Who is God? And, how can we find God - Bible answers.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/18/joshua-15-commentary/

Joshua 15 Commentary

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In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb a portion in Judah, Hebron. From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites. From here we can see that there is a very big difference between ownership and possession. The Anakites possessed the land but didn’t own it. Caleb owned the land but didn’t possess it. The one in possession of an asset is the only one who enjoys the benefits. Caleb needed to drive out the Anakites before he could enjoy the benefits of ownership.

The Christian walk involves battle to take possession of that which the LORD has generously given to the saint.

Chapter 15 is long and difficult to read. But if you are Judah, I guess you would know every city, every town and every place mentioned in this chapter. These are land beacons marking out the extent of Judah’s wealth.

We can also tell that Judah received a very big portion of land. Judah was a super power amongst the tribes of Israel. The blessing of Judah is dominion. Jacob encapsulated the blessing of Judah in all the different shades of lions – the Lion, the Lioness and the Lion’s cub. Little wonder that both the splendor and prowess of the kings of Judah were captioned by the Lion. And the son of David would be called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Genesis 49 verses 9 and 10.

The kingly Lion, the power and agility of the Lioness, and the safety of the Lion’s cub, these are the traits the saint inherits by salvation. Of course the scripture has time to talk about the saint as sheep in the manner of the Lamb of God in Jesus Christ. Human wisdom would call for a balance between the two. The scripture however expects the saint to live the life of a sheep full time. It is in the fragility of the sheep that the LORD deposits treasure and kingly existence. Not many have the privilege of appreciating this mystery.

We can see from here that the famous 5 Philistine cities Ekron, Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gath, were all within Judah’s territory. During the entire time of the Judges, including the time of David, the Philistines were a constant problem for Israel. What you fail to drive out lives to cause you pain and suffering endlessly.

Chapter 15 celebrates the generosity of the LORD in giving Judah the largest portion of land. It is symbolic of the LORD’s ultimate gift to mankind in the seed that came out of Judah – the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/17/joshua-14-commentary/

Joshua 14 Commentary

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/16/joshua-13-commentary/

Joshua 13 Commentary

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This is interesting. You should be very old when the LORD says so. Your race should be concluded. For Joshua, yes, but not for Israel. Huge chunks of land lay unconquered. The battle continues but who takes it up? The LORD is silent. Joshua is also silent. Very strange.

The silence is partly answered by verse 6. The LORD himself will do it. Israel was meant to be a kingdom of priests, everyone. So far all engagements have been at national level. From this point onwards, individuals or individual communities must take their care of their own destiny. We shall shortly see how Caleb defeats and takes over the city of Hebron. The famous Zelophehad’s daughters also get their share of land. The LORD is clearly working on the decentralization of victory. Fortunately or unfortunately, failure is also decentralized.

So Israelites succeed as individuals or fail as individuals. Under the new dispensation, it is the soul that sins that dies. Equally, it is the soul that decides for Jesus that that lives.

In the meantime, Joshua is instructed to assign land to the remaining peoples. The land that they get is promissory. Only victory will actualize the ownership. At the moment the owners of land do not possess it. It is a frustrating reality that saints own so much but possess so little. You don’t enjoy what you cannot possess.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/15/joshua-12-commentary/

Joshua 12 Commentary

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Chapter 11 closed with the following statement, “So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.” Now chapter 12 gives us details of the land.

Each defeated king is representing a portion of land. The scripture takes the trouble of telling us the extent of land that each defeated king occupied. To the modern ear these details may be boring but they are not needless. Why is this land so important?

When the LORD created man, he put him on a piece of land we call the Garden of Eden. As we all know sin forced man out of the Garden of perfection. The Bible has one main actor in the LORD. He is working constantly through difficulties of unfaithfulness in order to return man to the original piece of land. The conquest of Canaan under the command of the Commander of the armies of the LORD gives us a visual and shadow understanding of this effort.

Chapters 11 and 12 can therefore be celebrated as key moments in the storyline of the Bible. The LORD has achieved His purposes.

The perfection of the LORD is such that there is no need for another boardroom decision on anything. The two chapters are a shadow mention of the same Garden that the Bible started with. The Bible closes with the Book of Revelation talking about the same Garden in its original perfection. Of course, in between is another most important Garden of suffering famously called Gethsemane.

In the immediate context this land is flowing with milk and honey. Milk represents commerce and industry while honey is nature’s special gift to Israel. The word is PROSPERITY. For Israel, this land is the ground that the LORD commanded Adam to work to expand and unlock prosperity. It is everything for Israel. Chapter 12 feels like school is ended.

The conquest of Canaan is therefore an unimaginably important event in the history of the peoples of God. The saint remembers these words: “… I am going there to prepare a place for you?” The promise remains and the conquest is salvation.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/14/joshua-11-commentary/

Joshua 11 Commentary

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Chapter 11 details the defeat of an army as numerous as the sand of the seashore. This is a miracle. More land is taken over. Israel is basking in victory. It is this victory and this land that form an important part of the LORD’s promise to Abraham. Israel is living the dream. In the light of the history-long blessing, the land represents prosperity and the victories give us a picture of dominion. The reader can look back and see the faithfulness of the LORD.

It is in the times of battle that the LORD whispers, “Do not be afraid of them”. It is this assuring voice that made Joshua advance against a much bigger army. It is this voice that will make the saint scale the impossible mountains.

“For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.” When you begin to experience the hardening of heart, know your end is near. How often the LORD has withdrawn the grace of logic from individuals to ready them for destruction!

The chapter closes with the note that Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. It is a perfect ending and you would wish the Bible ended here. The exodus was meant for this. The contract the LORD signed with this nation’s ancestor, Abraham, had this very ending in mind. The LORD has fulfilled His part of the contract perfectly. Indeed, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect,and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32 verse 4.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/13/joshua-10-commentary/

Joshua 10 Commentary

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The fall of Ai wasn’t good news to the neighboring city-states. Their own fate lay in waiting. The kings knew they needed unity against their common enemy – Israel. Gideon’s voluntary but deceitful surrender to Israel worked against the required unity of purpose. So the rest grouped together and advanced against Gideon.

On request from Gibeon, Israel advanced against the five kings of the Amorites and defeated them all in a single campaign. The takeover of these cities is reported with a tone of finality that should interest us. Jerusalem is one of the cities. We know that several hundreds of years later Israel was still fighting to establish itself against the locals. It is only King David that marched and took charge of the city – giving it a ceremonial name of Zion. Jerusalem would be in the hands of Israel for several hundreds of years until the Babylonian empire.

It is providence that the LORD subjects us to constant battle. The Christian victory doesn’t eliminate the enemies completely. They still remain to regroup and launch another attack on the saint. Even today Jerusalem is a city divided between Israel and Palestine (sounds like the Philistines).

In the immediate context, we can bask in the victories of Joshua.

The LORD was so interested in Israel’s victory that He stilled the movement of the Sun until the battle was won. Nature was commanded to work in support of the LORD’s cause. The saint isn’t alone in her battles.

While history isn’t the main purpose of the Bible, the work itself is rich in historical references. Verse 13 informs us of the Book of Jashar which also recorded the miracle of the Sun standing still on request from Joshua. It is this miracle that the human author highlights to explain the LORD’s raised hand against the Canaanite peoples. Victory follows victory until huge tracts of land are subdued in a single swipe.

Chapter 10 is sweet. The LORD is swiftly fulfilling His promises. Who wouldn’t ask for this kind of experience! In Jesus Christ, we have a real Joshua whose surge into enemy territory was completed at the cross. In salvation, we can live this victory in the present.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/12/joshua-9-commentary/

Joshua 9 Commentary

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In Numbers 21 we saw the defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites. It was reported that Israel had captured all the cities of the Amorites and had occupied them. In this chapter we again see the Amorites. The kind of reporting we find in Joshua may be compared to a report on a game of football. A reporter may use terms like ‘total destruction’ to convey complete superiority of one team over the other. The terminology may not be taken literally. The context is important.

Again the reference to ‘all the kings west of the Jordan’ in verse 1 is a reference to the concept of ‘all’ and not necessarily the literal ‘all’. The application here is that the enemy gathers together in order to scatter Israel. The success of the saint is an invitation to all God’s enemies to prepare arms for battle. When you succeed, know you have battle right on your doorstep.

But how does the enemy attack? This chapter gives us one method of attack that the enemy deployed very successfully against Israel: deception. Take care of the smiles.

This chapter is headlined by one statement: “but did not inquire of the LORD.”

The enemy decided to take the battle to Israel. No weapons. Only deception. Israel’s weakest link was logic. This is one moments when logic fails and wisdom becomes an enemy. Israel examined the evidence on the table and the logical conclusion was that Gibeon was a ‘safe’ partner.

The enemy doesn’t show up with an empty head. The example of Gibeon gives us an insight into enemy operations. Many saints would tell you had they known the outcome of their actions, they would not even have glanced at the transaction. But it is all hidden away in logic, rationale, convenience, consultation and human management. Joshua wasn’t alone when Gibeon deceived Israel. An entire leadership team was involved. Can the enemy be this sharp? Yes. Can human logic fail so spectacularly? Yes. Is there any better reason for us to always consult the LORD?

The fact that Israel had to live with a problem (Gibeon) within her borders tells its own story. There are some human scandals whose consequences we must unfortunately live with for the rest of our lives. Sad.

Why do we get it so wrong even when we put our best heads together? And why is Israel making so many schoolboy mistakes? The saint has the same questions today. Yes, this in itself is an invitation for self-retrospection. We cannot. Only He can.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/11/joshua-8-commentary/

Joshua 8 Commentary

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The key line is the comparison between the capture of Jericho and the capture of Ai. Look at the instructions for Jericho. Israel did very little. In addition Israel was told to take nothing for themselves as plunder. Ai had different instructions. An entire army was required and Israel was free to plunder the city.

The presence of the Commander of the armies of the LORD right at the start of the campaign informed Joshua that the battle was the LORD’s. At Ai, Joshua seemed to have operated in isolation. After the defeat now the LORD speaks. The result of the assault on Ai is very different. Involve the LORD in all your battles: small or big; very small or very big; complicated or uncomplicated; expensive or cheap. Importantly don’t change the winning formula. Don’t replace the Commander-In-Chief.   

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/10/joshua-7-commentary/

Joshua 7 Commentary

“Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.”

The punishment of Achan appears excessive until you look at the consequences of his sin. Thirty six men died and an entire nation stood on the brink. It hints on the ruthlessness with which we need to look at sin. The LORD would put it this way, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. Ruthless. Let there be no mercy for sin. God help us.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/09/09/joshua-6-commentary/

Joshua 6 Commentary

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Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. Who talks about an open door policy for the saint’s battles? The battlefield has no red carpet. Victory doesn’t come on the cheap! But look at Joshua’s military strategy! Silly, many would say. Imagine explaining to your wife that you have been going round the city of Jericho for the past 4 days without any attempt to break-in.

The instructions of the LORD may sound silly and outdated. Who has ever succeeded without cheating? Who has ever succeeded without stealing? And who makes money by being honest. Seeking the kingdom and its righteousness, how can that put food on the table? Aren’t these questions on every saint’s daily puzzle? Doesn’t the LORD’s formula for success look outright silly? This chapter would prove us wrong.

The chapter is graced by one key event: the fall of Jericho. Around this key theme are various symbolisms that are clearly important but hardly understandable. The instruction to march around the city six times may represent the six days of work ordained for man. During these days man is working but his work is a walk with the presence of the LORD represented by the Ark. The contents of the Ark (the law) actualizes the presence of the LORD.

The seventh day emphasizes the thought of Sabbath rest but it was actually the day of victory over the enemy. In the short term, Israel would rest from their life of wandering. In the long term however, the symbolism here is pointing to a greater victory over the real enemy of man. This victory is completed by the LORD of the Sabbath in Jesus Christ – what he does here for Israel. The seven priests and the trumpets may remind us of similar objects in the book of Revelation. The law of the LORD shall be declared loudly and victory shall come.

In the immediate context it is the loud shout on the last day of several ‘marchings around Jericho’, that collapses the wall. It had to be the wall since that is the item that stood in between Israel and victory. Obedience won the day. That is the message that was communicated to Joshua by the Commander of the armies of the LORD. Joshua had asked what message the Commander had for him. In response the Commander had simply instructed Joshua to take off his sandals. Obeying the law of the LORD is the only strategy that the saint needs.

For her trouble, Rahab the prostitute and all who were with her in her house were spared. Later on she would carry in her womb the seed of the messiah. However, this victory carried with it another seed – a seed of disobedience. Not everything was done as per instructions. That is the story for the next chapter as the nation advanced onto another target, Ai.

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