Apr 25 – Joshua 8, Joshua 9:1-15 Luke 22:63-71, Luke 23:1-25 Psalm 51:1-9

Josh 8:6-7

They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand.

The defeat at AI was humiliating for Israel. But once the sin was dealt with, it was time to move on.

What’s interesting here is they used their defeat to gain their victory. They ran away first time, so they used the expectation that they would do it again to their advantage.

Their defeat was because of sin, but God turned it around to become a strength for Israel and a weakness for the enemy.

Every man left the city undefended, because they were so overconfident. It left the city completely open.

What the enemy was used to defeat you, God can transform. All things can work together for good. For example, those who were once in prison can turn that experience into victory when they start to reach prisoners themselves with the gospel. An area in your life that once controlled you can be used by God to set others free. He can turn any defeat into a weapon against the enemy.

Joshua 9:14-15

The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

What was the big mistake Israel made here? In verse 14 it tells us plainly – they didn’t enquire of The Lord. They did what they thought was best but didn’t ask God’s opinion. Big mistake… and one we all make.

We cannot go about life trusting our own judgement, because we will get it wrong.

But they make a promise to the Gibeonites and they honour that up until the time of King Saul – and Israel is punished for breaking the promise.

We’d do well not to make mistakes by making sure we enquire of God. But when we do make those misacts, we need to live with the consequences and do so with honour.

Luke 22:11-12

Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

Sometimes you read something in the word that you’ve never noticed before. Herod and Pilate became friends after the crucifixion because of the way they handled Jesus.

Herod and Pilate were not natural friends. They had many reasons not to get on with each other. They agreed in little a had little in common.

Yet through the contempt of Christ they became friends. Those in the world today who have opposing religious and social viewpoints, that would never have anything in common are always ready to unite against the church. Don’t be surprised by that. Contempt of Christ brings unity amongst the sinful.

Ps 51:3-4

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

The big problem with sin isn’t what it does to ourselves, or even to others (although those things are not unimportant) but sin is first and foremost something that we do against God.

It’s God we hurt most through sin. It’s God that we need to be made right with.

Sometimes we have fleeting thoughts of “what would (insert name here) think about this?” or this will hurt “again, insert name here”. And often those thoughts don’t stop us.

But God sees. God knows. And it’s first and foremost God who we hurt. If we remembered that more often, maybe we’d deal with temptation better.