37 lines
4.4 KiB
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37 lines
4.4 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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September 1
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<h1>Joshua Leading the People in God's Victory</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho…a <b>Man</b> stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You <b>for us</b> or <b>for our adversaries</b>?" So He said, "<b>No</b>, but as <b>Commander</b> of the army of the LORD I have now come." And <b>Joshua fell on his face</b> to the earth and <b>worshiped</b>, and said to Him, "What does <b>my LORD</b> say to <b>His servant</b>?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jos', 5, '13-14');">Joshua 5:13-14</a>)</div>
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<p>When Moses pointed Israel to the Lord for battle, he was teaching God's people to live by <b>grace</b> (which involves <b>God at work</b> on behalf of His people). <i>"The LORD your God is <b>He who goes with you</b>, to <b>fight for you against your enemies</b>, to save you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Deu', 20, '4-4');">Deuteronomy 20:4</a>). Joshua demonstrated this same truth, when he <b>led the people in God's victory</b>.</p>
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<p>Before the first battle at Jericho, God gave Joshua the opportunity to commit to the <b>Lord</b> as the <b>Commander</b> of the army of Israel. <i>"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho…a <b>Man</b> stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You <b>for us</b> or <b>for our adversaries</b>'?"</i> The Lord appeared in the form of an armed soldier. Joshua asked if the man was <b>for</b> Israel or <b>against</b> them. The Lord responded that it was not a matter of being for or against Israel, but that He was <b>in charge of</b> Israel. <i>"'No, but as <b>Commander</b> of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And <b>Joshua</b> fell <b>on his face</b> to the earth and <b>worshiped</b>."</i> At this point <b>Joshua</b> fully <b>yielded</b> to the Lord as the leader of God's army. <i>"What does <b>my LORD</b> say to <b>His servant</b>?"</i> Any victories would have to be provided by this <b>divine Commander</b>.</p>
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<p>At Jericho, this divine Commander would cause the walls to fall down, as His people would humbly trust Him, obediently marching around the city. <i>"And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that <b>the wall fell down flat</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jos', 6, '20-20');">Joshua 6:20</a>). At Ai, the Commander gave Joshua a two-pronged ambush strategy. <i>"<b>We</b> will <b>flee</b> before them. Then <b>you</b> shall rise from the <b>ambush</b> and seize the city, for the <b>LORD</b> your God will <b>deliver</b> it into your hand"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jos', 8, '6-7');">Joshua 8:6-7</a>). Against the Amorite kings, large hailstones and an extended day were used by the Commander to bring a mighty victory. <i>"The <b>LORD</b> cast down <b>large hailstones</b> from heaven…So the <b>sun stood still</b> in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a <b>whole</b> day"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jos', 10, '11-11');">Joshua 10:11</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Jos', 10, '13-13');">13</a>). Whether by perplexing marching orders, by understandable strategy, by "natural phenomenon," or by miraculously extended time, the <b>Commander</b> brought victory.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Mighty God of Israel, I look to You to be the One Who is in charge of my battles, the One Who fights for me. Lord, bring forth victory by any means You desire—whether perplexing, understandable, "natural," or miraculous, Amen.</div>
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