Sun.’s Devo - Taking the Land

Read: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4 The people of Gibeon lived three days journey from the path the Israelites were taking. They knew they were next on to be conquered so they resorted to deception to save their lives. They sent ambassadors with moldy bread and worn out clothes and wine in patched wineskins. They told the leaders of Israel that they had traveled a long distance and had heard all their God had done for them in Egypt, Bashan, Heshbon, Jericho and Ai. They wanted them to believe that they didn’t live in the boundaries of the promised land so they would make a covenant of peace with them. *** It worked. Joshua didn’t consult the Lord; he believed them and made a covenant with them. Three days later they came upon their city and the deception was revealed. Joshua cursed them and told them that they would always be their servants who would cut their wood and carry their water for the house of God when they built it. They agreed to do that. *** Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem heard all that had gone on with Israel and sent for Hoham, king of Hebron; Piram, king of Jarmuth; Japhia, king of Lachish and Debir, king of Eglon. They combined their armies to attack Gideon. *** Gideon called on Israel to help them. The Lord told Joshua he would give them victory so Joshua took his entire army and surprised the Amorite armies. The Amorites panicked and Israel slaughtered them. They chased them to Azekah and Makkedah. The Lord threw down huge hail stones from heaven at them and killed more of them than the Israelites did. *** Joshua commanded the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon to stand still over the valley of Aijalon. So the sky stayed light until Israel had defeated its enemies. *** The kings of the five nations had hidden in a cave so Joshua had his men put stones over the entrance and stationed guards to guard it. When they finished crushing their enemies, they returned and removed the rocks. They brought out the five kings and had their commanders put their feet on the kings’ necks. Joshua told his commanders that they need never be afraid, then he killed the five kings impaling them on five sharpened poles until evening. At evening, Joshua took their bodies down and threw them back into the cave and had the rocks put back over the opening. *** Joshua then took the town of Makkedah and Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir killing their kings and leaving no survivors. They went on to take the people of the hills, the foothills, and the mountain slopes from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza. Then they returned to Gilgal. *** Jesus told a story about two men. One was rich but Lazareth was a beggar at the gate of the rich man. They both died and Lazareth was carried by angels to where Abraham was, but the rich man was buried and taken to hell. The rich man cried out for mercy to Abraham. But Abraham reminded him of his lifestyle of comfort and opulence. Lazareth lived in anguish but he was comforted now. The rich man would not be able to cross the chasm between them. *** The rich man then asked Abraham to send Lazareth to his five brothers and warn them so they wouldn’t end up where he was. Abraham told him that if they wouldn’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they wouldn’t be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead. *** Jesus was referring to the fact that he was about to rise from the dead and it wound’t be enough to persuade those whose hearts were hard. *** Jesus told his disciples that they would always be tempted but warned them never be the one who tempts another to sin. It will not go well for that person. *** If a believer repents of a sin against another, that person must forgive him even if the sinner asks seven time a day. Wow! The disciples asked Jesus how to increase their faith and Jesus told them to speak to whatever they wanted removed and it would go. So to increase our faith we need to take authority and speak to our problems. *** Lord, may we increase our faith by using our authority you died to give us. May we humbly and fearfully walk not only doing what is expected of us but daily offering a sacrifice of praise to you and pleasing you with our hearts.