Journaling: Joshua 6-9

God-ordained and effective strategies for defeating our enemies include: 1) psychological warfare (6:1-16 w/20; 4-5 -“march around the city…blow the trumpets” = Sign that battle is beginning; 10-11 – “you shall not shout or make your voice heard…spent the night in the camp” = Sign that they are withdrawing from battle; 14-16, 20 – “marched around the city once…so they did for six days…on the seventh day…they marched around the city seven times…And at the seventh time…the people shouted” = Jericho’s citizens were mentally frazzled and emotionally drained by the time “the wall fell down flat” making them an easy target), 2) subterfuge/military deception (8:1-22, 3-8). The first of our success (given by God) is to be “devoted” (or given back to God) as “first-fruits” (6:1-2 w/17-21, 24; 2- “See I have given to you…” w/17 w/5:10 and Lev 23:5-11 = Feast of Firstfruits [day after the sabbath of Passover] – e.g. Sunday = The day/sabbath of Firstfruits in Christ – 1Co 15:20; e.g. first-fruits given back to God = our tithe – Num 18:12 w/21-32). When we take what God says is to be “devoted” to Him, we: 1) make the covenant community a “thing for destruction and bring trouble on it” (6:17-18), 2) lose the ability to be successful or overcome life’s obstacles (7:10-13; e.g. of devoted thing other than our tithe = Our sexual purity – 1Co 6:12-20). What God devotes to destruction can never be rebuilt/redeemed/ransomed/rekindled and will result in great personal penalty to those who try (6:18 w/26 w/1Ki 16:34; e.g. someone devoted to destruction today = The apostate and the wicked who fight against God’s people – Lev 27:28-29; Jer 7:16-29, 14:11-12 w/44:27; Isa 34:5). The wicked of this world welcomed to God (versus being “devoted to destruction”) would include those who help His people (6:22-23, 25). The only kind of “fame” we should pursue is the kind that comes when we are “very strong and courageous” to do exactly what God says (6:27). A good indicator that there may be sin in the camp (e.g. covenant community, our homes, our personal lives) is the inability to have success even in the little things (7:1-13, 3 – “Do not make the whole people go up…for they are few”; 4-5 – “they fled before the men of Ai and the men of Ai killed thirty-six of their men”; 11, 13 – “Israel has sinned…you cannot stand before your enemies”; Jam 4:1-10). To “consecrate (our)selves” (7:13) – or make things right w/God again (7:26) requires: 1) discovering the root cause of our sin (7:14-18), 2) confessing our sin – including its accomplices, w/a heart that gives “glory” and “praise” to God (for it being found out) (7:19-24; Consider Deu 24:16 = At the very least, the children knew of their father’s sin and did not report it), 3) paying for our sins (no matter the cost) (7:25). When you think that nobody will find your sin, remember God knows and will make sure your sin finds you (7:11 w/14-15; Num 32:23; Luk 12:2-3). Sin always begins in the mind (7:21 –“coveted”; Jam 1:13-15; Mat 12:34). Coveting to be a “V.I.P.” or “B.M.O.C.” in the eyes of others could cost the lives of your loved ones (7:21- “cloak from Shinar” = Robe of a Babylonian king [literally “glory cloak”; same as Jon 3:6]). Everyone who chooses to engage in capital crimes, continue practicing sin – or cover up sin (theirs/others), selfishly chooses to “bring trouble” on the rest of the covenant community (7:25). Children have an obligation (like anyone else) to report those sins they see being hidden by others – including their parents, lest they too be considered guilty of those sins (7:24-25; See 24:14-15 and Pro 24:10-12; IOW: Kids – don’t go to Hell for your parents). After we give first-fruits, God lets us have the rest as “plunder” – or as our share, from battle (8:1-2 versus 6:17). Patience is often the difference between blessing and curse (8:1-2 versus 7:21). God never wants us to possess those things that will lead us astray from Him (8:2, 18-29 w/Deu 20:16-18; e.g. the reason some don’t yet possess a potential spouse/spouse – b/c you wb led astray from Christ versus leading that person to Christ; 1Co 10:14; Heb 12:1). God’s OT altar was associated w/curse whereas the NT altar is associated w/blessing (8:30-31 w/Heb 10:1-18). Being careful to do all that God says requires seeing and hearing all that God says (8:32-35 w/Deu 11:29-32). To “bless the people of Israel” – including New Israel (i.e. the Church), requires the receiving of God’s Law (8:32-35; Deu 4:1-8; Isa 42:21). The enemy – including the enemy of bad decisions or major burdens, often comes as an “angel of light” (or bearing all the marks of legitimacy) (9:1-16; 2Co 11:14-15). Not seeking “counsel from the Lord” has been a major reason certain saints are perpetually making bad decisions and carrying major burdens (9:14-27; 17 = The amount of people in the Gibeonite cities would have created a large economic burden on the nation of Israel [i.e. less real estate and resources for God’s people]; e.g. seeking the counsel of the Lord today = The Church – e.g. Act 15).