War has been raging!

And Joshua has proved to be a formidable leader, too.

But one day (in Joshua chapter 10) a gang of five nations collectively attacked one of Israel’s allies, perhaps the only ally she had in the area, the Gibeonites. Well, the City of Gibeon, which is described as “a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.” Joshua 10:2

So Israel (keeping her “word”) subsequently honored her treaty with the Gibeonites. She swiftly came to Gibeon’s defense.

And once again … the Lord helped the Jews defeat all these aggressors, with their five (soon to be dead) kings being caught in a single cave in Makkedah.

Wow!

Another battle won.

At least militarily.

Then these words, the heart of today’s lesson: “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.” Joshua 10:21, notice that last line!

Nobody dared speak a single word against Israel!

I’d say Israel has not only bested her enemies tactically, but also psychologically!

Again …

“None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.”

The “tongue” obviously here represents one’s “words, vocabulary!”

I also have found Exodus 11:7. “But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog MOVE HIS TONGUE, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.” Wow!

And even this, along the same line of thought. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and EVERY TONGUE THAT SHALL RISE 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

Here’s what I am saying, among the many “umbrellas” of protection God has erected above our heads … even verbal immunity is (at times anyway) included! Safety from slander, gossip, character assassination, lies? Sounds like it, at least God is able to do such!

I also realize Jesus said this: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” This too, from our Lord: “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” Both these are from Luke 6, the “Sermon on the Mount” there.

So we must “balance” these two facts.

But I am still thrilled!

God is able to keep me clear of the lying verbal assaults of the wicked, of anyone really!

In that I take delight.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

I don’t think I’ve ever posted anything like this, in all the years of daily lessons!

I have come to Joshua chapter 10 in our “journey” through that great Old Testament Book of history. And I need more time to study it!

Yes, in the mist of perhaps the busiest time (week after week, night after night of preaching, praise the Lord) ever in my ministry … I need a day to ponder this chapter.

I hope you understand.

Here’s a picture of the porch (!!!) at the side of the Church where I’m preaching Revival this week. Actually it’s the front as you park.

What a challenge!

The Lord willing, until tomorrow …

Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The story is captivating, that of Joshua chapter 9. And so typical of our lives yet today.

The Jews are now fully mobilized, like an army ready to attack a plethora of enemies … heathen occupying land long ago promised to the Jewish people. Land their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had already claimed, occupied.

Nation after nation must be overcome!

But alas, God will be with them!

But, unsuspectedly, one of those enemy tribes (the Gibeonites) disguised themselves and sought a peace treaty with Joshua. They dressed like folks who had made a long journey, when in reality they were locals!

But they KNEW that they would soon be “dead” locals … if they didn’t try something!

Old shoes, mouldy bread, ragged clothes!

Deceit personified!

And Joshua and his leadership fell for the ruse, the whole pack of lies!

So … the Gibeonites gained peace with the Jews, via false witness, but peace nonetheless.

HOW could all this happen?

WHY hadn’t Jewish scouts spotted the scheme?

WHERE had discernment and counsel gone, all of a sudden?

Joshua 9:14 tells us … “And the men (Joshua and the elders of Israel) asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”

Wow!

They, at least this once, failed to seek the Lord’s Guidance in a matter!

They “begged” (a legitimate translation of “shaal” in Hebrew) not for the insight God could have given in the issue at hand!

To me this lesson goes beyond James 1:5. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” In which James merely teaches us the AVAILABLITY of Wisdom, it’s being ready for distribution at all time!

Joshua 9:14 suggests the necessity of never failing to ask for such Wisdom, such Counsel, from the mouth of the Lord! As in Proverbs 3:5-6 here: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Seek His Enlightenment all the time, in every situation!

Wow!

What a lesson to be learned!

Yes, the Jews honored their peace treaty, even after the Gibeonite’s deception had been discovered. The right thing to do, but at the risk of failing to totally obey the Lord in the conquest of the Land!

It’s surely always best to … consult the Lord first!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Oh yes, the Bible is a Book of blessings, no doubt.

To the obedient man or woman, anyway.

But it is also a Book of warnings!

To the disobedient, rebellious soul.

Joshua 8:34 forms my conclusion, along with dozens if not hundreds of other verses in Scripture.

“Afterward he (Joshua) read (to Israel) all the words of the law, the BLESSINGS and CURSINGS, according to all that is written in the book of the law.”

Wow!

All told, for Israel in those ancient days … the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) contained 613 different laws, rules, regulations … according to the godly rabbis anyway, august Old Testament scholars indeed.

And each of those had rewards or consequences attached, depending on one’s response. If not stated specifically then and there, these are implied generally again and again throughout the whole Genesis through Malachi Corpus.

The Hebrew word used here for “blessings” in our Text is “berakah,” occasionally meaning a “gift,” a “present!” Clearly a reward!

And the word used for “cursings” is “qelalah,” meaning “to be slighted!” To be despised, “vilified!” The verbal opposite of being “blessed.”

“Afterward he (Joshua) read all the words of the law, the BLESSINGS and CURSINGS, according to all that is written in the book of the law.”

Now to the New Testament … the Church Age, the “dispensation” of the Grace of God …

We are no longer under “Law,” granted.

But under “Grace,” praise God.

YET STILL … God expects obedience to His Word!

For example, Jesus’ Words in John 15:7, a clear Promise with rewards: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Wow!

And as well …

Revelation 3:16, written to a Church nonetheless! Jesus still the Speaker … “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Wow!

In conclusion …

We live for Jesus and obey Him … because we love Him. Because of Who He is!

But consequentially, He blesses those who do “walk in His Ways!”

And ultimately judges those who do not.

Amazing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

The verse is clear, and quite frightening!

“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 verb “to commit trespass” is “maal” in Hebrew. It means, essentially, “to act unfaithfully.” And in the verse we’re studying today the root word appears twice (once as a verb then as a noun) in the original Text! The children of Israel “maal” then again “maal” … toward Almighty God! They “sinned” a “sin,” basically.

Sounds serious.

They stole once … but in God’s Eyes it was an action with on-going consequences! So says the sense of “time” this verb exhibits!

The verb “took” is spelled “laqach” in Hebrew, meaning “to fetch, lay hold of, seize” something! Again, we only have a record of one theft … but the verb is one of “incomplete” action! Continual Discipline from God … until some kind of atonement is made!

Achan stole but once … yet remained a thief the rest of his life!

The City of Jericho and all its contents had been “cursed” of the Lord and “dedicated” to destruction! So the Jews were to maintain a “hands-off” policy toward it all. Take nothing … from that incorrigibly wicked place!

Thus God was “angered” at their light-heartedness, insincerity, rebellion!

The word picture Joshua used here is one of God’s being so mad He breathed hard and turned “red” in the Face … and became fiercely displeased!

The noun “aph” means one’s “nose” literally, but is only translated that way 12 times in our Bible. But (get this) a total of 172 times it is translated “anger!” Yes, the Jews are an emotional people.

Now let’s get the whole idea, if we can.

One man sinned.

Yet God is angry with a whole Nation?

YES.

Read the verse again. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi … took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”

Achan’s sin weakened all Israel!

It actually cost the lives of about 36 innocent men! (The remainder of chapter 7 here in the Book of Joshua explains in more detail.)

And a shameful defeat for the Jewish army!

And God would NOT further bless His people … until they had first dealt with the “sin in the camp!”

Now … based on this principle …

I wonder how 1,500,000 abortions a year (baby murders) in America has curtailed God’s Goodness upon us as a people.

Or our countless sexual sins?

Or ever increasing idolatries?

I do not know the specific answer to this question … but I do know individual sins can diminish a whole Nation’s potential!

Wow!

Pray for America today.

And for our President.

Remember, God still hates sin.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Text number: 770-844-7627