Achan took some banned items. When the army went against Ai they were defeated. The LORD identified Achan and the people stoned him. The LORD told Joshua to take the army against Ai. They set up an ambush and destroyed the city. Joshua read out the book of the law. The Gibeonites sent envoys. They pretended that they were from far away and made a treaty. The Israelites found out but spared them. Five Amorite kings attacked the Gibeonites. The sun stood still while the Israelites took revenge. Joshua defeated the whole region.

When the prophet Ezekiel sought to hold up before the nation of Judah the most righteous lives he could think of, it was the trio of Noah, Daniel and Job that his spotlight fell on. Of all the righteous examples he could have turned to, what makes these three stand out? Let's take a look at the circumstances of their lives that makes their righteousness shine so bright and see the example they set for our own lives today.

Achan took some banned items. When the army went against Ai they were defeated. The LORD identified Achan and the people stoned him. The LORD told Joshua to take the army against Ai. They set up an ambush and destroyed the city. Joshua read out the book of the law. The Gibeonites sent envoys. They pretended that they were from far away and made a treaty. The Israelites found out but spared them. Five Amorite kings attacked the Gibeonites. The sun stood still while the Israelites took revenge. Joshua defeated the whole region.

Achan took some banned items. When the army went against Ai they were defeated. The LORD identified Achan and the people stoned him. The LORD told Joshua to take the army against Ai. They set up an ambush and destroyed the city. Joshua read out the book of the law. The Gibeonites sent envoys. They pretended that they were from far away and made a treaty. The Israelites found out but spared them. Five Amorite kings attacked the Gibeonites. The sun stood still while the Israelites took revenge. Joshua defeated the whole region.

Micah set up a shrine. There was no king so everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Micah appointed a Levite as his priest. Spies from Dan stayed with Micah. When the Danites went against Laish they took Micah's idol and his priest. They named the city Dan. A Levite came to Gibeah. The men of the city raped his concubine until she died. He cut up her body and sent a piece to each tribe.

The Israelites camped by the Jordan. When the priests carrying the ark reached the river it stopped, so Israel crossed on dry ground. The LORD told Joshua to set up memorial stones from the Jordan. When the priests brought the ark up to the bank the waters returned. The LORD told Joshua to circumcise the men. They called the place Gilgal. Joshua met the commander of the LORD's army and bowed down. The LORD said that the army should march around Jericho. On the seventh day they shouted and the walls fell. They destroyed the city.

The Israelites camped by the Jordan. When the priests carrying the ark reached the river it stopped, so Israel crossed on dry ground. The LORD told Joshua to set up memorial stones from the Jordan. When the priests brought the ark up to the bank the waters returned. The LORD told Joshua to circumcise the men. They called the place Gilgal. Joshua met the commander of the LORD's army and bowed down. The LORD said that the army should march around Jericho. On the seventh day they shouted and the walls fell. They destroyed the city.

John continues to drive home the importance of faith in our lives as believers. It is faith that opens the door to all that God has for us. Yet John wants us to understand that it is not a nebulous faith but a very specific faith in Jesus, the Son of God. This is the faith that brings us victory and into the fullness of life with God.

Many people ask, “How could a loving God take my wife, husband, child, or friend?” Often times this line of thinking leads to anger at God and resentment. However, God never intended it to be this way. Death was not a part of God’s creation nor was it ever His intent. It is simply a consequence of the fall of mankind in the Garden.

John continues to drive home the importance of faith in our lives as believers. It is faith that opens the door to all that God has for us. Yet John wants us to understand that it is not a nebulous faith but a very specific faith in Jesus, the Son of God. This is the faith that brings us victory and into the fullness of life with God.