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".
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