Day 43 – Joshua: The battles of Israel

Reading: Joshua 7:1 to Joshua 13:33

“as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it, they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings”. Joshua 8:31 NIV

In Joshua 7, Achan stole items from Jericho that were devoted to God, lied about it, and faced severe punishment along with Israel, who suffered defeat at Ai. This highlights that one man’s sin can burden a whole nation, as seen in the covenant symbolized by circumcision. In Romans 12:4, Paul explains that we are all members of one body in Christ, meaning individual actions impact the group.

The Israelites played a passive role in their victory at Jericho but took a more strategic approach at Ai, requiring faith, obedience, and trust in God’s plan. Their victories were not about conquest but about a relationship built on trust.

The battles in Joshua were not about promoting violence but addressing injustice and moral corruption among the Canaanites. While some hesitate to read the Bible due to its themes of war, it’s essential to understand that these conflicts were just responses to human evil. God’s fight was against wickedness, not simply a conflict between Israel and Canaan.

Prayer: Lord, have mercy on us. Today we are eviler than ever before. Our profanities have no measure. Only You Jesus can save us from this evil world. Protect our children from the evil norms of this world and open our eyes to the truth. We read that “Then you know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. – John 8:32 Amen.