Tribe by Tribe - Joshua 7:16

In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning Israel how Jehovah God said, “it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has: because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has wrought folly in Israel”, and in chapter seven and verse sixteen of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes” where we read, 

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; 

and the tribe of Judah was taken:

The verse reads, “So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “so Joshua” which means “therefore, then and on this account Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “rose up early in the morning” or “arose and got up at sunrise, the beginning of the day or dawn”, “and brought Israel” which means “and led and caused to come near Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “by their tribes” or “through the means of each and every one of their, the people of Israel’s, groups and clans”. Joshua arose at the beginning of the next day and led forth all the clans and groups belonging to Israel. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “and the tribe of Judah was taken:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and the tribe of Judah” which means “and the clan and group known as Judah whose name means praised” “was taken” or “was elected, chosen and held”. Joshua or the writer shared how the clan known as “Judah” was chosen from all the “tribes” belonging to Israel.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn more about the process of elimination that was being taken by Joshua. Joshua began at the dawn of the day, and all of the “tribes” of Israel were to come to him. He narrowed the groups down to the “tribe of Judah” which was chosen as the clan of the perpetrator. God knew all along who violated His command not to “touch the accursed thing”, and He was revealing this person to Joshua and the people of Israel step by step. God is omniscient, and there is nothing hidden from Him. He knows we all have sinned and come short of His glory, (See Romans 3:23), and because the wages of sin is death, (See Romans 6:23), He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross in our place and He 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 give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth, including our sins, and give us the power to live according to that truth and in keeping with His perfect will for our lives. 

Next time we learn how Joshua, “brought the family of Judah … man by man”, 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".