Read: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4
The men of Gibeon deceived the Israelites into thinking they were from a land way beyond their boundaries so Israel would make a covenant of peace with them. Joshua should have asked the Lord if they should make a covenant with them, but he thought he could make one decision on his own. He did, and it was the wrong one. If he would have asked God, he would have told him the truth. Joshua made a covenant with them only to find out that they were the next towns on their path. Israel wanted to go kill them anyway but Joshua made them keep their covenant and instead made them servants of Israel. They would carry their water and chop down their wood.
When the five kings of the Amorites heard what the little towns had done, they set out to kill them. The Gibeonites sent messengers to Joshua to come and help them. They marched all night to Gibeon and then fought all day. As Israel was chasing them home, God threw huge hailstones at them and joined in the battle.
During that battle, Joshua asked God to stop the sun at noon and let it stay there so they could finish their war. God listen to Joshua and they had daylight for a whole day. They captured the five kings and hung them the next day and put them in a cave with rocks the opening. Sounds like Satan got so mad at God for taking his main leaders and did the same to God’s son when he came. Satan is never original, he copies God.
Joshua led his army to Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, destoying their cities, killing their kings and leaving no survivors. Joshua did exactly what God told him to do.
In Luke, Jesus tells a parable about a rich man who enjoyed his wealth while a beggar sat outside his house suffering and hungry. They both died. The beggar was taken by angels to heaven while the rich man was buried in the ground. The rich man begged for Lazareth to bring a drop of water to soothe his thirst. Their roles were completely reversed in death. The beggar became the king and the rich man - the beggar.
Jesus went on to talk about forgiveness. He explained that the Pharisees and religious leaders were trying so hard to do the tangible things in their law while forgetting the matters of the heart like forgiveness. Obeying their laws were what a servant was required to do and it would not make them worthy to get to heaven. Heaven is a matter of the heart.
Lord, help us to guard our hearts and choose forgiveness rather than revenge. Remind us that we can’t do anything on our own but your wisdom and guidance is available to us for the asking.
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