The Lord has given Israel (yet another) victory!

Using both meteorology and astronomy to do so, I might add! (Huge hailstones and lengthened days!)

And the army of Israel returns to camp, Joshua 10:21 adds an interesting note. “And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: NONE MOVED HIS TONGUE AGAINST any of the children of Israel.”

Wow!

“All the people” returned to camp, not a single death recorded, among the Jews!

And where was “camp?”

“Makkedah,” a little place west of what would later become Israel’s Capital, Jerusalem. Just a village, with a significant name however. “Makkedah” means the “place of the shepherd!” (In Hebrew spelled “noqed,” simply meaning “sheepmaster.”)

I’d say there were in the Will of God, “in His Hands!”

But watch what our Verse today says next … “None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.”

Wow!

I think this is the “gist” of the statement. “AFTER God gave Israel such another dramatic victory … not a soul would say a word against the Jews!”

“None,” using the negative particle (an adverb to us) “lo,” meaning “without an exception!” NOT a single person!(Talk about the “fear of God” being upon a Nation!)

“Moved,” the verb, translates “charatzs,” meaning “to cut, sharpen,” even “to main!” Yes, human tongues can be that destructive! (Remember … “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21)

And the noun “tongue” is “lashon,” that part of the human body that equips one with the capability of speech. It is also in Scripture (the Old Testament) translated “language” 10 times and “wedge” 2 times (a sermon within itself, the tongue being able to drive “wedges” so easily). Furthermore “lashon” is rendered “flame” one time! And “babbler” once as well!

Wow!

Then “against” is spelled “le” in Hebrew, a little preposition meaning “in regard to,” thus … no negative speech directed toward God’s people! (God shut some mouths, didn’t He?)

And “any” is the noun “iysh,” not a “person.” (Literally, not a “man,” since the army has been primarily in focus, most recently anyway.)

And the people here called “children of Israel,” are surely a special Nation, this exact expression (this string of words) being found 644 times in the Bible!

God built a nation in the Old Testament!

He is building a body in the New Testament, a bride!

Not a word!

And what is our Lesson today?

Maybe we too (as Christians) had better be more careful in talking “against” any one of God’s little children!

Mercy!

Here’s a promise too for the saints of God, when criticized severely. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and EVERY TONGUE THAT SHALL ARISE AGAINST THEE IN JUDGMENT thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

(“Be careful little tongue what you say …” Does anyone remember that little song from Sunday School. I certainly do … years ago!)