Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Mar 14th The Saturday Morning Post – Lesson Learned?

Today’s Passage – Joshua 8 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 1 Timothy 1 – 3; Proverbs 14; Psalms 66 – 70)

Read the “0314 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“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 8:33-35)

Good morning. If you are working for someone, that someone is the boss. He may want the job done in a certain way. You need to do the job his way: he is the boss. It is always good to check with the boss, and get the job done right the first time.

Joshua had a boss too, The Boss: the LORD. Joshua did not check in with the Lord before attacking Ai. If he did, the Lord would have told him not to attack Ai; take care of the sin in the camp first. Instead, they attacked, and 36 men of Israel were killed as they ran from the men of Ai.

Joshua obeyed God’s instructions in the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down. But Joshua did not know that one of his men did not. He should have checked with the LORD first. Joshua checked with the LORD, the problem was taken care of, and the LORD showed Joshua how to set up an ambush to destroy Ai. Ai was defeated. Lesson learned, right? Wrong.

“And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.” (Joshua 9:3-15)

Sometimes we learn from our mistakes, sometimes we don’t. If Joshua would have checked with the LORD first he would not have had to defend Gibeon in chapter 10. God only wants what is good for you. If you want your life to run smoother, check with the LORD first. Also, when tribulation comes, and it will, remember to seek God first in what you should do.

Peace!