Read: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1
The Amorites had seen God part the Jordan so they were too afraid to come and meet the Israelites. This gave Joshua the advantage and he was able to surround Jericho and follow God’s plan for taking the city. God’s plan was not a military plan that anyone had ever seen. As they executed God’s plan, the enemy became more and more afraid every day. On the seventh day, the walls came down and they were able to take the city with the blast of a trumpet and a shout.
This is a picture of God’s 7,000 year plan. On the seventh day, or the 7,000th year, God will execute vengeance on his enemies and their kingdom will come down.
This city of Jericho was to be a tithe to the Lord. It was the first of ten cities they would take as a nation. All the plunder was to go to the Lord. When some of the people refused to give God the tithe, it hurt the whole nation. Their next battle was suppose to be a given but it was a total defeat.
In Luke, we have three stories. I want to look at these stories differently than we usually look at them. Let’s look at them in turns of numbers. In the first story we have one out of 99. In the next story we have one out of ten and in the last story we have one out of two. It’s like God lets us see closer and closer into the picture he is trying to teach. He is trying to show us the vastness of his mercy and how He loves. He sees us as a son, not just a number. God is very personal and invested in us. He loves us!
Lord, help us to understand the greatness of your love and give it to others.
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