I noticed this earlier today, just reading Joshua chapters 7 and 8.

Israel had just been defeated in battle, a rarity indeed!

Thirty-six soldiers, Jews, had died in the attack on a little city named Ai. (We later learned such a tragedy was due to “sin” in the camp. A man named Achan had stolen some cursed objects and kept them for himself!)

But now to the logistics of the Battle … and the point of today’s Lesson.

In the first skirmish against Ai (a heathen, sinful city for sure) Israel only fielded 3,000 soldiers, based on previous recon reports, reconnaissance. “And they (the spies) returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about THREE THOUSAND men.” Joshua 7:3-4

And she (Israel) lost … as I’ve just said, due to sin, thirty-six military funerals, needlessly held!

Once that sin had been (thoroughly) confessed and judgment executed … Israel would live to fight another day! (The sad story of Achan and his death by stoning.)

Then the Lord commanded Joshua to attack Ai yet a second time! So, Joshua obeyed, one of the chief characteristics of that great leader’s life, “instant obedience” to His Commander-in-Chief!

But instead of just three thousand men … Joshua involved the whole army this time! Several hundreds of thousands of soldiers! (Just slightly more than 600,000 to be a little more precise!)

Wow!

And they (with the Lord’s Hand upon them) won the victory … this time!

Again, what’s the point today?

If on a certain occasion you do not achieve a (spiritual) victory, if the enemy (devil) overcomes you in a battle … REGROUP AND HIT HIM AGAIN  … WITH (FAR) MORE POWER AND STRENGTH AND (SPIRITUAL) WEAPONRY!

Go from 3,000 soldiers (I speak metaphorically, symbolically) to 600,000 soldiers!

In other words …

Pray more!

Read God’s Word more!

Memorize verses, more than ever!

Live right, more godly than in all your Christian days!

And the Lord just might give you the victory, as he did Joshua and all Israel!

In a line … TRY HARDER!

Be more and more filled with the Holy Spirit!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Surely, enough has been said.

 

Talk about a “community” mindset!

Read these two verses, the next increment in Joshua’s Saga, Holy Spirit inspired! “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1

The whole Nation (“the children of Israel”) sinned, and was held accountable by Almighty God … because one man (“Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah”) stole some (forbidden) things!

Amazing!

And Israel (the whole Nation) lost the next battle, their first defeat in the Conquest of Canaan, because of this (one) man’s trespass!

In fact, 36 innocent Jewish soldiers died … because God withdrew His Presence, because of Achan’s selfish disobedience!

Verse 5 of Joshua 7 … “And the men of Ai SMOTE (KILLED) of them about THIRTY AND SIX men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.”

Get verses 11 and 12, God’s Rationale: “And the LORD said unto Joshua, ISRAEL HATH SINNED, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for THEY have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and THEY have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because THEY were accursed: NEITHER WILL I BE WITH YOU ANY MORE, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

One man’s sin … a whole Nation’s guilt!

And in the same sense, then … the sins of one City (Las Vegas or San Francisco or Atlanta or New York) could be a detriment to ALL of America!

This too I would add. The sins (either hidden … or known and allowed) in any given Church (though Bible believing, mind you) COULD retard the spiritual blessings of God on the whole congregation!

Not just COULD … WOULD!

DOES!

Something to think about this Monday morning, for sure!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Read again our Text today … “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1

 

God kept His Word, His Promise!

The wall of Jericho had fallen “flat!”

The city had essentially been destroyed.

Then … “Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” Joshua 6:26

What a warning!

The verb “adjured” translates the Hebrew word “shaba,” meaning ” to swear.” (Literally it means “to say something seven times!” To mean it that deeply!)

And the verb “cursed” is “arar” in Hebrew, meaning “to bitterly denounce.”

God clearly DOES NOT want Jericho rebuilt! “Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.” Doomed of God!

Scripture even lists the consequences for disobeying this injunction. The deaths of two of the foolish builder’s sons, the elder and the younger! If anyone blatantly disobeys God on this matter … “He shall lay the foundation (of the city) thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.”

His oldest boy, due to some unexpected and tragic death … his body shall be buried in the city’s foundation! The same with his youngest, except his death will somehow involve the city’s gates!

Warning clearly given!

Now … turn with me to 1 Kings 16:33-34. “And (wicked King) Ahab (of Israel) made a grove (in which to worship false idols); and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did HIEL THE BETHELITE BUILD (REBUILD) JERICHO: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.”

A disobedient father!

And “Hiel’s” Hebrew name means, grammatically, “God lives!”

Wow!

Disobedience, rebellion … DEATH!

Just like God said!

Folks … God always keeps his Promises!

This was one costly construction project … if Hiel loved his boys, anyway!

I’ve written enough today.

Is anyone reading here this morning (knowingly) violating some principle of God’s Word?

If so, I beg you, sober up!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Sin has consequences!

 

All of Israel was to march around Jericho, six days in a row! Then on the seventh day … God would cause the City’s wall to fall down “flat!” Well, 99% of it anyway, think of Rahab!

But, there were stipulations!

In all their circumnavigations … “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, YE SHALL NOT SHOUT, NOR MAKE ANY NOISE WITH  YOUR VOICE, NEITHER SHALL ANY WORD PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.” Joshua 6:10

I have always heard that there is … a time to talk and a time to “hush.” But Joshua 6:10 actually raises that adage to a command!

DO NOT MAKE ANY NOISE WITH YOUR MOUTH!

Why?

Due to reverence for God? As in… “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Due to the sheer fear of the Lord?

Because of some military strategy?

They will be commanded to loudly SHOUT (the very opposite of the “no words” command) on the seventh day of the siege, on the seventh trip around the city that day. But not until then!

God is aware of our words!

Of the “noise” we make in chatter!

So here’s a lesson on “being quiet,” at least doing so at the right times.

Proverbs 10:19 might help here. “In the multitude of words there wanteth (lacketh) not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (In other words, the MORE we talk, the MORE we sin!)

And when going to Church? “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and BE MORE READY TO HEAR. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: THEREFORE LET THY WORDS BE FEW.” Wow, listen more than speak!

There were times when even Jesus was deliberately quiet! Here’s an example: “And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee. BUT JESUS YET ANSWERED NOTHING; so that Pilate marvelled.” Mark 15:4-5

Back to Proverbs … 17:28 this time … “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace (keeps quiet), is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips (shuts up) is esteemed a man of understanding.” Pretty clear, isn’t it?

I do not know exactly why God would not let the Jews make any noise (verbally) as they marched those days, not for sure.

But I (now) do know that there are times when I … might should refrain from speech!

Thank you, Lord … for Scripture!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, do add Proverbs 29:20 to your “tongue tamer” list! “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” Too quick to speak!

And what about Proverbs 21:23?  “Whoso keepeth (guards, watches closely) his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

One of my favorites, Psalm 41:3. “Set a watch (an observer), O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Hear every word I speak, and grant me wisdom to know Thou art hearing me!

And I close (again) with Matthew 12:36. “But I (Jesus) say unto you, That every idle (useless) word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

 

Israel, now having obeying God in circumcising all the men and boys, and having properly observed the Passover … is ready to march! And the nearest city to be conquered is Jericho, where the two spies of Joshua chapter 2 had been sent. Also where Rahab the harlot lived!

God gave Joshua specific marching orders, too.

Here they are: “The LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” Joshua 6:1-5

March around the city one time, both today and again tomorrow … then for four more days, a total of six. Then on the seventh day march once more, around the city. At which time the priests blast their trumpets … and the people all shout loudly with their voices … the wall of that significant city will “fall down!” (God is really “giving” Jericho to Israel!) Plus, the natives of Jericho are already inside, quaking in fear! “Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” Joshua 6:1

But verse 9 caught my attention earlier this morning. As the Jews marched each day, obeying the Lord … “The armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the REREWARD came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.” Joshua 6:9

The soldiers (army) led the way. Then the (seven) priests with their trumpets. Next came the Ark (of the Covenant), properly carried by the Levites. THEN, THE “REWARD” FOLLOWED!

That’s what interested me!

The “rereward,” in Hebrew “asaph,” means in our context here “the rest” of the people. Those who came behind! The “assembled” congregation!

Literally, those in the “rear,” but spelled “rere.”

Many commentaries will tell you this “rereward” is simply the rest of the soldiers. But if that’s so … where are the people? The bulk of Israel’s citizenry?

No, the “rereward” are the common folks, following their leaders. Keeping pace with their God, too. Represented by the Ark, of course.

That’s my thought today!

In the Lord’s work, in His great Cause … I am simply a member of the “rereward.”

Not a shining leader.

Not a notable individual at all.

Just part of the “rereward.”

The back of the pack.

But, guess what?

They were blessed with victory as well as the majors and generals out front!

They were headed to the Promised Land as well!

God is no Respecter of persons!

I am a nobody in many ways … but a member of God’s family at the same time!

I may be in the “rear” (“rere”) … but I know the HEAD!

Hallelujah!

Some other “nobody” (fellow “rereward” member) rejoice with me today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell