Sat.’s Devo - Responsibility

Read: Joshua 16:1-18:28; Luke 19:1-27; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 13:11 Joseph’s allotment went to his sons’ Manasseh and Ephraim. Half of Manasseh’s land was east of the Jordan and half on the west side. Their land was the largest of all the tribes. Ephraim’s portion was south of Manasseh’s land west of the Jordan. Both the people of Manasseh and those of Ephraim were not able to drive all the Canaanites out of their land so they made them do forced labor. *** The people of Joseph complained that they had too many people for the amount of land they were given in the hills. But, they complained that the land in the valley was full of Canaanites with iron chariots. Joshua told them that they were a great powerful nation and that they could take the Canaanites even if the do have iron chariots. *** Now, there were still seven tribes who had yet to receive their land. Joshua rebuked them for not taking possession of their land. He told them for each tribe to send out three surveyors from each tribe to bring him a description of the land. They were to divide the land into seven sections and he would draw lots to see who got what land. *** They brought the map to Joshua and he cast lots for the land and gave it out. *** Benjamin was given the land including Jericho. his land included 26 cities. *** In Luke, Jesus entered Jericho, the home of Zacchaeus who was a hated tax collector. Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming and wanted to see him. Since he was short, he climbed a sycamore tree to be able to see. Jesus saw him and told him to come down because he was eating at his house that day. The people criticized Jesus for wanting to eat at the home of a sinner. *** Zacchaeus was so honored he repented immediately and promised to give back all the money and more that he had defrauded from his people. Jesus commented that this was what true repentance looks like. *** Jesus told a parable about a wealthy man who left his home to receive a kingdom for himself. He left his estate to 10 servants, giving them each a mina. He told them to use what he gave them to invest. The citizens of the city hated him and sent a delegation to tell him they didn’t want him to reign over them. *** When he returned he found that the first man had taken his one mina and made 10 more. The master told him because he had been faithful in this small thing, he would make him ruler over ten of his cities in his kingdom. The next man had take his one and made five more. He was commended and given 5 cities. Then another came and gave his mina back saying he knew he would not get anything from making this man rich so he did nothing with it. He was rebuked for not at least putting it in the bank and letting it gain interest. He took the one mina from him and gave it to the one who had 10. *** Jesus then explained that whoever has. more will be given them and whoever has nothing, even what he has will be taken from him. He was saying that if you don’t use what God has given you for the kingdom, you will end up with nothing, but if you use your talents, money, time, etc, to benefit the kingdom, more will be given you. Life is our prooving place. We are all being tested for eternity. *** The master had the ones who wanted him to leave and not rule over them brought to him. He commanded that they be slaughtered. These are those who refuse to want him as their Lord and king. *** Lord, may we take responsibility of the things you put before us. May we learn from this that our lives count for eternity, and may we grow in responsibility and faithfulness.

Fri.’s Devo - Taking Their Inheritance

Read: Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10 Joshua did what God told him to do and divided the land, giving the largest tribe the largest amount of land. The first allotment went to Judah. Its boundaries and every city given to Judah was described and listed. *** This was Caleb’s tribe and he had asked for the land he scouted out 40 years before. It included the city where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried which was Kiriath-Arba. It was now occupied by the Anaks who were giants. Caleb took out three of them, then went on to the city of Debir. He offered his daughter, Achsah, in marriage to whoever led the charge and captured the city of Debir. Caleb’s nephew, Othniel captured the city and got a wife for a reward. She asked Caleb for the land of the Negeb with its spring for a wedding present. Caleb granted her request and gave her the upper and lower springs. *** The land given to Judah included 112 cities and many towns and villages. They drove out all the enemies from their land except the Jebusites from Jerusalem. *** In Luke, a ruler came to Jesus and called him a “Good” Teacher. Then he asked him what he must do to receive eternal life. So, Jesus told him to follow the commandments and named a few. The man did all that, so Jesus then dealt with his heart which was really how a person receives eternal life. He told the man to sell all he had and give it to the poor and follow him. *** The man became very sad because he was very wealthy and couldn’t do what Jesus asked. Jesus explained that it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. But, he added that with God anything was possible. What he was saying was, without the Lord, it would be hard for a wealthy man to understand losing it all for something he could’t see. *** Then he told his disciples that anyone who does give up everything for the sake of the kingdom will receive many times more in this time and eternal life in the age to come. *** Jesus warned his disciples that they were coming to Jerusalem where the Son of Man would be delivered over to the Gentiles and abused to death. But, he would rise on the third day. They could not understand what he was saying because God hid it from them. *** As they neared Jericho, they passed a blind man who was sitting beside the road begging. When he learned that Jesus was coming, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” This man was announcing his arrival and who he was. He may have been physically blind, but he was seeing perfectly, spiritually. Jesus told him to be silent and when he refused, Jesus had him brought to him and asked him what he wanted. He wanted to see again, so Jesus told him his faith had made him well, and he could see. The people gave glory to God. *** Caleb, Othniel, Achsah and the blind man all knew what they wanted and got it. *** Lord, may we be spiritually awake and able to see what you are doing in our day, like this blind man saw in his day. May we see our inheritance and receive it. May our faith lead us to victory.

Thurs.’s Devo - Time to Divide the Land

Read: Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8 The land left to be conquered belonged to the Philistines and the Geshurites. There were five rulers of the Philistine cities of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. There was also the land of the Avvim, Canaanites, Sidoniains, and Gebalites yet to be taken. Joshua was old and the Lord told him that He, himself would drive these nations out before them. Joshua was to divide all the land west of the Jordan between the nine and a half tribes tribes who had not received their inheritance. The Levites received no inheritance but their inheritance was the offerings offered to the Lord. *** As the Lord was describing the land already given to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan we read that Balaam, the sorcerer hired to curse Israel, had been killed fighting against Israel. The boundaries of their land was mapped out and they already lived and enjoyed their inheritance. *** The rest of the nine and a half tribes had yet to enjoy their land. Caleb came to Joshua and reminded him that Moses had promised him 40 years ago that he could have his choice of the land the land he had scouted out. He had been the only spy, other than Joshua who had encouraged the people to take the land. Caleb wanted the land of Hebron, where the burying place of their forefathers was. It was also the place where the biggest giants reigned. Joshua granted his request. *** In Luke, Jesus gave them a parable to teach them to never give up in their prayers. Caleb never gave up on his promise from Moses and this widow who wanted justice from her enemy didn’t either. If an unrighteousness judge can give this widow what she asked because she wore him out, how much more will God, who loves us, hear our requests and give us what we ask. Jesus asked the question, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Will he find us praying and believing him for justice? *** Jesus told the parable about the two men’s prayers to expose the hearts of those who thought they were so righteous, yet they treated others wrongly. The person whose heart is humble towards God and man was the one whose prayer would be heard. Then Jesus explained that the kingdom of God is given to those who come to him like a child does. *** Lord, may we be humble towards you and all we interact with. May we come to you as your children who are in need of justice and mercy. You alone are everything we need and want.

Wed.’s Devo - Complete Victory!

Read: Joshua 11:1-12:24; Luke 17:11-37; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 13:5-6 Joshua continues conquering the the land in today’s reading. Jabin, the king of Hazor who ruled north boarding Syria and Assyria summoned three other kings to join with him in fighting Israel. They came out with a huge army on horses and chariots from the north, south, east and west. *** God told Joshua not to fear because in a day he would give them all to him. They were to kill them, hamstring their horses and burn their chariots. They did a surprise attack and chased them down and defeated them. They hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots just like the Lord said. Joshua captured the city of Hazor who was the head of all those kingdoms. It was like the principality of all the other demons. Joshua killed all its inhabitants and burned Hazor to the ground. He killed their king with the sword and devoted them all to destruction. *** Joshua did not burn down the other cities but took the spoil from them. He took all their land and notice that part of that land was Goshen which is not the Goshen Jacob and his sons had lived outside of Egypt when Joseph ruled Egypt. This was a city in the mountains of Judah. They acquired cities, hill country, plains, mountains and valleys. *** Joshua killed the Anakin and destroyed their cities. He took all the land the Lord had given to Moses as an inheritance to the children of Israel. *** Israel defeated two kings east of the Jordan and 31 kings in the promised land making it a total of 33 kings. They took possession of their cities, their goods and killed all who breathed. They did exactly what the Lord told them to do. *** In Luke, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when he met 10 lepers begging him to have mercy on them. Instead of healing them, he told them to go show themselves to the priests. As they obeyed and went, they were healed. The Samaritan returned to thank Jesus. Jesus asked where the others were. Then he told the one to go his way because his faith had made him whole, not just healed - whole. He got the whole package, Salvation, healing, and a future in the kingdom. *** The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus explained that the coming of the kingdom was not something they would be able to see with their natural eyes. The kingdom of God is a presence that will be in you. *** Then Jesus told his disciples that the time would come when they would long to see one of the days of the son of man. We see that in our day. We are longing to see someone do the miracles that Jesus did and when we hear of it, we go chasing after it. Jesus said not to do this, because when that day comes where we will be doing the works of Christ it will be like lightning that starts at one side of the heavens and quickly spreads to the other. Miracle revivals will be like that. *** Jesus then shifts to the present and prepares them for the fact that they are going to see him suffer greatly and be rejected by their generation. *** Jesus then shifts back to the days of the Son of Man. It is compared to both the days of Noah before the flood and the days of Sodom before it was destroyed. It will be business as usual, then the wicked will be taken out. It will be too late to repent. The ones left will be saved and experience the days of the Son of Man. *** When his disciples asked where they would be taken he said, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” A corpse is a dead person, so the ones who are removed or taken are those who die and are eaten by the birds, which was what they said happened to wicked people who died. This was just to give us insight into who was leaving and who was staying. *** Lord, help us to have great discernment in the days we are in. May we trust your presence within us. Thank you that you are in control and we can trust in your plan.

Tues.’s Devo - Conquering Kings

Read: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4 Gibeon was one of the royal cities of the Hivites. They knew that God had commanded Moses to give them all the land and to destroy all of its inhabitants. They also heard about all the cities that Joshua had already taken. Instead of joining with the other “ites” in a war against Joshua, they came up with a better plan. They took old moldy food and put on worn out clothes and sandals and went to meet with Joshua. They explained how they were from a far off country and were passing through. They wanted to make a covenant with him of peace. Joshua didn’t want to make a covenant with them in case they lived close by, but when he saw all their old clothes and molded bread, he believed them. Instead of asking the Lord, Joshua let them deceive him into making a covenant with them. *** Three days later, they found out they did live among them, but it was too late; they had made a covenant with them. They went to see them in their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim but could not attack them because of their covenant. The people of Israel grumbled against their own leaders for making the covenant. Joshua told the people that since they couldn’t kill them, they could make them cut their wood and draw their water. The people the cities were happy to be able to serve them and live. *** When the king of Jerusalem, Adoni-zedek heard how Joshua had captured Ai and Jericho and had now make a covenant with Gibeon, he met with he kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon to wage war against the people of Gibeon for making a covenant of peace with Israel. *** The people of Gibeon then went to Joshua and asked for help to fight all these nations. The Lord told Joshua not to fear because He would give them into his hand. Joshua marched his army all night and when they reached Gibeon, the Lord threw their enemies into such a panic, they ran. Israel chased them to Azekah and Makkedah where the Lord threw down huge hail stones from heaven to kill them. More died from the hail than the swords of Israel. *** Joshua prayed that the sun would not go down so they could finish fighting and it stood still for a whole day until they could finish the fight. They returned to Gilgal in victory. The five kings of the nations they had fought all hid in the cave at Makkedah. Joshua had stones rolled over the entrance so they couldn’t escape while they fought. After their total victory, they returned to the cave and had the five kings brought out. He had all the men of Israel put their feet on the necks of the kings. He did this to take away all the fear of them and the kings they would meet in the future. Then Joshua killed the kings and hung them on five trees. When evening came, he had their bodies thrown into the cave they had hidden in and rolled the stone back over the opening. (They did not rise from their grave like Jesus did.) *** Joshua then took the city of Makkedah and killed all of its inhabitants and the king. Joshua continued to the city of Lachish and took it and killed the king. *** Horam, king Gezer came with his army to help Lachish but they were killed also. Joshua then went on to Eglon and captured it in a day and killed all its people and king. They went to Hebron and captured it, killing its occupants. They did the same to Debir. ***Joshua struck the whole land devoting everything that breathed to destruction. Joshua captured all the kings and their land from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. Then he returned to their camp in Gilgal. *** In Luke, Jesus told the story of a poor man named Lazarus who begged at the gate of a rich man’s estate. The rich man enjoyed his good food while Lazareth longed to eat his scraps. Lazareth died and was taken to Sheol by angels and lay with Abraham. *** The rich man also died and was taken to Hades where there was a deep chasm between where Lazareth and Abraham rested and where the rich man was. Hades was a place of fire, anguish, and drought where Abraham was was a place of refreshing. He begged Abraham to bring him a drop of water to drink but Abraham reminded him of the pleasure he enjoyed in his lifetime and the lack and pain Lazareth endured in his lifetime. Lazareth was now being comforted, but the rich man was in anguish. There was no way they could cross over to him. *** Then the man begged him to send someone to warn his family about hell. Abraham said they had Moses and the Prophets to warn them. The man contested that if he would send someone from the dead they would listen. Abraham told him if they wouldn’t listen to the prophets or Moses, they would not listen to someone who rose from the dead. Jesus was telling this story to the Pharisees who didn’t believe the prophets or Moses and still wouldn’t believe when he rose from the dead. They would be the ones who ended up in Hades. *** Jesus told his disciples, us, to be sure not to be the one to temp someone else to sin. He also encouraged us to rebuke a brother who is sinning so he will repent. If he does repent, then we must forgive him no matter how many times he has to ask us. It is God who judges sin. *** Jesus explained the relationship of a servant and his master. The master expects him to do what he says. If we only obey God as our master then we remain his slave. If we love, honor, give him our lives, worship and praise him, and seek to know him, we become his children and his friends. *** Lord, help us to go beyond just obeying you because it is the right thing to do. May our hearts be yours and may we enjoy a relationship with you as your child and your friend.

Mon.’s Devo - Accountability

Read: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 13:2-3 Yesterday we read where the Israelites were defeated by the small city of Ai. God revealed that there was sin in their camp and someone had stolen of the spoils of Jericho that they were told to totally destroy. Today, we read where God exposes who was guilty. God pinpointed it to Achan. He had coveted and stolen a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold. His selfish desires had cost the lives of 36 men and the humiliation of their nation. His sentence was to be stoned with stones and burned with fire till he died at the hands of his own people. *** Once this was taken care of, it was time to go take Ai. Joshua had chosen 3,000 men the last time. This time he chose 30,000. Joshua took most of the men to attack from the north. Then he took about 5,000 to wait in ambush from the west. The king Ai brought his army to fight Joshua’s army in the north. When they were drawn away from the city, God told Joshua to stretch out his javelin toward the city and the 5,000 attacked the unguarded city. They quickly took it and set it on fire. When their army looked back and saw their city on fire they lost hope and scattered. Israel captured them and none escaped. Twelve thousand were killed and took their king captive. *** God had told them they could take the spoil from Ai so they plundered the city and took the goods and the livestock. They hung the king on a tree and when he had died, they buried him under a heap of stones in the gate of the city. *** Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mt. Ebal and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on it to the Lord. He had the law of Moses written on the stones. The ark was brought into the valley with half of the people standing on Mt. Gerazim and half of them standing on Mt. Ebal. Joshua read all the commandments of the law to the people just as Moses had done in that very place. *** After this, all the kings left in the land - the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, teamed together to fight against Joshua and Israel. *** In Luke, Jesus told a story gives a story much like we just read in Joshua. This man was a rich man’s accountant. He found that his accountant had been embezzling his money. When the accountant realized he had been found out, he wanted to make some friends real quickly so they would give him a place to stay in his unemployment. He went to one of them men who owed his boss 100 measures of oil. He told him to tear up his debt and make it only 50 measures of oil. Then he went to another debtor of his master and had his debt reduced also. *** When the master found out what he had done, he commended him for his shrewdness. This evil man was planning for his future so he would have someone to take him in when he lost his job. He told the righteous that they could take a lesson from this and use their life on earth to prepare for their eternal life. How faithful we are in the way we live on earth will determine how we will live in the live hereafter. *** When the Pharisees heard this story they made fun of Jesus. He told them they were the ones who justified their sins before man, but God knew their hearts and he wasn’t falling for their lies. *** Jesus then threw in the law about adultery and divorcement. He was referring to spiritual adultery and divorcement. They were the ones who had divorced the law and were breaking it in secret. *** Lord, reveal to us our faults so that we bring ourselves to accountability and repent. May we live our lives with eternity in mind.

Sun.’s Devo - Taking Jericho

Read: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 31:1 When the kings of the Canaanites heard how the Lord dried up the Jordan River for the Israelites to cross over, they were totally afraid to fight them. *** God commanded Joshua to circumcise all the men since they had not been circumcised yet. When he did this, God said he had removed the reproach of Egypt from them on that day. He named the place Gilgal which means “a wheel.” They had now rolled out of their sinful state into a state of righteousness. *** They celebrated the Passover which was given to them when they were leaving Egypt. This Passover, they were leaving the wilderness and entering into their promise. This was the last time they ate manna. They now ate food the promised land provided. *** The commander of the army of the Lord came and met with Joshua to give him strategy for taking Jericho. The first thing he told him was to take off his shoes because the ground he was standing on was holy. *** Joshua came back and gave the people the plan. The men who were fighting age were to walk around the city for six days. Seven priest were walk, blowing trumpets before the ark. On the seventh day, they were to walk around it seven times and when the priests were to blew a long blast on their trumpets, the people were to shout. The walls will fall down flat and they could take the city. *** Joshua gave the instructions to his men and told them to walk silently so the only thing heard would be the trumpets. *** Can you imagine the fear that was mounting in the city? They were already afraid of the Israelites and their God and now they had to watch them encircle them every day blowing their trumpets. This had to be greatly intimidating. *** On the seventh day, when they shouted, the walls fell flat. They took the city and were supposed to destroy everyone and everything in it. The two spies rescued Rahab and all who were in her house. They lived outside of the camp but became a part of Israel. Rahab married an Israelite and they had a son named Boaz. He married Ruth, a Moabite and became part of the lineage of the Messiah. *** Joshua made a curse that if anyone tried to rebuild Jericho, they would lose their first born son when they laid its foundation and their youngest son would die when they set up its gates. *** When we traveled to Israel, our guide told us that a few decades ago, a man was trying to rebuild Jericho. He had three sons and the first one died when he laid the foundation. His youngest son begged his father to stop so he wouldn’t die. His father stopped excavation. God’s Word is timeless and has no expiration date. *** Unknown to Joshua, Achan from the tribe of Judah took some of the idols of the city of Jericho and hid them. *** The next city before them was Ai. When their spies looked it over, they reported it was small and would only take about 3,000 of their men to take it. Instead of a clean victory, they lost 36 mean and fled before the people of Ai. *** Joshua was so upset, he tore his clothes and fell on his face before the Lord. God explained that they had lost because their was sin in the camp. Someone had taken some of the idols Canaan secretly. They would have no more victories till they dealt with the sin. *** God told them to consecrate themselves and then have every tribe stand before him and he would show the clan that took the things. *** In Luke, Jesus was accused of attracting and welcoming tax collectors and sinners. Jesus explained they were the lost sheep, and heaven rejoiced more over one of them coming to repentance than 99 righteous people coming in who didn’t need to repent. *** Jesus gave them the story of the lost coin and the prodigal son. The woman in the story of the lost coin didn’t do anything wrong to lose the coin, but was so thankful when she found it. The father in the story of the prodigal son didn’t do anything wrong to lose his son. The prodigal son, chose to walk away and squander his inheritance. It took losing everything for him to wake up and realized what a great father he had. The older son of the father had never lost anything, but had lived in the blessing of his father. He was like the Pharisees who walked in the works of righteousness but had no compassion for the unfortunate. The father pointed out, that he should celebrate because his son was dead and now alive. Jesus was making the same parallel about the tax collectors and sinners. They were once spiritually dead with no hope, but were coming to life with his teaching. The Pharisees should be happy instead of judging. *** Lord, may we not judge people by their circumstances and outward appearances, but may we see them as you see them. May we see them as how you want them to be, saved and forgiven and prospering in righteousness. Thank you that you saw our sinful state and had compassion on us.