TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 1:10-18; Hebrews 4:1-16
The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land. - Joshua 1:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most people remember Amelia Earhart for her tragic disappearance, but the strength and resolve that powered her pioneering efforts in flight should not be ignored. Her words about courage fit well with today's reading: “Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.” Joshua needed to be courageous in order to usher Israel into peace and rest.

That peace and rest, though, would come after a time of battle. God told Abraham that all nations of the world would be blessed by Abraham's descendants (Gen. 22:18). We should keep that in mind when reading the book of Joshua. Israel's purpose was not some self-initiated world domination, it was the fulfillment of God's promise.

Joshua laid out God's plan to the leaders of Israel, and he clearly stated that it was God who would be giving the land to them (v. 11). And this military campaign was much bigger than a land war. This was one step of God's ultimate plan to bring His people to Himself. He was giving them rest (vv. 13, 15).

Hebrews paints the larger picture for us . . . and we're in it. Verse 8 points out that the rest Joshua leads Israel to find is incomplete. We have a rest to enter, as Israel did. And the issues are still faith and obedience. Like Joshua, we can be filled with strength and courage because we know that the Lord our God is with us, and we can approach His throne to receive grace and mercy when we need it (v. 16).

Just as God rested after the creation of the world, we await the time when all our striving and efforts, every last task, is completely finished. Between the lines of this passage lies an important truth for us: we aren't done working for God. There is much to be done before the Sabbath rest.

As we think about the purpose of Israel, we see how God reaches out to humanity. We'll read chapters that describe God's judgment against those who oppose Him, but the ultimate purpose of those battles was to bring God's people into the land of promise and bring blessings to every nation. Even through this, God has always been gracious and slow to anger, and His work in the book of Joshua is no exception.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What is your wilderness? Everyone has their personal source of frustration that tires us to the core of our very souls. Here's a great source of hope for you: God will give you rest. And we aren't helplessly waiting for it. Hebrews tells us that we can begin to enter that rest by drawing close to Jesus Christ, even now. And just as Israel wiped out the evil nations in the Promised Land, you can begin to rid your life of the evil that weighs you down. You can clear the way for entering the Lord's eternal rest.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 2:1-24
For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. - Joshua 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
General Douglas MacArthur was familiar with war, but he knew that the most intense battles were waged internally in the hearts of men. He said, “The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It's the age-old struggle—the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your conscience on the other.”

We see that internal struggle today. We venture into a foreign stronghold and witness an indelible impression that God made on the enemy. Taken on its own, today's main verse looks like the proclamation of a prophet or from the Lord Himself. Put the quote into context, however, and we see that these words emerged from the unlikeliest of lips: a prostitute living in the corrupt city of Jericho in a land God's people were about to conquer.

In the book of Joshua, we get the sense that the outcome of the battle was already written on the hearts of the participants. The Israelites knew the Lord was with them, and they were confident of victory. But the enemy nations had also heard of the might of the Lord and His commitment to the Israelites, and they were overcome with fear (v. 11). The people of Canaan weren't without knowledge (v. 10). The identity of God wasn't unknown to them. They knew much of what the Israelites knew, they just reacted differently to the information. But Rahab serves as a great example that there was a viable option available to the people of Jericho: faith.

Rahab's story turns our perspective around. She turned against her own country in favor of protecting spies. She had the boldness to ask for mercy from God, and she was rewarded because of her faith—not for her deception, but for the kindness she showed to the spies (Heb. 11:31). A small detail in verse 15 makes Rahab's salvation from destruction all the more astounding. Her house was part of the city wall, and we know that those walls were to crumble. But to be spared, Rahab and her family had to stay in her house. God's deliverance of Rahab wasn't just merciful, it must have been miraculous! Rahab and her family were saved, and she actually married into the line of the Messiah (Matt. 1:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Word about God spread quickly in those days . . . before telephone, television, and the Internet. In our age of instant communication, is there any reason the whole world shouldn't know about Jesus Christ? The important thing isn't the media, it's the message. Rahab and the city of Jericho heard about the great things God had done. In the same way, the world should know the great things God has done in you. God's power cannot be marginalized. If you allow God to work in you, a watching world will notice.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 3:1-17
Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you. - Joshua 3:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Annie Dillard could have been speaking about the priests carrying the ark of the covenant in today's reading when she wrote, “You can't test courage cautiously.” Their courage was about to be tested in a task that required them to put their trust in God and the words He spoke through His servant Joshua. And they had yet to witness God's overt seal of approval placed on Joshua.

It's a lot easier to be a leader when the people you're leading trust you. Most leaders have to earn that trust over time, but God gave Joshua a sizeable jump start.

Joshua's faith preceded the miracle. Before God told him how they would cross the river, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves. He knew God was about to do amazing things, and the people needed to cleanse themselves in preparation of God's presence.

It's important to note something about the people Joshua was leading. The oldest of them would have been about sixty years old. No one over the age of twenty at the time of Israel's rebellion was allowed to enter the Promised Land. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all of that generation had died. So most of the Israelites Joshua was now leading were not alive to see the parting of the Red Sea. Most of them didn't know any life other than the wandering wilderness. They had not witnessed first-hand some of God's miraculous provision. So God was about to give them a sign that would remove all doubt.

God told Joshua that He was about to exalt him, not so the Israelites would know of Joshua's greatness, but rather that they would know the Lord was with him. All the Israelites stood in formation over half a mile away from the ark of the covenant as the priests carried it to the overflowing Jordan river. They watched with their attention heightened by Joshua's announcement at the beginning of the chapter.

Before they could see the sign, however, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant still had to take that first step of faith. It wasn't until their feet touched the water that God held back the flow of the river.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When the Israelites reached the Jordan, it was at flood stage. Many times, when God asks us to take a step of faith, it's at the time when the potential for disaster seems the greatest. Is God asking you to take a step of faith? The God who stopped the flow of the Jordan is the same God you serve today. Sometimes He'll use you to show His glory. Other times, He'll just remind you of His presence. No matter the situation, He is faithful to help you fulfill the tasks He gives you to complete.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 4:1-24
He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful. - Joshua 4:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
The words of Robert Louis Stevenson apply to Joshua's leadership style: “Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.” Joshua made every effort not only to be courageous himself, but also to use object lessons to instill courage in his people and, as we read today, their descendants.

Joshua commanded the tribes of Israel to make a memorial so that future generations would know that God was with Israel. And that's the overriding purpose of Israel that we see repeated over and over: so that all people in the world would know about God. In the first half of this passage, the focus is on bearing witness to future generations (v. 7). And at the end of the chapter, the focus expands to show that the end result of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan is to deliver the message of the glory of God to all people (v. 24).

The comparison between crossing the Jordan and the earlier crossing of the Red Sea indicates a parallel between the two events. After the Red Sea, God had given Israel the opportunity to enter the land of promise, but they failed to take hold of it. After crossing the Jordan, the opportunity once again arose, and Joshua got it right this time. This miracle would give him no excuse for failure, because he was now exalted in the eyes of Israel, and he had their full respect (v. 14). He had a devoted army of Israelites, including 40,000 from the tribes whose land had already been acquired east of the Jordan, and we'll soon read that he had an even greater, more powerful force at his disposal, as long as he remained faithful to the purpose God gave him.

Again, it's important to keep these battles in context, so that we never view God in the Old Testament as simply angry as compared to the graciousness shown in the New Testament. Joshua is a story of God's faithfulness and steadfast grace even in judgment. God doesn't change like fashions or cultural ideology. Israel is an instrument of God's grace, and their upcoming military victories aren't cold displays of an uncaring god. This is God showing His holy, eternal love for the prize of His creation, humanity.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Will the generations that follow know how God has worked in your life? We often look at evangelism as a ministry across cultural or geographical distances, but today's passage shows the importance of faith transcending the generational gap as well.

You don't have to build a monument to tell your story, but you should foster relationships with children in your church and family. Tell them your story of faith, so that they might know the power of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 5:1-12; Leviticus 11:44-45
“Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.“ - Joshua 5:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
By now you've probably noticed a trend in this month's introductions. We're looking at quotes on courage from some historical figures to see how important those attributes are in a leader. Today's quote is one of two from the philosopher Plato, but Joshua put these words into action: “Courage is a kind of salvation.”

The first verse in chapter 5 illustrates the converse thought. The foreign kings lost all courage, and knew they were doomed. But for the Israelites, it was a time to recognize and commemorate the momentous truth that they were about to partake in.

The era of wandering in the wilderness had officially ended, and the Israelites faced a new situation. Those born during the wandering in the desert had not been circumcised, and when the circumcision of the people began and they saw all those who had yet to be set apart unto God in this way, they must have realized that they were leaving the ways of their disobedient fathers behind and entering a new age in the history of their nation. Joshua and Caleb would have appreciated the significance more than anyone alive, as they would have realized that all of their contemporaries were dead.

The lesson here is that disobedience has severe consequences. The Israelites alive at this time had yet to rebel against God in any serious fashion, which was definitely a good thing. But for a culture in which family was so cherished, the loss of an entire generation would not have gone unnoticed.

Israel commemorated Passover with the food of the land, and their days of eating manna were over (v. 11). This would have been no small thing in the minds and stomachs of the Israelites. After four decades of eating the “what is it?” the Israelites probably weren't sad to see that item removed from the menu. The fruit of the land must have tasted so much sweeter because of the monotony of the past they were leaving behind. God was about to provide for them in a much different and more satisfying way. Though He had provided for them in the barren land of the desert, now He would provide them with rich abundance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The realization that their forefathers had missed out on blessing because of sin was particularly sobering for Israel. The consequences of rebellion and disobedience against God can be irreparable in some cases.

So now would be a good time to take a personal inventory of your heart. Make today a point in your life when you leave any outstanding disobedience, grumbling attitudes, or unresolved conflict behind and move forward into obedience to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 5:13-15; Exodus 3:1-15
“As commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” - Joshua 5:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Winston Churchill was one of the most quotable, outspoken leaders in history, which makes this quote even more profound, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” The courage to remain silent was probably not difficult for Joshua to muster when he realized to whom he was talking.

At first, when Joshua sees what he thinks is just a man with a sword, he shows no fear. He simply asks which side the man is on.

The reply from the commander of the army of the Lord is quite interesting, as we might have expected him to say “I am for Israel.” Instead he says, “neither,” which reinforces just how dependent the Israelites were on faithfulness. The armies of Israel don't have the unconditional allegiance of the army of the Lord—the slightest disobedience could put Israel out of favor with God, as we'll see later.

But let's not overlook this point that there actually is an army of the Lord. We can probably assume that it's an angelic army, but the important point is that Joshua was just one small part of God's plan. There are forces at God's disposal that we'll never fully know about—and that can be equally comforting and sobering, depending on how faithful we remain to Him.

Joshua was probably familiar with Moses' first encounter with holy ground at the burning bush. The significance of this moment was certainly not lost on him, and we shouldn't miss it either. To be on holy ground was a singular honor for Joshua, because it meant that he was in the presence of someone that made even the ground around him holy. This event singled Joshua out as the chosen leader of Israel, and it undoubtedly gave him confidence heading into the battle of Jericho.

Once again, take note that Joshua's courage didn't come from within himself. It came from the power of the Almighty and the assurance Joshua had that the Lord was with him. Before long we'll be reminded of just how fragile Joshua's courage really was.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you ever forget that God has an army? You might never be confronted by the commander with sword drawn, but it would be foolish to ignore the reality that God has legions of angels at His command. If you ever feel like the powers of darkness are more powerful than what you can withstand, remember that God has already won the battle, and He has enough servants at His disposal to protect you from any enemy. Faithful obedience should be our primary concern.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 6:1-27
They devoted the city to the Lord. - Joshua 6:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
We heard from Plato earlier, and we'll revisit his thoughts on courage because he put them so succinctly. He wrote, “Courage is knowing what not to fear.” Joshua and Israel had a very simple choice. Either fear the fortified walls of Jericho or fear the Lord. On this occasion, it was no contest.

There are two lessons that Israel learned from the victory over Jericho. First, the Lord was clearly at work. The first phase of Israelite involvement consisted of marching, trumpet blowing, and shouting. That took care of the immense walls of Jericho. After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the appearance of the commander of the Lord's army, this was the third major reminder that the Lord was with them in battle.

The other lesson of Jericho is that God's victory is ultimate and decisive. The phrase used here is translated “devoted to God,” which sounds harmless enough. But in this case, devoting the city of Jericho to God meant destroying it by fire. Total destruction. No living thing, aside from Rahab and her family, was spared. And every last ounce of precious metal was to be reserved for the Lord's treasury. It would have been common for victorious soldiers to divide the plunder among themselves, but this was God's battle, and the reward was to be all His. No prisoners, no plunder, and no doubt that the victory was the Lord's.

We should also take notice of the fact that the Lord left almost no guesswork for Joshua. He really didn't demand a lot of creativity from Joshua, just faithful obedience. The Lord tells him exactly what to do in order to make the walls of Jericho crumble. This approach could have had one of two results. On one hand, Joshua could have given all the glory to God, realizing that the entire battle from beginning to end was in the hand of the Lord. In essence, he gained the courage not to fear the enemy. But another possibility existed: that the victory would seem easy, and Joshua and the people of Israel could take it for granted. He might have also foolishly ceased to fear God. We'll look at that in more detail in the days to come.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading may conflict with our modern sensibilities of grace and mercy, but it shows a reality about God. When He claims ownership of something, we shouldn't try to hold on to it for ourselves. Israel was God's nation, and He wouldn't share them with other gods. Similarly, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. We were bought with a price. Meditate today about the aspects of your life that you might be holding on to. Are you willing to devote them to God?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 7:1-9
The hearts of the people melted and became like water. - Joshua 7:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mark Twain wrote in an era in American history when war was a realistic memory in most people's minds. So it was evident to him that the mettle required to fight was not the whole of what it meant to be courageous. As he wrote, “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” Such was the case with Israel in their next battle after Jericho, when their bravado got the best of them.

First of all, Achan took some of the treasure of Jericho that should have been devoted to God. Notice that this one transgression is extended to all of the Israelites in the language of verse 1, and the Lord's anger burned, not just against Achan, but against all of Israel. Perhaps that's why we don't read of any command coming from God regarding how Joshua should attack Ai. The plan seems to come from Joshua himself, and that's the second crucial mistake in today's passage.

There were only a few men at Ai (v. 3). The rules of natural logic would lead us to believe that even if the Lord wasn't with Israel, Ai wouldn't pose a problem. Unfortunately, it was natural logic that Joshua and his men used. They sent only 3,000 men to attack Ai, a foolish decision considering that Israel had depended on the supernatural for victory. The lessons of yesterday's reading apparently were lost on the Israelites, Joshua included. They somehow formed the opinion that the number of men in their army had some influence on their power to conquer the enemy. They were quite wrong. If God was not with Israel, they could not defeat anyone.

And after the defeat we see Joshua drastically divert from his assigned purpose. His reaction was neither strong nor courageous. Thirty-six Israelites died at the hands of Ai, but Joshua reacted as though all of Israel had been wiped off the face of the earth and that they should never have entered Canaan (v. 7).

Obviously, Joshua had lost his sense of purpose, and he says as much in verse 7. This cry of desperation bears a striking resemblance to the murmuring of the Israelites some forty years prior (Num. 14:3).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Joshua was one of the greatest leaders in the entire Bible, but he was still only a man.

As we think about purpose, we need to know that God has not designed us to succeed on our own. The bulk of the Bible is spent proving the point that man can't do anything on his own. Joshua exhibits that point painfully but powerfully. Let's learn from his mistake and surrender our own exercises of frustration into God's almighty hands.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 7:10-26
“It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.” - Joshua 7:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all.” With that statement, Martin Luther King Jr. describes for us the problem with Joshua's response to the fall at Ai. He apparently lost hope—but God had called him to finish a task, and He didn't give up on him.

God's response to Joshua isn't the kind of passage that gets needlepointed and framed and hung on our walls, but it was exactly what Joshua needed to be told. Many times we need such a stern reprimand to break us out of a rut of whining and complaining. Notice especially God's rhetorical question to Joshua, “What are you doing down on your face?” Once again, God doesn't make Joshua guess at what He wants him to do. He spells out the plan, step by step, for how Joshua should deal with Israel's sin. Perhaps if Joshua had shown the foresight to meditate with God before going into battle with Ai, the loss could have been avoided.

The people of Israel again were called to consecrate themselves in preparation for God's presence among them. Only this time, it wasn't in preparation for an encouraging miracle. They instead awaited God's judgment of their sin, a frightening but necessary step for His people.

So in front of the whole nation, the tribe of Judah was isolated, then the clan of the Zerahites, the family of Zimri, and finally Achan. The process must have been humiliating for every person who had to step forward from the ranks. Especially Achan.

But then, Achan confessed. And at this point in the story, many of us would be tempted to say, “Okay, he confessed. It's all right—just never do it again.” But that wasn't how God wanted this sin treated. He had sacrificed thirty-six lives for a Babylonian robe, some silver, and even less gold. Achan and his family were punished most severely. All of his family and all of his possessions, even the stolen plunder, was gathered together, stoned, and burned. If Israel couldn't learn to obey God by witnessing His powerful works of grace, they would also witness His acts of judgment.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Notice that God attributes one man's sin to the entire nation. He says that Israel sinned, they violated the covenant, they stole, and they lied. Living as God's holy people isn't an “every man for himself” undertaking. The responsibility of obedience is shared among God's people. We should maintain close relationships with each other, encouraging the church body as a whole to abstain from sin and press on toward righteousness together.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 8:1-29
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” - Joshua 8:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The poet Maya Angelou penned the perfect words for Joshua in the wake of tragic defeat and judgment: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

It would have been easy for Joshua to be discouraged or afraid after the setback at Ai and the judgment of Achan, but God doesn't afford Joshua that opportunity. God directs him boldly to prepare for the next battle. Somewhat ironically, after Achan's strict punishment for his greedy disobedience, God permits Israel to keep the treasure and livestock of Ai. This act of grace punctuates the foolishness of Achan—and anyone who seeks to steal from God to serve their own desires. There's no need to grasp and claw at the possessions of this life; God will provide.

God also provided a plan. He gave Joshua the idea for an ambush, and unlike the previous attack, this plan was expertly executed and divinely supported. The ambush was not only a cunning tactic and sound protective measure against an attack from Bethel (v. 9) but also a stroke of calculated retribution for the false confidence of the Ai army.

The details can be confusing, as verse 3 seems to indicate a 30,000-man ambush while verse 12 puts the number at 5,000. Some believe these are two different ambush battalions, but other Hebrew scholars think the word thousand in verse 3 should actually be translated chief. In other words, Joshua may have put 30 commanders in charge of the ambush, leading a total of 5,000 men.

After drawing out the Ai forces, Joshua held out his javelin as a signal to begin the ambush attack. He continued to hold his javelin forward until the entire city had been destroyed. For Joshua, it was a symbol of obedience and courage, as he never relinquished his pose throughout the entire battle. If the Israelite army had wavered in their belief that God was with them, Joshua's example and the Lord's faithfulness removed all doubt.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In today’s passage, God reinforces the truth that He is the supreme leader of His people. Joshua is effective as a leader only because he obeys the Almighty.

If you are a pastor, leader, parent, or employer—if you hold any kind of position of leadership or influence—remember this lesson. God has authority over all, and any success we enjoy is to God's glory. Give Him the proper praise both publicly and personally.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 8:30-35
Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law. - Joshua 8:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Aristotle has a thought that would have served Israel well during their more inconsistent days in the first few battles of the campaign west of the Jordan: “Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”

Two practices mark today's reading, and they give us a great lesson to follow up a mountaintop experience. First, Joshua led the Israelites in giving offerings. He did so according to the guidelines relayed from God by Moses (v. 31). The offerings showed proper admiration and praise for God, for it was His might, not theirs, that won the battle. It was an expression of worship from the people to God.

Joshua followed these offerings by relaying God's expression of truth to the Israelites. He read the complete Law to the entire population of Israel. For Israel to truly live out their identity as God's people, they had to remain well acquainted with His commands.

This wasn't a spontaneous exhibition by Joshua and the Israelites. It was a fulfillment of a command given by Moses in chapters 11, 27, and 28 of Deuteronomy. Using two mountains in the landscape of the Promised Land, the Israelites heard both the blessings promised to the obedient and the curses promised to the disobedient. So distinct are obedience and disobedience, the difference was like two mountains divided by a vast chasm.

Have you noticed how the object lessons that God taught Israel tended to be played out with grand gestures and meaningful symbolism? Joshua didn't just read the law. The reading was part of an involved display taking place across two mountains and involving all of the people of Israel. The lesson was memorable and significant because it engaged the participation and imagination of the entire nation and it employed the inspired, authoritative Word of God.

Joshua's commitment to relaying the Word of God to his people helped solidify Israel's obedience as they continued in the campaign to claim the land God had promised them. The challenge was remaining true to their purpose.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A deeper understanding of this passage requires doing a bit of extended reading. Set aside some time either today or tomorrow to read the chapters in Deuteronomy that explain in more detail the truth of today's passage. Read Deuteronomy chapters 11, 27, and 28 and meditate on the promises God gave to the Israelites. They give us a much more complete understanding of the history of Israel and the repercussions of their actions . . . and ours, as well.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 9:1-27
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. - Hebrews 11:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Helen Keller overcame enormous obstacles. Her victories over blindness and deafness were monumental accomplishments, but her thoughts on courage focused on the smaller details. She wrote, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.” Joshua could have used that advice before the Gibeonites came to camp. He overlooked the simple yet crucial detail of taking the matter before the Lord.

This is another passage where our focus briefly leaves the Israelite camp and is placed instead on outsiders. News of the fall of Jericho and Ai traveled swiftly, and as today's verse reminds us, one choice available to those who heard of Israel's great God was to respond in faith. That turned out to be the road less traveled.

Most of the foreign kings (in what was most likely an unprecedented move) united to face this powerful foe. Instead of faith, they chose to fight the indestructible God. Not a wise choice, but a predictable one.

But the Gibeonites didn't have the courage to attempt a battle with Israel, so they decided to fool the mighty army. They went to great lengths to make it seem as though they crossed a great distance, and the obvious question is why would it matter whether they came from far away or right nearby? It appears that they knew some key elements of the Law as well as the Israelites did.

Deuteronomy 20 outlines the rules of warfare for the Israelites, and God provided for the possibility that faraway cities could peaceably become forced labor for Israel (Deut. 20:10-15). But Israel was commanded to destroy “anything that breathes” in the cities of Canaan, which would have included Gibeon.

Without inquiring of the Lord (v. 14), Joshua granted them a peace treaty. Through underhanded means, the Gibeonites secured their safety, along with a curse that would follow them all their days (v. 23).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The agreement Israel made with the Gibeonites exposed Israel to a long-term relationship with people who had done deplorable acts for other gods—without any true repentance. Such deception from wolves in sheep's clothing still endangers us today.

Examine every agreement you make in your professional life, your consumer choices, your personal relationships, and in your church. Bring every decision before the Lord, because He sees the lies that fool the human heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 10:1-15
“O sun, stand still over Gibeon.” - Joshua 10:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Eleanor Roosevelt has the answer partially correct when she says, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” Sometimes doing the impossible simply means asking God to do it for you. In today's reading, Joshua did just that.

Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, was fighting directly against God and Joshua. He learned of Israel's treaty with the important city of Gibeon, and rather than attempting a similar treaty, he allied with other kings in attacking Gibeon.

Even though the treaty was in direct opposition to the commandment of the law, the oath had been sworn and Joshua was still obliged to uphold the treaty. And as Israel moved to defend Gibeon against the allied forces, the Lord assured Joshua that He would give Israel victory (v. . It was the beginning of, quite literally, a very long day.

Israel marched all night (about 25 miles uphill). They fought a victorious, one-sided battle in Gibeon and then chased the enemy for an equally lengthy and rugged distance beyond Gibeon. After all the miles they covered, they must have been grateful that God killed more of the enemy with His divinely aimed hailstones than the Israelites had to by the sword.

The battle was a drawn-out affair across a great distance and a considerable time, and it was Joshua's desire to see it end before the sun went down. Joshua did perhaps the most courageous thing of his life—he asked God to stop the sun, and God listened. It's not exactly clear for how long this event took place, whether it was for a standard period of daylight or an entire 24-hour stretch. But nonetheless, the extended day was an extraordinary event when God temporarily set aside His divinely orchestrated natural system at the request of a man. Some debate the details, but what can't be debated is that the Lord possesses the power to sustain or suspend every element of His creation—and He also possesses the loving care to listen to His children.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever asked God to stop the sun? You can, because God has the power to do so. But before you make that seemingly impossible request of faith, examine your heart. Joshua didn't make a selfish request. He asked the Lord for help in fulfilling the specific task God had assigned to him.

If you are seeking the Lord's will, and that seems to require stopping the sun or moving a mountain, ask Him boldly—and don't be surprised if and when God does it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 10:16-43; John 19:31-42
For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.“ - Galatians 3:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
G. K. Chesterton wrote that “courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” He could have been describing Jesus Christ, except that His desire wasn't that He would live, but that we would live.

Today's passage gives us a heartbreaking glimpse into what Jesus took upon Himself so we could live eternally. He didn't just die; He took on a curse originally ordained for the most reviled people in the world.

According to the Law, anyone hanged on a tree was to be buried on the same day; so accursed was the corpse that if it remained beyond that day, the Promised Land would be defiled in God's eyes (Deut. 21:23). Just look at the contempt with which Joshua and his men treated these kings. The commanders put their feet on the kings' necks, and Joshua used this sign of authoritative domination to encourage his men (v. 25). The fate of these kings was the fate that awaited the enemies of the Lord.

Their five bodies were hung on five trees, taken down at sunset, and thrown into a cave sealed by large rocks. And then, in the book of John, we see our Savior receiving similar treatment. Jesus' body was hung on a tree. The Jews requested it to be taken down before the high Sabbath began (John 19:31). His body was buried in a tomb hewn out of rock, closed up by a large stone.

Earlier this month, we examined the parallel between Joshua and Jesus. But in today's reading, Jesus was not in the position of the conquering warrior—His was the role of the vanquished king. Joshua's victory was to lead Israel into the rest God promised. Christ took on the curse so that we could enjoy the Sabbath rest of God.

The key difference between the death of the evil kings and the King of Kings, though, can be found just after their burial. The large rocks sealing their grave, as it is written in verse 27 of the Joshua passage, “are there to this day.” In John 20:1, the stone sealing Christ's grave is already gone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus took on the curse of sin, a curse intended for us. Sin made us the enemy of God, worthy of the same treatment Joshua gave to the evil kings. Good Friday is more than a week away, but our Lord's sacrifice is worth much more than a day of remembrance. Take the time between now and Easter Sunday to daily reflect on the love Christ showed for us. His was true courage, for He completed the most difficult task God ever commanded, through His faith in God's promise and power.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 11:1-23
Thus the land had rest from war. - Joshua 11:1–23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Robert Frost is best remembered for his poem “The Road Less Traveled,” and he pinpoints the thrust of Joshua's campaign in Chapter 11 with the words, “The best way out is always through.”

For Joshua, there was no avoiding the grim realities of war if he was to obey God. City after city, king after king, every living thing had to be destroyed.We don't get strategic details like the ones disclosed about the battles of Jericho and Ai, just a montage of utter domination of the armies inhabiting the land God promised to Israel. Israel plowed through the opposition, and it was all by God's command. That phrase, “the Lord commanded,” appears repeatedly throughout this passage, a reminder that God ruled this people, not Joshua or Moses.

Reliance on God was of ultimate importance, which is likely why God instructs Joshua to hamstring the horses and burn the chariots. Moses had prophetically commanded Israel that, once they pleaded for a human king in the Promised Land, the king must not multiply horses (Deut. 17:16). Horses and chariots were among the most powerful assets in battle, and Israel easily could have put their faith in the strength of a cavalry. By destroying the chariots and rendering the horses unfit for use in battle, Joshua depended on God for victory.

But the key verse in this passage, and perhaps the hardest to fathom, is verse 20. Phrases like “destroy them totally” and “exterminate them without mercy” aren't pleasant to read. But the hearts of these people were hardened—and they refused to repent or ask for peace. While some translations, including the NIV, read that God Himself hardened their hearts, He didn't do so against their wills. It would not have been a divine brainwashing, rather an employment of their naturally stubborn and evil inclinations against God, His character, and His people.

The result: the land had rest from war. As long as the wickedness of the Canaanites and their false gods survived, there would be no peace in the Promised Land. After Joshua's obedience, God's promise of peace had initially been fulfilled.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God and sin won't coexist. The prevalence of sin in Canaan resulted in ultimate destruction, so how can we be complacent about sin in our lives?

It's easy to be so comforted by God's grace that we ignore the comfortable sin in ourselves and those around us. But when we allow sin to lay dormant in our hearts, we prevent ourselves from ever enjoying God's true peace. Ask the Lord to search out any sin today, and confess it to Him.