You're A Failure

You’re a failure. I am a failure. At some point in our lives we have all failed at one thing or another. Some failures are more affordable than others. By that I mean the consequences of some failures in comparison are not as bad as others. On the other hand, other consequences are very consequential and in some cases deadly. 

Israel had entered the land of Canaan and had conquered the majority of the land. Joshua had just died at the end of Joshua 24. In Judges 1, we find Israel continuing to purge the land of the inhabitants. However, in Judges 1:27ff we see Israel fail. Israel is failing to complete the conquest, to finish killing the inhabitants of the land as God commanded them. He told them to drive them out of the land so the Canaanites would not influence Israel negatively (they were a pagan people with many gods). In some cases Israel put the Canaanites into slavery but other times they merely left them alone to live in the land. In one instance, found in verse 34, some Israelites were forced to leave the land by some Canaanites because they did not destroy them! Israel had failed. It was a failure that would cost most of them lives through the years and a great number would even lose their most valuable possession: their souls. 

We must be careful to not have a failure such as the Israelites. Thomas Edison often had a great outlook on failures: “If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward....” This is the attitude we must have if we do not want to be as the Israelites. The Israelites failed, and they let that failure get the best of them. Instead of correcting their mistakes and short comings they just stay where they are and sink deeper. With an attitude like Edison’s we are able to take one step forward and keep going with life. 

T= R + D

Have you ever put your trust in someone to perhaps keep a promise but they didn’t? Maybe you have trusted someone to do what was right but they didn’t? So often we seem to be misplacing our trust. Perhaps it’s simply because the people we place our trust in are unreliable? Maybe that’s is just that; they are people. People are unreliable because “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If we are unable to put our trust in people then who should we trust in?

Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent into the land of Canaan to see what it was like when Israel first came to the promised land (Numbers 13:1-16). However, only he and Joshua came back with a good report that said, “The land is good and we have God on our side. He has promised it to us. We can take it!” Caleb and Joshua trusted in God to keep His promises and deliver them. As a result, God blessed Caleb and allowed him to enter the promise land and blesses him immensely (Joshua 14:6-15). 

Caleb put his trust in a reliable source: God. Only in God should we put our trust because only God is able to give us life. When we put our trust in the only reliable One, He will bless us with an immense blessing. 

What Can God Do With You?

   In Joshua 2, when the Israelites entered into the promised land of Canaan Joshua sends 2 spies into the city of Jericho to spy out the city. It is interesting to note that 40 years earlier 12 spies entered into the land and only 2 came back with a favorable report and the trust in God. Now, Joshua sends only 2 spies into the land. When the spies enter Jericho the king finds out the spies had entered his city. He goes to find them but they are hiding in the house of a citizen of the city. Her name is Rahab and she is a prostitute. Rahab hides these men on the roof of her house and lies to the kings men in order to try to save the spies’ lives. 

Rahab then confesses her belief in God and His power to the spies and asks for a guarantee of safety for her and her family when Israel destroys the city. The spies agree and Rahab and her family is saved when Jericho is destroyed. 

Rahab is later integrated into the Israelite nation and become one of God’s chosen people. She marries a man named Salmon and has a child named Boaz. He later marries Ruth and their child is Obed. He is the father of Jesse who is the father of David. The same David who becomes king of Israel and through whom Jesus Christ comes into the world many years later. 

If God will bring His one and only Son into the world through the lineage of a prostitute what do you think God would be able to do with you? No matter your past or present situation in life, God can use you. When you become a child of God, as Rahab did, He will be able to do wonderful works through your life. Whatever circumstances you may find yourself in, remember Rahab and ask yourself, “What can God do with me?”

Don't Judge Me

As the old cliche goes, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” Have you ever judged someone before you knew them? Perhaps it’s that waitress whose work is seemingly a little sloppy or lazy and you write her off as a poor worker. Maybe it is the kid who comes onto the city bus decked out in black clothes and long hair, and you write him off as someone you wouldn’t want to get to know. There are numerous other situations that could be used; but you know you have judged someone before you knew them at some point in your life.

There is a similar incident that occurs in scripture in Joshua 22 beginning in verse 10. In this text we find the people of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh have returned to their home after conquering the rest of Canaan. Their home is on the east side of the Jordan River. When these tribes arrive at the river, they build a large altar as a memorial. It was to help the generations after them to understand that all the children of Israel, those on the east and west side, belong to the same Lord and God (Joshua 22:26-28). 

Despite the good intentions of these tribes, they were misunderstood. All of Israel heard that they had built this altar and assumed it was an act of rebellion against God. Israel gathers up themselves to make war against these alleged rebellious brothers. When Israel arrives at the Jordan River and meet the other tribes. They confront them and accuse them of rebellion. Israel soon finds out that their assumption were false. 

In contrast, we so often don’t ever find out if our assumptions are true or not. That one person, we judge before we know them, may be the one person who could have the greatest impact on our physical lives or even our spiritual lives. I encourage us all to work on not judging people before we get to know them. 

Seek His Counsel

How often do you go to God in prayer? Do you pray before your meals everyday? Do you go to Him to thank Him for blessing you’ve been given? Do you go to Him when you need help? 

In Joshua 9, we find the Israelites being led by Joshua, and they were on their conquest of Canaan and had just defeated Jericho and Ai. Following these victories, they were on their way to Gibeon to take it over. As they were on their way, the Gibeonites became scared and devised a plan to get the Israelites on their side. They disguise themselves as distant travelers from a far country and meet the Israelites. 

They tell the Israelites they have come from a very distant land and they have heard of their fame and of the Lord and what He had done for them. They had hear how he had led them out of Egypt and how He gave them victory over the kings of the western side of the Jordan. Since they heard all of this they tell the Israelites, “So our elders and all the inhabitant of our country spoke to us saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet and say to them, “We are your servants; now then make a covenant with us”’” (Joshua 9:11). The Gibeonites were trying to persuade the Israelites to make a covenant with them. If a covenant were made then the Israelites would not be able to attack the Gibeonites. 

Joshua 9:14-15 tells of what Israel did that was a major mistake. It says, “So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.”

Since Israel did not ask for the counsel of the Lord the Israelites were deceived. As we go through this week let’s try to focus on asking “for the counsel of the Lord.” Confess to Him your sins, thank Him for everything, and seek guidance; always “ask for the counsel of God.”

Who Are You Calling Crazy?

       Have you ever been told something absurd or crazy? Perhaps as a parent, your child comes up to you and says, “Everyone’s doing it!” As I so often heard, the response to follow is something like, “If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?” I am sure that all of us at one point or another has heard something absurd. This is nothing new. Joshua of the Old Testament was told to do something absurd as well. 

In Joshua 6:2ff Joshua is told a battle plan that is absolutely absurd. Joshua is to conquer the fortified city of Jericho. However, they didn’t have battering rams or anything in order to lay siege to this well secured city. He isn’t told to make a weapon that will assist them or to ask for the aid of another city. Instead, he is told to gather his troops and march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On the last day, he is told to march around the city seven times. 

Joshua does exactly as he has been told by the Lord and they march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they march around the fortified city seven times and at the end of their march they blow their trumpets and shout their loudest. When they do, the walls fall down and just as the Lord told Joshua, He gave the city of Jericho into his hand; one of the most absurd battle plans in history worked! All because Joshua put his faith in the Lord and let Him be in charge. 

Like Joshua, we have been told to do something that to most people may seem absurd. To those who do not put their trust in God, what we are told to do seems foolish. However, God has called us to be different from the world. To the world, the things that we do may seem crazy or strange, such as treating our bodies as holy; dressing appropriately; and going to church services every day the elders have appointed. It may be strange to the world, but who is to call what the Lord has commanded absurd?

Fear

                

   Have you ever been afraid? Perhaps you are afraid of snakes or dogs? There are many things in this life the we fear. Is talking to someone about spiritual matters one of them? If it is not one of your fears, do you know someone who it is?

Joshua was a man in the Old Testament who had to face many fears but he also received encouragement for them each time. Joshua was the man who was to take command of all of Israel after Moses had died. He was the appointed one to officially conquer the land of Canaan, the promised land. This was a rather large and daunting task to be in charge of approximately 2.5 million people. Anyone in his right mind would be a little scared. But God confronts this fear and comforts Joshua by saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Joshua was also afraid after the Israelites had gone into battle against the city of Ai and were sent running; all because of their sin. 36 men were killed in the battle.“And the hearts of the people melted and became as water” (Joshua 7:5). Joshua is told what to do to solve the issue and is then charged by the Lord to go into battle against the city again. He was scared but the Lord, once again, comforts him and says, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed...” 

God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous” for He was with Joshua wherever he went; and to go into battle. God has charged us similarly to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” God is with us, just as He was with Joshua. We have no reason to be afraid to do what he has charged us to do.  If you’re not afraid to speak to someone about spiritual matters then perhaps you can encourage someone who is and remind them to “Be strong and courageous.”