The Word for Today with Ray

Thursday, May 14, 2026

The Canaanites and Inhabitants Shall Hear - Joshua 7:9

In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning Israel how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: … And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!”, and in chapter seven and verse nine of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua said, “the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it” where we read,

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what will you do unto your great name?

The verse reads, “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, …” Joshua or the writer said, “for the Canaanites” which means “because, since and on account that the Canaanites whose name means zealous and were the descendants of Cana” “and all the inhabitants of the land” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the dwellers and abiders” “shall hear of it” which means “will be given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and discerning it, the people of Israel turning their backs of their enemies”, “and shall environ us round” or “and will encircle us, Joshua and the people of Israel, all about”. Joshua continued to appeal to God by declaring that the “Canaanite people from “Cana” would perceive that Israel fled from their foes and encircle them.

The verse continues, “… and cut off our name from the earth: and what will you do unto your great name?” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and cut off our name” which means “and eliminate our, Joshua and the people of Israel’s, fame, reputation and glory” “from the earth” or “separate and apart from the district, territory, region and world”: “and what will you do unto your great name” which means “and whatsoever shall you perform and produce to your, Jehovah God’s, awesome and renown fame, reputation and glory”? Joshua included in his appeal to God that the fame, reputation and glory of himself and the people of Israel would be eliminated from the world when the “Canaanites” heard about them fleeing, and he asked God what would happen to His own reputation.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how Joshua continued to cry out to God on behalf of himself and the people of Israel. He was concerned that the people of Cana would be informed about Israel fleeing from their hated foes which would cause the people of Cana to encircle them so they could eliminate the fame, reputation and glory which belonged to Israel. Joshua thought this would hurt God’s reputation as well, so he asked God about it. God’s reputation and glory will never be diminished, and we shall see when Joshua is informed concerning the fault found within Israel that God’s “name” will in no way be tarnished. God loves Israel, and He knows what is best for them. He loves us, and He knows what is best for us. When we yield our lives to 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 made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us the value of seeking the reputation of Him in advance of making our decisions. (See John 16:13; Psalm 27:8)

Next time we learn how, “the LORD said unto Joshua, Get you 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".

When Israel Turns Their Back - Joshua 7:8

In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning Israel how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: … And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!”, and in chapter seven and verse eight of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua asked, “what shall I say, when Israel turns their back” where we read,

O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!

The verse reads, “O Lord, what shall I say, …” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua said” which means “and Joshua whose name means ‘Jehovah is salvation’ uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “O Lord or “Oh, Yahweh which is the title of reverence given to the Supreme Deity”, “what shall I say” which means “whatsoever will I, Joshua, utter, declare and proclaim”? Joshua questioned Jehovah God as to that which he was supposed to proclaim and declare.

The verse goes on to say, “… when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “when Israel” which means “at the time and moment Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “turns their backs” or “revolves and rotates their, the people of Israel’s, backsides of their bodies” “before their enemies” which means “in front and in the presence of their hating foes and adversaries”! Joshua continued to ask God what the people of “Israel” were to declare at the time they rotate their backsides in the presence of their hated foes.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua continued to make his appeal to Jehovah God on behalf of the people of Israel. He wondered what they were to declare at the time they were forced to rotate their backsides as they fled from their hated foes. Joshua and the people of Israel must have felt abandoned by Jehovah God, but they were not. There was a violation of God’s command within the nation of Israel which shall be revealed in our next few verses, but for now let us be mindful that Joshua and the people of Israel as a whole were unaware there was a problem. God knew, and for this reason, Joshua and the people of Israel would have been much better off if they had appealed to Him before they ventured out alone. God wants to have this type of 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 yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to lead us to the truth and expose any area of our lives that should be brought before Him for cleansing.

Next time we learn how Joshua says, “the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

God Why? - Joshua 7:7

In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning Israel how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads”, and in chapter seven and verse seven of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua asked, “O Lord GOD, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?” where we read,

And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

The verse reads, “And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua said” which means “and Joshua whose name means ‘Jehovah is salvation' uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “Alas, O Lord GOD” or “Ah, Oh, Yahweh which is the title of reverence given to the Supreme Deity”, “wherefore have you at all brought this people” which means “why and for what reason have you, Jehovah God, even carried, lead and allowed the human beings of Israel to march and cross” “over Jordan” or “through and beyond the Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)”, “to deliver us” which means “to rescue and save us, Joshua and the people of Israel” “into the hand of the Amorites” or “in the power, might, strength and authority belonging to the Amorites whose name means a sayer and was one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt”, “to destroy us” which means “to kill and exterminate us, Joshua and the people of Israel”? Joshua began to call out to Jehovah God as he asked Him for the reason that He rescued “Israel” and allowed them to cross the “Jordan river” just to be destroyed by the Amorites.

The verse continues, “… would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!” Joshua or the writer added the words, “would to God” which means “if only or oh that to the Supreme Deity” “we had been content” or “we, Joshua and the people of Israel, were willing, pleased and determined”, “and dwelt on the other side Jordan” which means “and remained, stayed and abode upon the opposite bank of Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)”. Joshua in anguish cries out to Jehovah God with the idea of he and the people of Israel remaining on the other bank of the “Jordan” river.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we can almost hear the lamentation of “Joshua” and the people of Israel in his appeal to Jehovah God. He concluded that they would have been better off to have remained on the opposite “side” of the “Jordan” river. God had a plan for “Joshua” and the people of Israel, and they were to learn to go to Him in prayer before they faced their enemies and foes. God wants us to do the same, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom of His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us according to His perfect plan for our lives.

Next time we learn how Joshua asks, “what shall I say, when Israel turns their back?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Joshua Tears His Clothes and Falls to the Earth - Joshua 7:6

In the book of Joshua, we learned how the people of Israel were attacking the city of Ai, and “there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water”, and in chapter seven and verse six of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD” where we read,

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

The verse reads, “And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, …” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua” which means “and Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “rent his clothes” or “tore in pieces his, Joshua’s, mantle, outer garments and coverings”, “and fell to the earth” which means “and was cast down and prostate to the land or ground” “upon his face” or “on his, Joshua’s, front of the head or countenance” “before the ark” which means “in front and in the presence of the box or chest” “of the LORD” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “until the eventide” which means “till the evening time or dusk”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” tore his outer garments and prostrated himself to the ground in the presence of Jehovah God’s “ark of the covenant” till the evening time came.

The verse goes on to say, “… he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “he and the elders of Israel” which means “he, Joshua, and the older and aged men who belonged to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “and put dust” or “and placed and applied ground powered, ashes or dirt of the ground” “upon their heads” which means “on their, Joshua and the elders of Israel’s, summit, upper part and principal part of the body”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the aged men of “Israel” applied powered dirt or ashes on their “heads” and a symbol of anguish, humility and reverence to Jehovah God.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” and the aged men of “Israel” humbled themselves before the presence of Almighty God. They suffered defeat from what was supposed to be an easy victory, but because they did not seek Jehovah God and His ways first, people died and the “heart” of all Israel became fearful. God wants a personal intimate relationship with 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 submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and teach us to humble ourselves and rely upon Him for every decision we are about to make. (John 16:13; James 4:10)

Next time we learn how Joshua asks, “O Lord GOD, wherefore have you at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Ai Smites Thirty Six Men - Joshua 7:5

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. So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai”, and in chapter seven and verse five of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men” where we read,

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

The verse reads, “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men:” Joshua or the writer said, “and the men of Ai” which means “and the male human beings who belonged 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” “smote of them” or “struck, hit, beat and killed among them, the men of Israel” “about thirty and six men” which means “around thirty six male human beings”. Joshua or the writer shared how the males from “Ai” slew thirty-six of the warriors of Israel.

The verse continues, “for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “for they chased them” which means “because, since and on account that they, the men from Ai, pursued, ran after and put to flight them, the people of Israel” “from before the gate” or “separate and apart from the entrance or portal opening” “even unto Shebarim” which means “indeed to Shebarim whose name means the breaches which was a place in Palestine”, “and smote them” or “and struck, hit, beat and killed them, the men of Israel” “in the going down” which means “on the slope, steep place and descent”. Joshua or the writer shared how the men of “Ai” pursued after the warriors of Israel to the portal of their city to “Shebarim” and killed them all the way down the slope.

Finally the verse says, “wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” Joshua or the writer concluded this verse with the words, “wherefore the hearts” or “therefore, then and on this account the souls, minds and wills” “of the people” which means “belonging to the human beings of Israel” “melted” or “dissolved, wasted away and grew faint and fearful”, “and became as water” which means “and existed similar and in likeness to flowing and transitory liquid”. Joshua or the writer ended this verse by sharing how the defeat from the men of “Ai” affected the souls and minds of all the people of Israel.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how the men of “Ai” began to slaughter the people of Israel, and thirty six men from Israel died. They put the men of Israel to flight and chased them through the portal opening of their city, to the city of “Shebarim” and all the way down the hill. This was a major blow to the people of Israel, and it caused all of them to be faint of “heart”. We should remember, they did not pray before they attacked. God wants to be involved in our pursuits, and even when it seems like victory should easily be obtained, we should seek God’s face first. God desires a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the grave after three days. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and remind us to go to Him before we venture out on our own.

Next time we learn how, “Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

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…

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…