Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 11, 2024

“To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours” – “it is the gift of God”

Today, January 12, rather than prepare an entirely new devotion based on the next Scripture, I have decided to make extensive additions and changes to yesterday’s January 11, 2024 devotion.  The importance of a true understanding of faith deserves this pause over this topic. God willing, the next devotion will be Sunday, January 14.  

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 13:1-7.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2013&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.  …  I will drive them out from before the sons of Israel;  only allot it to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you.  Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”  Joshua 13:1 and 6-7.

————

Think of how difficult it would be for you to give a house that was occupied by a hostile tenant to one of your children. And yet, that is a comparison was what Joshua was called to do.

Although the LORD promised to drive Israel’s enemies out from these lands, and there was already great progress as we read in previous chapters, verse 1 stated that “very much of the land remains to be possessed” by Israel.

It is not difficult to believe “pie in the sky” promises and dream about them being completely fulfilled sometime in the future so long as we are not required to take action before they are completely fulfilled. But, it is much more difficult to take action upon such a promise now when we can still see our enemies in front of us.

So to speak, the LORD required more from Joshua than “only” the faith that other doctrine provides through the wisdom and will of man. 

The LORD commanded Joshua to act on the basis of the faith that the LORD gave Joshua.  The LORD commanded Joshua to allot and apportion the land even though the land was full of Israel’s enemies who hated Israel and were eager to go to war against them and kill them.  

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine teaches that faith comes to us as a gift of God.  And that God-given faith produces good works.

“And what more shall I say?  For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”  Hebrews 11:32-34.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10. 

The Reformed confessions clearly and consistently teach that faith is a gift of God.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

Article 14. Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure; but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him; or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ; but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

“Q. 21. What is true faith?

A. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.

Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.

Article 22: Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him. For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him. … And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.

“… To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:1-3.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3.

“For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7.

That faith is a justifying faith that Christ purchased for all His elect and only His elect through His death on the cross.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Article 8. For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; …”

Moreover, this is a faith which produces good works.  

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof. 

Article 11. But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, … that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

In summary, Christ is fully our Savior Who gave us all that we need for salvation, including justifying faith and Who made us zealous for good deeds, “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 10, 2024

“You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua chapter 12.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2012&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“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:  …  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.

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, 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:  …”  Joshua 12:1 and 6-8.

——————-

“You shall consume all the peoples whom the LORD your God will deliver to you;  your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

“If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I;  how can I dispossess them?’  you shall not be afraid of them;  you shall well remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:  the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out.  So shall the LORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.  Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish.  You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.  The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little;  you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.  But the LORD your God will deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed.  He will deliver their kings into your hand so that you will make their name perish from under heaven;  no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them.”  Deuteronomy 7:16-24.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;  for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:8-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 9, 2024

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 11:16-23.

“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 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.  Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings.  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.  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.

Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all the hill country of Israel.  Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.  There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel;  only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained.  So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes.  Thus the land had rest from war.”  Joshua 11:16-23.

————– 

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

Today’s Scripture presents another example of the sovereignty of God, even to the point of hardening the hearts of some.  “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.”  Verse 20.  

We read of another example of God hardening the hearts of the Egyptians.  “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them;  and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.  Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”  Exodus 14:17-18. 

Other doctrine preaches and teaches that salvation is dependent on man’s will.

But, Reformed Doctrine preaches and teaches that salvation is dependent on God’s will.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:14-18.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 8, 2024

“if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments … blessings will come upon you”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 11:1-15.

“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, 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— 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.  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.  So all of these kings having agreed to meet, came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

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.”  So Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them.  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.  Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him;  he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.

Then Joshua turned back at that time, and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword;  for Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms.  They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them;  there was no one left who breathed.  And he burned Hazor with fire.  Joshua captured all the cities of these kings, and all their kings, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them;  just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.  However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.  All the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder;  but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them.  They left no one who breathed.  Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did;  he left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.”  Joshua 11:1-15.

—————-

The theme of today’s devotion is to be careful and diligent to obey all that the LORD commands us.  

Deuteronomy chapter 28 details both the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.  It is also profitable to compare the number of 12 verses of blessings with the many more number of 54 verses of curses in order to properly fear God and not only consider the blessings. Here is a link to this chapter –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028&version=NASB1995

“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God:”  Deuteronomy 28:1-2.

“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5.

But, there is hope!

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.  You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers;  so you will be My people, and I will be your God.”  Ezekiel 36:26-28.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 7, 2024

“Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.” – “Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 10:29-43.

“Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.  The LORD gave it also with its king into the hands of Israel, and he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword.  He left no survivor in it.  Thus he did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it.  The LORD gave Lachish into the hands of Israel;  and he captured it on the second day, and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor.

And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it.  They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword;  and he utterly destroyed that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it.  They captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword.  He left no survivor, according to all that he had done to Eglon.  And he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and they fought against it.  He captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person who was in it.  He left no survivor.  Just as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had also done to Libnah and its king.

Thus Joshua struck all the land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings.  He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.  Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen even as far as Gibeon.  Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.  So Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.”  Joshua 10:29-43.

—————–

It is stunning to read the summary.  “…  He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.”  Verse 40.  

And, if that summary was not enough, in each victory we read words to the effect:  “He left no survivor, …  And he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.”  Verse 37. 

“10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
12 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.
13 “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
14 “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;
I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:10-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 5, 2024

“Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings. … for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 10:16-28.

“Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah.  It was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”  Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them, but do not stay there yourselves;  pursue your enemies and attack them in the rear.  Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”  It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter, until they were destroyed, and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities, that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace.  No one uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel.

Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.”  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.  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.  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.”  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.  It came about at sunset that Joshua gave a command, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.

Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword;  he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it. He left no survivor.  Thus he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.”  Joshua 10:16-28.

—————

“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.”  Joshua 10:8. 

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace;  and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff;  and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”  “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings;  and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.  You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts.”  Malachi 4:1-3.

“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 19:27.

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:13-15.

“then comes the end, when He (Christ) 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 15:24-25. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 4, 2024

“for the LORD fought for Israel.”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 10:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2010&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“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.”  So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors.  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.”  So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.  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.  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.

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.”
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.  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.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal.”  Joshua 10:6-15. 

——————-

As the LORD fought for Israel when Moses led Israel, the LORD fought for Israel when Joshua led Israel.  Remember the following Scriptures. 

“But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today;  for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.  The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”  Exodus 14:13-14. 

“3 “The LORD is a warrior;
The LORD is His name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 “The deeps cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.” Exodus 15:3-6.

And the LORD fights for us today through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.” Luke 1:68-75.

“The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17. 

“then comes the end, when He (Christ) 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 15:24-25. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 3, 2024

“do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%209&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 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, 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.  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.”  The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land;  how then shall we make a covenant with you?”  But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.”  Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”  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, 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.  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.”’  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.  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.”  So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.  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.

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.  …

Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land?  Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”  Joshua 9:3-16 and 22-23.

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Like Israel, we may “… not ask for the counsel of the LORD.”  Verse 14.  We may be very confident on what is the best action to take.

But, what does Scripture exhort us to do?  

“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.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

“3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.” Proverbs 2:3-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 2, 2024

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse” – “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 8:30-35.

“Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no man had wielded an iron tool;  and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.  He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.  All Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as the native.  Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had given command at first to bless the people of Israel.  Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.  There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.”  Joshua 8:30-35.

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Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on the blessings and the curses.  See Deuteronomy 28:1-14 for the blessings, and see Deuteronomy 28:15-68 for the curses.  Here is the link to read these Scriptures –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028&version=NASB1995

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:  the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today;  and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

“It shall come about, when the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.  Are they not across the Jordan, west of the way toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?  For you are about to cross the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall possess it and live in it, and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which I am setting before you today.”  Deuteronomy 11:18-29. 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8.

“7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11.

The Scriptures point us to Christ in Whom are all the promises and all of the blessings.

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life;  it is these that testify about Me;  and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”  John 5:39-40. 

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:36.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24.

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him (Christ) they are yes;  therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:20-21. 

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  1 John 5:11-12.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | January 1, 2024

“Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. … You have led the people whom You have redeemed”

Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 8:10-29.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%208&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“It came about when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose up early and went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people at the appointed place before the desert plain.  But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.  Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.  And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.  So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.”  So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.  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.  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.  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.  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.  But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.

Now when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them were fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed, then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword.  All who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000—all the people of Ai.  For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.  Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He had commanded Joshua.  So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day.  He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening;  and at sunset Joshua gave command and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the city gate, and raised over it a great heap of stones that stands to this day.”  Joshua 8:14-29.

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The defeat, the destruction, and the desolation of Ai was done totally, perfectly, and described in great detail not only for the sake of Israel but to show the LORD’S total and perfect power over His enemies and the LORD’S total and perfect love for His beloved chosen people.   

“3 “The LORD is a warrior;
The LORD is His name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 “The deeps cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.” Exodus 15:3-6.

“11 “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD?
Who is like You, majestic in holiness,
Awesome in praises, working wonders?
12 “You stretched out Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 “In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation.“ Exodus 15:11-13.

“17 “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,
The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling,
The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established.
18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.” Exodus 15:17-18.

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