78 - “The Real Conflict is Within” Joshua 7-10

                                                      

The conflicts in the Promised Land begin.  But the real conflict is within them and you and me.  Within.  66 Love Letters:  "Loving Me and becoming holy requires that you realize there is an enemy within you who will cause you more trouble than all the enemies outside you, than even the devil."  Are we fighting the right battles? Fight the good fight.  Finish the race.  Keep the faith.  2 Tim 4:7.  Do we hate what is opposed to God?  I've so been surprised this week at the tone of my voice in dealing with some issues with students---I've so wanted to make my point with grace.  Not right with God. 

Joshua's men couldn't defeat Ai.  Was Joshua concerned for God's reputation or his own?  "Maybe we should have stayed on the east side of the Jordan," said Joshua.  God says: "Get up!  Why are you groveling?"  Purify your people.  Purify yourself.  Praise God that His Holy Spirit does that for us. He is so Good!  I've been groveling today over an incident.  But I've been at war in my heart over the injustice and distance that it caused in my kid.  But what about dealing with the fray of my own heart?  I've been so concerned about what this will look like to others rather than trusting God to accomplish His plan of Love through this most difficult situation.  And His Plan of Love requires "hating everything in you that is opposed to Me, everything about you that wants someone or something besides Me to have first place in your life.  You'll need help discerning what that is."  I've finally found a couple of trusted friends who help me discern what really is going on inside of me.  Do you know how you come across?  Do you know what you leave people with?  It will involve "exhausting battle and humbling failure" to wage that war.  May you find help in discerning His Plan of Love for you.  Make sure you are fighting the right battles. Achan preferred "blessings to battle."  

Joshua 9:14 ^"The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn't ask God about it."  Joshua even made a covenant with them to guarantee their lives.  But they were enemies who happened to live next door.  "Never mistake the enemies in Canaan for only those things that are wrong in the world around you...your worst enemy is in you." (66 Love Letters).  Wonder what was going on inside of Joshua's heart that he didn't ask God about it?  Wonder what is going on in my heart this day where I might be ignoring God?  Maybe a little disinterested.  Maybe a little detached.  But Joshua dealt with the fray of his heart and he came out fighting the right battles.  I love Joshua 10:12 "The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening: The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua at Gilgal:  Don't abandon us! Help! All of the Amorite kings have joined forces against us.  Joshua 10:6. Joshua gathered his best fighting men and marched up all-night from Gilgal and surprised them.  But it's what the LORD says to Joshua that trumps everything:  "Do not be afraid of them.  Not one of them will be able to withstand you."  Joshua 10:8

And right smack dab in front of Israel, Joshua said:  

   "Stop, Sun, over Gibeon; Halt, Moon, over Aijalon Valley." 

   And Sun stopped, 
   Moon stood stock still 
   Until he defeated his enemies. 

Until the nation avenged itself.  Never has there been a day like this, before or since, when the Lord listened to a human being.  "Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel." Joshua 10:14.  God took orders from a human voice!  Joshua and the Israelites completely defeated them.  And the LORD hurled huge hailstones down on them and God gave the Amorites over to Israel.  Joshua "didn't leave incomplete one thing that God had commanded Moses." Here's an extremely deadline-driven hard worker but the story ends today with Joshua never being too busy anymore to follow and love his God. 

And Joshua read every word of the law to his people. Joshua 8:35. Every word.  

Joshua 10:12 is written in poetic form---beautiful metaphors. Joshua 10:13 shifts back to the narrative. No poetic license here---just the Providential Hand of God in their lives and in ours. 

PHOTO:  Flying 34,000 feet above tonight.  Oh the beauty!  Thinking about Plan A and the sun and the moon.  And it will always involve "reading the Word." Sun stand still. Oh, moon.