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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 89 & 90

Mar31
Day 89 – 90.  Reading Judges 1-2 and 3-5. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you find encouraging or challenging today?

Judges 1.

It seems that after Joshua died, the people of Israel tried to finish the conquest of the Land.  The LORD had Judah lead the charge, along with Simeon, who was positioned inside Judah.  They were successful with God’s help in several campaigns.

Interestingly, the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law also fought with Judah, south into the Negev. Judah and Simeon went west and captured three Philistine cities, Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron. 

  • They cleared out and settled in the hill country, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because those people had chariots of Iron.
  • Benjamin could not drive out the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 
  • The house of Joseph (dual tribes) captured  Bethel with the help of a man of the city. They protected him and his family for the help – much like Israel had with Rahab and her family.  But Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants in some of their cities, putting them instead to forced labor. And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer.
  • Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of several areas but put them into forced labor.
  • Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, and other cities.
  • Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants in their area.
  • The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country and did not let them come down to the plain.

Joshua 2.

The Angel of the LORD came to the people at Gilgal.  “I brought you up from Egypt and into this land, I swore to give to your fathers. I told you I would never break my covenant with you, and YOU SHALL MAKE NO COVENANT with the inhabitants of this land. Instead, you shall break down their altars!”

“BUT, you have not obeyed my voice.  What is this you have done?  So, now I will not drive them out before you. They shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to trap you.“

And all the people wept.

  • And the people of Israel did what was EVIL in the sight of the LORD and served Baals.
  • They abandoned the LORD the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt.
  • They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them.
  • And they provoked the LORD to anger.
  • They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.

So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel and he gave them over to plunderers. And He sold them into the hands of their enemies, so they could no longer withstand them. And whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them.

And they were in terrible distress.

And then …. like a pitying Father … the LORD raised up judges (military leaders) who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

Yet they DID NOT LISTEN to their judges, for the whored after other gods and bowed down to them. 

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD saved them from the hand of their enemies.  He was moved to pity for their groaning.

But when the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than before, going after other gods, serving them, and bowing down to them.

(The book of Judges follows those SEVEN CYCLES OF SIN, each worse than the one before.

  • LORD, help me to be more mindful of the important instructions you have given me (for YOUR glory and MY good). Let me not get so involved with “MY” desires and plans that I forget what You have told me to do FIRST. Clean out the enemy! After all, You have promised to help me do it.

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Judges 3.

Here’s what the LORD did to test His people.  After those who fought and conquered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership died, the next generation seemed content to simply settle down in comfort. (Not a good plan!)

God wanted to teach “war” to those who had not known it before, so He left some of the pagan nations undefeated inside the Promised Land. Would young Israel obey the commandments of the LORD and drive them out?

Here are the nations: five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites and Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon.  (It looks like they didn’t make war on those.)  Instead the people LIVED AMONG the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 

They not only did NOT make war against them, they settled among them, intermarried, and served their gods.

Disgusting!

  • But wait….  Doesn’t the LORD also tell believers to cast off our old sin nature and cast down every evil thought against Him, and resist the devil? Hasn’t He given believers a suit of Armor to protect us, and the mighty Sword of the Spirit with which to stand and defeat the devil? Hasn’t He given us His Spirit to strengthen us?  So why don’t we make use of it all?  

1) “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served Baals and the Asheroth.” 

  • This angered God and He “sold them into the hand of the king of Mesopotamia for EIGHT YEARS.
  • They cried out to Him.  
  • The LORD raised up a deliverer who saved them – Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother from Judah. The spirit of the LORD was on him and he went to war and defeated that king.
  • So the land had rest for 40 years.
  • Then Othniel died.

2) The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 

  • He strengthened King Eglon, the king of the Moabites, plus the Ammonites and Amalekites. They defeated Israel and took the area around Jericho, and served him EIGHTEEN YEARS.
  • They cried out to the LORD.
  • The LORD raised up a deliverer – Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite.  When Israel sent “tribute” to King Eglon, Ehud went too, and stealthily killed the king with an 18″ double-edged sword. (A kind of funny story – read verses 16-26a.) 
  • Then Ehud ehud and the Israelites killed 10L Moabites, so they were subdued.
  • So the land had rest for 80 years.
  • And Ehud died.

3) The next judge was a converted Canaanite, Shamgar, who killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad and saved Israel.

Judges 4.

4) Again the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

  • God sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan who reigned at Hazor.  The commander of the army was the cruel Sisera. And he had 900 iron chariots. He oppressed the people for TWENTY YEARS.
  • The the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.
  • And the LORD raised up Deborah, a prophetess who judged Israel. She sent Commander Barak with 10K men from Naphtali and Zebulun, for the LORD had promised to give Sisera into his hand. He went and he LORD routed them all before Barak, pressing until they had killed the Canaanite king as well. 
  • Barak obeyed, knowing a woman would get credit for the battle’s win.  Not Deborah, but the wife Heber the Kenite, who fed the escaped Sisera some warm kefir and then pounded a tent stake through his skull while he slept.  YIKES!!
  • And the land had rest for 40 years.

Judges 5.

And they sang a song that Deborah wrote, all about the victory on that day, ending with, “So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as it rises in its might.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 88

Mar29
Day 84.  Reading Joshua 22 – 24. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 22.

 A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING! nearly causes war.

The war is over, the land in conquered, the eastern tribes turn toward home. They have fulfilled their promise to help their brothers. All is well.

Joshua sends them off with this word, “You have not forsaken your brothers. They have rest, so return to the land the LORD gave you.  ONLY … be very careful to OBSERVE the commandment and the law that the LORD commanded -‘to LOVE the LORD your God, and to WALK in all His ways and to KEEP His commandments and to CLING to Him and to SERVE Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ 

Then Joshua blessed them.

Then they build a big, imposing alter at the Jordan River.

WHAT?  Why?

The western tribes wanted to know too.  Were these eastern tribes turning already to worship the idols of the pagans?  If so, surely the LORD would punish them ALL.  And the whole assembly of the western tribes gathered “to make war against them.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa!   

Loyal and zealous priest, Phinehas, son of Eleazar the high priest, went to them.  “What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel? If you don’t like your portion, come back and take yourselves a portion in the LORD’s land where the tabernacle stands. Only do not rebel against the LORD by making an alter other than the alter of the LORD your God!“

“WAIT!” the eastern tribes cried.

Then they explained.  That huge alter was not for sacrifice or offerings. It was a MEMORIAL, “to be a witness between us and you and our generations after us, that we DO perform the service of the LORD in His presence.  Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away this day from following Him.”

Phinehas and the chiefs of the congregation then stood down. “It is good in our eyes.” And the good report spread to all the people of Israel, and they blessed God.  It was an alter of “witness” not of pagan worship. 

Whew!

Joshua 23.

A LONG TIME AFTERWARD,  when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies, and Joshua was “old and well advanced in years,” Joshua summoned all Israel (elders and heads, judges and officers) and spoke to them. 

The LORD has done all He promised you. “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right or the left, that you may NOT mix with these nations remaining among you, or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them, or serve them or bow down to them.  BUT YOU SHALL CLING TO THE LORD YOUR GOD JUST AS YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS DAY. Be very careful to love the LORD your God.”

Joshua knew it was his time to die.  He warns them of God’s goodness and the curses He could bring. You can LIVE, or you can PERISH.

Joshua 24.

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes together at Shechem.  There he retells the story of the people of God, from when Abraham was called out of the land beyond the Euphrates, God’s promises of a people, a land, and His presence to him and his descendants. He recalls their long stay in and rescue from Egypt, and their 40-year stay in the wilderness. He reminds them of how God helped them defeat all their enemies on the east of the Jordan, Jericho, and the westside of the Jordan River.  Now they are eating of the plenty they did not plant.

So.  And I think Joshua looked them straight in the eye to say, “If it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, whether the gods your fathers served in Egypt.  BUT FOR ME AND MY HOUSE —- WE WILL SERVE THE LORD”

And the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods.  “Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.”

Then Joshua said an unusual thing. He challenges their pledge.

“You are not ABLE to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. IF YOU FORSAKE THE LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”

“No, but we WILL serve the LORD!”

“You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve Him.”

“We are witnesses.”

“Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

“The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey.”

And Joshua made a covenant with the people, wrote it on a large stone and set it up under a terebinth tree there in Shechem.  “Behold this stone shall be a witness, for it has heard all the words.” 

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And there at Shechem, on land that his father, Jacob, had purchased from Hamor for 100 pieces of money, THEY BURIED THE BONES OF JOSEPH which the people had brought up from Egypt. (See Genesis 50:24-25 and Exodus 13:19)   It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. 

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And JOSHUA, THE SON OF NUN, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old. And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim.  

Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work the LORD did for Israel. (Sadly, only ONE generation.)

Then ELEAZAR, THE SON OF AARON died. They buried him at Gilbea, the town of Phinehas his son.

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 87

Mar28
Day 87.  Reading Joshua 19 – 21. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 19.

Another land distribution, with the last six tribes getting their portions.

  1. Simeon – in the middle of Judah because they were small
  2. Zebulun – a small portion near the Sea of Galilee
  3. Issachar – a slightly larger portion to the south of Zebulun
  4. Asher – runs along the Great Sea and includes Tyre, with Zebulun and Naphtali on the east
  5. Naphtali – boarders Asher on the West, and touches the Sea of Galilee, then North up to Mount Hermon  (Jesus’ Galilean ministry largely took place in Naphtali. (See Matthew 4:13-17)
  6. Dan – a small territory on the Great Sea coast at Joppa and touching Ephraim and Judah. Later they lose this land and settle on the far north edge of the Eastern Manasseh territory, which they also lose except for the city they named Dan. (See Judges 1:34-36, and 18:27-29)

Then, finally and last of all, Joshua took the territory saved for him. “By command of the LORD,” they gave him the city he asked for – Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim.  He rebuilt it and settled there.

Joshua 20.

Next, the LORD told Joshua to appoint the Cities of Refuge, where any who had accidentally killed someone without malice aforethought, could flee and live in safety from the “avenger of blood,” a family member of the deceased who sought vengeance. 

The cities were equally distributed in the Land, three east of the Jordan River, and three on the west side. 

KEDESH in Naphtali, SHECHEM in Ephraim, and HEBRON in Judah were on the west. 

BEZER in Reuben, RAMOTH in Gad, and GOLAN in Manasseh were east of the Jordan. 

Joshua 21.

And lastly, special cities within the tribes were given to the Levites, so they would be closer to the people to minister judgements of the law.

  • The direct descendants of Aaron the Priest were given cities in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (13 cities)
  • The rest of the Kohathites got cities from Ephraim, Dan, and the western 1/2 tribe of Manasseh (10 cities)
  • The Gershonites received cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and also the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh (13 cities)
  • The Merarites received cities from Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun (12 cites)

All the cities included pasturelands. (The rest of the chapter names the cities that each clan of the tribe of Levi received, 48 in all.)

And … “Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that He swore to give their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as He had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed, all came to pass.“

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 86

Mar27
Day 86.  Reading Joshua 16 – 18. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 16.

Today’s chapters continue with the distribution of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel after the LORD helped Joshua and the armies to defeat them.

The duel tribe of “Joseph” (Ephraim & Manasseh) receives their inheritance. First Ephraim’s portion is described. It was a large section from the Jordan River at Jericho almost to the  “Great Sea.”  The last verse in the chapter says, “However, they DID NOT drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so those people lived among them. but (like Gibeon) they were made to do forced labor.”

Joshua 17.

Then the other half of Joseph’s tribe – Manasseh – was given their land. Manasseh gets a lot of land because they were a large tribe.  They already received a huge portion on the East side of the Jordan. Now, continuing on the West side all the way to the Great Sea, they received more.

Again the scripture comment is, “Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of some of the cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in the land. Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor … but did not utterly drive them out.“

(All this is setting up the tribes for trouble later. God said to drive them ALL out and He would help them. God Knew the worship practices of the Canaanites would be a strong temptation to the Jews.)

Later the duel tribes of Joseph came to Joshua saying they did not have enough land.  Joshua told them to go into the hill country/forest and clear more land, and also to drive out the Canaanites in the plains.  Okay, okay, they DID have chariots of Iron, but Joshua was not moved.  “You shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong!“

(Way to lead, Josh!!)

Joshua 18.

Now the rest of the smaller tribes were to get their portions. Joshua set up a tent at Shiloh, got out the maps.  He called three men each (spies) from the remaining seven tribes and told them to go out and write a description of the land and bring it back. The remaining land would then be divided (by lots) accordingly into seven portions.

So they went out and wrote the descriptions “in a book” and returned. And Joshua cast lots for them before the LORD.

Benjamin was first and got the prime piece of land dead center in the land between Judah and Ephraim. Nestled at the bottom of their portion, on the boarder with Judah, was Jerusalem.  This “City of Gold” now ruled by the Jebusites, would one day be Israel’s capital, with God dwelling there in their midst in the magnificent Temple that King Solomon would build.

Benjamin also got the cities of Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Ramah, Mizpeh, and Gibeah (actually, 14 cities in all). And he got a finger hold of the Dead Sea, right at the top.

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Tomorrow the remaining 6 tribes will get their allotment, and Commander Joshua will finally get HIS special land grant from the LORD. 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 85

Mar26
Day 85.  Reading Joshua 12 – 15. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 12.

Taking stock after the conquest.

This chapter lists the victories of Israel over the kings and city-states, as they “took” the Land God gave to them, as per His covenant with Abraham.

On the East of the Jordan River, settled by 2.5 tribes, was the land from the edge of the River Arnon, clear north, past the Sea of Galilee to Mount Herman, and eastward to the Araba.  MOSES led the conquest of this territory.

On the West side of the Jordan River, JOSHUA led the conquest, beginning at Jericho, and including 31 kings, south from the Negev, along the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee clear north, to Mt Hermon and westward to Sidon on the Great Sea.

This amazing conquest was all due to the LORD’s faithful help and direction.

Chapter 13.

Although Joshua and Israel took all this land, there was some territory not completely conquered (which would later lead to their big problem of idolatry).

Also, the land of the Philistines (which would be a thorn in the side of Israel as a nation) should have been conquered. It included Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.  (Remember Goliath the giant and his four brothers were from Gath, and would taunt the armies of Israel under King Saul and King David.)

And up north the land of Lebanon and eastward, that hill country should have been taken.  There were areas on the edge of the 2.5 tribes’ territory also not settled.  God Himself would help to drive these out.  God told Israel to start living in these areas anyway. 

The rest of the chapter gives details on the land Moses gave to the 2.5 tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.

Joshua 14.

The land on the West of the Jordan River was divided up by lot by Eleazar the high priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes. (Levi received no land inheritance, but had cities scattered throughout the other tribes.)

During this time, Caleb (the other spy with Joshua who had given Moses a good report of the land 45 years ago) came to Joshua for his special inheritance in Judah.  He asked for the city of Hebron and the hill country surrounding it.  Joshua blessed him and gave it to him as his inheritance.  (This city was formerly know as Kiriath-Arba, (City of “Arba.” Arba was the greatest man among the giants.)

Joshua 15.

This chapter lists in detail the land and the occupants of the tribe of Judah, a very large land allotment. (Eventually this would represent the Southern Kingdom, after the Nation split in half after Solomon’s rule.)

Also, later, Simeon’s allotment would be absorbed into this area of Judah, as that tribe was small and weak.

But the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, could not be driven out at that time.  So the Jebusites continued on there. 

(LATER, King David would take the city from them and make Jerusalem the Capital of Israel.  The tabernacle and later the temple which Solomon would build would be in Jerusalem, the place the LORD chose to dwell among His people and put His Name there.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 84

Mar25
Day 84.  Reading Joshua 9 – 11. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 9.

Okay. A glorious defeat at Jericho! Then a humiliation at Ai. A second attack on Ai with victory. Has Israel and Joshua learned their lesson?

Meanwhile, six kings of nation-states in Canaan hear of Jericho and Ai (#2). They gather together as one to fight Israel. Whoa! This will be all-out warfare on the battleground. Having just defeated Ai, the people of Israel are confident. But too confident?

When the people of Gibeon (the Hivites) hear the same reports, they don’t strut with bravado. They act with cunning. They perform an elaborate hoax on Joshua and the leaders, pretending to be from a far country, wanting to make peace. Joshua knows that people “outside” the Promised Land don’t have to be destroyed, just subdued. He looks at their fake old bread and purposely torn clothes, and he believes that they’ve come from far, far away. (No seeking God’s face in the matter, we notice.) A pact is made. Joshua and the leaders of Israel swear to make peace with them. 

Oops! Three days after the covenant, Israel hears that these people are their near neighbors. Israel, being more honorable (though foolish and disobedient) is honor-bound not to attack them. And the congregation murmurs against Joshua, just as they had against Moses. (This time with cause. Joshua should have sought out the LORD!!!)

Joshua called them out asking why they had deceived him. Well, duh! “BECAUSE it was told to us for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded Moses to give you all the land and destroy all the inhabitants. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. Now, we are in your hands. Do what seems good and right.”

And so, the people of Gibeon became servants in Israel from that time on.

Joshua 10.

Israel’s had a rocky start. Hopefully, it’s behind them now. Keep sin out of the camp. Don’t underestimate the enemy. And don’t be tricked by them as well. 

Okay… Now, the king of Jerusalem was shaking in his “sandals.” He’d heard of Jericho. He’d heard of Ai, and now, Gibeon!!  Gibeon was a great city, one of the royal cities.  So this king sent to four other local kings and the five others and said.  “Let’s make war against Gibeon. 

Eek, said all the warriors of Gibeon, and they sent a May-day message to Joshua. “Come help us quickly. Save us, for all the kings are gathered against us.”

So now, Joshua and Israel find themselves fighting to save one of the Canaanite cities they should have destroyed!  This time, it seems Joshua may have consulted the LORD, for God promised him, “Do not fear for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand against you.” 

They marched all night up from Gilgal and surprised the massive army of kings.  The LORD threw them all into a panic, and Israel chased them away, striking as they went.  The LORD, had some fun too, throwing down great hailstones from heaven, so they died. There were MORE that died from the hail than the sword!!

Meanwhile, Joshua asked the LORD to make the sun and the moon stand still so they had light to fight. God answered. “And the sun stood still and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.”

(Remember, something like this happened before when Joshua and the tiny army of ex-slaves battled the Amalekites in the wilderness.  As long as Moses’ arms were held high, Joshua’s rag-tag army won. Exodus 17:10-13  Moses was dead, so Joshua asked God for the great solar ball to help him. )

Joshua and the army returned to Gilgal, while the five kings hid in the cave at Makkedah.  A scout reported to Joshua and he told them to roll stones in front of the cave’s mouth and stand guard.

Later after Joshua and the army wiped out all their enemies who had remained in the cities, Joshua returned to Makkedah.  He brought out the kings, had his leaders step on their necks, and said.  “For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”  Then Joshua killed them and threw them back into the cave.  As for the city of Makkedah, Joshua attacked, killed every person as they had done to Jericho. 

Then it was off to more cities to wipe out. God gave Lachish into Israel’s hand, as well as the king of Gezer who’d come to help. Then Joshua led them on to Eglon, Hebron, Debir, the whole land down to the Negev (South), Kadesh-Barnea, Gaza, all the land of Goshen, and back around to Gibeon.  JOSHUA CAPTURED ALL THESE KINGS AND THEIR LAND AT ONE TIME BECAUSE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL FOUGHT FOR THEM. 

Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 11.

After all this huge defeat of the southern area, Jabin, king of Hazor in the north, called all the northern kings clear up to Mount Herman to fight.  And they came to him, a great horde in number like the sand on the seashore, with very many troops, horses, and chariots.  They all came together at Merom, north of the Sea of Galilee.  

“Do not be afraid of them,” said the LORD, “for tomorrow at this time, I will give over ALL of them, slain, to Israel. You shall burn the chariots and disable the horses.”

So that’s what Joshua and Israel did, chasing and killing them all the way up to Sidon.  Joshua then returned and burned all the cities of the kings with fire.  They took all the spoil and livestock (except the men) as plunder.

So Joshua took all that land. He captured all the kings.  Joshua made war with them all.  There was not a city that made peace with Israel except Gibeon. They took them all in battle, for it was the LORD’s doing. 

Joshua also cut off all the giants left in the land.  ONLY in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did some remain. 

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel, according to their tribal allotments.

And the land had REST from war. 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 82 & 83 (PART 2)

Mar24
Day 82 – 83.  Reading Joshua 1-4 and 5-8. (PART 2)
 

We are diving into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 5.

Israel is in the Promised Land!  They still have a lot of work to do, but they are there.

All the kings of the Amorites and the Canaanites heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan river for the people to cross (just like had happened at the Red Sea) and “their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them.”

The first thing God told Joshua to do was, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sins of Israel.”  So Joshua obeyed.  The reason why this had to be done was because only the Israelite men who had come out of Egypt were circumcised. They were all dead, and they had not circumcised their children for all those 40 years in the desert.  ISRAEL had to do this. It was the covenant sign that they were the people of GOD.

After the days of healing, the LORD said, “Today, I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And they called the place Gilgal (“to roll”)

Then – oh, how appropriate! – Israel observed Passover as they had when they escaped Egypt!

And the very next day, they ate of the produce of the land, with UNLEAVENED cakes.  AND THE MANNA CEASED THE NEXT DAY. 

Then it seems (like Nehemiah did centuries later) Joshua went out to assess Jericho. And there he was met by a “man with a drawn sword in his hand.” 

“Are your friend or foe?” cried Joshua.

“No,” came the voice of authority. “I am the commander of the army of the LORD.”  

Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped him saying, “What does my lord say to his servant?“

Then, like with Moses at the burning bush, the commander of the LORD’s army said. “Take of your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy.”

And Joshua did.

Joshua 6.

Then the Commander of the LORD’s army told Joshua the strategic plans to take Jericho.  They were very strange, but so God-like!.  And Joshua obeyed to the letter.

  • March around the city (in silence), all the men of war going around the city once a day for six days.
  • Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets, blowing them continually before the Ark. 
  • Mighty men of war were to march before the Ark, and the rear guard walked after the Ark. 
  • On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times and the priests would blow the trumpets. 
  • When they made a long blast of the trumpet, all the people were to shout with a great shout. 
  • And the wall of the city will fall down flat.
  • Then all the people shall go straight in and take the city.
  • They are to save the gold, silver, bronze, and iron and put it in the treasury of the LORD.
  • All else they were to utterly destroy. NO ONE COULD TAKE ANYTHING FOR HIMSELF!!! 
  • ONLY RAHAB and all who were in her house were to be saved alive.

And it all happened just as the LORD’s Commander ordered Joshua.  After the walls fell down they went in and captured the city, “devoting EVERYTHING alive to be killed by the sword.” Then they burned the city.

(Can you imagine the Canaanites nearby hearing that, and then seeing the great plume of smoke rising from Jericho.  Terrifying!)

The two spies went to Rahab’s house which was “protected” by the blood-red rope – that section of wall the only one left standing – and rescued her and her family.  They put them outside the camp (temporarily).  She and all her family lived in Israel after that. (And eventually she married Salmon and gave birth to Boaz, who married Ruth, whose grandson was King David.) (See Matthew 1:5 and Ruth 4:13-17)

Then Joshua cursed any man who tried to rebuild Jericho.  (See 1 Kings 16:34)

Joshua 7.

ISRAEL IS ON A ROLL!!!  Champions!!  Conquerors!!  Unstoppable! —- Until they weren’t.

The next day, Joshua and the army looked at the little town of AI, and thought they could take it in their sleep. Joshua sent spies, and they brought back the same message.  “No problem!”  So they sent only a small strike force. 

But the “easy battle” fell flat, they were soundly defeated, and 36 Israeli soldiers were killed. The hearts of the people of Israel melted now, and became like water

WHY?????

Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face before the Ark of the Covenant. “Alas, O LORD, why did you bring us here if your are going to give us into the hands of our enemies to destroy us.  Would that we’d been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan.  We turned our backs like cowards!  The Canaanites will trash your great name!! Boo-hoo!”

“GET UP!” said the LORD to Joshua. “Why have you fallen on your face.  ISRAEL HAS SINNED AND TRANSGRESSED MY COVENANT.  They have taken some of the things I forbade you to take from Jericho. I will be with you NO MORE UNLESS YOU DESTROY THE DEVOTED THINGS AMONG YOU.  

The LORD told Joshua to present the people before Him in the morning, to find the guilty man.

So Joshua rose early and brought Israel, tribe by tribe, clan by clan, and man by man, until ACHAN was found.  “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and praise Him. Confess.”

So Achan confessed his lust and greed and covetousness for a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver and a gold bar. “I coveted them and took them.”  Sure enough, Joshua found the stash in his tent.

So Joshua and all the people brought him, and the silver and the cloak and the gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep, and his tent and all that was in it to the Valley of Achor. 

And all Israel stoned them with stones. They burned it all with fire, then piled up a great heap of stones over it all. 

Joshua 8.

Then God told Joshua to take ALL the fighting men to Ai.  “I have given you the king, his people, and all his city and land. Do to it as you did at Jericho. This time, lay an ambush behind the city.

And so Joshua led them to victory.

(Hey, obey God. Seek His face and direction in all you do. And see how it goes!!

Israel obeyed, struck them all down by the sword. They devoted all the inhabitants to destruction, only the stock and spoil of that city they were allowed to take.

Then Joshua took all Israel to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim and put half of the people on one, and the other half on the other, with the Levitical priests and the Ark of the Covenant in the middle. Then they read the curses and blessings to each other, as Moses instructed. 

And the whole (entire) book of the Law of Moses was read to the people. “There was not a word of all that Moses commanded” that Joshua did not read before the assembly of Israel, including women, little ones, and the sojourners among them. And he built an alter to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Had he learned his lesson? 

I don’t think so………………….

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 82 & 83 (PART 1)

Mar24
Day 82 – 83.  Reading Joshua 1-4 and 5-8. (PART 1)
 

We are diving into the History of Israel – post-Moses. 

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

 

Joshua 1.

Immediately God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ “assistant.”

“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all “this people” into the land that I am giving them.  Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.  NO MAN SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you.”

“Be strong and very courageous.  This book of the LAW shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. so you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it…for then your way will be prosperous and you will have good success.? 

“Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

And so Joshua took the leadership.  1) “Prepare your provisions,” he said to the people, “for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD YOUR God is giving you.”

And to the 2.5 tribes with land already on the East of the Jordan, he said, 2) “Remember the word that Moses commanded you.  All the men of valor among you shall pass over armed BEFORE your brothers, and YOU shall help them until the LORD gives rest to your brothers.”

Joshua 2.

Next Joshua (once a spy of the land himself) sent two men ahead. 3)  “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”

They did and came upon the house of one Rahab, a prostitute. It was built between the two massive walls of Jericho.  

They must not have been very secretive because it was soon told to the King that they were there. He sent men to Rahab and demanded she turn them over.  Through God’s sovereign plan and work on her heart, Rahab had hidden them under some stalks of flax on her roof.

“I don’t know where those men went,” she lied to the King’s men. “Pursue them quickly for you will overtake them.”  They pursued all the way to the Jordan River but did not find them.

Meanwhile, Rahab went up on her roof and made a deal with the spies. “I know that your God has given you this land.  All the people are terrified of you. We heard how your God dried up the Red Sea so your people could escape out of Egypt.  And now, we’ve heard how you decimated Sihon and Og.”

“Wow,” thought the spies.

“I know that the LORD your God is God of the heavens above and on the earth below.  Now… please swear to me, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a SURE SIGN that you will save us alive and deliver us from death.”

The spies answered in the affirmative. “If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land … we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

And they made a pack, with the “sure sign” being a crimson rope to be hung out her window to mark the place that the army of Israel was to save.  Only those in the house with the blood-red rope would be saved alive.   (WOW!  Doesn’t this remind you of the Lamb’s blood on the Jew’s doorposts in Egypt preserving them from the Angel of Death??)

The spies returned and reported it all to Joshua, ending with, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of this land WILL MELT AWAY before us.”

Joshua 3.

Israel led the people early the next morning to the brink of the Jordan River and camped there for three days. Then Joshua sent elders to the people to say, 4) “As soon as you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out and follow it (about 1,000 yards behind it).”

Then Joshua said, 5) “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”  And then to the Priests, 6) “Take up the Ark of the Covenant and pass on before the people.”

God said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with YOU.  Now, when the priests step into the river, you shall stand still in the Jordan.”

And so, when the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Ark touched the water …. the water stopped its flow from above and stood “in a heap. And ALL OF ISRAEL quickly crossed the Jordan on dry land, just as the older generation crossed the Red Sea on dry land.

Joshua 4.

But one more thing was needed. Joshua called the twelve men that he had appointed, a man from each tribe, and said, 7) “Each of you, take up a stone on his shoulder for each tribe of Israel.” They were for a memorial. Later, before the waters returned, Joshua set them up in the Jordan Riverbed where the priests had stood. 

“When your children ask in the time to come, ‘What do those stones mean?’ you are to tell them of how the LORD stopped the water so they could cross into the Promised Land, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and you may fear the LORD your God forever.

Then the Ark and the priests came up out of the Jordan, and when the soles of their feed were on the dry land of Canaan, the waters of the Jordan returned and overflowed their banks as before. 

And on that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

And so, the people camped at Gilgal, on the border of Jericho. 

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To be continued in PART TWO. Joshua 5-8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 78

Mar19
Day 78.  Reading Deuteronomy 24 – 27. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn NEW about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 24.

This chapter deals with divorce and other laws of compassion.

When a man divorces his wife, he must give her a certificate saying so before she leaves. With that, she is free to marry another man. However, if that man also divorces her, she may NOT return and marry the first husband.

  • Newly married men are excused from fighting in war for a year. 
  • One must never take a man’s millstone as a pledge, for that’s the only way he can earn a living.
  • A kidnapper will pay for his crime with his life.
  • Be sure to follow the strict Levitical laws concerning leprosy.
  • When you require a pledge for a loan you give, wait outside the person’s house for him to bring it to you. Don’t go into his house.
  • You must never keep a poor man’s coat overnight, he needs it to stay warm.
  • Don’t oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy. Give him wages on the same day before the sun sets.
  • A father shall not be punished by death for his son’s sin. 
  • You shall not take a widow’s garment as a pledge.
  • When you harvest and forget a sheaf in the field, don’t return and get it; leave it for the traveler, orphan, or widow.  The same is true for your olive and grape harvests. 

Deuteronomy 25.

More miscellaneous laws.  In a dispute, the judges will decide the guilty person.  If he is to be beaten, he shall lie down in the judge’s presence and be beaten with the proportionate number. Forty strikes is the maximum.

If a married man dies without offspring, his wife must go to his brother. Their firstborn son will be the successor of the dead man, so his name won’t be blotted out.  If the brother refuses to take her, he is to be disgraced.

If two men are fighting, one man’s wife is not allowed to grab the other by the genitals. They were to always use fair and equal weights. When they conquered the Land for themselves, the Israelites are then to go after the Amalekites to blot out their name from memory. 

Deuteronomy 26.

This chapter tells what the Israelites are to do once they are settled into the land the LORD gave them.

They are to take the first basket of produce from the first crop after they have occupied the land, and bring it to the priest. They are to recite a declaration of how they are a descendant of Abraham, how they lived in Egypt until the LORD rescued them and brought them to this land with an outstretched hand. And now they are bringing the first of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Then they are to rejoice in all the good the LORD has done for them and continue keeping the law and tithing, asking God to “look down from heaven and bless His people Israel and the land given to them.”

Then, they may go home and eat the produce of their land with their families. 

Deuteronomy 27.

After the people cross the Jordan into the Land, they are to set up large stones and plaster them so they can write on them. Then, on Mount Ebal, they are to write the words of the Law on   the plastered stones, and offer burnt and peace offerings.

Then in a loud voice, Moses declared, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God. You shall, therefore, obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping His commandments and His statutes, which I command you today.”

Then the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali shall stand on Mount Ebal to declare the curses, while the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin are to stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim the blessings.

Then Moses lists the twelve curses to be proclaimed, mostly about “secret” sins.

At the end, all shall say, AMEN.

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 74

Mar15
Day 74.  Reading Deuteronomy 11 – 13. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn about NEW God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 11.

Again, Moses pounds home the promises and warnings of Israel’s God, “Love the LORD your God and keep His charge, His statutes, His rules, and His commandments always … that you may be strong, and go in and take possession of the land, and that you may live long in the land.” 

“That land drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land that the LORD your God cares for. His eyes are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. He will give rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later raid, that you may gather in your grain, wine, and oil. He will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full.”

“So love the LORD your God, and serve Him with all your heart and soul.”  “And if you are careful to do all the commandment that I command you to do, loving the LORD your God, walking in all His ways, and holding fast to him … then the LORD will drive out all those nations before you, nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. NO ONE will stand against you. The fear of you and the dread of you the LORD will put on all the land.”

“But if you do not… a curse.

Deuteronomy 12.

Their main task in conquering the land is to “destroy all the places where the nations serve their gods, on mountains, hills and under every green tree. They are to tear down, dash into pieces, burn, chop into pieces, and utterly destroy any images and idols. They are to NOT, NOT, NOT worship them, in any way, place, shape or form.  AND, they shall worship and sacrifice ONLY at the place where the LORD chooses to put His name and home. And ONLY in the manner He has taught them.

But… they CAN eat any clean meat now, whenever they wish, as much as they wish, of their flocks and herds and of gazelles or deer.  Only the animals pledged for sacrifice, offerings, and vows they shall only eat in God’s presence.

Deuteronomy 12.

WARNING:  If anyone – a dreamer of dreams or “prophet” tells you to go after other gods to serve them -DO NOT LISTEN!  That person shall be put to death, and so you shall purge evil from your midst. 

EVEN if your own brother, mother, or friend entices you to serve other gods, DO NOT YIELD or LISTEN to them. You shall not pity, conceal, or spare him.  You shall kill him. (stone him) YOU, YOURSELF shall cast the first stone!

AND if any worthless men in another city try to draw away the inhabitants to serve other gods, you shall (first) inquire, make search, and ask diligently.  If it is so, then you shall destroy the inhabitants of that city with the sword – all who are in that city, even its cattle, and burn everything else.  WOW. GOD IS SERIOUS!

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****O LORD, if only WE were as diligent in destroying the things in our lives that distract us from your Word, or prayer or in serving You in any way. Help us to deny ourselves, give them up, throw them away, ask others to help us in our addictive ways … and repent to serve and love YOU ONLY!