The Word for Today with Ray

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Cursed If You Rebuild Jericho - Joshua 6:26

In the book of Joshua, concerning Jericho, we learned how the people of Israel, “burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwells in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-six of the book of Joshua, we learn how, Joshua said, “Cursed be the man before the LORD, that rises up and builds this city Jericho” where we read,

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that rises up and builds this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

The verse reads, “And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, …” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” “adjured them” or “straightly charged them, the people of Israel” “at that time” which means “at that particular time period or season”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “cursed be the man before the LORD” which means “execrated and bitterly cursed exists the person whether male or female in front and in the presence of Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua charged the people of Israel by placing a “curse” before Jehovah God upon the person who does the following.

The verse continues, “that rises up and builds this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “that rises up” or “who stands, arises, accomplishes and raises” “and builds the city Jericho” which means “and erects, rebuilds and establishes the dwelling place or town of Jericho whose name means its moon a city five miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and seven miles (11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan”: “he shall lay the foundation thereof” or “he, the person who rebuilds the city of Jericho will fix, established and set the base of the city” “in his firstborn” which means “at the cost of his child that is born first”, “and in his youngest son” or “and the cost will also be in the child that is born last” “shall he set up the gates of it” which means “will he, the person who rebuilds the city of Jericho, fix, established and appoint the door or portal opening belonging to the city of Jericho”. Joshua or the writer said the person who raises, rebuilds and erects the foundation and the opening portals to the town of “Jericho” will cost them their child who was born first and their child that is born last.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua’s curse included cost of the oldest and youngest child to whoever attempts to reestablish the base of Jericho or attempts to rebuild the doors or gateways to the city. God restricted any rebuilding of the “city of Jericho”, and anyone who attempted to go against His will would not only suffer themselves, but their families would suffer as well. God wants a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to count the cost before we ever attempt to rebuild or reestablish anything in the Kingdom of God. (See Luke 14:25-33)

Next time we learn how, “the LORD was with Joshua”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Rahab and Her Family Saved - Joshua 6:25

In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning Jericho how the people of Israel, “burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-five of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had” where we read,

And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had;

and she dwells in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

The verse reads, “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had;” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” “saved Rahab the harlot alive” or “rescued and delivered Rahab whose name means wide and was a harlot of Jericho who aided the spies to escape; saved from the destruction of Jericho; married Salmon, an ancestor of David and of Christ; commended for her faith in the book of James”, “and her father’s household” which means “and her, Rahab’s, immediate progenitor and ancestor’s shelter, abode, habitation and dwelling place”, “and all that she had” or “and each, every, the whole and everything that she, Rahab, held, owned and possessed”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” rescued “Rahab”, her family and everything she owned.

The verse goes on to say, “and she dwells in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and she dwells in Israel” or “and she, Rahab, lives, stays, remains and abides within Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “even unto this day” which means “also and indeed to the current time period and season”; “because she hid the messengers” or “since and on account that she, Rahab, concealed and made secret the envoys and spies”, “which Joshua sent” which means “that Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation dispatched and assigned” “to spy out Jericho” or “to explore and search the city of Jericho whose name means its moon and was a city five miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and seven miles (11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan”. Joshua or the writer shared how Rahab continued to live within “Israel” to that very time period, and it was because she concealed the “two envoys or spies” that “Joshua” dispatched to the city of “Jericho”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how “Joshua” and the people of Israel kept their word concerning preserving “Rahab”, her family, her possessions and everyone who was within her household. This becomes a great type for the salvation God offers to every person who yields to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to help others to come into God’s house and be saved.

Next time we learn how Joshua says, “Cursed be the man before the LORD, that rises up and builds this city Jericho”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Burning the City with Fire - Joshua 6:24

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out from there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and 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”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-four of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein” where we read,

And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.

The verse reads, “And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron,…” Joshua said, “and they burnt the city with fire” which means “and they, the people of Israel, kindled and utterly burned up the dwelling place and town of Jericho by the use of fiery fire”, “and all that was therein” or “and each, every, the whole and everything that was within the city”: “only the silver” which means “solely the silver metal”, “and the gold” or “and the gold metal”, “and the vessels of brass” which means “and the utensils, articles and implements fashioned with copper or bronze” “and of iron” or “and fashioned with iron metal” they did according to the following. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel set everything within the “city of Jericho” on fire, and they only preserved the “silver, gold, brass and iron” vessels and implements.

The verse continues, “… they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “they put into the treasury” or “they, the people of Israel, set, fixed and placed in the storehouse” “of the house” which means “pertaining to the dwelling place, abode and habitation” “of the LORD” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel placed all of the “silver, gold, brass and iron” vessels and implements into the storehouse within the dwelling place of Jehovah God.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel destroyed the city of Jericho with “fire” with the exception of the ““silver, gold, brass and iron” vessels and implements. Those items were put within the storehouse of Jehovah God’s dwelling place. The city of Jericho became the first territory obtained by the people of Israel within the promise land, and city by city and land by land, God would keep His promise to Israel. God loves Israel, and He loves us as well. He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us know His direction in destroying and preserving in His Kingdom. (See John 14:16-18; 16:13)

Next time we learn how, “Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Bringing Out Rahab - Joshua 6:23

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out from there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore unto her”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-three of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab” where we read,

And the young men that were spies went in, and 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.

The verse reads, “And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father,…” Joshua or the writer said, “and the young men” which means “and the youthful males from Israel” “that were spies went in” or “who were explorers and viewed the town of Jericho in advance entered”, “and brought out Rahab” which means “and extracted Rahab whose name means ‘wide’ and was a harlot of Jericho who aided the spies to escape; saved from the destruction of Jericho; married Salmon, an ancestor of David and of Christ; commended for her faith in the book of James”, “and her father” or “and her, Rahab’s, immediate male progenitor and ancestor”. Joshua or the writer said the youthful males who were from Israel and served as “explorers” or “spies” entered into “Rahab’s” home, extracted her and took out her “father” as well.

The verse goes on to say, “… 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 or the writer continued with the words, “and her mother” or “and her, Rahab’s, immediate female progenitor and ancestor”, “and her brethren” which means “and her, Rahab’s, male siblings”, “and all that she had” or “and each, every, the whole and everything that she, Rahab, held, owned and possessed”; “and they brought out” which means “and they, the two spies, extracted”, “all her kindred” or “each, every, the whole and every one of her, Rahab’s relatives and kinsfolk”, “and left them without the camp” which means “and settled, made quiet and deposited them, Rahab and her family, outside of the encampment” “of Israel” or “belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “two spies” from Israel also extracted Rahab’s “mother, brothers and everything she owned”, and they settled them down outside of the encampment belonging to “Israel”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the “two spies” who were dispatched to extract “Rahab”, her family and her belonging from her home obeyed Joshua’s command, and rescued her, her father, mother, brothers, relatives and possessions. Just as promised, because she concealed the “two spies”, she and her household were saved. In like manner, God offers salvation from the penalty of sin which is death when we put our faith and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. As we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we not only are saved for eternity, but also help other to be rescued as well. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16; John 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we learn how the people of Israel, “burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Go into Rahab’s House - Joshua 6:22

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-two of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house” where we read,

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out from there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore unto her..

The verse reads, “But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, …” Joshua or the writer said, “but Joshua” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “had said unto the two men” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the two male human beings from Israel who” “had spied out the country” which means “explored, espied and viewed the district, territory, region and town of Jericho”, the following words. Joshua spoke to the “two spies” previously dispatched into the “city of Jericho” by telling them the following words.

The verse continues, “… Go into the harlot's house, and bring out from there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore unto her.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “go into the harlot’s house” or “depart and enter in the habitation, abode and dwelling place which belongs to the prostitute, Rahab”, “and bring out from there” which means “and extract or exit from the harlot’s house” “the woman” or “the female human being, Rahab”, “and all that she has” which means “and each, every, the who and everything that she, Rahab, holds, owns and possesses”, “as you swore unto her” or “in likeness to the manner that you, the two spies, took an oath before and promised her, Rahab”. Joshua instructed the “two spies” to depart to Rahab’s home and extract her and every one of her belongings even like they promised her they would do.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua turned his attention toward the “two spies” and Rahab as they continued to overtake Jericho. The “two spies” were concealed by “Rahab”, and they promised they would save her, her belongings and anyone who was inside her home. They were instructed to keep that promise. God has issued a promise to us. If we put our faith and trust in His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit so we not only enjoy His salvation, but also help others to come into His house of rescue.

Next time we learn how, “the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Monday, May 11, 2026

Destroying All that was in the City - Joshua 6:21

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-one of the book of Joshua, we learn how, ”they utterly destroyed all that was in the city” where we read,

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman,

young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

The verse reads, “and they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, …” Joshua or the writer said, “and they utterly destroyed” which means “and they, the people of Israel, completely mutilated and exterminated” “all that was in the city” or “each, every, the whole and everything that existed within the dwelling place or town of Jericho”, “both man and woman” which means “including the male and female human beings”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel completely decimated everything that existed within Jericho including the male and female human beings who were there.

The verse goes on to say, “… young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “young and old” or “youthful people and aged people”, “and ox” which means “and bullocks or oxen”, “and sheep” or “and small cattle such as a lamb or goat”, “and ass” which means “an animal of the horse family, which is typically smaller than a horse and has long ears and a braying call”, “with the edge of the sword” or “by the use of the extremity or end belonging to a sharp cutting instrument or implement such as an axe, dagger, knife or mattock”. Joshua or the writer also shared how the people of Israel destroyed those who were youthful and aged as well as the animals such as bulls, sheep, goats and donkeys by the use of the ends of sharpened implements.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel were thorough in their defeat of the people, animals and city of “Jericho” by the use of their sharpened “swords” to cause destruction. God was with them, and they were given the tools and ability to defeat their enemy and to possess that which God promised. In like manner God wants us to have this type of relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who came into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of everyone. He was raised from the dead after three days, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we will be equipped with our “sharpened sword, the Bible” and have the ability to defeat our enemies like Joshua and the people of Israel.

Next time we learn how, “Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The People Shout - Joshua 6:20

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua told the people of Israel, “and you, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble. it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD”, and in chapter six and verse twenty of the book of Joshua, we learn how, ”the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets” where we read,

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

The verse reads, “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, …” Joshua or the writer said, “so the people shouted” which means “therefore, then and on this account the human beings of Israel made a loud sound and cried aloud” “when the priests” or “at the time and moment the spiritual leaders, rulers and officials” “blew with the trumpets” which means “blasted and made a loud sound by the use of the cornets fashioned out of ram’s horns”: “and it came to pass” or “and the following happened and occurred”. Joshua or the writer shared how the human beings of Israel cried aloud at the time and moment the spiritual leaders with the cornets fashioned with ram’s horns blasted them, and the following occurred.

The verse continues, “… when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, …” Joshua or the writer added the words, “when the people” or “at the time and moment the human beings of Israel” “heard the sound of the trumpet” which means “were given the faculty for hearing, perceiving, discerning and distinguishing the noise belonging to the cornet fashioned from a ram’s horn”, “and the people shouted” or “and the human beings of Israel made a loud sound and cried aloud” “with a great shout” which means “by the use of a distinguished, massive and intense loud sound or loud cry”, “that the wall fell down flat” or “that the barrier wall was cast down and prostrated”. Joshua shared at the time and moment the “people of Israel” discerned the blasting noise of the cornets made from ram’s horns, they cried out with a mighty sound, and the barrier wall to Jericho was cast down “flat” to the ground.

Finally the verse says, “so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” Joshua or the writer concluded this verse with the words, “so that the people” which means “so the human beings of Israel” “went up into the city” or “to arise and go up to the dwelling place or town of Jericho”, “every man straight before him” which means “each, all and the whole of the males in the direction of what was conspicuous and in front of him, the men who went up”, “and they took the city” or “and they, the men who went straight up, seized, lay hold of and captured the dwelling place and town of Jericho”. Joshua or the writer ended this verse by sharing how the “people” of Israel ascended into the town of Jericho in the direction of what was right in front of them, and they captured the “city”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how the people of Israel responded to the loud and long sound blasted from the priests by means of the cornets fashioned from ram’s horns, and they began to cry aloud with a loud noise which caused the barrier walls of Jericho to “fall down flat” just the way God said they would. Each of them were to ascend to the “city” in the direction of what was in front of them, and because God was faithful to His word, the people of Israel captured “Jericho” and it’s people. God loves Israel, and He has always been with them. He loves us as well, and His desire is to have a personal intimate relationship with all of us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to seize whatever He has in mind for us and His Kingdom. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how, “they utterly destroyed all that was in the city”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…