The Jews are marching again, straight toward their Promised Land. About to “conquer” it … “in the Name of the Lord.” And the first city of significance in their way is “Jericho.”

And somehow the gentiles of that place knew the Israelite army was coming!

Their reputation had preceded them!

According to one of the city’s women anyway, Rahab the harlot … “She had previously said unto the men (2 spies, Jewish infantrymen), I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For WE HAVE HEARD how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as WE HAD HEARD these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Joshua 2:9-11, astounding!

Consequently Joshua 6:1 records this encouraging fact. “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.”

The Jews had been so blessed of God, that a city known for its military prowess literally “cowered” in fear over their (the Israelite people’s) approach!

They placed their whole city in “lockdown” mode!

Godliness here has (as it will time and time again) “paralyzed” the dark world of wickedness which surrounds it!

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.”

The verb “straitly shut up” is “sagar sagar” in Hebrew, yes the same word doubled! Closed, no business, no access or egress! Intensely so!

Oh, that we Christians today still had that kind of impact on the world!

That our “light” could overcome their “darkness!”

That our convictions would influence their thoughts!

That the “fear of the Lord” (in a healthy, righteous sense) would fall upon mankind once more!

This kind of power: “Now when they (the wicked rulers of Jerusalem) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they MARVELLED; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

To make the society in which we live “marvel” at the things of God!

The verb here (“thaumazo” in Greek) means “to admire.”

To be unable to take one’s “eyes” off a subject!

Wow!

Let us, with the Lord’s help, so live such godly lives!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Paul did. Even the devil knew Paul! “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” Acts 19:15

Impressive!

 

 

I recently taught/preached a series of Lessons/ Sermons on a paragraph in Ephesians, the material about our wearing “the whole armour of God.”

Today’s Text from Joshua also blends so well into Paul’s advice there, Ephesians 6:10-18.

Joshua is about to lead the Jews into battle. Their first encounter, the formidable city of Jericho! A little army taking on a huge metropolis!

But just prior (only a few days) to the engagement, Joshua 5:13-15 tells us of an event. An (I believe) Old Testament, pre-incarnate Appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ!

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a MAN over against him with his SWORD drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as CAPTAIN OF THE HOST OF THE LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my LORD unto his servant? And the CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

Wow!

What a “militant” setting!

Jesus (the Prince of Peace) also being the CAPTIAN OF THE LORD’S ARMY! (Yes, “host” literally means “army” or “armies!)

And what an “encouraging” scene too, for Joshua! Soon to lead Israel into battle, primarily armed with the promises of God!

Yes, this is God, no doubt. God the Son … due to the fact that He accepts worship from a human being. No mere angel would have ever done that!

I’m wondering today …

When WE face trials and hardships and spiritual conflicts … can we claim His Presence? That of This Great Captain?

Hebrews 13:5 … “He (Jesus) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Matthew 28:20 … “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Jesus being the Speaker!

2nd Corinthians 10:4 … “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” Wow!

Ephesians 6:14-17 … “Having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Did you notice? Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, Faith, Salvation, and the Word of God … this is simply a way of restating JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!

Yes, He is with us.

Yes, He is still Captain.

Yes, there is victory in Him!

No wonder Paul avers … “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

For those of you who want to study more … compile a list of all the times Jesus appeared in the Old Testament, long before his Virgin Birth at Bethlehem!

 

 

 

It’s another miracle!

Performed, maybe “worked” is a better verb, by our great God!

The Jews, under Joshua’s leadership, were ready to cross the River Jordan and enter the Promised Land. And just like God “parted” the waters of the Red Sea for them to escape Egypt … He did it again! Except this time He parted the waters of the Jordan River, leaving the wilderness behind!

A River that was overflowing, in fact, out of its banks!

And once the transit was completed, God had the people collect “12 stones” (each retrieved from the middle of the temporarily “dry” river bed). Large stones, apparently, to be carried on the shoulders of 12 strong men! And these were (under command of God) piled in the middle of Israel’s first “other-side-of-Jordan” encampment, a place named Gilgal.

12 stones?

Yes, for a reason, too.

God explains to Joshua, and to us.

“And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. And those TWELVE STONES, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, WHAT MEAN THESE STONES? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.” Joshua 4:19-22

A collection of rocks, God’s Idea, as a reminder of this great episode of Grace and Mercy and Deliverance … from the Hand of the Almighty!

“Object Lessons” … we might call them.

So that when others ask “What does this mean?” we can answer … with specificity, our loving Heavenly Father in His Power and Wisdom did such and such, another act of His great Faithfulness!

Examples?

Grandma’s Bible, the one from which she read and studied and memorized all those years!

That picture frame enclosing a favorite Scripture Verse of some giant in the faith! (My Mom had one, displaying one of her favorite verses, Isaiah 26:3.)

Even the pulpit of some great preacher of yesteryear! (I personally have seen two of these, gleaning further determination to stay true to the Word of God, to my calling in life.)

Maybe even the baptistry where new believers follow Christ into the “watery grave.” A picture of Jesus’ Death and Burial and Resurrection!

I’ve even known a few adventuresome Christians to travel to some out-of-the-way place where great Revival once occurred, praying for some specific need in their lives, their family’s life! Or asking God to “do it again” in America!

I’ve even ridden through once strong-in-the-faith college campuses, pleading for God to rise up another institution to stand boldly for the Word of God!

The possibilities are limitless!

What mean these “stones,” or anything else of spiritual “significance?”

Yes … use the young folk’s curiosity to teach them about our great, powerful God in Heaven!

“Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.”

Praise the Lord!

Dear readers here today, this Lesson can be practiced … by us all.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today I am placing several photos of last Saturday’s 4 hour Bible Class (Ephesians 6:10-18, the Whole Armour of God Paragraph) on the “Standing with the Bagwell’s” Page. Intensive Study of God’s Word, I love the idea.

 

 

A promise … from God to Joshua!

Unusual as it is, the Lord fulfilled it too!

Still is doing so, really!

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I BEGIN TO MAGNIFY thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” Joshua 1:7

The Lord solidified Joshua’s leadership position among the Jews!

God magnifying a man?

Read it again please, “This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel.”

Wow!

The verb “magnify” is “gadal,” meaning “to make great!” Also having the idea “to grow up, to nourish up.” In a continuous action sense, daily God will do this for Joshua! The verb is framed in the Piel stem as well, indicating intense action on God’s Part!

And come to think of it … Joshua did NOT face the rebellion and anarchy and insurrection that Moses (often) did! God indeed so “magnified” him!

But the verb “begin” is interesting as well. It is spelled “chalal” in Hebrew and clearly means “begin” 52 times in the King James Version. But it occurs 141 times in the Bible! And most of those times it is translated in ways like this: “break, wound,” and related terms, some even stronger!

Lesson?

Maybe God makes us “great” by humiliating us! By showing us often we are mere clay, dirt, housing the precious substance of the Grace of God!

Wow!

Still, Joshua had the Word of God on it. “That they (the Israelites and other peoples of the world) may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”

The preposition “with” is powerful!

Spelled “im” in Hebrew, it means “in fellowship and companionship!”

With Almighty God!

I don’t know if I’ve ever written a 3 “Wow” Lesson or not …

But here goes … Wow!

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”

I stand amazed!

Now I’m remembering Psalm 75:6-7. “For PROMOTION cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and SETTETH UP another.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Really I sit amazed, in front of a keyboard on a cold Tuesday morning in January, 2017. A text or two today, concerning the Lesson, might be encouraging! At 770-844-7627, my cell number.

 

 

I am not advocating a system of “works” today. I am not saying that a man can be “right” with God via moral living, or whatever. Salvation is given by “Grace,” a freely bestowed and eternal state of right standing before Almighty God.

But still I’d like to use Joshua 3:5 as our Text for the Bible Study this morning. It contains a vital truth about God’s dealings with His people, after they have been saved.

“And Joshua said unto the people, SANCTIFY yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do WONDERS among you.”

Wow!

I am sitting here thinking … perhaps one of the reasons why we no longer see many of God’s “wonders” among us, is that we no longer properly “sanctify” ourselves!

The verb “sanctify” here translates the Hebrew word “qadash,” literally meaning “to prepare, dedicate, consecrate” or even “to set apart” oneself! And it’s an imperative here, a clear and direct command from God to the Israelites!

If God is going to do those mighty wonders … the Jews must prepare themselves, clear all known sin out of their lives!

God even gives them a day’s notice … as if we followers of the Lord should need to be told to live right! What a kind, loving God He is!

And if Israel does so clean herself … God will do what?

“Wonder,” simply spelled “pala” in Hebrew, is translated “hard” things five times in the Bible, but “marvelous” many times more! In fact, twice the word suggests a “performance!” God, if you will allow me to say it reverently, “putting on a show!” To His Glory!

Wow again!

Lesson is over for today.

There may be exceptions to the rule, but here it is in the Bible. The more holy (more godly, more purely) I conduct myself … God is then more apt to do those wondrous acts around me, before me, for me.

And this was true in Joshua’s time even of a Nation!

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell