Category: Old Testament

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 7:6-12, 20-21 (day two) So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? vs. 10

Can you imagine how Joshua must have felt? Things were moving in the right direction. Israel was finally getting to reap the promises of the Lord, and then to be routed in defeat for no discernible reason. It must have felt like a gut punch. Joshua knew enough to fall down and grieve their situation, but God was not calling for a season of inaction. He was expecting Joshua to act, on his behalf, to root out the cause of the sin. If Joshua had not be dialed into a relationship with the Lord, he would have missed the point of the defeat. Not every situation, fumble, sin, or problem has the same formula for fixing. The key is to be in a right relationship with the Lord. Sometimes we need to grieve, and sometimes we need to act. We shouldn’t treat every situation with some ‘universal’ fix other than to seek after God’s design.

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day seven)

Growing up in a Christian home, I developed an affinity for an outrageous christian children’s show known as “Veggie Tales.” Possibly my favorite episode from this show was “Josh and the Big Wall!” Simply for entertainment purposes, I have provided a link to one of the scenes here.

What I love about this scene, is that it paints the picture of the absurdity of God’s command that we often glaze over in our familiarity to this passage. It was crazy. It was absurd. It was God. The only way to explain this victory is that God knocked down those walls.

Why then did He ask the Israelites to march with such strict orders and regiment? Couldn’t God have knocked down that wall the moment they arrived? Sure, but God invited Israel to partner with Him in this conquest. David Guzik says, “He wanted them to be a part of His work – as He wants us to be a part of His work today.”

God is still in the business of knocking down walls! Are you putting yourself in position to partner with Him so that you might be the vessel He uses to knock down another wall?

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day six)

Joshua asked the most natural question, “Are you friend or foe?” And the commander of the Lord’s army gave an unlikely response, “Neither.”

For most, God is not loving unless he endorses their agenda, desires, and ambitions. God makes clear in this encounter that he only serves his own agenda. The question is never whether or not God is “friend or foe” but whether or not we are.

This story serves several purposes, but not least of which is establishing Joshua as a “friend of God”-just like Moses before him, even having his own burning bush experience.

How about you? Do you serve God’s agenda? Do you expect him to serve yours? Are you a friend or foe? Even Jesus said, “anyone who isn’t with me opposes me.” (Matt. 12:30)

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day five) “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭11‬.
It’s my favorite scripture about Joshua- being in the Tent of Meeting with Moses and the Lord. Moses leaves. The Lord stays. Joshua stays.
Ever been in a Bible Study or Worship Service when the presence of the Lord was so near and almost tangible?  Made you wanna stay so you didn’t miss anything the Lord might say or do?  That was the young person Joshua.
Decades later, same man (Joshua) same presence (Captain of the Lord’s Army) same response (Joshua falls face first and worships). There was something happening very familiar to Joshua. He knew what he must do. So, Joshua stops. Joshua stops scouting. Stops strategizing. Stops (literally falls down) and Worships.

The questions I should always ask myself, Am I quick to recognize the power and presence of the Lord? (Expected and unexpected- at church or at another place and time of His choosing). Am I submissive and humble enough to stop and worship?

Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear- You- that we might be faithful to stop and worship and listen.

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day four)

Heaven and earth can seem like they are infinitely far apart. This world can be so cruel that heaven sounds like a fairytale, totally separate from our reality. But passages like this remind us that there is only a thin, permeable veil that separates our world from heaven.

The “captain of the host of the Lord” appears, just like a man, in front of Joshua, and instructs him in how to overtake Jericho. The instructions he gave didn’t have normal military strategy, or even normal logic, yet they accomplished exactly what the Lord had promised.

These kinds of moments happen frequently throughout Scripture, where heaven suddenly feels very near. But that kind of thing doesn’t only exist in the past. When we have the Holy Spirit in us, we have heaven nearer to us than this mysterious man was to Joshua. What might be different if we lived like heaven was near? If we traded earthly strategy for heavenly logic? If history is any indication, walls will fall.

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day three)

“The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

No longer in the future, Canaan was now. Each generation had ordered their lives around this longed-for now. This was the now Moses desired to see but only glimpsed from atop Pisgah. It was the now Joseph yearned for when he asked that his bones find rest there. It was the now revealed by God to Abraham in a frenzied dream that whispered of Egyptian captivity and return. Joshua indicated his willingness to steward this now well. How could he not remove his shoes at the arrival of this moment his people had taught him to yearn for? What we long for is what we will teach.

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-5 (day two) and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat vs 6:5b

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Psalm 98:4

Let’s be honest, we need to do more shouting. One of the questions I get in regards to worship is ‘how do I feel about clapping in service?’ I think I understand the heart of the question.  It speaks to who is receiving glory and recognition. Let me be clear, it is not us. We do not approach worship hoping to be recognized or honored for their performance.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Your name give glory Psalm 115:1

Our prayer each week is to use the gifts, given on loan from the Lord, to present an offering of praise that we may glorify the Lord, and in so doing help others to see his goodness. It is a beautiful circle. We take from the Lord and use what he has given us to give back.

There are times when worship is so alive and profound that you can’t help but react. Scripture is on your side. Clap, shout, and respond. Not for our benefit, but to give praise to the Lord. This doesn’t always happen. Some times we need to sit and reflect, and just be still in the Lord.

My hope is that I will encourage more people to respond to the Lord in a way that directs praise to him. My prayer is also that our congregation knows we don’t need applause. We simply want to use our worship to see Jesus more clearly, and to help others to do the same. However you respond, please do so for the glory and honor of our savior.

Re:Verse passage – Joshua 2:1-21 (day seven)  

I do not know where the men went. vs 5

Does the Bible say lying is wrong? Yes… and No. Have we been lied to about lying? Possibly. In a Mandela effect sort of way, we have lumped all lies into the same category. The ten commandments addresses lies in more of a legal sense. See Exodus 20 and Leviticus 19, but the Bible does not outright prohibit dishonesty. That is because there is grey area in the discussion. Case in Point: Rahab. She lied to save another persons life. In particular, two individuals who would help lead God’s people into the Promised Land. Was it sinful? The Bible would actually say that she was righteous in the act. See James 2:25 and Hebrews 11:31. 

So is lying sinful? I would say, most of the time, it is. A deep dive into scripture will show you hundreds of lies and deceptions all with a web of consequences following the initial act. There are rare occurrences where the lie is used for the glory of God and to further the Kingdom. Those rare occurrences tell us more about God’s sovereignty than the justification of dishonesty. My guess is that most of the lies you tell are not in this category.