Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 12 which covers the listing of all the thirty-one kings whom Israel defeated.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon as far as Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east:  2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, even as far as the brook Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;  3 and the Arabah as far as the Sea of Chinneroth toward the east, and as far as the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward toward Beth-jeshimoth, and on the south, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah;  4 and the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half of Gilead, as far as the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.  6 Moses the servant of the Lord and the sons of Israel defeated them; and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a possession.

7 Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions, 8 in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, on the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the Negev; the Hittite, the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite:  9 the king of Jericho, one;  the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

…

24 the king of Tirzah, one:  in all, thirty-one kings.”  Joshua Chapter 12:  Verses 1-9 and 24.

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The listing of all of the thirty-one kings whom Israel defeated shows the meticulous nature of the sovereign plan of God in fulfilling His promise to give the land to Israel.  All thirty-one kings were under God’s total perfect control and triumph.

God lined up these thirty-one kings like dominos to fall at the flick of His finger.  From Joshua’s perspective, “Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings.”  Joshua 11:18.  But, today’s Scripture shows this sovereign perspective of God.

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;  I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;  Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.  Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

Other doctrine portray kings and war as chaotic subject to the alleged free-will of man. 

But, Reformed Doctrine portrays kings and war as controlled subject to the sovereign will and control of God.

“2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:2-12.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 11 which covers Israel’s conquest of northern Palestine through the LORD’s deliverance.

Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2011&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then it came about, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were of the north in the hill country, and in the Arabah—south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and on the heights of Dor on the west— 3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.  4 They came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.  5 So all of these kings having agreed to meet, came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

6 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”  7 So Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them.  8 The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they defeated them, and pursued them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim and the valley of Mizpeh to the east;  and they struck them until no survivor was left to them.  9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.

…

16 Thus Joshua took all that land:  the hill country and all the Negev, all that land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel and its lowland 17 from Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir, even as far as Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon.  And he captured all their kings and struck them down and put them to death.  18 Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings.  19 There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon;  they took them all in battle. 20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Joshua Chapter 11:  Verses 1-9 and 16-20.

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Nothing escapes the LORD’s attention and sovereign plan.

We read in today’s Scripture that He even hardened the hearts of Israel’s enemies so that they would meet Israel in battle in order that He might utterly destroy them.  This should cause readers to question alleged free-will which is part of so many doctrines, but which is refuted by Reformed Doctrine!

And, even though Israel was foolish in not seeking the counsel of the LORD in how to deal with the Gibeonites as we read in Joshua 9:14, and we may think destruction of everyone except the Gibeonites was good enough, we know that even the covenant and peace with the Gibeonites was part of the LORD’s sovereign plan.

We came to understand at least one of the reasons when we read Joshua Chapter 10 in which we saw how the presence of the Gideonites (and Israel’s covenant with them) drew Israel into war with the five kings of the Amorites and how the LORD used it to give victory to Israel over the five kings of the Amorites.

But, I think today’s Scripture may give us another reason why the LORD allowed the Gibeonites to survive.  By the use of the phrase “that they might receive no mercy” in verse 20, our attention is drawn to the contrasting fact that the Gibeonites did receive mercy.

Maybe, one of the reasons why the Gibeonites did receive mercy is that it would give Gentiles hope that maybe the LORD would also show mercy to them.

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.  And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;  for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:11-20.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“6 Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.”  7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors.  8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands;  not one of them shall stand before you.”  9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.  11 As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died;  there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“O sun, stand still at Gibeon,
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”
13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.

Is it not written in the book of Jashar?  And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

…

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.”  23 They did so, and brought these five kings out to him from the cave:  the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.  24 When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.”  So they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua then said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed!  Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.”  26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees;  and they hung on the trees until evening.”  Joshua Chapter 10:  Verses 6-14 and 22-26.

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We remember the vivid promise of the LORD to Israel such as in Exodus 23:20-28 and other places of Scripture. 

“20 “Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Be on your guard before him and obey his voice;  do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him.  22 But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.  23 For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites;  and I will completely destroy them.  24 You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds;  but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their sacred pillars in pieces.  25 But you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.  26 There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.  27 I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.  28 I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you.”     Exodus 23:20-28.

And, even in today’s Scripture, we see the repetition of encouragement and promises, some by the LORD directly and a reminder by Joshua.  “The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands;  not one of them shall stand before you.” Verse 8.  “Joshua then said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed!  Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.”  Verse 25.

We also see the vivid action of the LORD as partial fulfillment of His promise:  “… the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died;  there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.”  Verse 11.

And, what could be a more vivid action by the LORD than holding up the sun so it did not set for about a whole day?!  Verses 13 and 14.  This was vivid in two senses.  First, how could anyone deny that it was a miracle?!  Second, the extra light showed forth all the LORD was doing in fighting for Israel.

We also see vivid action by Joshua when he commanded:  “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings”.  Verse 24.

The lesson for us today is that we will read Scripture that both gives promises and encouragement and we will also see the hand of the LORD in partial fulfillment of His promises.  Let us take heed and go forth this Monday and every day, trusting God’s promises, seeing God partially fulfill His promises, and following His advice to be strong and courageous.  

Let us also be more observant about how God helps us.  God may not throw hailstones on our enemies, but He will surely help us in ways that He will make us notice and in ways that He will assure our hearts.  Let us treasure these “helps” even when they are small.  Let us remember them.

Write down what God did for you.  Sing a song or write a poem like Joshua did when He spoke to the LORD in praise:

“O sun, stand still at Gibeon,
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.”  Verses 12 and 13.

In conclusion, be glad in the LORD and rejoice! 

“7 You are my hiding place;  You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:7-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2010&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they also acted craftily and set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and mended, 5 and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves;  and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled.  6 They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” 7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land; how then shall we make a covenant with you?”  8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.”  Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”  9 They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the Lord your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.  11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants;  now then, make a covenant with us.” ’ 12 This our bread was warm when we took it for our provisions out of our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.  13 These wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and these our clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.”  14 So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.  15 Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16 It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.  17 Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day.  Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.  18 The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord the God of Israel.  And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.  19 But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.  20 This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.”  21 The leaders said to them, “Let them live.”  So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.”  Joshua Chapter 9:  Verses 3-21.

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“So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.”  Verse 14.

Many times, nothing or little will be said to us directly about the consequences of failing to seek the counsel of the LORD.

And, we and others may think that we chose the better course of action.  For example, using today’s Scripture, we may think:  “Isn’t it more humane to make the Gibeonites servants rather than kill them all?”     

But, we will learn in the very next chapter how the presence of the Gideonites (and Israel’s covenant with them) drew Israel into war with the five kings of the Amorites.  And, who knows what were the other consequences?

Yes, the LORD can cause all things (even our sin) to work together for our good like He did give victory to Israel over the five kings of the Amorites.  But, the lesson of today’s Scripture is that we should seek the counsel of the LORD even in what we think is a small matter that we think we are wise enough to know what is best. 

“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 8.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%208&version=NASB

I quote on the following verses.

“1 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed.  Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai;  see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.  2 You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king;  you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves.  Set an ambush for the city behind it.”

3 So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai;  and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night. 4 He commanded them, saying, “See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it.  Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.  5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city.  And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them.  6 They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’  So we will flee before them.  7 And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.  8 Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire.  You shall do it according to the word of the Lord.  See, I have commanded you.”

… (Joshua mustered the people, the ambush was set up, and the people did as commanded – Bill’s note) …

“19 The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire.  20 When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers. 21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and slew the men of Ai.  22 The others came out from the city to encounter them, so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, [some on this side and some on that side;  and they slew them until no one was left of those who survived or escaped.”  Joshua Chapter 8:  Verses 1-8 and 19-22.

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There is a sharp contrast between Israel’s defeat at Ai in the prior chapter and Israel’s victory at Ai in this chapter.

We remember that Israel suffered defeat at Ai because they sinned against God.  “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.  And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.  Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies;  they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed.  I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.”  Joshua 7:11-12.

“Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.  Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us?  The Lord will trouble you this day.”  And all Israel stoned them with stones;  and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.  They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger.  …”  Joshua 7:24-26.

Then, we come to today’s Scripture and Israel’s victory at Ai in this chapter.

“Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed.  Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai;  see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.”  Verse 1.

The three lessons that we can learn from these two chapters and other Scripture is that a mighty army is a false hope for victory and that the LORD is the One Who gives defeat or victory and that the LORD favors and give the victory to those who fear Him.

“10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:10-11.

“13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:13-22.

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  I Corinthians 15:57.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+7&version=NASB

“1 But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.”  So the men went up and spied out Ai.  3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up;  only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai;  do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.”  4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.  5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.  7 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?  If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan!  8 O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies?  9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth.  And what will You do for Your great name?”

10 So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up!  Why is it that you have fallen on your face?  11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.  And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived.  Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.  12 Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies;  they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.  13 Rise up!  Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel.  You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.”

… (then, the LORD directed Joshua to Achan who was the one who sinned by taking some of the things under the ban – Bill’s note) …

24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him;  and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.  25 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us?  The Lord will trouble you this day.”  And all Israel stoned them with stones;  and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.  26 They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger.  Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.”  Joshua Chapter 7:  Verses 1-13 and 24-26.

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What hope is there in today’s Scripture? 

There is the sin of Achan.  There is the accountability of all Israel for the sin of Achan.  There is the fierce anger of the LORD.  There is the defeat of Israel at Ai.  There is the fear that the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land would hear of it, and thereby be emboldened, and would surround Israel and kill all of them.  There is the stoning and burning of Achan, his family, and all that he had.  There is the great heap of stones in the valley of Achor.

Our hope is not that we will not sin any more, although we certainly should not sin any more.

Our hope is not that we will properly punish those who sin so as to turn aside the fierce anger of the LORD, although we certainly should properly discipline.

We look hard for hope in Scripture and come across the valley of Achor in the Books of Hosea and Isaiah.

“14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
Bring her into the wilderness
And speak kindly to her.
15 “Then I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the valley of Achor as a door of hope.
And she will sing there as in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
16 “It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord,
“That you will call Me Ishi
And will no longer call Me Baali.
17 “For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth,
So that they will be mentioned by their names no more.
18 “In that day I will also make a covenant for them
With the beasts of the field,
The birds of the sky
And the creeping things of the ground.
And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land,
And will make them lie down in safety.
19 “I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,
In lovingkindness and in compassion,
20 And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the Lord.”  Hosea 2:14-20.

“8 Thus says the Lord,

“As the new wine is found in the cluster,
And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it,’
So I will act on behalf of My servants
In order not to destroy all of them.
9 “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob,
And an heir of My mountains from Judah;
Even My chosen ones shall inherit it,
And My servants will dwell there.
10 “Sharon will be a pasture land for flocks,
And the valley of Achor a resting place for herds,
For My people who seek Me.”  Isaiah 65:8-10.

Our hope is to seek the LORD and His grace:  His salvation and His righteousness. 

“1 Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
Who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were hewn
And to the quarry from which you were dug.
2 “Look to Abraham your father
And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain;
When he was but one I called him,
Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”
3 Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion;
He will comfort all her waste places.
And her wilderness He will make like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

4 “Pay attention to Me, O My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation;
For a law will go forth from Me,
And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.
5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait for Me,
And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
6 “Lift up your eyes to the sky,
Then look to the earth beneath;
For the sky will vanish like smoke,
And the earth will wear out like a garment
And its inhabitants will die in like manner;
But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness will not wane.”  Isaiah 51:1-6.

Which doctrine best shows the LORD and His grace:  His salvation and His righteousness?

Other doctrine focuses on man and man’s alleged free-will and urges man to try harder.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on the LORD and His grace:  His salvation and His righteousness, our only hope! 

Reformed Doctrine presents the LORD and His grace:  His salvation and His righteousness from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 6.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+6&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel;  no one went out and no one came in. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.  3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once.  You shall do so for six days.  4 Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark;  then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.  5 It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout;  and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”

… (So Israel waited and marched around the city of Jericho as commanded – Bill’s note) …

“20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets;  and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city.  21 They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.”  Joshua Chapter 6:  Verses 1-5 and 20-21.

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“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”  Hebrews 11:30.

In one sense, this is an active faith.  Israel marched a lot around the city of Jericho, once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day as commanded.

But, in another sense, this is a patient faith.  Israel was probably eager to take things into their own hands and immediately attack the city of Jericho.  But, they trusted the LORD that He would give the city into their hands, and they patiently waited seven days before attacking on cue.

Considering everything, I think this is more of a patient faith than an active faith.

Although we often need to do both, it is often harder to patiently wait on the LORD than to take action.  So, the additional Scripture that I provide focuses on waiting for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord;  Be strong and let your heart take courage;  Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalm 33:20
Our soul waits for the Lord;  He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 130:5
I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope.

Psalm 147:11
The Lord favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

Isaiah 25:9
And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.  This is the Lord for whom we have waited;  Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength;  They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Lamentations 3:25
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Zephaniah 3:8
“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.

Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

James 5:7
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 5.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“4 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt.  5 For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.  6 For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.  7 Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised;  for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.

8 Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.  9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”  So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.  11 On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.  12 The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”  14 He said, “No;  rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.”  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”  15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.”  And Joshua did so.”  Joshua 5:4-15.

—————–

It is interesting in today’s Scripture that when Israel arrived in the Promised Land that circumcision started up again, Passover continued, and manna stopped.  What is this new Promised Land? 

It is holy land.  “The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.”  And Joshua did so.”  Verse 15.

Was all the Promised Land holy?  Or, was just the city of Gilgal holy?  Or was literally just the place where Joshua was standing holy? 

We have questions.  Joshua had questions:  “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” Verse 13.  “What has my lord to say to his servant?”  Verse 14.  And, Joshua likely wanted to know more about this “captain of the host of the Lord”.  Verse 14.

But, questions are good.  They motivate us to seek the kingdom of God.  They motivate us to seek Christ.

Circumcision, manna, and Passover were only “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” using the language of Hebrews 8:5.

Christ is our circumcision, “and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;”  Colossians 2:11.

Christ is our manna.  “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;  he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”  John 6:35.

Christ is our Passover.  “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”  1 Corinthians 5:7.

Seek Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:3.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 4 which covers the LORD’s command to set up twelve memorial stones to help Israel remember the LORD’s mighty act of cutting off the waters of the Jordan so that Israel could cross it.

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’”  4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe;  5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel.  6 Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord;  when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’  So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”  …

20 Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.  21 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’  23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed;  24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”  Joshua Chapter 4:  Verses 1-7 and 20-24.

———————

“TULIP” is a memorial to help us remember the LORD’s mighty acts of salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“TULIP” is more like the memorial stones of Jordan than like a fleeting flower.  “TULIP” helps us “know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”  Verse 24.

“TULIP” came from the Canons of Dort, a confession, which “was actually composed by an ecclesiastical assembly, the Great Synod of 1618-1619. born out of internal controversy in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands which was occasioned by the rise of the Arminian heresy, the Canons are the expression of the Synod’s judgment concerning the Five Points of the Remonstrance. This also explains the fact that the Canons are divided into five chapters, maintaining the truths of sovereign predestination, particular atonement, total depravity, irresistible grace, and perseverance of saints.”  See the introduction to the Canons of Dordt followed by these five chapters at the following link provided by the Protestant Reformed Churches – http://www.prca.org/cd_index.html

In conclusion, the points of “TULIP” should not be isolated from each other, but rather the points combine to teach of a God who saves from predestination to glorification.  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

Throughout Scripture, we see that “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.  Psalm 3:8.

“And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;  Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.  He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head;  And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.”  Isaiah 59:16-17.

“For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come. “I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;  So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.”  Isaiah 63:4-5.

“The LORD has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God.”  Isaiah 52:10.

If God controls the smallest details of life on earth so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29), then do you really think that God is giving up any control over salvation to man’s free will?  Are sparrows more important than the salvation of man?  No, God saves according to His purpose according to His choice, not because of works or even the will of man.

Salvation does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy on whom He desires. See Romans 9:11-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua Chapter 3 which covers the preparation for Israel crossing the Jordan, the ark of the covenant leading the way, and the people of Israel following and crossing the Jordan.

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed.  2 At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;  3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.  4 However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure.  Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.”  So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.  …

14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off.  So the people crossed opposite Jericho.  17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”  Joshua Chapter 3:  Verses 1-6 and 14-17.

———————-

“Crossing the Jordan” is an expression of going through death to get to heaven (the Promised Land).  But, we do not go alone.

First, today’s Scripture reminds us that, like the ark of the covenant went first, God goes before us.  “Do not let your heart be troubled;  believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;  if it were not so, I would have told you;  for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:1-3.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.  For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own order:  Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”  1 Corinthians 15:20-26.

Second, today’s Scripture reminds us that, like “all Israel crossed on dry land”, “all” of God’s elect will safely “cross the Jordan”, so to speak, and arrive in heaven.  Not one will be lost.  This is “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”  John 10:27-30.

“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me;  and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”  John 17:12.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30.