leader – Page 22 – Dave R Phillips

Samuel addresses the people as Saul begins to rule as king. He summarizes the history of the Israelites and exonerates himself with full support of the people. He is now old and gray and has served faithfully his entire life. What an example.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.” 1 Samuel 12:24-25

Chapter 13 begins with Jonathan attacking a Philistine outpost and Saul tooting his horn. All this seems to have done is stir up the Philistines so they assemble a massive army. Saul’s contingent is not nearly enough, so he calls for help, but the people are clearly frightened.

Saul’s Legacy Begins

Saul knew he had to do something, his credibility was on the line, not to mention the lives of Israel.Saul couldn’t text Samuel, he couldn’t send and email or make a call. He had to wait, but he didn’t know if it would be an hour or a month. Saul is probably thinking, Samuel is traveling about the land doing what he does, so who knows when he will arrive. The people are seriously afraid. He gets impatient and decides to make himself priest and offer sacrifices to please the Lord. Samuel arrives immediately after this decision and confronts Saul,

“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 1 Samuel 13:13-14

You would think this blunder early on in his career as king would serve as a solid course correction, but we know the rest of the story of Saul and that is certainly not the case. The challenge for leaders of leaders is to know when to call out the next generation. The requirement of the next generation is to listen to the old and gray leaders that have gone before–NOT because they are old and gray, we all become old and gray, but with a discerning ear that hears the voice of experience.

Moses made a remarkable blunder in striking the rock (twice), but took the rebuke well and led the people while mentoring Joshua. It was possible for Saul to learn from that example–they knew the history. However, it appears that he didn’t catch on.

Samuel departs and Saul’s “army” dwindles down to 600 men. Not a good sign. Even worse, they have few weapons, “So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.” 1 Samuel 13:22

The Philistine tactic was to send out raiding parties to provoke the Israelites. The strategy was working well, so Jonathan talks to his armor bearer and devises a plan to attack an outpost.

If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.” 1 Samuel 14:9-10

The Philistines arrogantly invite Jonathan to their whipping party, but discover Jonathan is a fighter and they lose 20 men in half an acre (like my front yard!). God was with Jonathan and the Philistines panic: a panic sent by God 1 Samuel 14:15.

Jonathan Eats Honey

Saul apparently came up with this clever idea that no soldier should eat before evening, so his army was losing energy. Jonathan didn’t hear this crazy command and has some honey to give him a boost of energy. The men let him know about Saul’s edict. Instead of doing what was logical, we see a trial and verdict where Jonathan is guilty. However, Jonathan’s men stand with him so he is spared that day. It seems pursuing the Philistines is off the agenda, so they settle for maintaining their boundaries.

Chapter 15 is an important chapter for leaders to read and understand, especially those of large and growing organizations. Saul was given clear instructions from the Lord, but he heard what he wanted to hear and though he had great success, his ego got the best of him. Instead of destroying all of the Amalikites, he captured the king and kept the best cattle. Samuel hears about this and confronts Saul. Saul is in complete denial, but Samuel is on point:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Saul admits he has sinned and begs Samuel for forgiveness, to stay with him, but Samuel has had enough! As he leaves, Saul grabs his robe and tears it at them hem. This becomes a metaphor for Israel being torn from Saul’s hands.

The chapter ends with Samuel taking charge and executing the captured king of the Amalikites, something apparently Saul was not able to do.

Samuel leaves Saul as the problems are just beginning.

January 11, 2017

Request for a King

1 Samuel 7-8 and Psalm 41

Samuel becomes the leader for Israel; they listened to his advice and rid themselves of the idols that filled their homes.

On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah. 1 Samuel 7:6

The Philistines heard the Israelites were gathered together they devised a plan to attack them. From a military perspective this makes good sense, but not when God is involved! (ok, that sounds a bit weird…God is always involved). Anyway, they attack the Israelites, but God threw them into confusion and the Israelites chased them away, killing many as they fled.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12

And so we understand the verse in the old hymn Come Thou Fount, “Here I lay my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I come.”

Samuel was a good and effective leader for Israel, but some bad news:

But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 1 Samuel 8:3

More than bad news, this is sad. As a father, it makes me sad to read about children wandering far from their father’s ways. Surely Joel and Abijah saw the favor with which the Lord looked upon Samuel, let alone all of Israel. Yet somehow, in their minds, they wandered.

Give Us A King!

The Israelites know Samuel’s sons can’t be heirs, they are simply not worthy. Since Samuel is getting old, they approach him and ask him to appoint a king. Samuel asks God for advice and he tells Samuel to give the people what they ask for with a warning to ensure they fully understand. A king means taxes and much more. It changes their organizational structure for sure, but it reveals their inability to trust fully in the Lord.

Samuel warns the people, gives them a long list of problems they can expect by having a king rule over them, but the people insist.

We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles. 1 Samuel 8:19-20

“Then we will be like all other nations…” Exactly what God was teaching them NOT to become. The narrative of the Old Testament to this point has been about making Israel God’s people, set apart from the rest, distinctively different. The Israelites keep resisting–they want to fit into society, to be like those around them.

We are set apart.

It’s not that we are special in and of ourselves, but as Paul tells us,

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17

We are the children of God. We don’t need an earthly king, but the Israelites have chosen a path that will take them on a new journey in a very different wilderness.

And so we begin to see kings of Israel.

January 10, 2017

The Ark Captured; the Ark Returned

1 Samuel 3-6 and Psalm 40

Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:5

Psalm 40 is personal. It is profound. It is written by King David, a man after God’s own heart. It speaks to me today and truly captures my present circumstance:

I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.
Psalm 40:8

I will make this into something that involves wood and a scrollsaw to serve as a reminder each and every day. It is my #1 desire, to do the will of God. Lord speak to me each day, open my ears to hear each whisper.

The reading in Chapter 3 begins in an interesting way, “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.” I certainly can relate in my impatient, microwave mentality as I constantly pray for the Lord to provide a vision!

The Lord calls Samuel in an audible voice, though it takes Eli a few times to figure that out. The imagery is poetic.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

The Lord tells Samuel he will “carry out” his vengeance on Eli’s family, namely the incredulous Hophni and Phinehas, for their scandalous behavior. Eli encourages Samuel to tell him what the Lord said, not to hold back. He could probably sense Samuel’s reluctance, so he pried it out of him. Eli knew. Sad.

The Ark Captured

The Israelites were camped at Ebenezer and set to fight the Philistines. When defeat entered their camp, the elders called for the Ark to assure them of victory. The Philistines were scared, but rallied behind the call to action, “Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!” (1 Samuel 4:9) They were and they did, including running off with the Ark.

During the battle 30,000 foot soldiers died plus Hophni and Phinehas. But the day was not yet done. A messenger ran back to tell Eli the horrible news.

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years. 1 Samuel 4:18

The Philistines took the Ark and place by their god Dagon. The next morning, Dagon was face-planted, so they put Dagon back upright only to find it face-planted and without head and hands. The wizards of the Philistines quickly figured out having the Ark in the same place was a bad idea. They moved it from Ashod to Gath to Ekron. Everywhere they moved it there was trouble so they devised a plan to return the Ark.

The Ark Returned

Basically, the Philistines hitched up “two cows that have calved and have never been yoked” (1 Samuel 6:7) and put them on autopilot set for an Israelite village along with some gold and stuff to appease the Israelite’s God (in their minds). So the Ark was returned. Unfortunately, some curious Israelites looked inside the Ark and died for their transgressions, some 70 people.

Eli and much of his family is dead; now Samuel begins his loyal leadership.

January 7, 2017

Micah and the Levite; Benjamites Attacked, Given Wives

Judges 17-21

Micah’s Idols (Chapter 17)

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 17:6

Micah recovers silver for his mother (a LOT of silver), so she sees fit to have an idol created for Micah (along with other household gods). It seems Micah has some recollection about setting up a shrine, installing a priest, etc., so he appoints one of his sons as priest. Voila! He’s in business! Even better, a Levite was passing through, so Micah hired him to be the priest, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.” (Judges 17:13)

The Danites Settle in Laish (Chapter 18)

The Danites were looking for a place to settle, so they sent 5 men out to “spy out the land” and find a suitable area. They stumbled upon Micah and his priest, so they asked for God’s favor. The priest said, “sure!” (ok, that shouldn’t be in quotes). The spies went home, provided their report and mustered 600 men to capture the land. The Danites force, along with the spies, returned to Micah’s house, took the idols and promoted the priest to be a tribal priest (rather than just one family). “The priest was very pleased” (Judges 18:20). Micah confronted them as they departed with his stuff and priest, but they looked fierce, so he “turned around and went back home.” The Danites attacked and burned down Laish, then rebuilt and renamed the town Dan.

A Levite and His Concubine (Chapter 19)

This is a sad story, like many, that begins with unfaithfulness and ends in a Sodom and Gomorrah like episode where the lewd men of Gibeah (Benjamites) rape and kill the Levite’s concubine. The Levite cuts her into 12 pieces and sends a message to each of the tribes.

Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up! Judges 19:30

No kidding, something must be done! What does it take to wake you from your slumber? From complacency? This kind of story MUST raise your blood pressure. Like many stories in modern times, do we react when we hear these?

The Israelites Punish the Benjamites (Chapter 20)

Israel (sans Benjamin) gathered to attack Gibeah. Thousands attacked, thousands died. Ultimately, Gibeah was destroyed to avenge the rape and murder of the concubine. Thousands. Bloodshed doesn’t create happiness.

Wives for the Benjamites (Chapter 21)

The Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said. “How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an other by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?” Judges 21:7

The leaders come up with a couple of plans to secure virgins for the Benjamites and thus keep the tribe alive. First they killed every man and non-virgin in Jabesh Gilead and gave the virgins to the tribe. When that wasn’t enough, they devised a scheme to ambush virgins and haul them away. I’m just going to leave that alone. The last words in Judges capture the sentiment well:

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. Judges 21:25

January 7, 2017

Samson

Judges 13-16

Surprise! The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord…back into the hands of the Philistines for Israel!

The Birth of Samson

A certain man named Manoah and his wife (unnamed) are the parents of Samson. There isn’t much info on the parents, at least not as far as I can see (interesting post here). They are a childless family so in my mind they had little status. An angel visits and tells her she will have a son who will be a Nazirite from birth, she must have no fermented drink or eat unclean food. She tells Manoah about the angel’s visit, but he’s not so sure. My first reaction was a bit suspicious. Perhaps she’s telling you this because she met someone who will allow her to get pregnant. I’m reading between the lines (dangerous), so I’ll stick to the narrative. The angel visits again and repeats the words for Manoah to hear, though he still doesn’t get the part about the visitor actually being an angel! The angel refuses to eat, but suggests a burnt offering for God then ascends in the smoke as it burns away quickly. Manoah and his wife are astounded and he whines, “We are doomed to die!” (Judges 13:22), but his wife calms him down.

“The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson.” (Judges 13:24) No particular fanfare, no wisemen, nothing overly special except that Manoah and his wife knew this was a special child.

Samson’s Marriage and The Riddle

Chapter 14 describes Samson’s desire for a Philistine woman in marriage, the feast, a riddle and Samson’s first super-hero activity (not necessarily a good thing!). His parents disapproved of the choice, after all, they’ve been under the rule of the Philistines for 40 years at this point. Apparently the wedding still happened and during the feast Samson provided a riddle for 30 linen garments and fine sets of clothes. The bride’s “companions” (hired wedding party for the foreigner?) thought this would be fun so they agreed, but couldn’t figure out the riddle.

Out of the eater, something to eat;
out of the strong, something sweet. Judges 14:14

They were baffled so they threaten the bride to tell them the secret. She cried the whole time of the feast (seriously), so Samson gave her the answer. In turn she told the companions so Samson had to pay up!

The the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Judges 14:19

Samson was ticked! He returned to his parents home and his bride was given to one of his “companions.” Not a good week after all.

Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines

Chapter 15 begins, “Later on…” Samson calmed down, took a young goat and went to visit his wife; however, her father refused to let him go into her room. That was a mistake…Samson is seriously mad now! He captures 300 foxes, ties their tails together in pairs, attaches and lights a torch on each pair, then launches them into the Philistine village. “He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves.” (Judges 15:5)

The Philistine response, as you might expect: “So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.” Samson was enraged even more! He killed several of the Philistines then went and hid in a cave. Ultimately the Philistines and 3,000 men came to capture Samson, but he routed them with the jawbone of a donkey, striking down 1,000 men.

“Samson led Israel for 20 years in the day of the Philistines” (Judges 15:20)

Samson and Delilah

The NIV Study Bible notes include the point that Samson had some character flaws, no joke. Chapter 16 begins with Samson visiting a prostitute. Great start O leader of Israel! The people realize Samson is there, so they plan to attack him, but he gets up in the middle of the night, rips out the city gate and deposits it (along with its posts) on top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Later, Samson falls in lust with Delilah and the leaders entice her to trap Samson. He might be strong, but wisdom and Samson are not associated with reality. “Tell me the secret of your great strength” became her daily request. Three examples are provided, but apparently she kept on “nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it” (Judges 16:16), so he gave in and told her the truth.

So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” Judges 16:17

The Lord left him.

The Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and turned him into a grain grinding animal, but his hair begin to grow again.

The Death of Samson

The Philistines were certain their god (Dagon) delivered Samson into their hands, so they brought him in to be a spectacle during their celebration in their great temple. Samson prayed to God for strength to deliver one final blow to the Philistines. He was led to the pillars that supported the temple, pushed them down and thus destroyed the temple, killed more Philistines than before, but also died in the rubble.

January 4, 2017

Gideon

Judges 6-8

Forty good years with Deborah leading the Israelites is followed by, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord…” Here we go again! The Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples were tormenting the Israelites by destroying crops and killing livestock “like swarms of locusts…they invaded the land to ravage it” (Judges 6:5-6). Finally, the people cried out to the Lord and he sent them a prophet.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Judges 6:12-13

Gideon is not convinced he is the guy to deliver the Israelites from the Midians. “Pardon me, my lord…” he continues, but the Lord answers Gideon with the assurance he will be with him. Gideon asks for a sign and the angel agrees by consuming a meal and disappearing! The Lord gives Gideon a task–this is interesting: “Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it” (Judges 6:25). Gideon, with the help of 10 servants, does what the Lord commands, but does it at night so no one can see…seriously, he’s afraid. The people figure it out soon enough and approach Gideon’s father, “Bring out your son. He must die…” But Joash, Gideon’s father makes this remarkable statement:

Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar. Judges 6:31

Here’s the interesting part: Gideon was tasked to break down his father’s altar to Baal and his father immediately comes to Gideon’s defense.

The Fleece and The Dew

This part of the story is significant to me and my journey as one who calls himself a Christ follower. The Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern people (M-A-O) join forces again and begin to torment the Israelites. “Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet” to summon the tribes to war, but Gideon is unsure of his calling again, so he asks the Lord for a sign:

I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand. Judges 6:37

Ok…done. Now what?

Do not be angry with me…allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew. Judges 6:39

Test #2 completed. God did what Gideon requested.

When I was a preteen, somewhere between 10 and 12, I read this story and asked God for a sign to confirm for me his calling in my life. I took a towel and put it on my bicycle (overnight) and asked God to show he is real by making the towel wet with dew and the ground dry. That test failed, so I tried test two: towel on the bike, make it dry and everything else covered with dew. Failed. Living in Baton Rouge, where the humidity is often in the 90% range, there was dew everywhere and on everything. I was a bit discouraged. It seemed God was not one who listened to prayer. Sigh.

That Sunday (it seems like the second test was on a Saturday) we went to church as usual. I sat with my family and listened to a sermon on Judges 6-8. One of the key points in the sermon was:

Do not think you can test the Lord. He is not your magic genie sitting around waiting for your every demand.

Gulp! Did the pastor know what I was doing this week? Mind you this was back in the 70’s, spy cams were only in fiction!! God spoke to me quite clearly that day and I knew he was indeed real and I would follow him as best I could. I wish I were a better storyteller, that I could somehow craft words to describe this moment better, but this was the event that changed my life for good. I’ve made lots of poor choices that seem to diminish my contribution to Christ, but I remain confident that he will still use me in the last chapters of my life and time here on earth. Please Lord, fill me and use me today!

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

The Lord tells Gideon he has too many men and culls the list down to just 300. The Lord provided the unconventional means to demonstrate his love for Israel,

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. Judges 7:19

The Midianites went crazy! The Lord caused them to turn on each other and they ran out of camp, killing each other in panic. Gideon and his small militia pursued them and killed the leaders.

Another 40 years of peace followed by downfall, “they also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Gideon in spite of all the good things he had done for them (Judges 8:35).

January 2, 2017

Othniel and Ehud

Judges 1-3 and Psalm 37

The first chapter could have the sub-title: “did not drive out ___” (fill in the blank).

Judah took possession, but were unable to drive the people from the plains (1:19)
Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites (1:21)
Joseph spared a spy (1:25)
Manasseh did not drive out the people (1:27)
Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites (1:29)
Zebulun did not drive out the Canaanites (1:30)
Asher failed (1:31)
Naphtali failed (1:33)

Though they occupied The Promised Land, they did not remove the evil from the land–ultimately this is a fatal mistake.

The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and lead you into the land I swore to give to your ancestor, ‘ said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Judges 2:1-3

Disobedience and Defeat — A Quick Summary of Judges Judges 2:6-23

Joshua’s generation served the Lord well, but the next “generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.” (Judges 2:10-11) This seems crazy from our perspective, but there were many years between the verses in Judges. The Lord sent judges to bail them out of their love for the Baals, “Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them” (2:17).

Othniel & Ehud

The first two judges include Othniel and Ehud. Both were military leaders called on to deliver the people from their troubles.

“Othniel, son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage” (Judges 1:13).
“Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite” (3:15) secretly assassinated the king of Moab which made the way for 80 years of peace.

Shamgar gets very little attention, but he followed Ehud and “struck down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad” (Judges 3:31). The NIV Study Bible notes that an oxgoad is “a long, wooden rod, sometimes having a metal tip, used for driving draft animals.” So Shamgar was a ninja, but he only gets one verse.

Lord, help us learn from our past!

January 1, 2017

Joshua’s Farewell

Joshua 20-24 and Psalm 36

Joshua implements the Cities of Refuge as the closing chapters begin and since the Levites are not allowed a territory as an inheritance, they are provided with specific towns and pastures.

The Trans-Jordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh) are honored:

For a long time now–to this very day–you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Joshua 22:3-4

Those tribes who went back across the Jordan setup an “imposing altar” as a symbol of their faith, but this was misunderstood by the rest of Israel…at first: “the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them” (Joshua 22:12).

A Witness Between Us — that the Lord is God

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and they were able to explain the meaning of the altar: It stands as a reminder for generations to come that the Lord is God. “Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today” (Joshua 22:29).

Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders:

Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. But…if you violate the covenant of the Lord your God…the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you. Joshua 23:14-16

Joshua summarizes the history of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; highlights Balaam (again), and warns them not to stray from all that has been taught. The people firmly and openly commit themselves to the Lord God. A ripe old age of 110, Joshua died in peaceful times for Israel.

Joshua is one of the most remarkable characters in the Bible. He emerged as a loyal follower of Moses, dedicated to the Lord his entire life with few mistakes through incredible trials. This pass through the Bible, he really sticks out in my mind.

And so the story begins…

December 31, 2016

Gibeonite Deception and God’s Faithfulness

Joshua 9-19

The Gibeonites devised a ruse to trick Joshua into making a treaty with them. They sent a contingent with donkeys, old wineskins, moldy bread, and sold the Israelites on their story, “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God.” (Joshua 9:9)

It took three days before the deception was revealed and the people gave their leaders a hard time about their hasty decision. The key problem, “The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.” (Joshua 9:14

Joshua’s response is to let them live, but curse them to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the Israelites. They were simply trying to survive. Israel’s reputation was clear: wipe out the land for which they are occupying. They would rather live as servants than die as foes.

The Sun Stands Still

Five kings of neighboring lands joined forces to attack Gibeon because of their treaty with Joshua. They sent word to Joshua and he responded (with the Lord’s assurance) by attacking the kings and repelling their advance on Gibeon.

Joshua said the the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. Joshua 10:12-13

The NIV Study Bible notes indicate there is confusion over this:

Some believe that God extended the hours of daylight for the Israelites to defeat their enemies. Others suggest that the sun remained cool (perhaps as the result of an overcast sky) for an entire day, allowing the fighting to continue through the afternoon. The fact is that we do not know what happened, except that it involved divine intervention.

The five kings were found hiding in a cave and were subsequently put to death then thrown back into the cave, sealed by a large stone. So the reputation of Joshua and the Israelites continues to spread. “No survivors” is the theme for the rest of Chapter 10. Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, Negev — the southern cities from

Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. Joshua 10:41

Kings from the northern regions decided to attack Israel (bad idea), so…”he captured all their kings and put them to death.” (Joshua 11:17)

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. Joshua 11:23

Chapter 12 lists the defeated kings…a long list. Chapters 13 through 19 provide details of how the land was allotted to Caleb, the tribes and finally to Joshua himself.

God’s faithfulness is revealed through Joshua and the Israelite occupation of The Promised Land. The battles are harsh and difficult to appreciate from a peace-loving perspective. One day I hope to understand and appreciate the need for such violence. My biggest prayer is this doesn’t become a stumbling block (or excuse) for those who are far from God; rather, it shows a time of war, of bloodshed, that is in our history and as such in the past. If it’s any consolation, it’s better to lose a few compared to flooding the entire planet!

We must learn. This is no license to repeat the days of Joshua, only to see God’s hand at work in planting the seeds of a nation that would ultimately give birth to Jesus.

December 11, 2016

Covenant History

Deuteronomy 1-3 and Psalm 29

Deuteronomy begins with a brief recap of major events including the delegation of responsibility to tribal leaders and the rebellion that happened after the 12 spied out the Promised Land.

In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God

The Israelites fought and won many battles, physical struggles against those in the region. Their reputation must have garnered one of fear in an age where kings ruled with power. Moses was a great leader, but not perfect. His mistake in Numbers 20 eclipsed all the good he did for decades and his undying faith in the Lord. There is some bitterness in Moses’ mind:

But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me, “That is enough,” the Lord said, “Do no speak to me anymore about this matter” Deuteronomy 3:26

The mantle of leadership carries much weight and errors in judgment make an enormous difference. This reminded me of James 3:1-2, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways…”

Lord help me to be true to you in all ways, for your glory, not for my fame!

Tag: leader

Saul’s Foolishness; Saul’s Impulsive Oath and Rejection