The Word for Today with Ray

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Delivered by the LORD to Israel - Joshua 11:8

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “Jabin” the “king of Hazor” assembled “kings” and their armies who were located near him, and, “when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: you shall hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them”, and in chapter eleven and verse eight of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel” where we read,

And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.

The verse reads, “And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the LORD” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “delivered them” or “put, set, ascribed and committed them, the kings and their armies” “into the hand of Israel” which means “to the power, might, strength and authority belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “who smote them” or “God with Joshua and the armies of Israel struck, beat, hit and killed them, the kings and their armies”, “and chased them” which means “and pursued, followed after and harassed them, the kings and their armies” “unto great Zidon” or “to the abounding and exceedingly numerous Zidon or Sidon whose name means hunting and was an ancient Phoenician city, on Mediterranean coast north of Tyre”, “and unto Misrephothmaim” which means “and to ‘burnings of water’ and was a place in northern Palestine near Sidon”, “and unto the valley” or “and to the lowland and desert plains” “of Mezpeh eastward” or “belonging to Mezpeh whose name means ‘watchtower’ which was a city in the district of the Shephelah or lowlands of Judah and is in the eastward direction”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God committed these pagan “kings” and their armies over to the power and authority belonging to “Israel” who killed and exterminated them, and pursued after them to “Zidon, Misrephothmaim and to the lowland belonging to “Mizpeh” which was in an eastward direction.

The verse continues, “and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and they smote them” which means “and they, Joshua and the armies of Israel, struck, beat, killed and destroyed them, the kings and their armies”, “until they left them none remaining” or “till such time that they, Joshua and the people of Israel, did not allow a single one of the kings and their armies to survive or continue living”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the armies of “Israel” beat and killed the pagan “kings” and their “armies” until there were not any of them living.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how God was true to His word once again as He defeated the pagan “kings” and their armies through “Joshua” and the armies of “Israel”. The defeat was so thorough that not any of them continued living. God created the world and everything within it, and anyone who opposes Him and His people are foolish to fight against Him. God wants everyone to be in an intimate personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised 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 to empower us to live according to that truth so we learn that He is able to contend with and defeat every foe who rises up against us.

Next time we learn how, “Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him”, 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".

Against the People of War at Meron - Joshua 11:7

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “Jabin” the “king of Hazor” assembled “kings” and their armies who were located near him, and, “when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: you shall hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire”, and in chapter eleven and verse seven of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom” where we read,

So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

The verse reads, “So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “so Joshua came” which means “therefore, wherefore and then Joshua, whose name means Jehovah is salvation, arose and proceeded forward”, “and all the people of war with him” or “and each, every and the whole of the human beings pertaining to fighting and battle alongside and accompanying him, Joshua”, “against them” which means “in opposition to them, the gathered kings and their armies” “by the waters of Merom” or “beside the flowing waters belonging to Meron whose name means ‘high place’ and was the lake in northern Canaan at which Joshua routed the northern confederacy headed by Jabin”: “suddenly” which means “instantly and surprisingly”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” proceeded forward along with every one of the human beings of fighting and battle to the flowing waters of “Meron” to war against the assembled “kings” and their armies in an instant and surprising manner.

The verse goes on to say, “and they fell upon them.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and they fell” which means “and they, the armies of Israel, threw down and attacked” “upon them” or “on them, the gathered kings and their armies”. Joshua or the writer shared how the armies of “Israel” attacked the “kings” and their armies.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how “Israel” was on the move to “battle” against the “kings and their armies” who were assembled. They took aggressive action against these pagan rulers and their men, and we shall see how Jehovah God “delivers” them into the hands of Israel. God is for “Israel”, and when these “kings and their armies” fought against “Israel”, they fought against Jehovah God. God wants to be in a personal relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus who was crucified 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 to guide us into all truth and help us realize God will go to battle for us whenever foes and adversaries rise up against us in keeping with His perfect plan and will.

Next time we learn how, “the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Be Not Afraid Because of Them - Joshua 11:6

In the book of Joshua, we learned how “Jabin” the “king of Hazor” assembled “kings” and their armies who were located near him, and “when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel”, and in chapter eleven and verse six of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them” where we read,

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: you shall hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

The verse reads, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the LORD” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “said unto Joshua” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “be not afraid” which means “do not be fearful, in dread or in awe” “because of them” or “since and on account of them, the kings who gathered together”: “for to morrow” which means “because, since and on account that upon the next day” “about this time” or “around this same season, occasion and time period ” “will I deliver them up” which means “shall I, Jehovah God, put, set, ascribe and commit them, the kings and their armies” “all slain before Israel” or “each, every and the whole lot of the kings and their armies as fatally wounded, profaned and killed in front and in the presence of 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 told “Joshua” not to be fearful of all these royal rulers and their armies who were gathered together to war against “Israel” because around that same time on the following day, He would commit every one of them to be fatally wounded and killed in the presence of “Israel”.

The verse continues, “you shall hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “your shall hough their horses” which means “you, Joshua, will hamstring and exterminate their, the king’s and armies’, horses”, “and burn their chariots” or “and kindle their, the king’s and armies’, war wagons drawn with horses” “with fire” which means “by the use of fiery fire”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God told “Joshua” to hamstring every one of the king’s “horses” and to set their war wagons on “fire”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God once again involved Himself with “Joshua” and the people of “Israel”. Because there were a great number of “kings” and armies that were assembled together in opposition to “Israel”, we might understand why they would be fearful. God, however, reassured “Joshua” that these royal rulers and their armies would be defeated by Him the next day at around the same time. “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” were to cripple and exterminate their enemies’ “horses”, and they were to set their war wagons or “chariots” on “fire”. God was in control, and although “Jabin” thought a massive number of opponents to “Israel” would certainly produce a victory, he was wrong. God fought for the people of “Israel”, and He fought for us as well when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised from the dead after three days. When we believe 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 guide us into all truth and to help us not to be “afraid” when a multitude of opponents rise up against us and Him. (See Isaiah 41:10)

Next time we learn how, “Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

When the Kings Met Together - Joshua 11:5

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph. And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west. And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many”, and in chapter eleven and verse five of the book of Joshua, we learn what happened, “when all these kings were met together” where we read,

And when all these kings were met together,

they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

The verse reads, “And when all these kings were met together, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and when all these kings” which means “and at the time and moment each, every and the whole of these royal rulers and leaders” “were met together” or “existed as assembled, collected and gathered together” the following happened. Joshua or the writer referred to the time and moment every one of the royal rulers were assembled together, and the following occurred.

The verse goes on to say, “… they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “they came” which means “they, the royal rulers and leaders, proceeded forward and arrived” “and pitched together” or “abode, encamped and lay siege with one another” “at the waters of Merom” which means “in the location of the flowing waters belonging to Merom whose name means ‘high place’ and was the lake in northern Canaan at which Joshua routed the northern confederacy headed by Jabin”, “to fight against Israel” or “to make war and battle 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 the royal rulers and the armies who were assembled by “Jabin” set up an encampment and siege at the flowing waters belonging to “Merom”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how all the “kings” who were assembled by “Jabin” came together to set up “camp” in the location of the flowing waters belonging to “Merom”. They were preparing for war against “Israel”, however, their battle would be with Jehovah God. God loves the people of “Israel”, and He promised them that they would receive the “promise land”. We shall see what God does with them in our next verses, but for now let us be mindful that God desires a personal loving relationship with us too. 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 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 equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and demonstrate over and over again how He is for us and not against us when foes assemble together in opposition to us. (See Romans 8:31-39)

Next time we learn how, “the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Going Out with Their Hosts - Joshua 11:4

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph. And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west. And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh”, and in chapter eleven and verse four of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “they went out, they and all their hosts with them” where we read,

And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people,

even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.

The verse reads, “And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and they went out” which means “and they, Jabin and the other kings, departed and proceeded forth”, “they and all their hosts with them” or “they, Jabin and the other kings, and each, every and the whole of their armed fighting men of battle alongside and accompanying them, Jabin and the kings”, “much people” which means “an abundant, massive and large number of human beings”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Jabin”, the other kings he contacted and their armies which included a great number of “people” proceeded forth to battle.

The verse continues, “… even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “even as the sand” which means “similar and in likeness to the whirling particles” “that is upon the sea shore” or “which exist on the large bodies of waters such as the Red, Dead or Mediterranean Seas” “in multitude” which means “in number and abundance”, “with horses” or “accompanied by horses” “and chariots very many” which means “and war wagons with a pair of horsemen mighty and great in number”. Joshua or the writer shared how there were so many people that they were like the number of the granules of sand that exist upon the shore of the sea, and they were equipped with “horses” and war “chariots” which were great in number as well.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how the royal rulers assembled by “Jabin” proceeded toward battle with Israel, and they were not only great in number like the sand, but they also had “horses” and “war chariots” which were abundant in number. In other words, these assembled “kings, their hosts and their people” were assembled for war against Israel. God knew this, and because He was on the side of Israel, these “kings” and their armies were in a weak position. We shall see how God deals with them in our next few verses, but for now let us remember that this same God wants to have 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 receive Him as our personal “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 and empower us to live according to the truth as He claims victory after victory over our enemies.

Next time we learn what happened, “when all these kings were met together”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Monday, June 8, 2026

Jabin Sends More Kings - Joshua 11:3

And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.

The verse reads, “And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and to the Canaanite” which means “and toward the Canaanite whose name means zealous and were merchants or traders from Cana” “on the east” or “who were located in the eastern direction” “and on the west” which means “pertaining to the people located in the western direction”, “and to the Amorite” or “and toward the Amorite whose name means ‘sayer’ and was one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt”, “and the Hittite” which means “and toward the Hittite whose name means ‘descendant of Heth’ which was the nation descended from Heth, the second son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Jabin” also reached out to the “Canaanite” who was in the eastern and western direction and toward the “Amorite” and “Hittite”.

The verse goes on to say, “… and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and the Perizzite” which means “and toward the Perizzite whose name means ‘belonging to a village” and was a people who inhabited southern Canaan prior to the conquest, “and the Jebusite” or “and toward the Jebusite whose name means ‘the descendants of Jebus’ and was descendants of the third son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem” “in the mountains” which means “within the risings above the plain or hills”, “and to the Hivite” or “and the Hivite whose name means ‘villagers’ and was the sixth generation of descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, who were living in northern Canaan near Mount Hermon at the time of the conquest” “under Hermon” which means “beneath Hermon whose name means ‘a sanctuary’ and was a mountain on the northeastern border of Palestine and Lebanon and overlooking the border city of Dan” “in the land of Mizpeh” or “within the territory, region, district and country belonging to Mizpeh”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Jabin” also contacted “the Perizzite, Jebusite and Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh” people groups also located within the land of Canaan.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how all of these people were being assembled to fight against Israel, and little did they know, God was gathering them together to defeat them all at one time. We shall see God work in our next few verses, but for now let us consider Jehovah God’s involvement in the lives of the people of Israel. Not only did He provide for them, but He also protected them against all enemies and foes regardless of how many were brought together. In a similar manner, God wants to be our provision and protection, and when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus who died 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 give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and give us His assurance that even though “enemies” are gathered together to defeat us, He will provide for and protect us according to His perfect will and plan.

Next time we learn how these kings, “went out, they and all their hosts with them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…