About Three Thousand Men Go Up - Joshua 7:4

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor there; for they are but few”, and in chapter seven and verse four of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “there went up there of the people about three thousand men” where we read, 

So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: 

and they fled before the men of Ai.

The verse reads, “So there went up there of the people about three thousand men:” Joshua or the writer said, “so there went up there” which means “therefore and then there ascended and arose to Ai” “of the people” or “from the human beings or warriors of Israel” “about three thousand men” which means “around three thousand male human beings of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how there ascended “three thousand” warriors from Israel to “Ai”. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “and they fled before the men of Ai.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and they fled” which means “and they, the three thousand warriors, were put to flight, departed and escaped” “before the men” or “in front and in advance of the male human beings” “of Ai” or “belonging to Ai whose name means heap of ruin”. Joshua or the writer shared how the three thousand warriors of Israel were put to flight by the male warriors who belonged to “Ai”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “three thousand” warriors from Israel ascended to the city of “Ai”, however, they were put to flight by them when they arrived. This must have been a shock to the men of Israel because as we shall see, they had casualties among them as well. Unlike Israel at this time, God wants us to fully rely upon Him through 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. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us who will  guide us into all truth including times where we have missed His guidance and suffer losses for it. 

Next time we learn how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men”, 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".

 

Let Not All the People Go Up - Joshua 7:3

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai”, and in chapter seven and verse three of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up” where we read,

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor there; for they are but few.

The verse reads, “And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai;” Joshua or the writer said, “and they returned to Joshua” which means “and they, the men dispatched by Joshua to explore Ai, came back to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to him, Joshua”, “let not all the people go up” which means “do not allow or permit each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings of Israel to arise and ascend”; “but let about two or three thousand men” or “however, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover allow and permit around two to three thousand male human beings” “go up and smite Ai” which means “to arise and ascend and Ai whose name means heap of ruins and strike, beat and kill Ai”. Joshua or the writer shared how the spies sent to explore “Ai” came back to Joshua and told him not to allow everyone of the warriors to ascend to “Ai” but that two to three thousand should arise to slaughter them.

 

The verse continues, “and make not all the people to labor there; for they are but few.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and make not all the people” which means “and do not cause everyone of the human beings of Israel” “to labor there” or “to toil and grow weary there, in Ai”; “for they are but few” which means “because, since and on account that they, the people of Ai, are small in number”. Joshua or the writer shared how the men dispatched by Joshua to spy out “Ai” told him not to have everyone toil and grow weary in “Ai” because there were only a small amount of people there. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the men of Israel who were dispatched by Joshua to explore the city of “Ai” came back to him and reported that there was no need have everyone of the warriors to go to battle in “Ai” because it was so small. The idea was the people of Israel could easily defeat them with just two to three thousand men. We shall see how that works out for them in our next few verses, but for now let us think about how there was no solicitation or prayer as to what God thought they should do. God loves the people of Israel, and He knows what is best for them. He loves us as well, and He knows what is best for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to constantly remind us to pray in advance of the times we are to go forward and when we should remain in place. 

Next time we learn how, “there went up there of the people about three thousand men”, 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".

 

Sending Men to Ai - Joshua 7:2

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “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”, and in chapter seven and verse two of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai” where we read,

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

The verse reads, “And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, …” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” “sent men from Jericho” or “dispatched and assigned male human beings separate and apart from Jericho whose name means its moon” “to Ai” which means “to Ai or Aija or Aiath or Hai whose name means heap of ruins and was a city lying east of Bethel and beside Bethaven near Jericho and the second city taken on the invasion of Canaan”, “which is beside Bethaven” or “that exists alongside of Bethaven whose name means house of vanity and was a city east of Bethel”, “on the east side of Bethel” which means “upon the eastern side pertaining to the city of Bethel whose name means house of God”, “and spoke unto them” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to them, the men dispatched to Ai”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Joshua dispatched “men” of Israel from the conquered “city of Jericho” to the next town known as “Ai” and told them the following words. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “go up and view the country” which means “arise and ascend and spy out, explore and be as a tale-bearer concerning the district, region, territory and land”, “and the men went up” or “and the male human beings from Israel arose and ascended” “and viewed Ai” which means “and espied, explored and were as tale-bearers about Ai whose name means ‘heap of ruins’”. Joshua instructed the dispatched “men of Israel” to spy out and explore “Ai”, so they ascended to “Ai” to observe the region. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua proceeded to the next city within the land that God promised to give to the people of Israel. “Ai” was next to “Jericho”, and “Joshua” dispatched “spies” once again to discover what they might encounter when they came against them. The men obeyed “Joshua’s” directive, and we shall see what they discovered in our next verses. This was God’s order for the people of Israel, and as long as they stayed close to Him and His desires, they were to be blessed. The same is true for us. When God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way for us through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will not only lead us to the truth (which implies that He goes before us), but also empower us to stay close to Him as we watch Him handle our difficult situations and foes. 

Next time we learn how, “they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up”, 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".

Committing the Accursed Thing - Joshua 7:1

In the book of Joshua, concerning the people of Israel, we learned how, “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. So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country”, and in chapter seven and verse one of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “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:” Joshua or the writer said, “but the children of Israel” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “committed a trespass” or “acted unfaithfully, treacherously and covertly against God” “in the accursed thing” which means “within the utterly destroyed and doomed object”: “for Achan” or “because, since and on account that Achan whose name means troubler and was a Judaite who violated God's specific ban on taking any loot from the captured city of Jericho and was stoned to death along with his family for this violation”, “the son of Carmi” which means “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Carmi whose name means my vineyard and was the fourth son of Reuben and progenitor of the Carmites”, “the son of Zabdi” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Zabdi whose name means endowment and was son of Zerah and grandson of Judah; grandfather of Achan”, “the son of Zerah” or Zarah which means “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Zerah whose name means rising”, “of the tribe of Judah” or “belonging to the company or clan known as Judah whose name means praised”,  “took of the accursed thing” which means “lay hold of, fetched, seized and acquired the utterly destroyed and doomed object”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Achan” lay hold of the “the utterly destroyed and doomed object” which was forbidden by God through Joshua to seize. 

 

The verse continues, “and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and the anger” which means “and the wrath that wrinkles the nostrils, nose and countenance” “of the LORD” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “was kindled against the children” which means “existed as hot, furious, burning and incensed in opposition to the offspring and progeny” “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 “wrath” of Jehovah God was furious in opposition to the people of Israel because of “Achan” laying hold of the “accursed thing”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how it did not take very long for the people of Israel to violate God’s directive through Joshua not to lay hold of anything in the city of Jericho because it was cursed. “Achan” disobeyed God’s command, and all of Israel was to suffer for it. We shall discover more about this story in our next verses, but for now, let us consider how important it is for us to simply obey God. Adam and Eve were given the command not to eat of the fruit of a tree in the garden, and they violated that command. (See Genesis 3:6) The idea was that trouble and pain are associated with partaking of that to which God says “no”. When we do not keep God’s commands, we sin, and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. (See Romans 3:23) The “wages of sin is death” (See Romans 6:23a), “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (See Romand 6:23b) Because God knows we have sinned, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He raised Him from the dead three days later so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, we will be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we do not partake of the “accursed thing” while we live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. 

Next time we learn how, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai”, 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".

The LORD was With Joshua - Joshua 6:27

In the book of Joshua, concerning Israel conquering Jericho, we learned how, “ 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”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-seven of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the LORD was with Joshua” where we read,

So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

The verse reads, “So the LORD was with Joshua;” Joshua or the writer said, “so the LORD” which means “therefore, then and on this account Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “was with Joshua” or “accompanied and existed alongside Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God existed alongside “Joshua”. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “and his fame was noised throughout all the country.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and his fame was noised” which means “and his, Joshua’s, reputation and notoriety existed as rumored and reported” “throughout all the country” or “to the whole, total and entire territory, region and district and earth”. Joshua or the writer shared how the reputation of “Joshua” spread through the entire region. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how “Joshua” gained a reputation in the entire area after conquering “Jericho” and rescuing “Rahab” and her family. God raised “Joshua” to this position, and after assuming the role as the leader of Israel, God helped Joshua to fulfill that role. God’s desire is to have this type of relationship with all of us, and because He has a purpose for all our lives, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. Everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will help us fulfill His desire for us and make our reputation known throughout all of Heaven. 

Next time we begin a new chapter and learn how, “the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing”, 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".

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…

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".