In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning Israel how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: … And Joshua said, Alas, 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? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!”, and in chapter seven and verse eight of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua asked, “what shall I say, when Israel turns their back” where we read,
O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!
The verse reads, “O Lord, what shall I say, …” Joshua or the writer said, “and Joshua said” which means “and Joshua whose name means ‘Jehovah is salvation’ uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “O Lord or “Oh, Yahweh which is the title of reverence given to the Supreme Deity”, “what shall I say” which means “whatsoever will I, Joshua, utter, declare and proclaim”? Joshua questioned Jehovah God as to that which he was supposed to proclaim and declare.
The verse goes on to say, “… when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “when Israel” which means “at the time and moment Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “turns their backs” or “revolves and rotates their, the people of Israel’s, backsides of their bodies” “before their enemies” which means “in front and in the presence of their hating foes and adversaries”! Joshua continued to ask God what the people of “Israel” were to declare at the time they rotate their backsides in the presence of their hated foes.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua continued to make his appeal to Jehovah God on behalf of the people of Israel. He wondered what they were to declare at the time they were forced to rotate their backsides as they fled from their hated foes. Joshua and the people of Israel must have felt abandoned by Jehovah God, but they were not. There was a violation of God’s command within the nation of Israel which shall be revealed in our next few verses, but for now let us be mindful that Joshua and the people of Israel as a whole were unaware there was a problem. God knew, and for this reason, Joshua and the people of Israel would have been much better off if they had appealed to Him before they ventured out alone. God wants to have this type of 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 yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to lead us to the truth and expose any area of our lives that should be brought before Him for cleansing.
Next time we learn how Joshua says, “the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it”, 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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