Category Archives: Joshua

The Sanctity of Human Life (Joshua 20; Joshua 21)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 20-21

Joshua 20

The Law of the LORD Concerning Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:1-3)

After the Twelve Tribes of Israel were allotted their lands (Joshua 14-19), the LORD commanded Joshua to speak to the tribes and require them to appoint “cities of refuge… 3That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be [a] refuge from the avenger of blood” (20:2-3).

The Regulations and Cities Appointed for Refuge (Joshua 20:4-9)

The purpose of the cities of refuge has been discussed in earlier devotions. We are again reminded of the sanctity of human life (Genesis 9:4-6; Exodus 20:13) and the principle of capital punishment established by the LORD in Genesis 9:5-6. The cities of refuge afforded a safe place for those who had unintentionally taken the life of another (20:3-4). Those cities provided a place where a man’s case could be judged by the city’s elders and his life protected from those who felt compelled to avenge the death of a loved one (20:5).

https://youtu.be/EO2hXSS_SLg

Joshua 21

Cities Designated for the Tribe of Levi (Joshua 21:1-42)

Having divided the land among the Twelve Tribes, the priestly tribe of Levi requested the cities they had been promised for their inheritance (Joshua 21:1-3).  Each tribe was to give cities, and their surrounding lands, wherein the Levites would dwell (21:4-42). Forty-eight cities were given to the tribe of Levi and assigned by family (21:41).

Joshua 21 concluded with three affirmations of the LORD. (Joshua 21:43-45)

The LORD had given Israel the land He promised their forefathers (Genesis 12:7; 15:18; Joshua 1:3-4). He had given Israel victory over her enemies (21:44; Deuteronomy 12:9-10). Finally, He had not failed to fulfill “any good thing” of all that He “had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass” (21:45).

Closing thoughts:

The Sanctity of Human Life and Capital Punishment

Some people oppose capital punishment and argue that it is an inhumane act of barbarity. The opposite is true! Because man was created in the image of God and is an eternal soul (Genesis 9:6), his life is sacred in the eyes of his Creator. Therefore, willfully taking the life of another, a life God deems sacred, demands the ultimate act of justice…the forfeiture of one’s own life (Genesis 9:5-6; Exodus 20:13).

Did you know the Word of God upholds the sanctity of life in a mother’s womb?

Exodus 21:22 gives an example of where two men were fighting. The result was an expecting mother was injured, and her baby was born prematurely. The law demanded, should the mother and her child live, the judgment was there was “no mischief,” and the man who injured her would need only pay a fine. However, should the mother or her infant die, the judgment was “life for life” (21:23).

Imagine God’s judgment upon abortionists who routinely kill the unborn!

Questions to consider:

1) What purpose did the cities of refuge serve? (Joshua 20:1-3)

2) Who judged those who sought sanctuary in a city of refuge? (Joshua 20:4)

3) How long would a “slayer” have to abide in a city of refuge? (Joshua 20:6)

4) What did the leaders of the tribe of Levi request? (Joshua 21:1-2)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Joshua: A Place to Call Home (Joshua 19)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 19

The narrative concerning the division of the land the LORD promised Israel for an inheritance continues in Joshua 19. Here we read the record of the lands assigned to the remaining six tribes that received their territory by lot: Simeon (19:1-9), Zebulun (19:10-16), Issachar (19:17-23), Asher (19:24-31), Naphtali (19:32-39), and Dan (19:40-48).

The names of the borders and cities in this chapter are too numerous to list, so we will only consider a few details found in Joshua 19 that we should note. First, unlike the other tribes, the tribe of Simeon did not receive a distinct territory but instead discovered its lands “within the inheritance of the children of Judah” (19:1b).

Why was the tribe of Simeon not blessed with a territory of their own in Canaan?

The immediate explanation as “the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore, the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them” (19:9). However, there was a prophetic significance to the assignment of Simeon’s land, within Judah, and it was found in Jacob’s dying words. On his deathbed, Jacob remembered that Simeon and Levi had sinned and disgraced Israel.

Generational Consequences of Sin (Genesis 34)

Do you remember that Simeon and Levi had avenged the honor of their sister Dinah after she was raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite (Genesis 34:1-2)? When Simeon and Levi heard their sister was violated (Genesis 34:5-7), they set their hearts for revenge. They determined to deceive Shechem, his father, and their people into accepting circumcision under the guise of an accord between their families (Genesis 34:13-24).

On the third day of the circumcision, Simeon and Levi attacked and slew Shechem, Hamor, and the men of the city (Genesis 34:25-30). At that time, Jacob rebuked Simeon and Levi and said, “Ye have troubled me” (Genesis 34:30). Many years later, as he was dying, Jacob remembered the cruelty of Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5-6) and cursed them, saying, “Cursed be their [Simeon and Levi’s] anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:7).

“Divide and scatter” was Jacob’s prophetic curse, and it was fulfilled when the tribe of Levi did not receive land as an inheritance in Canaan. So also, the tribe of Simeon would be amid Judah and without a distinct tribal territory.

Joshua 19 concluded with the LORD commanding Israel to give Joshua an inheritance (19:49).

Like the servant leader he was, Joshua had served the needs of all the others and ensured each tribe had its inheritance. Now, “according to the word of the Lord, they gave [Joshua] the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein” (19:50).

Why did Joshua choose to build a city on Mount Ephraim?

First, Joshua was a son of the tribe of Ephraim. However, the principal reason for his choice was, in my opinion, that the Tabernacle was located at Shiloh, a city of Ephraim. I believe Joshua was content to live out his days near the LORD’s sanctuary, the symbol of God’s presence amid Israel.

Closing thoughts:

What about you? Are you content in the LORD? Is worshipping and serving Him a priority for your life and family? It was for Joshua!

Questions to ponder:

1) Within what tribe’s territory was the tribe of Simeon assimilated? (19:1)

2) What did the tribe of Dan do when it realized its land was “too little for them?” (19:47)

3) With the lands divided among the tribes, how did Israel honor Joshua? (19:49)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Trust and Obey, For There’s No Other Way! (Joshua 17; Joshua 18)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 17-18

The tribe of Judah was assigned its inheritance in Canaan in Joshua 15 and was followed by the tribe of Ephraim, which received its land by lot in Joshua 16. Dividing and assigning the land in Canaan continued in today’s Scripture.

Joshua 17

The Half-tribe of Manasseh and Its Portion (Joshua 17:1-6)

The land boundaries assigned to the tribe of Manasseh were recorded in Joshua 17. The tribe of Manasseh, who was the firstborn son of Joseph, received a double portion inheritance. Also, remember that half of the tribe of Manasseh had already been granted land in Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River (17:5).

We are also reminded of an uncommon appeal for an inheritance made to Moses by the five daughters of Zelophehad, whose father had no male heir (17:3-6; Numbers 27:2-11). Zelophehad’s daughters had approached Joshua and Eleazar, the high priest, and desired a portion of the land would be granted to them as their father’s heirs (17:4). When the matter was brought before the Lord, He graciously granted their request.

Manasseh’s Failure and Cowardice (Joshua 17:7-18)

Noting Manasseh’s lands on the west side of the Jordan River (17:7-11), once again, we see a failure to obey God’s command and drive the heathen nations out of the land (17:12). We read, “The children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land” (17:12).

Now the leaders of Ephraim and Manasseh came to Joshua and demanded more land for their people. They complained, “Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?” (17:14)

Joshua’s response was noteworthy, for he challenged their cowardice. He declared the problem was not the need for more land. Instead, they had failed to drive the Canaanites out and claim the land the LORD had promised as their inheritance (17:15).

The “children of Joseph” (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) excused their failure. They complained that the Canaanites had “chariots of iron” (meaning chariots enforced with iron, 17:16). In response, Joshua challenged those tribes to finish taking the mountain. He urged them, “Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong” (17:18).

Joshua 18

The Tabernacle Erected at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1)

The Tabernacle was erected at Shiloh, the place that would become the central place of worship and sacrifices in Israel, throughout the era of the Judges, following Joshua’s death (18:1-2).

Seven Tribes Had Failed to Claim Their Land (Joshua 18:2-7)

The narrative concerning the land division among the twelve tribes of Israel continued in Joshua 18. The Scriptures revealed that seven tribes of Israel had failed to demand and claim their inheritance (18:1-3).

Joshua rebuked those tribes and said, “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?” (18:3) The cause for their failure was not identified. Still, we can suppose their lack of zeal and passion for claiming their inheritance might be related to either cowardice or contentment with the nomad life they had followed for nearly a half-century.

Allocation and Distribution of Land by Lot (Joshua 18:8-10)

Joshua then devised a new plan for dividing the remaining territories among the seven tribes (18:4-28). First, he commanded each tribe to choose three men, twenty-one total, who would map out the land and divide it into seven portions (18:4-6). The men did as Joshua commanded, and when they returned, lots were cast to determine the portion of the lands that would be assigned to each tribe (18:8-10).

The Inheritance of the Tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:11-28)

You will notice that the balance of Joshua 18 verified the boundaries for the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin. Recorded were the northern (18:12-13), western (18:14), southern (18:15-19), and eastern boundaries (18:20). The chapter concluded with the cities of Benjamin being named (18:21-28).

Closing thoughts:

A growing list of disappointments is seen as the tribes of Israel failed to trust God, obey His commands, and claim their inheritance. For example, the tribe of Judah failed to drive out the Jebusites, who continued to inhabit Jerusalem until the time of David (15:63). We also read that the tribe of Ephraim “drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer” (16:10). The same malady was stated of Manasseh, for the Scripture says, they “could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land” (17:12-13).

While Ephraim and Manasseh boasted they were a “great people” (17:14), they complained they had not been given enough land. So Joshua challenged them to go to war against the “Perizzites” and the “giants” in the land and claim the land for their children (17:15). Sadly, instead of trusting God’s promises and rising to the challenge, the “children of Joseph,” protested that the enemy was great (17:16-18).

We have seen that the tribes of Israel failed to trust God and claim their rightful inheritance. Yet, I wonder how many of God’s blessings we miss because we fail to trust Him, obey His Word, and claim His promises.

Questions to ponder:

1) In what did the tribe of Manasseh fail? (Joshua 17:12)

2) What was Ephraim and Manasseh’s complaint? (Joshua 17:16)

3) Where did Israel set up the Tabernacle to worship the LORD? (Joshua 18:1)

4) What had seven of the tribes failed to do? (Joshua 18:2-3)

5) What tribe did not receive land for their inheritance? (Joshua 18:7)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Learning From the Failures of Others (Joshua 15; Joshua 16)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 15-16

Caleb had stated his claim to the land the LORD promised him for an inheritance (14:6-13), and Judah, the most prominent of the tribes, received its land (15:1).

Joshua 15

The Inheritance and Borders of Judah (Joshua 15:1-12)

The boundaries of Judah’s territories were assigned, beginning with the southernmost point of the Dead Sea (15:2-4). Next, the tribe’s territory extended northward along the Dead Sea’s eastern shore to where the Jordan River flowed into it (15:5a). Continuing north and northwest (15:5b-11), Judah’s territory included the city of Jerusalem (15:8). Lastly, the Mediterranean Sea served as Judah’s west boundary (15:12).

The Mount Assigned to Caleb and His Heirs (Joshua 15:13-19)

Joshua 15 briefly described Caleb’s challenge to claim his inheritance (15:13-19). True to his vow (14:6-15), and with fellow warriors of Judah (Judges 1:10), they drove the sons of Anak out of his land (15:14-15). Caleb then enlisted men to assist him in claiming Kirjath-sepher as part of his inheritance. He also promised to give his daughter Achsah to be the wife of the man who aided him. Caleb’s brother, Othniel (or perhaps his father’s brother, 15:16-17; Judges 1:13; 3:9), conquered Kirjath-sepher, and Achsah became his wife (Othniel became Israel’s first judge following Joshua’s death, Judges 3:9).

The Towns and Cities with Judah’s Borders (Joshua 15:20-63)

Listed by the district are the names of the towns and cities of Judah. Recorded are the cities in the south (15:21-32), in the lowlands (15:33-47), in the mountains (15:48-60), and in the desert (15:61-62).

Perhaps a fact that might initially seem insignificant, we find a failure recorded amid Judah’s successes. We read, “As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day” (15:63). Remembering the LORD had commanded Israel to drive all the nations out of the land, we will later find that Judah’s failure would one day have grave consequences for the nation.

Joshua 16

The Tribal Lands of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joshua 16:1-4)

The inheritance promised to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, was stated in Joshua 16 and 17. Joshua 16 recorded the territory assigned to Ephraim. Joshua 17 related the borders of Manasseh’s land, which I will consider in the following devotion.

Joseph, the eleventh of twelve sons born to Jacob (the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel), had two sons born in Egypt. Because he was faithful, Jacob honored Joseph with a double inheritance in the land and adopted his sons as his own. Ephraim and Manasseh became fathers of tribes, and each received an inheritance in Canaan (16:1-4).

Ephraim and Its Borders (Joshua 16:5-10)

The land assigned to the tribe of Ephraim is defined (16:5-10); however, the population of Ephraim was so large that additional cities in Manasseh’s territory were bequeathed to the tribe for its people (16:9). In our following Bible study, we will consider the lands assigned to the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s firstborn son (17:1-13).

Closing thoughts:

We have noted Judah’s failure to drive the Jebusites out of Jerusalem (15:63). Unfortunately, Ephraim also failed to claim all the land that God promised them for inheritance. We read, “They drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute” (16:10).

The cause for Ephraim’s failure was not identified; nevertheless, regardless of their reason, it was inexcusable, and the effects of their failure proved tragic for their children. So it came to pass that the Canaanites, who were idol worshippers, eventually led Ephraim down a path of sin and gross wickedness.

Of course, the same danger confronts us today. In the words of the apostle Paul, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Questions to consider:

1) What people inhabited Jerusalem when it was assigned to Judah? (Joshua 15:8, 63)

2) What were the eastern and western boundaries of Judah? (Joshua 15:5, 12)

3) How did the LORD and Jacob, whom God named Israel, honor Joseph’s faithfulness in Egypt? (Joshua 16:1, 4)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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“GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN” (Joshua 14)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 14

Dividing the Land by Lot (Joshua 14:1-5)

The tribes on the east side of Jordan were given their inheritance, as Moses had promised (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 13). Joshua now addressed the task of assigning the other tribes their inheritance by lot and according to the instructions established in the Book of Numbers (Numbers 34:2-12, 16-29).

We are reminded that Jacob had adopted the sons of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim as his sons (Genesis 48:5). They were tribes of Israel in their own right. The LORD had chosen the tribe of Levi to serve as priests. Therefore, the Levites would receive no inheritance in the land, except cities and “their suburbs [lands around the cities] for their cattle and their substance” (14:4).

Caleb’s Claim (Joshua 14:6-12)

However, before the lots were cast and the lands were divided by tribes, an inspirational event occurred.

Caleb, Joshua’s fellow spy and warrior (they were the only men twenty years and older to come out of Egypt and enter the Promised Land), came before Joshua. Accompanied by representatives of the tribe of Judah (14:6) who came as his witnesses, Caleb reminded Joshua that Moses had promised him an inheritance in Canaan (14:6-7).

Caleb compelled Joshua and said, “Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea” (14:6).

Caleb had been forty years old when he searched out the Promised Land. He had brought back a report of all that was in his heart (14:7). While the other spies discouraged the people with their faithless report, Caleb, like Joshua, determined to trust and “wholly followed the Lord” (14:8).  Tragically, Israel believed the unfaithful spies, and refused to trust the LORD and enter Canaan (14:8a).

For his faith and faithfulness, Moses had declared to Caleb, “Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God” (14:9). Forty-five years had passed. Yet, although he was eighty-five years old, Caleb was determined to claim his inheritance as the LORD promised (14:10).

We have seen that Joshua “was old and stricken in years” (13:1), but such was not the case with Caleb. Though he had been through the hardships of the wilderness and the battles in Canaan, his spirit was determined, and his strength was undiminished. Caleb testified, “I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (14:11).

What an astonishing declaration. Caleb’s passion, faith, and physical strength had not waned. He was not ready to retire, retreat, or spend his days in a rocking chair. Instead, he was prepared to take by faith what the LORD had promised him for his inheritance.

Caleb asserted, “GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [who were giants, and by Egyptian records were seven to nine feet tall] were there, and that the cities were great and fenced” (14:12).

Closing thoughts:

What was Caleb’s inspiration? Why would an eighty-five-year-old man claim what others had feared and fled? Caleb revealed the source of his passion and faith, saying, “If so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said” (14:12).

The fire of a warrior still burned in Caleb’s soul. Though chronologically old, he was ready to claim his inheritance and go to war, knowing the LORD was with him!

How did Joshua respond to the faith of his old friend?

“Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance” (Joshua 14:13)

Questions to ponder:

1) How were the lands assigned to the tribes? (Joshua 14:2)

2) Besides the sons of Jacob, whose children received land in Canaan? (Joshua 14:4)

3) How old was Caleb when Moses sent him to spy on the enemies in Canaan? (Joshua 14:7)

4) Apart from God preserving his strength, what gave Caleb confidence to drive the Anakims out of his mountain? (Joshua 14:12)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Old Joshua and Israel’s Unfinished Business (Joshua 12; Joshua 13)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 12-13

Joshua 12 – For the Record: A List of Kings and City States Conquered by Israel

Joshua 12 records the kings of Canaan conquered by Israel and the lands God promised His people as their inheritance.

The Land on the East Side of the Jordan River (12:1-6)

Joshua 12:1 describes the land Moses promised to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Those two and one-half tribes were to occupy lands that had been ruled by Sihon, king of the Amorites (12:2-3), and Og, the king of Bashan (12:4-5). Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had requested, and Moses agreed to give them the lands east of the Jordan (12:6).

The Kings Conquered under Joshua’s Leadership (12:7-24).

The boundaries of the Promised Land on the west side of the Jordan were defined and described (12:7-8). Those lands had been inhabited by “the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites” (12:8), and all who were descendants of Canaan, the cursed son of Ham, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:15-18; 15:21; Deuteronomy 7:11). Thirty-one kings were defeated, and are listed in the order they were conquered (12:9-24).

Joshua 13 – Dividing the Land

The division of the lands on the west side of the Jordan River was recorded, beginning with Joshua 13 and extending to Joshua 24.

Joshua 13 began with a striking dialog between the LORD and Joshua. Unlike Moses, who had lived one hundred and twenty years and had not grown weak or frail in his old age (Deuteronomy 34:7), Joshua’s physical condition was described as “old and stricken in years” (13:1a). The LORD came to Joshua and stated the obvious: “Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed” (13:1).

Joshua’s age was not disclosed, and he did not live to see Israel fully conquer and possess the land (13:1b-2). However, there was still much land to be settled, and those lands were identified, including the nations that occupied them (13:2-5). Therefore, before his death, Joshua needed to divide the lands west of Jordan among the nine and one-half tribes and command them to drive the inhabitants out of the lands God had promised them for an inheritance (13:7-13).

Two times we are reminded that the tribe of Levi would not receive land as their inheritance. Instead, the Levites had been chosen and sanctified by the LORD to serve Him. Their inheritance would be a portion of the offerings brought by the people to the Tabernacle (13:14, 33; Numbers 18:20; Deuteronomy 19:9; 18;2).

Closing thoughts:

The balance of Joshua 13 recorded the land east of the Jordan that was assigned to the tribes of Reuben (13:15-23), Gad (13:24-28), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (13:29-33). Our study of the divisions of the land west of the Jordan River will continue tomorrow with the remarkable testimony of Caleb (Joshua 14).

Questions to consider:

1) What tribes were assigned land on the east side of the Jordan River? (12:6; 13:8)

2) What nations did Israel fail to drive out of the land? (13:13)

3) What tribe did not receive land for an inheritance? (13:14, 33)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Joshua: Finishing Strong (Joshua 11)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 11

With confidence in the Lord’s help, Joshua’s military campaign in the southern hills of Canaan was finished. Israel had “utterly destroyed all [the kings of the south] that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded” (10:40).  He had been victorious “because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel” (10:42).

Joshua 11

An Enemy Offensive (11:1-5)

The focus of Joshua 11 is upon the kings of northern Canaan (11:1-5). The news of Joshua’s military successes had reached Jabin, king of Hazor (which appears to be a great fortified city). He was determined to form a coalition of kings and their city-states to face Israel’s inevitable invasion of the northern country (11:1-3). Rather than wait for Israel to invade the north, the alliance of kings took the offensive and “came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel” (11:5).

The LORD’s Assurance (11:6-9)

Though Joshua had proved himself a warrior and leader, the size of the armies arrayed against Israel was no doubt disconcerting (11:4). The LORD came to Joshua and assured him, “Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough [hamstring] their horses, and burn their chariots with fire” (11:6).

True to his character, Joshua wasted no time in obeying the LORD and facing the enemy (11:7). He assembled “all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them” (11:7). With the LORD on Israel’s side, the armies of the alliance fell, and their kings fled from before Israel (11:8-9).

A Glorious Victory (11:10-14)

The king of Hazor was particularly noted in the record, for he had formed an alliance against Israel (11:10). In obedience, Joshua burned Hazor to the ground (11:11), and he killed the kings of the alliance as commanded (11:12). Except for Hazor, the other cities in north Canaan were spared destruction (11:13). “All the spoil of [those] cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe” (11:14).

What manner of man was Joshua?  (11:15-23)

In my estimation, he was a giant among men! Joshua was a man of faith. He was obedient and dedicated to the task for which God had called him. He proved he was disciplined and strong. Joshua’s fighting spirit was indomitable, and he did not rest until he finished the battle. I suggest he is a model for husbands, fathers, and sons who aspire to greatness in the eyes of the LORD. Of Joshua, we read:

Joshua 11:15b–18 – “[Joshua] left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses. 16So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country…17b and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.”

Closing thoughts:

Some critics have assailed the Scriptures, the LORD, and Israel’s conquest of Canaan, as proof that the God of the Bible is violent, threatening, merciless, and irrepressible. I assure you; such is not the case. The LORD is just, holy, forgiving, and compassionate. He is sovereign and omniscient. He knows the wickedness of men’s hearts and providentially works through them to accomplish His purpose for His people.

In His mercy, the LORD honored Israel’s treaty with Gibeon and spared them (11:19). However, because He knew the bent of the nations, the LORD allowed them to “harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly” (11:20).

The Canaanite kings and their cities were utterly destroyed because their hearts opposed the LORD and His people.

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Forgiven and Ready for Battle (Joshua 8)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 8

This devotional focuses on Joshua 8, the second chapter of today’s assigned Scripture reading, Joshua 7-8.

God Encouraged Joshua to Go to War (8:1-2)

With the sin of Achan and his family purged from Israel, the nation was ready to continue its conquest of Canaan. There was no time to look back or wallow in regret. One man’s sin had been addressed, and Israel had corporately passed judgment, putting the evil out of their midst (7:25-26). And so, the LORD came to Joshua and commanded him, “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” (8:1).

Israel’s quick judgment of the sin in their midst moved the LORD to forgive and restore the people to His favor (8:1). Indeed, the LORD promised to go to war with Israel and to give them the spoils of Ai (8:2).

The Strategy for Warring with Ai and Bethel (8:2-13)

Unlike the presumption evidenced in the siege of Ai (7:2-4), Joshua received not only his orders to go to war against Ai but also the strategy for the battle (8:2-13). Moreover, unlike the siege of Jericho, which lasted seven days and was conducted in silence until the city walls fell, the attack on Ai employed an entirely different scheme.

Dividing the army into two companies, Israel laid in ambush and drew out the king of Ai, emboldened by his first victory (8:3-8). Then, with thirty thousand men sent out into the night before him, Joshua “lodged that night among the people” (8:9). True to his character, the next day, “Joshua rose up early in the morning” (8:10), and lured both the men of Bethel (a city some two miles from Ai), and the king of Ai out of the city (8:12-13).

The Battle and the Victory (8:14-22)

Arrogantly presuming he would send the warriors of Israel scurrying as before, the king of Ai took all of the city’s men to pursue Joshua (8:14), leaving the city vulnerable. Ai’s king realized, too late, that he had been drawn into the midst of Israel’s armies. The king beheld “the smoke of the city…[and he and his army] had no power to flee this way or that way” (8:20). All was lost, and Israel turned “and slew the men of Ai” (8:21).

Like Moses before him (Exodus 17:8-16), Joshua held his spear aloft during the battle, and Israel warred until the king of Ai was captured, and twelve thousand men of the city slain, along with “all the inhabitants of Ai” (8:22-26). The cattle and spoils of Ai were Israel’s, and the city was burned (8:27-28). The king of Ai was “hanged on a tree until eventide” (8:29). As the sun was setting, Joshua commanded that the king’s body be placed in the gate of Ai with stones heaped upon it.

A Renewed Commitment (8:30-35)

The battle having been won, “Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal.” Then, as the law prescribed (8:30), he offered sacrifices (8:31). Upon the stones of the altar, Joshua inscribed “a copy of the law of Moses” (8:32), and he read aloud “all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that [was] written in the book of the law” (8:34).

Joshua 8 concludes with a reminder that every word of the LORD is sacred: “There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them” (8:35).

Closing thoughts:

Some reading this devotion bears the guilt of sin yet to be exposed. I implore you; don’t hide your sin and wait for it to be discovered. The LORD is patient and longsuffering. Nevertheless, the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Why conceal sin, when in the words of the apostle John, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” is available to all who heed (1 John 1:9)?

Finally, don’t ignore the obvious application of today’s Scripture! We have seen that the consequences of one man’s sin can prove disastrous for a family, church, and nation. Let the stoning of Achan and his family serve as a warning to us all:

Be sure your sin will find you out!

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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A Silent Enemy: Sin in the Camp (Joshua 7)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 7

* This is the first of two devotionals for today.

With the fortress of Jericho defeated and destroyed, the men of Israel set their eyes on the next city, Ai. Joshua had reminded the people that the LORD had accursed all that was in Jericho, and the gold, silver, brass, and iron was sanctified and dedicated for the “treasury of the house of the LORD” (6:24, 26). Nevertheless, one man in Israel disregarded Joshua’s oath and foolishly took that which was accursed (7:1).

Joshua 7

A Concealed Sin in the Camp (7:1-2)

Joshua 7:1 reveals both the sin and the sinner, whose transgression was not discovered until thirty-six soldiers of Israel had perished in battle (7:5). We read of that tragic event: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1).

Who was Achan? We could assert he was nobody in the realm of two million citizens. However, he was a transgressor who committed a great sin against the LORD. Achan was a son of the tribe of Judah (7:1) and a father with sons and daughters (7:24). He was a man of possessions, for he owned ox, asses, and sheep (7:24). He was, however, a covetous man, and a thief (7:20-21).

Defeat at Ai (7:3-5)

Unlike the battle of Jericho, there is no record that Joshua consulted the LORD before he ordered men to attack Ai (7:2). He had sent out men to spy on Ai, and they returned and advised, “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” (7:3). Confident, and presumptuous, Joshua heeded the advice of his spies and sent a mere three thousand soldiers to war against Ai. As a result, Israel was defeated (7:4-5), and the nation was left confused and humiliated by the deaths of thirty-six warriors of Israel.

Joshua’s Remorse (7:6-9)

Distraught by the defeat, Joshua “rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD” (7:6). He was joined by “the elders of Israel,” and “they put dust upon their heads” as a sign of mourning (7:6). In dismay, Joshua cried to the LORD, “what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies?” (7:8) He appealed to the LORD to consider how Israel’s defeat would embolden their enemies. He feared the adversaries of Israel would encircle them and “cut off [their] name from the earth,” and he wondered, “What wilt thou do unto thy great name?” (7:9)

The LORD’S Rebuke and the Cause for Israel’s Defeat (7:10-14)

Sadly, Joshua’s cry to the LORD insinuated that somehow God had failed Israel. However, such was not the case, for He had promised Joshua, “Whithersoever thou goest” I will be with you (1:9).

The LORD then rebuked Joshua and said, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?” (7:10). He revealed that the cause for Israel’s defeat was not His unfaithfulness but the sin of one man that had troubled the whole nation (7:11-12). Therefore, the LORD warned, He would not bless the nation until the evil was put out of the camp (7:10-13).

The Discovery of Achan’s Sin (7:14-21)

The following day, Joshua made haste to begin searching out the sin in Israel and did as the LORD had commanded (7:14-16). It was revealed that the sin had been committed by a man of the tribe of Judah (7:16). When the tribe of Judah passed before Joshua, the “family of the Zarhites” was implicated (7:17). The Zarhites were examined, and the household of “Zabdi was taken, and [Joshua] brought [Zabdi’s] household man by man and; and Achan…was taken” (7:18).

Perhaps hoping his sin would go undetected, Achan held out until he was discovered. Then, when Joshua confronted and appealed for him to confess his sin (7:19), Achan answered, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done” (7:20).

Achan’s Confession (7:21)

Achan’s confession revealed the pattern of sin that men take when they sin against the LORD. First, he consideredthe opportunity to sin. He had looked “among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight” (7:21a). He then coveted them (7:21b). Achan then carriedthem to his tent (7:21c), and concealed them, hiding them “in the earth in the midst of [his] tent” (7:21).

The Effect of Achan’s Sin Upon His Household (7:22-26)

Joshua’s men searched and discovered all Achan had confessed, but no appeal would satisfy the LORD’S wrath. Because of Achan’s sin, thirty-six men had died in the defeat of Ai (7:4-5), and now the whole congregation passed judgment. Taking him, and all that he owned outside the camp, Israel stoned Achan to death, along with his sons and daughters and livestock (7:24).

All was destroyed, and the people “burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger” (7:25-26).

Closing thought:

Like many sinners, Achan only confessed his sin when it was discovered. He had the opportunity to repent, come forward, and confess his sin after Israel was defeated at Ai (thirty-six of his countrymen had perished, 7:5). Instead, his heart was hardened, and his confession was offered only after his sin was exposed. God’s people could not tolerate such evil in their midst, and the LORD bless them. The LORD had warned Joshua, “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you” (7:12).

When God’s people obey His Word, their most powerful enemies fall before them. However, we cannot overcome our weakest enemy when we conceal sin.

* Note – A second devotional will follow and be taken from Joshua 8 (the record of Israel’s victory over Ai following that nation’s judgment against Achan.) 

Questions to consider from Joshua 7:

1) Why was the LORD angry with Israel? (7:1)

2) Where did the men of Israel put their confidence? (7:3)

3) How did the defeat at AI affect Israel? (7:5)

4) What were Joshua’s concerns following Israel’s defeat? (7:8-9)

5) What sins did Achan confess that invited God’s judgment? (7:20-21)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Saving Rahab the Harlot, and God’s Amazing Grace (Joshua 6)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 6

Having crossed the Jordan River, Joshua and Israel faced the challenge of waging war with the Canaanites that inhabited the land God had promised Israel for an inheritance. The first fortified city to be conquered was ancient Jericho, whose high walls made it a strong fortress and a city that had to be destroyed before the people could enter Canaan and take possession of the land.

As a nation, Israel was two million strong by some estimates. The news of how Israel’s God had divided the waters of the Jordan, giving way for the people to cross on dry ground, terrified the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites. We read their hearts “melted, neither was there spirit in them any more” (Joshua 5:1). With an assurance that the LORD would be with him (Joshua 6:13-15), Joshua was ready to face the battles ahead.

Directions and Preparations for the Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5)

Fearing an imminent attack upon the city, the king of Jericho shut the gates to the fortress, and none were allowed to go out or come in (Joshua 6:1). Israel’s encampment was visible from the towers on the wall. The campfires of that multitude no doubt dotted the hillsides and the plain of Gilgal as far as the eye could see.

The LORD came to Joshua and assured him the city and its leaders were already given into his hand (Joshua 6:2). Joshua’s marching orders were unlike any that an army of warriors had ever received. Rather than a prolonged siege of the city or assailing of the walls, Joshua commanded his army to march silently around the walls.

The Silent Procession Before the Walls Fell (Joshua 6:6-21)

The soldiers of Israel went before seven priests, who carried seven “trumpets of rams’ horns,” followed by priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant (Joshua 6:3-4). Once a day, for six days, a silent procession of warriors went before seven priests bearing trumpets, who walked before the priests carrying the Ark.

Joshua had instructed the people as the LORD had commanded. Rising early on the seventh day, the parade of soldiers and priests again encircled the walls of Jericho seven times in silence (Joshua 6:5-12). However, the silence was shattered after the seventh time when the priests blew the trumpets (Joshua 6:16, 20a). Confident the LORD had given Israel the city as He had promised, the people shouted, and “the wall fell down flat,” and the people rushed straight into Jericho (Joshua 6:20b).

Remember, the LORD had accursed all that was in Jericho, save the city’s gold, silver, iron, and brass. These items the Lord claimed (Joshua 6:18-19), and it was they were placed “into the treasury of the house of the LORD” (Joshua 6:24). All the living beings of the city were to be destroyed, “both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword” (Joshua 6:21).

The Salvation and Preservation of Rahab: A Testimony of Grace (Joshua 6:22-25)

Joshua had warned the people that the city was accursed, with one exception: “Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent” (Joshua 6:17).

When the walls fell, the men who had been spies, and found safety in Rahab’s house, were commanded to “Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, [and they] brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel” (Joshua 6:22-23).

Closing thoughts: Rahab and God’s Amazing Grace

The author of Hebrews described the Battle of Jericho from the point of faith: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31).

Rahab was spared Jericho’s destruction because she had acted in faith and believed in the God of Israel. She had come to believe and confess that the God of Israel was the True God, and Israel was His people (Joshua 6:9-12). She had welcomed the spies into her home, and when the army of Israel surrounded the city, she tied a scarlet rope around her window to symbolize her faith that she and her family would be spared.

God rewarded Rahab’s faith! Not only was she spared the destruction of Jericho, but she became the mother of Boaz and was the great-great-grandmother of King David. If you wonder how amazing God’s grace is, think about this:  Rahab was named in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).! What a testimony of saving grace! She was spared death like all who are spared God’s judgment.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions to consider:

1) Who was to encircle the city of Jericho? (Joshua 6:3-4)

2) How did the seventh day differ from the previous six days? (Joshua 6:15)

3) Why was Rahab and her family spared destruction? (Joshua 6:17)

4) Where did Rahab and her family live after Jericho was destroyed? (Joshua 6:25)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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