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…
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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