridle my tongue.  Help me to think before I speak.  Let my words be firm and of good report of character, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 54 -- God Judges And Restores The People – God Takes Vengeance For Gideon

The blessings of the LORD died with Gideon.  Then one day, his son through a handmaid, Abimelech, declared himself king after soliciting the support of his mother’s family at Shechem.  With seventy pieces of silver, he hired a gang of assassins and went to his father’s house and executed all seventy of his half brothers, Gideon’s sons.  Only the youngest son, Jotham escaped.  The people of Shechem made Abimelech king.

Judges 9:5-6 ESV And he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.  (6)  And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

When Jotham heard that Abimelech was made king, he shouted from the top of Mount Gerizim, down to the people of Shechem; a parable.  The parable is a warning and a condemnation of both Abimelech and the people of Shechem:

Judges 9:7-15 ESV  When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.  (8)  The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'  (9)  But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?'  (10)  And the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.'  (11)  But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?'  (12)  And the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.'  (13)  But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?'  (14)  Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.'  (15)  And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

One of my favorite scriptures, that gives me hope in adversity is that God sees all and He will measure out justice ultimately.

Galatians 6:7 ESV Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Abimelech believed that he could get away with anything that he wanted.  Jotham warned the people of the evil that would come and it did.  Abimelech had ruled for only three years when the LORD sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the people.  They revolted and set an ambush for Abimelech.  At a local festival for one of their gods the people got drunk and spoke out freely against Abimelech cursing him in public.  This led to more treachery and a conspiracy was formed against the people of Shechem and Abimelech moved his army by night and attacked the city at first light.  There were a number of raids against the people of Shechem and in one raid, the people tried to hide in the tower at Shechem and Abimelech piled wood and burned alive about 1,000 men and women.  He then attacked the town of Thebez and captured it.  All of the men and women escaped to the tower of their town.  But as Abimelech prepared to burn the people alive, a woman dropped a millstone down on him.  He quickly asked his armor bearer to run him through with a sword because he did not want it to be known that he was killed by a woman.

Judges 9:52-57 ESV And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.  (53)  And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.  (54)  Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.  (55)  And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home.  (56)  Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers.  (57)  And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Prayer:  Father in Heaven, there is a consequence for every action.  I thank you for your WORD that leads me into your righteousness.  Keep me from evil, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 53 -- God Judges And Restores The People – The Cycle Continues

It becomes an exhausting read; the account of Israel’s unfaithfulness and love affairs with gods of stone that are the craftsmanship of the imaginations of men.  God’s WORD, does not try to cover Israel’s sin because God married the nation as His bride; she clearly, “whored after the Baals and Baal-berith their god.”  These creations of men, required the sacrifices of babies and young children by throwing them into fire pits, an act that should have been as abominable in their eyes as it was in God’s eyes.

Judges 8:33-35 ESV As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god.  (34)  And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, (35) and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.

Our world is the same today.  As a college administrator in the 1980s, many of my colleagues were full professors who had earned at least one doctorate degree or more.  There was a common joke that Ph.D. stood for; piled higher and deeper.  Sometimes their knowledge seemed so disconnected with the real world; it was just so much more manure, piled higher.  Not all, but a significant number lacked “common sense,” a now obsolete term, because if it once existed, it does not today.  Another joke was that professor’s worn slip on shoes, because they didn’t know how to tie laces.  This was my world; working in academia.  This was the tendency:  the higher the education, the less respect and reverence for God and in fact, the intellectual mind says, “There is no God.”  Intellectualism; becomes the love of one’s own acquired knowledge and love for self above all others, even God.  Few of my colleagues even believed that God even exists.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

The Bible says that we need the “Fear of the LORD.”  Is God looking for us to be afraid of Him?  How can we love Him if we are supposed to be afraid of Him?  The word fear is translated from the Hebrew word, yir'âh; which means reverence or respect.  Our children today are being brought up with little to no respect by parents who were never taught reverence and respect.  My generation was the last to be taught respect.  It was respect that taught me to arise in the presence of my elders and to take my hat off upon entering a house, public buildings, especially schools and seats of government.  These little disciplines are found in Good’s WORD.

Leviticus 19:32 ESV "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.”

Proverbs 1:7 ESV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:29-33 ESV Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,  (31)  therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.  (32) For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; (33)  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."      

Proverbs 2:1-8 ESV My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, (2)  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  (3)  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  (4)  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  (5)  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  (6)  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;  (7)  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,  (8)  guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Proverbs 9:10-12 ESV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  (11)  For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.  (12)  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Isaiah 11:2-4 ESV And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  (3)  And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,  (4)  but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Israel did not fear God.  The result was a cycle of whoring after Baal; reaping the curse of being apart from God; pain and suffering that made them cry out to the LORD; being rescued by the man of God, a judge sent by the LORD; victory and restoration and then the cycle began all over again.

The murmurings of Israel in the wilderness were replaced by the whoring after pagan gods in the Promised Land.  When God came to His people Israel in the New Testament as Jesus Christ; they hate Him and despise Him and kill Him.  Jesus came for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.  Yet even today, the world despises Him.  World population going into 2011 was just under 7 Billion people.  It is estimated that 2.1 billion of the world population are professing Christians.  But that is like saying that Israel professed the LORD and then worshipped Baal.  They were Jew in name only.  But let’s not judge any one.  Approximately 30% of the world; profess to be Christian.  There have lived on earth an estimated 110 billion people since man was created.  The percentage of God professing people has probably been the same down through the ages (30%); those who have lived their faith; are most likely a fraction of that.  God has been dealing with the rebellion of man on a very large scale.  There has always been a witness to proclaim God.  Man has always had the choice to choose the LORD.  We have that same choice today.  Many have been called, but few answer to become the chosen.  The stakes are very high!

Matthew 22:2-14 ESV "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,  (3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.  (4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'  (5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,  (6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.  (7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.  (8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.  (9)   Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'  (10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.  (11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.  (12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.  (13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, my LORD, thank you for choosing me and filling me with your WORD and giving me a heart to respect you.  I praise your Holy name Jesus and give you all reverence.  Keep me in your arms 

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 52 -- God Judges And Restores The People – Power in the Light – Gideon’s Sword

Only after the dust of the battle settled, can we find the numbers that were slain in the LORD’s victory through Gideon.  The kings of Midian retreated to a place where they felt secure.  All that was left was 15,000 Midianite soldiers; 120,000 had fallen to the sword of Gideon and Israel. 

Judges 8:10-12 ESV Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword.  (11)  And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure.  (12)  And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.

Who was this man of faith whose name is recorded among the faithful of the LORD in Hebrew 11:32?  We need to look at what was going on in Israel at the time.  Israel had gone back to worshipping Baal and the LORD was allowing the Midianites to severely punish Israel.  They were raiding all of the crops and consuming all, until nothing was left.  It looked as if locus had invaded the land.  There were so many that Israel could not stop them.           

Judges 6:5-6 These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. (6) So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.

The LORD heard their cry and went to a man named Gideon.  When the LORD appeared to him as an Angel; he was threshing wheat at the bottom of a wine press, to hide his food.  The Angel called him a mighty man of valor and said that the LORD was with him to rescue His people Israel.  Gideon tried to negotiate his way out of this assignment.  Not convinced that this was a messenger from God, Gideon asked for a sign.  Gideon prepared a goat with broth and unleavened cakes; and brought it to the angel.  The angel told him to put it on a rock and pour the broth upon it.  The angel touched it with the tip of his staff and fire instantly consumed it all.  Gideon built an altar and worshipped the LORD.

Judges 6:21 ESV Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.

That night, the LORD told Gideon to take his father’s bull and a second bull and tear down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it; make an altar to the LORD and sacrifice the bull, using the Asherah for wood.   Gideon took ten of his servants and did this at night because he was afraid of members of his father’s house and the people of the town.  In the morning there was quite a stir over this.  The town’s people wanted Gideon dead; but his father Joash stands up for his son and challenges their god Baal.

Judges 6:31-33 ESV But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down."  (32)  Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, "Let Baal contend against him," because he broke down his altar.  (33)  Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.

With invincible faith in God, Gideon assembled 32,000 soldiers to fight against 135,000 Midianites.  Being outnumbered more than 4 to one by the enemy, God told Gideon to send home, anyone who was afraid to fight.  Leaving only 10, 000 soldiers; outnumbered now almost 15 to one.

Judges 7:3 ESV Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.'" Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

God said that they were still too large of an army for God to give the battle to Gideon.  A third dismissal left only three hundred men, to go into battle against 135,000.  Each man would have to personally face-down 450 enemy warriors. 

Judges 7:5-7 ESV So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink."  (6)  And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water.  (7)  And the LORD said to Gideon, "With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home."

That night God spoke to Gideon and assured him that the Midianites would be given into his hand.   Armed with only trumpets and torches hidden in clay pitchers, the three hundred men were divided into 3 companies that surrounded the camp of the Midianites.  At Gideon’s command, they blew their trumpets, broke the clay pitchers revealing the light of their torches.  The noise and the three hundred lights in the dark of night put the enemy into a panic and the Lord set them upon themselves.  The enemy slew their fellow soldiers.

 Judges 7:20-22  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.  (21)  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.  (22)  And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.  

Imagine the power of the three hundred lights that drove 120,000 Midianites to slay one another.  Three hundred lights and voices, with three hundred trumpets sounded victory for the Lord and Gideon.  God put an illusion in the minds of the army of Midian that 300 legions of a 1.000 men in each or more than 300,000 were coming against them in the night.

We always have a tendency to fight God by wanting to do things our way; relying on our own strength.  Here God piled seemingly impossible odds against Gideon and his 300.  They were out numbered 450 to 1.  God wants us to face equally impossible odds because that is the only way we are going to grow in faith and in God’s own character.  God still speaks to His people today; He speaks to you and me.  God lead me to abandon the security of my very comfortable life of being well established in Madison Wisconsin.  The LORD called upon me to uproot my life after He had established me in both the community and in His church.  This was hard!  My negotiations with the LORD failed, just as Gideon’s negotiations failed.  God said, “Go!”   The LORD moved me from working with a church and ministry that targeted a community of maybe 900,000; to join with a ministry that is targeting a community of 9.2 million.  What God has planned is beyond human reason; but God is blessing my life and ministry.  He wants to bless your life and ministry as well.  We all must surrender to do it God’s way, against all odds.

My Father in Heaven; I thank you from leading me to what you are blessing.  Thank you for moving me out of my complacency and fear.  Help me to be strong and courageous in your ways; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 51 -- God Judges And Restores The People – The Story of Ehud & The Story of Deborah

Israel’s number one problem was the same problem that people have been battling down through the ages; it is failure to trust in the LORD.  My life is no exception.  Even when we are serving God, we can be distant from Him.  Men probably suffer with this problem more than women.  We tend to not ask for directions when we are lost; we tend to start assembling something without looking at the manual and we don’t like to admit that we are wrong.  This was Israel’s problem.  They would go off on their own.  Little by little, they drifted so far from God that the world of paganism around them swallowed them up; just as the world of materialism around us can devour our time and our life.  The result is the same, we fall from God’s grace, and through adversity, must find our way back to God.

At the end of chapter two of Judges, we saw that God had enough and was not going to fight for Israel anymore.  They started to worship Baal, so God turned Israel over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim.[a] And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.  When they began to cry out in repentance to God, the LORD raised up Othniel and there was peace for forty years until he died.

Judges 3:9-11 ESV But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.  (10)  The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.  (11)  So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Once again, as soon as the man of God died, the people returned to idol worship.  This time God turned them over to the Moabites for eighteen years.  Then they remembered God and cried out to Him.  The first time they wallowed in their sin for eight years before crying out to God, the next time it took eighteen years to break their stubborn will.  The people cried out to the LORD and He sent Ehud to rescue them.  Hiding a 12 inch long dagger in his clothes, he went to the Moabite king to make Israel’s payment.  Telling the king that he had a secret message for him, the king cleared his chamber to hear Ehud’s message.  Ehud tells the king that the message is from God.  As the king started to rise, Ehud pulled his dagger and thrust it into the king’s belly so deep that the handle disappeared in his fat.  Ehud closed and locked all of the doors and made his escape.  The king’s servants thought that the king was relieving himself, so they didn’t want to disturb him.  They waited until it was an embarrassingly long time and then they still didn’t go, but waited.  By the time they found their dead king, Ehud was long gone.

Judges 3:21-22 ESV And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.  (22)  And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out.

Ehud summoned the Israelites to arms because the LORD had already given them the victory.  They killed 10,000 Moabites that day and God gave them peace for eighty years.

Judges 3:29-30 ESV And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped.  (30)  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

Then Ehud died and the people had to be rescued by Shamgar, who killed 600 Philistines with an ox gourd.

Judges 3:31 ESV After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.

Once again the people turned away from God and He turned them over to the Canaanite king, Jabin of Hazor, who had 900 iron chariots and he ruthlessly oppressed Israel.   Then God sent the prophetess Deborah.  One day the LORD tells her to call on Barak to take 10,000 warriors down to the Kishon River, where the LORD will give Israel the victory.  Barak agrees to go, only if Deborah goes with.  She agrees to go, but tells him that he will receive no honor; the LORD’s victory will be at the hands of a woman.

Judges 4:9 “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.

The LORD threw the Canaanites into a panic and their 900 iron chariots were of no use.  The LORD gave Israel the victory.  The Canaanite commander, Sisera, escaped on foot and ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor.  Sisera asked for some water.  Jael gave warm milk and he fell asleep.  Jael then crept and with a hammer, drove a tent spike through Sisera’s temples, pinning his dead head to the ground.  Israel grew strong from the victory and completely subdued King Jabin.  This whole story was recorded in the Song of Deborah.  It takes all of chapter five to record the 31 verses.  Sometimes we have to act instantly on an opportunity that the LORD sends our way.  It was a leap of faith for Jael to act.  The result was a decisive victory for Israel,

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, my LORD, thank you for promising me the victory.  Help me to walk in your righteousness so that you will continue to fight my battles.  Give me the courage and the faith to trust in you and to act when you make a way for me; in Jesus name, Amen.

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 50 -- God Judges And Restores The People – Weakened By The Enemy Within

Not long after Joshua’s death, the tribes of Israel stopped following the LORD’s command to drive out the heathen inhabitants of the Promised Land.  This brought about curses instead of blessings.  God instructed the men of Judah to be the first to go in and claim their inheritance from the Canaanites.  The LORD promised them the victory.  The men of Judah defeated 10,000 Canaanites and Perizzites; captured their king Adoni-bezek and cut off his thumbs and big toes.  From his own lips, he felt his punishment was just and from the LORD.

Judges 1:7 ESV And Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

It is only human nature to look at these stories of how God had Israel annihilate the heathen nations that were trespassing in the Promised Land.  There is the thought to side in with them and think that they were there first.  What is easy to forget and what can distort our perspective is the fact that Noah lived 350 years after the flood (Genesis 9:28); Shem lived 500 years after the flood (Genesis 11:11); they were eye witnesses and righteous men of God who went through the flood and were alive for 500 years into the post flood world; giving their testimony.  The heathen people knew that there was one true God.  Abraham comes on the scene and both Pharaoh and Abimelech are personally warned by the LORD, not to touch Sarah, Abraham’s wife.  Joseph, Abraham’s grandson, many years later interprets the dreams of a new Pharaoh.  Generation after Generation; The LORD was revealed to the heathen and pagan people.  In essence, the Gospel was preached throughout the world down through the Exodus and beyond.  430 years after Joseph, a new pharaoh receives the Gospel message on deaf ears.  As a witness to the entire world, Egypt was utterly destroyed after being given 10 chances; 10 wakeup calls through ten plagues.  The heathen people lived in open rebellion to the LORD.  Adoni-bezek openly admitted his cruelty and that, “God has repaid me.”  God’s mercy is great and He gave the heathen of Canaan their chance to repent.

The men of Judah started out with the LORD on their side.  Victory after victory the heathen nations fell to the men of Judah.  The LORD was with them.  Then they became afraid of the iron chariots of the hill country and they failed to drive them out.

Judges 1:19 ESV And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.

Was God no longer with them?  Of course not; they were given a test and they failed.  They lost their faith in the LORD.  The iron chariots became bigger than God in their eyes.  Unfortunately, wrong thinking and bad behavior will pull down those around you.

Benjamin followed Judah’s fear and could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem.  Then Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher and Naphtali failed to drive out the heathen people.  They disobeyed God’s command to drive them out.  They stopped relying on the LORD and began relying on their own strength; which was weakening more and more each day.

Judges 2:1-3 ESV  Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you,  (2)  and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?  (3)  So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."

All God has ever been looking for is a people that He could bless; who would obey His voice and receive the abundance that God is yearning to pour out.  If we take back our lives in rebellion to God, we lose them in misery, pain, suffering and death.  If we give our lives in loving obedience to God and make Him LORD over our life, then He gives us back our lives with great abundance and eternal life!  The message has been the same since the Garden of Eden.  Never fear that God is not merciful to the wicked.  God makes sure that every person has their opportunity to choose God and eternal life.  The choice has been ever present with mankind down through the ages.  Today, the people are worse than the pre-flood wickedness and the evils of Sodom and Gomorrha. 

Luke 17:26-29 KJV And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  (28)  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Matthew 10:15 KJV Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  (2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  (3)  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  (4)  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  (5)  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  (6)  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, (7)  always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

GOD TURNS AGAINST ISRAEL

The LORD God of Israel, was forgotten; Israel broke the very first commandment, “Thou shall have no other gods before me.”   That was the reason for removing the infidels out of the land.  The Promised Land needed to be pure.  The people of Israel needed to remain the Children of Israel, an innocent nation that humbly relied upon their God, the LORD.  The warning was made by God, because He knew what the out come would be if Israel compromised and tried to cohabitate with evil.  Nothing has changed in 3,000 plus years.  The pulls of the world; the pulls of the flesh; are to great for us.  We can’t dabble just a little bit in sin.  A little leaven, leavens the whole loaf!  Israel quickly ran after pagan gods, like Baal.   God was angry.

Judges 2:10 -15 NLT After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.  11 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. 12 They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord. 13 They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. 14 This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them. 15 Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.

God raised up Judges to lead Israel out of her sin and back to God.  Israel was like a bride to the LORD; that is what the covenant was between The LORD and Israel, just as it is today between the LORD and the Church.  Israel insisted on playing the prostitute by fornicating with pagan gods like Baal.  God sent Judges to rescue Israel and for short periods of time they would return to the LORD, only to backslide back into adultery with pagan gods.

Judges 2:16-17 NLT Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. 17 Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.

Judges 2: 18-19 NLT Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

Heavenly Father, my LORD, you reign supreme in my life.  As you have called me out of the world, help me to stay holy and separated.  Lead me in your holy and righteous ways.  You are the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE; keep me at one with you, I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 49 -- God Judges And Restores The People – The Sin Of Achan – The Conquests Under Joshua

THE ANGER OF THE LORD BURNED AGAINST ISRAEL

The LORD was very specific that the army was not to take for themselves, the spoils of war.  The temptation was too great and someone broke God’s command; bringing a curse upon the army.

Joshua 7:1 ESV But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

ISRAEL FLEES FROM AI BECAUSE THE LORD DID NOT BLESS THEIR BATTLE

Unknown to Joshua that someone has taken the spoils of war; he has no idea that the LORD is angry.  Believing that God is with the army in battle, he take’s this divine blessing for granted; sending a smaller army on a mission.  Had he known at all that the army broke their trust with the LORD; he would have repented and led the army to repent as well.  A small army of 3,000 went up to Ai, only to retreat from the battle, losing thirty six men.  Joshua tore his clothes and put dust on his head in grief, crying out to the LORD. 

Joshua 7:2-7 ESV Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.  (3)  And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."  (4)  So about 3,000 men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, (5) and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.  (6)  Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.  (7)  And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!

ISRAEL MARKED FOR DESTRUCTION FOR TAKING THE DEVOTED THINGS

“Israel has sinned!” It was a grievous sound that echoed in Joshua’s ears.  He knew what those words meant, even before the LORD explained their impact.  Hearing the LORD say, I will not be will you anymore in battle, kindled his anger against the army and at the same time drove him to his knees!

Joshua 7:10-12 ESV The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?  (11)  Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.  (12)  Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

                                 

PROCESS BY ELIMINATION THROUGH THE CASTING OF LOTS

The LORD did not give the remedy immediately.  It was the next morning that the LORD gave His instructions.  Through casting lots, The LORD would reveal Israel’s sin; by tribe, by clan, by house and by man.  The lot fell on Achan.  Joshua confronted him and demanded the truth.  He confessed that he stole a cloak, some silver and a bar of gold and hid them in the ground in his tent.  Messengers were sent to his tent and it was as he said.  Achan and all his processions; his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had; was taken up to the Valley of Achor.  There they were stoned and all of their belongings were burned with fire along with them.

Joshua 7:14-15 ESV In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man.  (15)  And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.'"

Joshua 7:24-26 ESV And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.  (25)  And Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.  (26)  And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor

.

FEAR AND OBEDIENCE INSTILLED THROUGH MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF ONE

Sometimes it is necessary to make an example out of one in order to get the attention and compliance of the rest.  The LORD was blessing His holy nation.  The heathen and pagan peoples who were trespassing in the Promised Land had to be eliminated; in order for the blessings of peace and abundance to be bestowed upon Abraham’s seed.  There could be no peaceful cohabitation of the heathen and God’s righteous people.  Unless they were completely eliminated, Israel could never rest.  The army of Israel was not going to be like the heathen nations.  God could not tolerate the pillaging of the spoils of war for personal gain.  All that would be taken; was for the treasury of the LORD. 

Taken in with cunning

A lot of credit has to be given to the people of Gibeon.  When faced with the fact that Israel was going to come to town and utterly destroy them like Jericho, their elders acted with cunning.  They prepared a caravan with old worn out mules, dried and dusty bread, worn out clothes and shoes.  With a message of peace, coming from a very distant land that their provisions and clothes all turned to dust because of the great distance; Joshua makes a peace pact, unbeknown, with the next city marked for destruction.  Joshua and the people did not seek the LORD’s counsel and they were taken in by Gibeon’s cunning. 

Joshua 9:3-5 ESV But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,  (4)  they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended,  (5)  with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. (9)  They said to him, "From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God.  Joshua 9:11-14 ESV  So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, "We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us."'  (12)  Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly.  (13)  These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey."  (14)  So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 

Gibeon was only three days away, but they presented themselves as being so far away, that they were not inhabitants of the Promised Land.  The leaders of Israel swore by the LORD and they could not go back on their promise.  Israel had violated the commandment of the LORD to Moses to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land, but they could not do this because of the peace pact.  Joshua made the people of Gibeon servants to Israel.

Joshua 9:18-21 ESV But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.  (19)  But all the leaders said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.  (20)  This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."  (21)  And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.

THE REMAINING CONQUESTS

After a few mistakes, the conquest continued to destroy the remaining inhabitants of the Promised Land.  The people obeyed and God fought their battles, giving them the victory.  The land was free of the infidel, except for Gibeon.  Joshua led Israel to victory.  The LORD gave Moses a command for the people to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 20:16 ESV But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, (17)but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded, (18)  that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the LORD your God.

The method was the same.  The LORD gave them the battle and all was destroyed.  Nothing remained to tempt Israel to sin.   Conquer, destroy and burn to the ground, leaving a heap of rocks as a memorial; that the LORD was serious about giving His people Israel, the victory.

Joshua 8:29 ESV And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.

Kings watched their people destroyed, their cities burned to the ground and then the king would be executed and buried under a heap of rocks in the city gate.  This sent a message to the remaining kings that put them into a panic of fear and confusion.  When Israel came to town, there was great dread.  Through Joshua, God utterly destroyed 31 kings of 31 nations that inhabited the Promised Land.

Joshua 12:7-24 ESV And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments,  (8)  in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites):  (9)  the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;  (10)  the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;  (11)  the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;  (12)  the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;  (13)  the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;  (14)  the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;  (15)  the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;  (16)  the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;  (17)  the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;  (18)  the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;  (19)  the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;  (20)  the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;  (21)  the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;  (22)  the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;  (23)  the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Galilee, one;  (24)  the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.

JOSHUA DIES

The young man; who left Egypt and became the right hand of Moses, led the nation of Israel into the Promised Land.  After victory was achieved and the inhabitants were expelled and utterly destroyed, Joshua assigned each of the twelve tribes their portion in the new land.  The Promised Land had been divided up under Moses.  Joshua administered the inheritance of each tribe.  From slave to free man; from Egypt to Canaan; from a young boy at Moses’ side to a conqueror and governor of God’s chosen people, Joshua died at age 110.  The greatest epitaph any leader of Israel could ever earn, was recorded, “Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua.”  This truly was Israel’s golden age.

Joshua 24:28-31 ESV So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.  (29)  After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old.  (30)  And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.  (31)  Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD did for Israel.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you are supreme in love and strength.  Your wisdom is beyond my understanding.  When I trust in you I am blessed.  Protect me from my own human nature.  Deliver me from my own foolish counsel.  Let me never be deceived like Israel was by Gibeon, in Jesus name, Amen.

Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake

The Essentials of The Bible: Part 48 -- God Judges And Restores The People – Joshua And The Battle of Jericho

Imagine the excitement of anticipation; after forty years of being punished for the rebellion of your parents; there is a change of tide in the air.  The long awaited crossing of the Jordan River, into the Promised Land is just ahead.

Rahab Protects the Spies Chapter 2

Joshua; the Commander in Chief; of Israel; sends spies to check out Jericho.  This is the target of their first victory in the new land.  The spies are found out and a city wide search is made.  The spies have no where to hide and there is no escape.

Risking her own life and her entire household, a woman named Rahab, a prostitute, hides the men.  The King of Jericho calls Rahab and demands that she turn the men over.  She claims that they are no longer with her.  Returning to the men, she makes a deal with them.  Because she has risked everything to save the men; she asks that her family be saved when the Israelites comes to destroy Jericho.  They agree.  She then helps them escape by lowering them over the city wall by a rope.

Joshua 2:11-14 ESV And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.  (12)  Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign  (13)  that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."  (14)  And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."

The Israelites Cross The Jordan on Dry Ground Chapter 3

The Ark of the Covenant was a glorious sight; gold shining bright in the sun.  Carried on poles by Levite priests, it was symbolic of the Almighty God going before the people of Israel.  As the priest’s feet touch the water of the Jordan River, the river stops flowing.  They stand in the middle of the Jordan and the people cross over on dry land.

Joshua 3:14-17 ESV So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,  (15)  and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),  (16)  the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.  (17)  Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Memorials of the Jordan Crossing Chapter 4

God commanded Joshua to have twelve stones taken from the Jordan River, where the priests stood on dry ground as the children of Israel passed over.  The stones were to be erected as a memorial to the miracles of their crossing.

Joshua 4:1-3 ESV When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,  (2)  "Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,  (3)  and command them, saying, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'"

A Second Exodus

An interesting side point to this crossing is that they crossed over on the tenth day of the first month of the year.  This is the exact day that the Passover lamb is always set aside for holy use of the Passover.  As the Passover lamb is chosen on the tenth day of the first month, the people chosen to inhabit the Promised Land, crossed over into it, on the tenth day of the first month.  It was a second exodus, leaving the wilderness of wanderings; as the first exodus was the leaving the bondage of Egypt. 

Joshua 4:18-22 ESV And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.  (19)  The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.  (20)  And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.  (21)  And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?'  (22)  then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'

A Second Baptism:  The Red Sea and the Jordan River:  A type of baptism

Paul is very clear about the Red Sea being a baptism for the Children of Egypt as they left Egypt.  The same would apply to their children who left the wilderness and were baptized by passing through the Jordan River.  It was a second baptism, just like the second circumcision.  The descendants of those who left Egypt were never circumcised.  In like manner they were not baptized.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 ESV For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,  (2)  and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,  (3)  and all ate the same spiritual food,  (4)  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

Circumcision:  A Second Circumsion of the people Chapter 5

Because no one was circumcised in the wilderness for forty years, the new generation of men had to be circumcised before taking procession of the Promised Land.  All of the men who left Egypt died in the wilderness.  They were circumcised.  Their children were not.  So God commanded Joshua to circumcise this new generation.  The next thing they do, here at Gilgal is keep the Passover.

Joshua 5:2-5 ESV At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time."  (3)  So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.  (4)  And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.  (5)  Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

Passover Is Kept In The Promised Land And Manna Ceases

The first of the seven annual festivals of the LORD is the Passover; immediately followed by the seven days of Unleavened Bread.  It has become tradition through the ages until the present, for the Jewish people to call these eight days by just the word Passover.  But God gave them as two separate festivals in Leviticus chapter 23.  God requires all males to be circumcised in order to eat the Passover.  Therefore, Israel crossed the Jordan, circumcised all the men and then kept the Passover.  The LORD’s Seven annual festivals were given as an ordinance forever, through all of their generations.

Joshua 5:9-12 ESV And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.  (10)  While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.  (11)  And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.  (12)  And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

The LORD Appears To Joshua

It is amazing how often the LORD has literally and personally appeared to the Patriarchs of old.  God appeared to Abraham on His way to destroy Sodom, He wrestled with Jacob; appeared to Moses in the burning bush and upon the mountain so that his face shone so bright that he had to wear a veil before the people.  Here the LORD appears to Joshua, as a man with a drawn sword (Joshua 5:13-15 below the Exodus quote).

Exodus 34:29-30 & 35 ESV When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.  (30)  Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. (35) the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Joshua 5:13-15 ESV When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"  (14)  And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?"  (15)  And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Fall of Jericho Chapter 6

The Israelites had to be extremely excited and filled with adrenalin.  This was the beginning of promises to come true.  They had just finished celebrating the Passover, the memorial of their exodus from Egypt on the heels of their exodus from the wilderness.  If ever a people had been ready, it was Israel.

The LORD spoke to Joshua and told him that Jericho’s victory was in his hand.  The instructions were simple.  The army was to go before and march around the city once each day for six days.  Seven priests were to march around the city before the Ark of the Covenant; each priest carrying a trumpet.  On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and the priests were to blow the trumpets.  When they made a long blast on the trumpet; the people are to shout and the city would be leveled; the wall would fall flat!

Joshua 6:9-16 ESV The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.  (10)  But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."  (11)  So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.  (12)  Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.  (13)  And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.  (14)  And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.  (15)  On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.  (16)  And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.

Everything and everyone was completely and utterly destroyed; men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, were all put to the edge of the sword.  No one was to take any of the spoils; but all of the silver, gold, bronze and iron were to be put into the treasury of the LORD.  All was destroyed except the dwelling of Rahab and her family; who were safely brought out as promised.  Then they burned the city.

Joshua 6:17-21 ESV And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.  (18)  But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.  (19) But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."  (20)  So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.  (21)  Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help me to understand that you work today as you did with Joshua.  You are the same yesterday, today and forever.  Give me the faith that I need, to trust in you to fight my battles, in Jesus’ name, Amen.




Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake