Follow God's Instruction 03.15.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Saturday March 15, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of Joshua. Please read Joshua 7 -- 8 in your Bible ot Click Here to read. In today's study we will read and learn about the sin of Achan; Israel's defeat at Ai; the judgment of Achan; Ai is defeated; the altar on Mount Ebal; a Covenant is renewed; and the Law is read.

One of the most remarkable victories in Israel's history is achieved by the complete destruction of Jericho without having even one Israelite casualty. However, the following day, assuming continued success, Joshua sent spies to assess the strength of Ai, without seeking direction from God, the Israelites attacked the city of Ai only to be defeated by them. "And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water." (Joshua 7:2-5).

One of the most alarming aspects of this downfall is the revelation that Joshua and all the people were unaware that the Lord was no longer with them. No one seemed to have had the least suspicion that He had withdrawn His blessing from Israel. By not consulting the Lord, Israel's defeat was inevitable. Joshua had momentarily failed to consider that the Lord Himself was their Commander-in-Chief, that He alone could issue orders that would result in success. First, he had to be instructed on how to handle the evil sin by Achan of stealing what belonged to God. "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." (7:19-21).

Then, he had to instructed on how to complete their victory over Ai. "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it." (8:1-2).

The Israelites' reasoning that led to their defeat at Ai has been repeated by most of us. When no serious problems seem to exist, we become overconfident, seemingly self-sufficient, and assume the Lord expects us to use "our own good judgment." However, apart from our submission to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the smallest temptation will prove to be too powerful for us. He alone imparts discernment as we read and desire to obey the Word of God. Many begin their Christian lives in prayer and daily Bible reading, but eventually they become self-confident and stop, often causing problems for themselves in order to realize that they have fallen away from God's instruction.

We as Christian's must never let success stop us from our daily Bible reading and prayer. It is that relationship with God that keeps us successful and if God thinks that we do not need Him He will take that success away from us until we realize that we do need Him. In everything that we do we must follow the instruction of God and in doing so we will not only be blessed with success we will also be blessed with all the gifts that God has waiting for us.

In today's lesson Jesus Christ is revealed through the uncut stones of the altar, "As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings." (Joshua 8:31). Daniel saw Christ as a Stone which was not cut by human hands, "Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." (Daniel 2:45). Jesus is our Head of the Corner Stone, "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." (I Peter 2:6-8).

Today's Psalm: 16:7
"I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for blessing us with a new day here on earth and thank you for the many blessings that you give us each second of the day. Lord, there are times that we have been overconfident in ourselves and lose sight of you. We think that we no longer need You to instruct us in everything that we do. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to understand that without You nothing will remain a success and that we need you in every area of our life. Lord, direct our paths and inspire us to do the work which You have given us to do with singleness of heart as Your servants, and for the common good. We ask these things in Jesus' name.....Amen

Have a great Saturday and enjoy your weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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