Joshua 7:16-9:2 + Luke 16:1-18 + Psalm 82:1-8 + Proverbs 13:2-3
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Old Testament – In Joshua chapter 7 today we continue to read about Achan’s sin, which caused 36 Israelites to die in the first attack on the city of Ai. I realize that the destruction of Achan and his family may be tough for us to read, but I think it’s important to remember Achan’s sin caused other Israelites to die. I found Joshua’s words interesting in verse 19 as he spoke to Achan: “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth.” He has a fatherly tone here – and I like the thought of giving glory to God by telling the truth.
In chapter 8 verse 1 we read this today – “Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.” This repeats what we heard God say to Joshua in chapter 1 verse 9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” This makes sense that in the midst of the conquest of the Promised Land that this would need to be repeated often. I’m wondering if we need to hear this in our lives today as well from God often – do not be afraid or discouraged. It is so true. With God in our lives we do not need to be afraid or discouraged! I need to be reminded of this often…
Now that we are just past the Pentateuch in our readings – the first five books in the Old Testament – verses like 34 & 35 stand out to me as God’s covenant is renewed with the Israelites – “Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of the Law. Every command Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among the Israelites.” After our recent readings about the Israelites victories at Jericho and Ai, I am not surprises by Joshua chapter 9 verse 2 at all…. – “These kings quickly combined their armies to fight against Joshua and the Israelites.” Seems like a logical idea to try to band together. We get some interesting tactics coming from the Gibeonites in tomorrow’s readings. Stay tuned! Below is nineteenth century French artist Gustave Dore’s take on today’s readings about Ai:
Bible.org’s commentary on Joshua chapter 7 is at this link and at this link. Commentary on Joshua chapter 8 is at this link.
New Testament – The story of the shrewd manager in Luke chapter 16 today concludes with some powerful teachings from Jesus. Verses 8 & 9 stand out to me today – “And it is true that the citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are. I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.” I like that teaching – we should use our worldly resources to benefit others. I’ve been thinking about this a bit more lately. And I wondered what it would be like if I went through my days consciously trying to make other people happy. I don’t think I’ve really ever done this over a sustained period. Maybe I’ve glimpses of using my resources to benefit others. To make them happy. I want to do more of this… How about you? Are you consciously using your resources (time, treasure & talents) to make others happy in your life each day?
Verse 10 is also a strong teaching from Jesus today – “”Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” I think there was a very popular book out there a while back called “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.” Well, it looks to me in this verse that God sweats the small stuff. And you and I should sweat the small stuff. We need to be faithful in small matters in our daily lives or else indeed we will not be faithful in large matters. Will you join me in sweating the small stuff when it comes to matters of our integrity before God?
Bible.org’s commentary on our Luke chapter 16 readings today titled “Does Christ commend the crook or “The Sting?”” is at this link.
Psalms – I love Psalm 82 verses 3 & 4 – “”Give fair judgment to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.” I realize these verses were spoken to Israel’s judges. But, I think they can speak to you and I today as well. Particularly, “rescue the poor and helpless” stands out to me today. What are some ways you are rescuing the poor and helpless in your life today? How are you delivering them from the grasp of evil people? This actually reminds me of a couple of friends of mine who are so passionate about rescuing young girls from the sex slave industry in some Asian countries – I think Thailand is where they do most of their work. Clearly, young girls that have to sell their bodies in this type of situation are under the grasp of evil people. And I am so humbled by my friends’ work toward delivering girls from this grasp. My friends are only able to do this really well because of their relationship with Jesus. Jesus is the true rescuer – first of my friends and now through my friends to these young girls. But, wow, it makes me wonder if I am truly allowing Jesus to rescue the poor and helpless through me? How about you?
Proverbs – There is probably absolutely nothing I could or should add to Proverbs chapter 13 verse 3 🙂 – “Those who control their tongue will have a long life.”
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Luke reminded me of Zach Williams song “Less Like Me:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkYL1b7MCEw
Do you want to be less like you? Click here and be more like Jesus!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you are serving God alone. Pray that you are not in love with or devoted to money.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Do you agree with this Proverb above? Are you able to control your tongue? Or sometimes does your tongue control you? Any advice on how someone can control their tongue? Prayer, Grace, and the Holy Spirit are 3 antidotes that come to mind for me! 🙂 Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
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======= Ramona:
Joshua 7:16-9:2
In reading about Achan in the seventh chapter I’m struck by how much his plight illustrates the Words Jesus spoke in Matthew 16:26,
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Achan became caught up in the “Lust of the eyes” and the deceitfulness of that sin elevated the value of gold in his eyesight above the worth of God who created and placed the gold in the earth. That deception bore such horrendous fruit that his entire family was wiped out because of his “little” sin. So too are our sins not hidden no matter how far “undercover” we go. What is done in the dark will be brought out to the light. (Luke 12:3)
Luke 16:1-18
In Geometry there is a theorem or proof, I forget which, that says, “The whole is equal to the sum of its parts.” We can study the whole of the Bible and miss the parts that make up the whole, or we can concentrate on the parts and miss the whole. It is my desire for each and everyone who enters this Blog’s portal to learn to walk in balance between the two views, the parts and the whole, also know as “The Big Picture.”
Stating this I will continue to explore the entire chapter from a perspective that first came to me one-year ago while reading this chapter. First I saw the entire sixteenth chapter as parts to a whole having the same theme, an overarching lesson with individual lessons within the whole.
I believe that verses one through fourteen, sixteen through eighteen, and nineteen through the end of the chapter are all speaking about the same thing, rightly handling the Word of God and valuing it over every earthly thing.
The rich man employed the “Shrewd Manager”, but who was this rich man. Understanding that Jesus used Parables to explain the Kingdom of God to those who had ears to hear, I have positioned this man in my mind as God. The manager, and those he represents, is a “shepherd” over a flock or flocks of “sheep.” Today we have ministers of the Gospel over small to to large mega churches and Para-churches. In those days there were the religious hierarchy stationed in Jerusalem governing the daily activities of Synagogues in the cities, towns and villages where there were at least ten practicing Jews, from Asia to Africa and Europe.
If God is the “rich man” then the possessions the manager handled would have to be the “rich man’s” Word, His most valuable property. The manager is said to have invited everyone who owed His master to come and discuss the situation after finding out he was to be fired. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus because they knew He was about to take their jobs from them. Jobs they were not doing according to the procedures the “rich man” had instituted. The manager’s invitation was not to a party but to a discussion to talk about what each owed to his employer and to play, “Let’s Make a Deal.” (That was an old TV game show. Forgive my dated reference).
What were these people dealing in, oil, olive oil to be precise and wheat. Now sometimes what something is, is what it really is, but I began thinking that this oil and wheat is a figurative representation. Olive oil represents the anointing oil that was poured out on the top of Aaron’s head flowing down onto his beard to the hem of his garment when he was consecrated into the priesthood. Also win the Olive grove, Gethsemane, which means olive press in Hebrew, where Jesus struggled under the burden of going to the cross so much that his sweat was like great drops of blood, so this “Oil” is precious.
It was about this “anointing” this precious oil that flowed from crushed olives that the debtors and the about to be fired manager bargained over. And the wheat, what does the wheat represent? Wheat is used to make bread, and bread represents the Word of God, the Manna that fell from heaven to feed the nation of Israel as they wondered in the desert for forty years. They sat down to discount the very source of life.
As I looked at this chapter in this perspective, verses eight through ten that had baffled me in the past began to become clearer in my understanding. If I don’t handle the small matters with integrity, the things of this world, then the greater responsibility of understanding and handling rightly, the Word of God, will always be out of my grasp.
In the entire chapter amongst the other great messages and parables are teachings on the value of the Word, the Law and the Prophets.
Psalm 82:1-8
After my lengthy discourse on Luke 16, I’m struck again by the similitude of the messages in two different books written by two different writes hundreds of years apart.
1God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the judges:
2″How long will you judges hand down unjust decisions? How long will you shower special favors on the wicked?
The judges can only had down just decisions if they use the just Laws given by a just God to Moses. Like the “Shrewd Manager” in Luke sixteen, they have mishandled the precious Word of God.
Proverbs 13:2-3
Our words create our worlds. Don’t like the world your living in, change your conversation.
2 Good people enjoy the positive results of their words, but those who are treacherous crave violence. 3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can ruin everything.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Shane:
Dude. Don’t mess with Joshua.
Shane
======= Peggy:
Joshua 8:1 Just jumped out to me today. I copied Chapter 1 verse 9 and sent it gave it to a a few people I know. What an encouragement to me and them. Wow here it is again today, “don’t be discouraged or afraid” God is so good He knows that we need to be reminded. I’m going to keep a copy close by and remind myself everytime I think I have to be afraid or upset about things, that He is always near. I sent a reminder to my friends and family too. Have a blessed day.
Peggy
======= Laura:
In regards to Mike’s question about pleasing others rather than ourselves. I understand your reasoning behind that concept and the idea that it is best to not be selfish, but on the other hand, you can get caught up in trying to be a people pleaser which can actually work against you. What I mean by that, is that I think it is best to strive for and to please God instead. When you try to think of ways to please others just to earn their love and friendship, you end up being very fustrated. I’ve learned that from personal experience.
For example, (this happened to me)do you remember when your elderly grandmother or aunt or someone you didn’t know very well tried to please you with toys that you would never play with, books etc..(not really knowing you and your tastes, likes and dislikes)when you were young, did you appreciate it? Your relative gave that gift out of love and went through the effort to mail and package and wrap the gift. I remember my very frugal grandmother who used recycled and wrinkled gift wrap or newspaper to wrap the gifts in. They were never expensive or anything I would use. At the time I did not appreciate them as a young child. Today I think of my grandma, who passed away 21 years ago with a very fond heart. I miss her dearly and remember her heart for giving the most and not what I received. I often ponder on that as I ring up customers on the cash regester, I’ll see a sweet elderly lady coming in to shop for her grandkids or greatgrand kids buying them things she can barely afford. Those kids probably don’t even thank her or appreciate what they get, because their parents spoil them with even more expensive gifts.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I can look back and reflect on the heart of a giver and appreciate them. When I go out of my way to spend money on expensive gifts or do something to try to earn love and acceptance, the receiver seldom remembers the gifts given nor do they appreciate them or reciprocate always.
I think the best gift we can give is time with them and a sincere and loving heart which are intangible. Things that don’t cost money, but show that we really care. Loving God first helps us to love others. We are to love God first than others than ourselves and keep things in the right order.
Laura
======= Anka:
“an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used”I kinda got stuck on this verse…iron tools as in man made maybe?I was just thinking about how God wants us to come to Him…we are spirit…God is spirit,He wants us to come in spirit and in truth,not in senses(man made)not in flesh.God is pretty tough on sin as we can see…I read through the posts on christian songs…the free will posts…I can’t help thinking,when we worship God…is it truly about Him…or is it about us…when we fight about certain issues..what do we stand to gain…God’s approval or the “I knew I was right satisfaction”…What God wants from us I think is what He’s given us…the fruits of the spirit make us worship God with our lives…not our works,our knowledge…The only way we can come to God is in spirit and in truth…not with our own nicely crafted altars..
I was just putting my thoughts on paper..May God’s light continue to guide us and keep us(me especially) focused on the battle ahead…
God bless you all
Anka
======= Shane:
We had a lecture in my Law and Religion class today on the rules of war as they pertain to religion. All the member countries, including the U.S., agree that you can’t destroy a church, mosque, synagogue, etc. unless they’re used for military purposes by the invaded nation.
Also, some people are off-limits, such as army chaplains (or religious ministers of the opposing army), people in hospitals, army doctors, etc.
As I listened to the lecture, I reflected on Joshua as a general–indeed God as a general (since He told Joshua what to do), and thought about how God had Joshua destroy everything in Jericho, and pretty much everything in Ai.
Should we conduct war the way Joshua did? Is it better to respect the religious beliefs and practices of our enemies?
Shane
======= John:
shane,
Tough question. “Scorched earth policy” as practiced by Sherman in Civil War has quite a few modern day proponets in the military brass.
The problems I see:
1) Joshua had God tell him explicitly what to do. If God had not told him to destroy everything, they might not have, and with what consequences to a budding nation that was supposed to be serving God?
2) So today? Is it in God’s will that a side should fight and destroy everything? Is that side being led by God? Is it a fledgling nation or does that even matter?
3) The result would probably be the same as Chapter 9 of Joshua starts off. Everyone is going to gather together to fight nation(s) in #2. In current situation in Middle East that is certainly the beginning of a total World War. Would the scorched earth proponet survive if it is not in God’s will against such a “host”.
If it happens – they had better pray they are in God’s will.
I am just throwing things out – I have no clue as to what the right policy is in today’s conflicts. One thing for sure – it is a lot easier to know when God is talking to you directly : )
John
======= Emily:
It is a mad world. It is one thing to chart Geneva conventions and feel righteous. It is other to face planes being flown into WTC (killing thousands instantly and unawares) and then see things happening like Friendly fires, Abu Gharaib and Guantanamo Bay.
It would be so humane if in wartimes civilian life is respected. But reality is sooo different. Think, Hiroshima and Nagasaki…
Emily
======= Jenny:
Yikes! The Joshua readings are gruesome and violent. It was hard to read. So many ppl murdered, stoned, hung..I know God is just so it happened according to His plan, but I dont like to read it, it makes me sad.
I was looking up some stuff in my study Bible concerning Luke and the shrewd servant.
Regarding vs 8:”For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” it said….MOst unbelievers are are wiser in the ways of the world than some believers are toward the things of God.
wow, thats sad! but its true, huh.
Proverbs is right on!: v. 3″ He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” I really have to watch myself and I was happy today at work i was spoken to in a way which might normally make me respond in an incorrect way, but I kept my mouth shut! the guy was looking at me waiting for me to respond, but i didnt. I just kinda walked away and stayed silent,. I sure dont regret that! Prasie God, He’s working on me to keep my mouth shut! I just kept hearing that verse, “live peaceably with all men, as much IS possible”. I love how God just whispers to us in the midst of trying times and difficult situations and people! He just whispers His word. yesterday some girl made some comment, dont even know what they were talking about, but she said, ‘only the attractive people’…kinda dissing me, like, ‘and you’re not one of them’ I know, dumb and immature, but I heard God say to me: You’re beautiful to Me!!!!! awww, that was with me all night! I just love HIm so much! He’s so good!
Jenny
======= Elizabeth:
Hello,
I must admit that I have always been a bit perplexed about the parable of the unjust steward. I guess he was shrewd to get as much money as he could quickly. We are to size things up in this way, though not dishonestly.
I liked this comment on Luke 16:9,
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9
“There are many warnings about the dangers of riches in the Bible. But this verse teaches that wealth can be thought of as talent which should be fully employed in God’s service.” -Key Word Commentary
This parable makes more sense to me if I think about it from this angle–using our resources wisely, including money, to further His kingdom.
Elizabeth
======= Andy:
Elizabeth, Andrew Wommack has a free 6-part teaching on financial stewardship that touches on the unjust steward.
The parable is highlighting the fact that the master’s master was not money which is why he was not upset when the steward discounted the debts. The verse also spoke to using money to benefit others. AW mentioned that we should see money as belonging to God. Through HIM we have the gifts, knowledge and power needed to attain good things. We should sow back into the kingdom by helping others.
Andy
======= Luch:
I too found the verse on ‘tongue control’ from Proverbs 13 quite convicting. That little piece of flesh in our mouths can get me/us into a lot of trouble, but on the other hand our tongues can bring healing and encouragement.James 3 tells us that if someone can keep their tongue in check, that person is a mature/perfect person. Wow!!
Even Jesus said in Matt 12. “I tell you on the day of judgment people will render account for every word they have uttered. By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.’ Ouch!!
While shopping in a local Publix I came across the ‘christian book rack’ and saw a book staring right at me. It kept saying ‘buy me, buy me, you need me and so do a lot of other people :). The book was called 30 Days to Taming your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues. For a month I have added this one page, day by day reading to my OYB routine.
http://www.amazon.com/Days-Taming-Your-Tongue-Relationships/dp/0736915605
Luch
======= Wendy:
I learned to control my tongue April 29-2009. That was the day my father died. I sat alone next to my deceased father while my family was tormenting me and throwing accusations. Hateful stares and words. With the power of God, I sat 3.5 hours not saying anything. I just waited for them to come after the body. No hugs, no hand holding, no compassion of any kind. Since my birthday is on the 4th of July, I am a true firecracker and have had at times, explosive expressions. I sat shrouded by the Lord. What a friend we have in Jesus. There is still no communication, it will be a year gone by soon. I so appreciate this daily reading. For it gives me strength.
Wendy
======= Lily:
Reading the verses sometimes does not speak to me especially the old testament. However, reading Mike’s blog and postings help me in understanding the readings for the day. Thank you Mike & Ramona for your postings.
Yes we would like to be a blessing to others and make other people happy. But I learned the hard way, happiness ( more so of joy) is from within one’s heart. Yes we should be kind, compassionate to others but salvation, happiness, joyfulness, my thinking, can only come from acceptance on the person’s part. This also applies to us. We could always pray and hope for us and others to accept the joy of knowing that God is always with us no matter what is happening around us.
God bless.
Lily
======= LaRhonda:
I was moved by verse 19 in the seventh chapter of Joshua. I just had my son to visit from another state this week. While on a road trip we were Abel o talk at length
about some family issues. In the end I stated,”My desire is to see my children, all seven, walk in truth and to build their loves on a foundation of truth, In verse 19 I learned that truth gives glory to God..what a powerful verse!
LaRhonda
======= Bob:
“THE TAKING OF AI” By Bob Bieberdorf (me)
Achan!! Achan! Achan?
My mind is in constant turmoil now.
My decisions deal with the lives of people.
I have it good, why should I change that?
This nagging thought won’t go away.
I know the road ahead and it’s so confusing.
If I just keep working hard at other things,
Maybe it will work itself out?
No, the men came back today and told me all the problems.
I was sure it was all taken care of.
All they had to do was wait.
They’re looking to me for answers.
I’m responsible.
I have to act.
The weight is on my shoulders.
Can anyone help?
We came through some unbelievable experiences.
And yet I still have this unsettled feeling.
I’m suppose to do something more.
I will wait, I will be patient and I will see the outcome.
It’s all planned.
History is in the making
Still, I can’t just wait.
It’s too uncomfortable.
Everything will be fine.
I think I will make a cup of tea,
Relax by the peaceful river,
And watch the clouds go by.
Yes, I can do that.
But people have other ideas.
They want results, a plan, some sort of future.
I think I will just wait some more.
And think about,
why Ai failed.
Ai, Ai, Ai?
Bob
======= Caroline:
“Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
This is so true in pretty much every aspect of life. It seems like a small lesson, and maybe it is, but it’s an important one.
Caroline
======= Joyce:
Mike and everyone,
Mike, I was reading in one of the links you provided:
“Defeat at Ai and the Sin of Achan” (Joshua 7:1-26) by J. Hampton Keathley III.
Something in that article stood out to me:
“Never is the believer in greater danger of a fall than after a victory.
We are so prone to drop our guard and begin trusting in ourselves or in our past victories rather than the Lord.
One victory never guarantees the next.
Only as it builds our confidence in the Lord and develops our wisdom in appropriating God’s Word do our victories aid us for the next battle.
Always, the basis of victory is the Lord Himself and our faith/dependence on Him.”
Then he quoted this scripture:
“So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.”(1 Corinthians 10:12 NET)
Such profound truth that I hope to remember!
Sincerely,
Joyce
======= Sarah:
I totally agree with the Proverb today. I do find people who keep talking annoying. The quote from Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, also helps me to control my tongue, “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
Sarah
======= Dee:
Controlling the tongue is a hard one for me. . I love the Lord and love to talk however I don’t believe I let it control me. I learn to bite my tongue alot lately..
Well Ai had wounded the Israelites and now Pay back to them. They only think they scared them out. They turned around and avenged.
I love how the Bible says when He can trust u in little you can be blessed with great. All things are test in hopes of passing
Dee
======= Ramona:
This morning I sent something to Mike regarding one of his comments for the April 13 reading. I sent my response to him privately because I wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate to share with the 995 readers on this site. Mike response to me and gave me permission to post on the site because there may be others who need to understand what “happy” is. (Mike, I may have taken liberties with your response because some how or another I don’t have that e-mail in my msn account at home, maybe I deleted it at work in error). Also I have edited the original response, hopefully taking out most of the typos and extra commas—it was early in the morning when I wrote it.
Mike,
I have spent some time trying to figure out if I should reply to you about your April 13th comments by posting up on the site or to do it privately, obviously I’ve decided to do it off-line.
I have come to have great affection for you and I’m not sure if this is a motherly concern, I hope not, but my desire for you is that you become the man God has created and ordained you to be, fulfilling fully the purpose He has created and called you too. So I kind of cringed when I read this,
>>So, I’ve been thinking about this a bit more lately. And I wondered what it would be like if I went through my days consciously trying to make other people happy. >>
Can we really make people happy? According to the Apostle Paul, our state of mind and happiness is a condition of the will, it is a choice, just read Paul’s letter to the Book of Philippians, especially the fourth chapter
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
God didn’t promise us “happy,” however, he did promise us “joy.” Happiness, I believe, is always based on circumstances; conversely, joy is based on one knowing the final outcome of a thing; and Jesus did say to us be of good cheer for I have overcome the World (John 16:33). If we are in Christ, as Paul has stated, we are over comers. The writer of Hebrews states Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (12:2). I’m sure Jesus was not happy going to the cross but he knew what his pain and suffering would bring to the men and women He created.
Being a blessing to others is not a bad thing because we are blessed to be a blessing, but taking up a mandate to make others happy will cause you to fall into a bottomless pit. Truthfully, there are a lot of people who have willed themselves to be unhappy, and you may also find yourself casting your pearls before swine: giving to people who God has not told you to give to out of the storehouse from which God has so richly blessed you.
So my prayer for you becomes one of asking God to show you who you are to bless. After all Jesus only did what He saw His Father do (John 5:19). Jesus did not operate out of needs. If that were the case we wouldn’t be living in a world were people are starving. When Jesus fed the multitudes he didn’t create a feeding program He fed them because they had been with Him a long time listening to him teach. When we get to the Book of Acts we will read about a man who was placed daily at the gate of the Temple for a long time, yet Jesus did not heal that man when we walked through those gates the week before His death, why?
I guess in short what I’m trying to say is check why you want to make people happy; pray that God will direct you to the people who He wants you to bless, and don’t live your life based on other people’s testimony and experiences because then you will get what they got, maybe. When we desire to have or to do what other people have done or get what others have gotten, we don’t have all the facts. We may not want to go through what they did to get what they have. God made you an original, find out what that is for you, and don’t become a copy.
Ramona
======= Ramona:
Joshua 7:16-9:2
And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:22-23 KJV)
We can dig a hole, as Achan did and try to bury the fruit of our sin; we can kill the witnesses to our acts of sin, we can plant the evidence of our misdeed on someone else, but as Numbers 32: 23 states, “…be sure your sin will find you out.” Freshly dug holes, even if a steamroller is used to compact the dirt as tight as possible, always leaves evidence that there is a freshly dug hole that has been covered up. Achan’s family had to have helped him dig, bury and cover up his loot. In this country, USA, one can be tried as an accessory to a crime even if you have not actually done the deed, accessory before and after the fact.
In reading the words of Achan, he only confessed because he was caught—he exhibited a “worldly sorrow” (For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV). Achan was sorry and probably embarrassed because he was exposed in the midst of the congregation; however, he was not repentant. We think because we admit to a sin that clears it up; but repentance—after admission to our sin is paramount.
If Joshua had consulted the Lord BEFORE the attack on Ai, would God have exposed the “sin” before they went into battle. I think too often we make a decision based on our own intellect, our own reasoning, and then ask God to bless it as if God was a “cosmic” genie in the great expanse of the sky.
Happiness:
As I see it, happiness is a state of mind, a choice one makes. It is an outlook that one has or doesn’t have. Running after happiness is a fickle pursuit because what one is desiring, outside of Christ, is unobtainable. God didn’t promise us HAPPY He promised us Joy. Joy is knowing the final outcome, happy is based on circumstance. If there is a job opening and there are, thirty applicants 29 people are going to be unhappy. You want to see what Happy looks like, find a person who has walked close to God and been led by the Holy Spirit—You will see a happy person in spite of their circumstances.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= John:
Joshua
Others have said it at various times here on the blog. I like the way Believer’s Commentary ended Chapter 8 of Joshua.
“Victory in the Christian life is not the absence of conflict but the presence and protection of God in the midst of conflict.”
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville
John
======= Vance:
Joshua 7 (NKJV)
25 And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
26 Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor [LITERALLY, Valley of Trouble] to this day.
NOTE:
See this verse in Hosea 2, where God turns “trouble” into “blessing”. In the passage from Hosea 2, God specifically refers to this account with Joshua and God’s people, and the particular “Valley of Achor, or Valley of Trouble”.
1) First, get the context: God’s people were unfaithful to God, and God was tired of it.
Hosea 2 (NKJV)
2
Bring charges against your mother, bring charges; For she is not My wife, nor am I her Husband! Let her put away her harlotries from her sight, And her adulteries from between her breasts;
3
Lest I strip her naked And expose her, as in the day she was born, And make her like a wilderness, And set her like a dry land, And slay her with thirst.
4
I will not have mercy on her children, For they are the children of harlotry.
5
For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has behaved shamefully.
For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers,…
2) God, in His mercy, is determined to “starve His people” of sinful desires by blocking pathways
to sin
Hosea 2
6
Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, And wall her in, So that she cannot find her paths.
7
She will chase her lovers, But not overtake them; Yes, she will seek them, but not find them.
Then she will say, ‘ I will go and return to my first husband, For then it was better for me than now.’
13
I will punish her For the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot,” says the LORD.
3) Here is THE GREAT part. God IS ALWAYS EAGER to use even OUR EVIL, BAD
EXPERIENCES to draw us to Him and to work HIS CHARACTER in us
God’s Mercy on His People
14
“ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her.
15
I WILL GIVE HER HER VINEYARDS FROM THERE, AND THE VALLEY OF ACHOR AS A DOOR OF HOPE;
She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
16
“ And it shall be, in that day,” Says the LORD, “ That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ [LITERALLY, in Hebrew: ISHI]
And no longer call Me ‘My Master,’ [LITERALLY, in Hebrew: BAALI (from false god named Baal)]
17
For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more.
18
In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely.
19
“ I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME FOREVER; YES, I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE,
IN LOVINGKINDNESS AND MERCY;
20
I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME IN FAITHFULNESS, AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE LORD.
*** NOTE:
All of this makes me realize something: Do I wait until God Himself has to separate me from entering into sin in His discipline?
Or…will I will to, of my own choice, set aside time to spend with Him?
If I choose, of my will, to die to the easy and natural (and sinful) way, then I have the TRULY AMAZING AND AWESOME OPPORTUNITY to develop a personal love relationship with the living God!
Vance
======= Vance:
Psalm 82 (NKJV)
1
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.[Hebrew: elohim – mighty ones; that is, the judges]
2
How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3
Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4
Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked.
5
They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
6
I said, “You are gods, [Hebrew: elohim – mighty ones; that is, the judges]
And all of you are children of the Most High.
7
But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.”
8
Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.
~~~
NOTE:
Jesus used this passage to defend the fact that He is the Son of God (i.e., and thus God) to the Pharisees and Saducees.
See below from John 10 (NKJV)
30
I and My Father are one.”
31
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32
Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
33
The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
34
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? [PSALM 82:6]
35
If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
36
do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37
If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
38
but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
39
Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.
NOTE:
It might seem at first glance that Jesus is saying that it should not be surprising that Jesus should be called the Son of God– one with the Father–since God Himself says that you and I are gods.
However, Jesus seems to be using this verse in the context of forming an argument while debating with
the Pharisees and Saducees.
In no way, is Jesus or the Father calling us “divine”
or “one with the divine” (being god). That is what the devil promised Adam and Eve when they sinned.
HOWEVER, if you look at the clear way the word “gods” is used in Psalm 82, it becomes obvious by the context and the extremely helpful note that “gods” is referring to judges.
~~~
“Judges”, of course, refers specificially to judges in a court of law, whose legal rulings interpret and influence the law of the land.
Yet, the word “judges” is also used in a broader way, that is of our authority as believers in the Lord Jesus.
I Corinthians 6 (NKJV)
1
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2
DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE SAINTS WILL JUDGE THE WORLD?
And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3
DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT WE SHALL JUDGE ANGELS?
How much more, things that pertain to this life?
IN THE LORD JESUS, by HIS GRACE:
1)
we are always under the authority of the Lord Jesus
2)
we share His authority by His own sharing of His authority. As Jesus, the Perfect Man, became our representative. As such, when He was raised up from the dead and to the right hand of the Father, it was for the church.
Ephesians 1 (NKJV)
22
And He (i.e., God the Father) put all things under His (i.e., Christ’s) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Thus, man is restored to a place of glory under the authority and glory of God–made by God to reflect His glory and will on the earth and in eternity.
We were created for the praise of the One who called us by His grace.
Psalm 8 (Amplified)
4
What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
5
Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
NOTICE HOW THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE translates verse 5: you and I were created a little lower than God.
While other versions translate this “a little lower than angels” this is not correct. For we were created in the image of God, Who is higher than angels.
You might say, “So what?”
Well, when Adam sinned, he fell from glory of God. When we are restored by Christ by receiving the fact that God has placed us in Christ, we are restored to the glory of God.
Romans 3 (NKJV)
23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
I Corinthians 2 (Amplified)
7
But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God–[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].
IN SHORT: It is all about God and His glory, and not about us.
It is about us living for His glory.
Vance
