By Joshua chapter 23 Israel was in the Land of Promise. Most the vile Canaanites have either been either extinguished or subdued. And Joshua had grown to an old age, soon to die.
Yet still verse 3 of our chapter today states an amazing truth. In summary of God’s mighty Acts over the past few years, as Israel warred for her Land … Joshua declared:
“Ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is He that hath fought for you.”
What God hath done … BECAUSE OF YOU!
The Lord your God HATH FOUGHT FOR YOU!
Astounding!
A whole land, its demographics totally rearranged, because of the Jewish people!
Don’t forget … God gave the earlier inhabitants of that land over 400 years to repent of their sins, their always pushing-the-limits violation of everything righteous and holy and pure.
Even God’s Patience ends at some point!
Then, because of the Lord’s love for His people … yes, for the Jews in this case … God did some “nation building!”
The wicked are (largely) gone.
The Jews are (mostly) in the Land.
And … God did the fighting! Do remember God’s Name back in Exodus 15:3. “The LORD is a MAN OF WAR: the LORD is his name.” Amen!
I love the phrase (in today’s Bible text) “because of you!”
Don’t forget the whole verse though. “Ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations BECAUSE OF YOU; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.”
Then, earlier this morning, I remembered a similar verse in Proverbs. I had to use my laptop to locate it, but it was still there! “The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.” Proverbs 21:18
I think this just said that … God is willing to trade the wicked, the transgressors, for the righteous … any day, any time! The noun “ransom” is “kopher” which occasionally means “a sum of money.” If God is forced into a corner … He will sacrifice the wicked in order to save the godly!
Don’t misunderstand … The Lord loves everyone, John 3:16.
But He especially, delightfully loves His Own Children! See immediately 1st John 3:1. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” The word “manner” used here means something like “from another world!”
I can’t get over it!
Christian friend reading here this morning, there is “no-telling” what God has done simply “because of you” either!
One more time …
“Ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations BECAUSE OF YOU: for the LORD your God is He that hath fought for you.”
Ponder this truth today.
Stunned …
Dr. Mike Bagwell
Someone text me today with a comment on the Lesson … 770-844-7627. Thanks!