Joshua is making the people think, “…choose this day whom you will serve” (v. 15). When the people say, “We too will serve the Lord” (v. 18), he makes them think again, “You are not able to serve the Lord…”. Now the people say with conviction, “No! We will serve
Continue readingJoshua’s final words of exhortation:1. Steadfast to observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses (v. 6). 2. Careful to love the Lord (v. 11). Joshua’s farewell speech is very much like the speech Moses gave toward the end of his life (Deut
Continue readingJoshua appreciated the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for keeping their words. He blessed them and sent them away. They had set up an altar with a good intent as a witness between two sides and between two generations. However, the Israelites having thought to themselves that
Continue reading“Not one of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (v. 45). Our God is a promise-giving God and promise-keeping God. God gives promises and He is faithful to fulfill all the promises. (v41-42) Levites received 48
Continue readingThey have divided the conquered land and what’s the first thing God reminds them to do? Setup cities of refuge for accidental and unintentional murderers. Was accidental murders so prevalent that it became a priority or was God teaching them something? Maybe it shows how much importance God gave to
Continue readingJoshua got his inheritance after all the tribes had been allocated their portions (v. 49). As a great leader, Joshua distributed the land to the Israelites first and then he rebuilt his preferred town and settled in it. Though he had his own choice, he waited till the end. Also,
Continue readingBenjamin is so lucky that he got “Bethel” where God gave vision in the dream to Jacob, and Jebusite city (that is “Jerusalem”), which became the Holy land of Israel. -(Gen 28:17) How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate
Continue readingThe tribe of Joshua wanted an easy answer to their question, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, since we are a numerous people, whom all along the Lord has blessed?” (v. 14). Instead of giving an easy answer, Joshua affirmed and challenged
Continue readingThe Canaanites were considered strong (Numbers 13). However, the same Canaanites have been made to do forced labor (v. 10). I’m not supporting forced labor neither would God support but I’m amazed by God’s doing. With God all things are possible. Nothing really stands out in this chapter and I
Continue readingIt’s easier to stayed united during a war than after it. There is still a lot of unconquered land but they are holding it together. We don’t know if they satisfied everyone’s personal preferences but they certainly did satisfy Caleb’s. An extremely difficult job looks easy because of the trust
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