From a Very Far Country - Joshua 9:9

In the book of Joshua, we are learned how, “the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure you dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? And they said unto Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are you? and from where do you come?”, and in chapter nine and verse nine of the book of Joshua, we learn how the Hivites of Gibeon, “said unto him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the LORD your God” where we read, 

And they said unto him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the LORD your God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

The verse reads, “And they said unto him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the LORD your God:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and they said unto Joshua” which means “and they, the Hivites, uttered, declared and proclaimed to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “from a very far country”  or “separate and apart from an exceedingly distant and abroad territory, region, district and land” “your servants are come” which means “your, Joshua’s, men of servile condition, slaves and bondmen have entered and arrived” “because of the name” or “since and on account of the fame, reputation and glory” “of the LORD” which means “the belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God” “your God” or “your, Joshua and the people of Israel’s, Supreme Deity”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “Hivites” told “Joshua” they were from an exceedingly distant territory, and they came to Him on account of the reputation and fame of Jehovah God. 

 

The verse continues, “… for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, …” Joshua or the writer added the words, “for we have heard” which means “because, since and on account that we, the Hivites, have been given the faculty for hearing, perceiving, discerning and distinguishing” “the fame of him” or “the report, rumor and news belonging to him, Jehovah God”, “and all that he did” which means “and each, every, the whole and everything that he, Jehovah God, performed, produced, fashioned and accomplished” “in Egypt” or “within Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and is a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “Hivites” said they were given the faculty for perceiving the report and news about everything Jehovah God did for the people of Israel while they were in “Egypt”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how the “Hivites” began to speak their lies and deception to “Joshua” as they told him they were from an exceedingly distant land, and they “heard” of the reputation, reports and new concerning Jehovah God’s provision for “Israel” while they were in “Egypt”. God went before the people of “Israel” as they ventured into the promise land, and even though these “Hivites” were being “wilily”, He would care for the people of Israel. God loves Israel, and He loves us. He proved His love to the world when 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. 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 give us discernment when our enemies attempt to deceive us.

Next time we learn how the men of Gibeon say the heard, “all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan”, 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".