Daily Devotions
July 6th, 2009 by Pastor SolleyJosh 7:1-8
7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!When the children of Israel entered into the Promised Land it was through much prayer. As they stood before the city of Jericho it was through much prayer. As Jericho fell it was through much prayer. Why is it that the children of God so often then try to take the next step without God? As they were getting ready to go against Ai where is the prayer? Where is the worship, where is the sacrifice, where is the leading of the Lord? And as they went out without these things and failed who do they blame the failure on? The God they ignored before they went out. So many do the same thing today. I wonder how many people will pray today asking God to take care of them and their problems, yet they ignored Him and His house yesterday. They will miss prayer meeting this Wednesday, they will skip reading their Bible today and tomorrow, yet when trouble comes they will call on the Lord. And when God seems to be slow in answering prayer in their minds they will reason God doesn’t answer prayer, God doesn’t love me, God doesn’t take care of me. All the time it is they who have walked away from God.
Don’t be like Israel. Don’t try and walk in your own wisdom and own might. Start each day seeking the presence and will of God and walk with Him. See if things don’t go much better and you find yourself suffering fewer and fewer defeats.