The Word for Today with Ray

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Balak and Zippor Rose and Warred - Joshua 24:9

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said to the people of Israel, “I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse nine of Joshua, Jehovah God shared how, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel”, where we read,

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel,

and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

The verse reads, “Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “then Balak” which means “at that time Balak whose name means ‘devastator’ and was a king of Moab who hired Balaam to curse Israel” “the son of Zippor” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Zippor whose name means ‘sparrow’ and was father of Balak the king of Moab at the time of the exodus”, “king of Moab” which means “the royal ruler and leader belonging to Moab whose name means ‘of his father’ and was the nation descended from the son of Lot”, “arose and warred” or “stood, rose up and fought, did battle and waged war” “against Israel” which means “in opposition 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 Jehovah God referred to the way “Balak” who was the royal ruler of “Moab” rose up and battled in opposition to the people of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “… and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and sent and called” which means “and dispatched, assigned and cried out, summoned and appointed” “Balaam” whose name means ‘not of the people’ and was the son of Beor and a man endowed with thrift of prophecy” “the son of Beor” which means “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Beor whose name means ‘burning’ and was the father of Balaam”, “to curse you” or “to slight, trifle, make despicable and insignificant you, the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God recalled how “Balaam” was dispatched to the people of Israel to make them insignificant and trifled.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God continued to remember the past with the people of Israel when “Balak” attacked Israel and “Balaam” was called to curse them.(See Numbers 22:5-11) All these efforts by the enemies of Israel and Jehovah God failed, and because God loves the people of Israel, He protects and provides for them. God desires this type of personal relationship with everyone 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 our lives to 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 protect us when our hating foes and adversaries rise against us. (See Romans 8:37)

Next time Joshua shares how Jehovah God says, “I would not hearken unto Balaam”, 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".

Brought Out of the Land of the Amorites - Joshua 24:8

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said to the people of Israel, “I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red Sea. And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and you dwelt in the wilderness a long season”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse eight of Joshua, Jehovah God said, “I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan”, where we read,

And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan;

and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

The verse reads, “And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and I brought you” which means “and I, Jehovah God, carried forth and led you, the people of Israel” “into the land of the Amorites” or “to the territory, region and country 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”, “which dwelt on the other side Jordan” which means “that lived, abided and inhabited the opposite bank or edge belonging to 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)”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God led the people of Israel to the territory that belonged to the “Amorites” who lived upon the opposite bank of the “Jordan River”.

The verse continues, “and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and they fought with you” which means “and they, the Amorites, did battle and war against you, the people of Israel”: “and I gave them” or “and I, Jehovah God, granted, bestowed and assigned them, the Amorites” “into your hand” which means “in to your, the people of Israel’s, power, might and strength”, “that you might possess the land” or “so you, the people of Israel, could seize, dispossess, take possession of, inherit and occupy the territory, region and country”; “and I destroyed them” which means “and I, Jehovah God, exterminated, annihilated and devastated them, the Amorites” “from before you” or “separate and apart from the front of and presence of you, the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God recalled how the “Amorites” battled against the people of Israel, however, Jehovah God delivered them over to the people of Israel so they could inherit their territory.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God continued to review the history of His working among the people of Israel. He led them to the country of the “Amorites” (See Numbers 21:21-27), and when the “Amorites” battled against Israel, Jehovah God delivered them to be under Israel’s power and might. Israel occupied the “Amorite” territory because Jehovah God annihilated them. God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us as well. He proved His love to us when He sent His Only Begotten 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. When we submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to help us live according to that truth as we allow Him to defeat all the enemies and foes that rise against us. (See Isaiah 54:17)

Next time Joshua shares how Jehovah God shares how, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Darkness Between - Joshua 24:7

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said to the people of Israel, “I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red Sea”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse seven of Joshua, Jehovah God said, “when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians”, where we read,

And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians,

and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and you dwelt in the wilderness a long season.

The verse reads, “And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and when they cried unto the LORD” which means “and at the time and moment they, the people of Israel, called for help in distress and clamor to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God”,“he put darkness between you and the Egyptians” or “he, Jehovah God, set, placed, appointed and caused opaqueness in the midst and middle of you, the people of Israel, and the people of Egypt”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God recalled how the people of Israel shouted aloud for Jehovah God, and He caused opaqueness and obscurity in the middle of the people of Israel and the army of “Egypt”.

The verse goes on to say, “and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and you dwelt in the wilderness a long season.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and brought the sea upon them” which means “and caused the flowing rivers to come on them, the Egyptians”, “and covered them” or “and concealed, spread over and overwhelmed them, the army of Egypt”; “and your eyes” which means “and your, the people of Israel’s, physical eyes used for vision and sight” “have seen what I have done” or “have observed, noticed and perceived that which I, Jehovah God, have fashioned, accomplished, performed and produced” “in Egypt” which means “within Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and was a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”: “and you dwelt in the wilderness” or “and you, the people of Israel, lived, abided and inhabited the uninhabited land and desert place” “a long season” which means “for an abounding and numerous amount of days and years”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God said He caused the “Red Sea” to overwhelm the people of Egypt and the people of Israel were able to observe how Jehovah God compassed them with the Red Sea. Afterwards they continued to live in the “desert place” for a long duration of time.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God heard the outcry of the people of Israel when they were hedged in by the Red Sea, and He caused obscurity to come in the middle of the people of Israel and the Egyptians. Afterward God caused the waters of the Red Sea to destroy the Egyptian army. (See Exodus 14) Israel observed all the acts and deeds against “Egypt” which were performed by Jehovah God, and they spent a long time in the desert place following the time of their destruction. God loves the people of Israel, and when 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, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven on our sins, granted everlasting life and given His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and equip us to live in keeping with that truth even as our foes are defeated by Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1;8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time Joshua shares how Jehovah God says, “I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Fathers Brought Out of Egypt - Joshua 24:6

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said to the people of Israel, “your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse six of Joshua, Jehovah God said, “I brought your fathers out of Egypt”, where we read,

And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.

The verse reads, “And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came unto the sea;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and I brought your fathers out of Egypt” which means “and I, Jehovah God, carried and led your, the people of Israel’s, male ancestors and progenitors from Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and was a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”:“and you came unto the sea” or “and you, the people of Israel, arrived at the Red Sea”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God recalled how He led the forefathers of the people of Israel from “Egypt”, and they arrived at the border o the “Red Sea”.

The verse continues, “and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and the Egyptians” or “and the inhabitants or citizens of Egypt or ‘double straits” “pursued after your fathers” or “followed, ran and aimed to secure your, the people of Israel’s, male ancestors and progenitors” “with chariots” which means “accompanied by war and battle wagons” “and horsemen” or “and steeds or warhorses” “unto the Red Sea” which means “to the large body of water known as the Red Sea”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah said the people of “Egypt” followed after the forefathers of Israel accompanied by their war wagons and horses.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Joshua continued to relay God’s reminder of the history of the people of Israel when they were freed from the bondage in Egypt and were being followed after by the “Egyptian army”. (See Exodus 14:1-7) All the while Jehovah God cared for the people of Israel even as He cares for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected 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 give us the power of His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and to live according to that truth wherever He leads us in this world. (See John 3:16; 16;13; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua shares how Jehovah God says, “when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Moses and Aaron Sent to Egypt - Joshua 24:5

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said, “your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse five of Joshua said, “I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt”, where we read,

I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt,

according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.

The verse reads, “I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “I sent Moses also” which means “I, Jehovah God, dispatched and assigned Moses whose name means ‘drawn out’ and was the prophet, lawgiver and leader of the exodus” “and Aaron” whose name means ‘light bringer’ and was the brother of Moses, Levite and the first high priest”, “and I plagued Egypt” which means “and I, Jehovah God, smote, struck, dashed and hurt Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and was a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah dispatched “Moses” and his brother “Aaron”, and He struck “Egypt” with hurt.

The verse goes on to say, “according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “according to that” or “in keeping with the acts and deeds” “which I did among them” or “that I, Jehovah God, fashioned, accomplished and produced in the midst and middle of them, the people of Egypt”: “and afterward” which means “and following that time” “I brought you out” or “I, Jehovah God, carried and lead you, the people of Israel, away from Egypt”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God dispatched “Moses and Aaron” and caused pain and hurt to come upon “Egypt”, and then He lead the people of Israel away from the land of Egypt. (See Exodus 3:10; 4:12-13)

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God rehearsed His history of dealing with “Egypt” after the people of Israel were led there. Not only did He “plague” them, but He also freed the people of Israel from their land after afflicting Egypt. “Egypt” is a type of the world, and God’s mission for the salvation of mankind is to free us from the power of sin and death in which we are all immersed. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of everyone, and He raised Him 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 give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time Joshua shares how Jehovah God said, “I brought your fathers out of Egypt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Friday, August 21, 2026

God Gave to Isaac, Jacob and Esau - Joshua 24:4

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse four of the book of Joshua, Jehovah God said, “and I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau”, where we read,

And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it;

but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

The verse reads, “And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and I gave unto Isaac” which means “and I, Jehovah God, granted, bestowed and assigned to Isaac whose name means ‘he laughs’ and was son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau” “Jacob” whose name means “heel holder or supplanter” and was the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel” “and Esau” whose name means “hairy” and was eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples”: “and I gave unto Esau” or “and I, Jehovah God, granted, bestowed and assigned to Esau whose name means “hairy” “mount Seir” which means “the rising above the plain known as Seir whose name means ‘hairy or shaggy’ and was “the land of Edom, south of the Dead Sea”, “to possess it” or “to seize, dispossess, take possession of, inherit and occupy”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God said He provided “Jacob and Esau” to “Isaac”, and He granted the mountain range of “Seir” for “Esau” to possess.

The verse goes on to say, “but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “but Jacob and his children” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Jacob whose name means ‘heel catcher or supplanter’ and his, Jacob’s offspring and progeny” “went down into Egypt” or “descended to Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and was a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God recalled that “Jacob” and his offspring descended into the country of “Egypt”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God directed the steps of “Jacob and Esau”. “Esau” was given “mount Seir” which was known as the land of Edom, and “Jacob” descended into “Egypt”. All the while God was overseeing their journeys, and because He had a plan for the salvation of all mankind, God was setting up what would eventually lead to Him sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for sins of everyone. When He raised Him 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 empower us to live according to that truth wherever He leads us in the world. (See John 3:16: 16:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:18)

Next time Joshua shares how Jehovah God said, “I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…