Draw Near To God

Date: Friday, March 06, 2015
Chapters: Joshua 6-8
Message Title: Draw Near To God
Hello My Friend,
The word accursed means doomed to destruction or misery, people who live a sinful life are accursed, doomed to misery, and the sad part is that do not realize they are doing more harm than good. While we do not always understand some of the things that God allows to happen to innocent people we can understand that something good will come out of it if we draw near to God. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - 1 Peter 4:12-15,19.

After Israel's miraculous cross through the Jordan river on dry land word got out real quick that they were coming to take the land God promised them. The kings of the Amorites and Caananites joined forces and built a huge wall around Jericho to keep them out, but little did they know, nothing can keep God out. God gave Joshua instructions on what to do, for six days they were to simply walk around the walls of Jericho once per day,and they did exactly as He commanded. “And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.” - Joshua 6:7-11.
This was probably the strangest sight people have ever saw, a bunch of men marching around a wall. What possibly could come of that? That is how God proves that He is the Almighty and is with all who have faith in Him. What came of it was more walking, on the seventh day, they were commanded to walk around the walls seven times. After the seventh march, something amazing and miraculous happened. “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.” - Joshua 6:20-23.

Remember Rehab? Just as promised, her, her family, and all that remained in her house were saved, everyone else was destroyed. Interestingly enough, Rehab turned from her false gods, left her life as a prostitute, married into the tribe of Judah, becoming an ancestor of King David, which would be the lineage from where Jesus would descend from. God can and does change the lives of every person that trusts in His mercy and grace, but unless they personally accept the invitation to be saved they will be destroyed. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:22-24.

No sooner than God gave the command for them not to take anything out of the city except for the cattle and gold, one man, Achan not only caused himself to be destroyed, but thirty-six other men as well. Trying to take on the small nation of Ai, the men lost their lives in what should have been an easy takeover. Just like every other person would do when destruction comes, Joshua questioned why God allowed the destruction of innocent people. Here is God's answer. “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” - Joshua 7:11-13.

After Israels deadly defeat to Ai and the accursed things were removed from among the congregation it was time to get back to business, God was with them this tome to help them defeat Ai. After their victory, Joshua wrote a copy of the law of Moses, then gathered all the people together, even the stranger, and read it before them. He read it word for word, leaving nothing out. “And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.” - Joshua 8:32-35.

As children of God, it is important that we read every Word of God, it may seem repetitious sometimes or that it has nothing to do with us, but it all has everything to do with us. God gave us an example of how we are to live, things we are to avoid, the consequences of not avoiding them, and to prove that a nation under the living God is a powerful one through Israel. The devil has no problem with people believing in God and His Son, He knows they exist, but if he can get one person to alter God's Word, or eliminate just a little bit of it than he has done what he came here to do. Why do you think there are so many versions of the Bible? I hate those parallel Bibles, I saw one that had four different versions together in one book. These are not Bibles, these are confusion and deceitfulness and anyone who insists that you need several versions to understand God really needs to open their heart to the Holy Spirit. He is the only one that can help you understand. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9,10.
Today's Prayer: God, I will admit that there are some things that I just do not understand, but I am trusting You to reveal them to me when You see fit as I draw near to You. Lord, my heart feels broken, my soul feels crushed, and my body feels out of sorts, comfort me, give me peace, mend the wounds, and awaken my spirit. Help me to overcome the fiery trial before me as I draw nigh to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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