#390 Wet Woolen Scars

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lordbecause of the Midianites,

8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lordface to face.

23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.

34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. Judges 6 KJV

And again, they did evil and God left them to the pursuit and care of idols, but also with His own hand against them. Like a plague of locust, an organized mob of Midianites comes to reap what Israel has sewn. This causes men to make keeps inside the caves of the mountains, to hide from the invaders. A prophet comes and recounts their history to them, thus says the Lord, fear not these other gods, the works of men's hands, vanity and the delusion that is pride. The Lord goes to Gideon, a man whose father has an idol of Baal and a grove of service to such false deities. He addresses Gideon as a man of valor, but Gideon's reply is if God is with us then where are His miracles that our fathers spoke of, and why has he forsaken us, favoring our enemies? What did the prophet say? "Ye did not obey my voice." The patience of God is remarkable and frightening, that men still don't believe, and Gideon will question God each time as he approaches this blessed duty, but God will build up his faith each time. Men do not know so much to repent because they do not know the holiness of God, and His faithfulness. They forsake themselves in forsaking God, and as the sun slowly rises upon the horizon and the light is cast upon the messenger, we would start to tremble and our approach must change. "Let not thine anger be hot against me," humility must account for the depravity of the sinner, and it must reason that it is standing where it does not deserve to be, and so it bows itself down. Sure, I use to think, if the Messenger of God stood before me, like here, or as Christ before the apostles, but I speak in ignorance, because I came to believe the Bible to be God's word, but how many times did I open God's word and not realize where I was standing, what I was holding, Whose words I was reading? Blessed are those who hear and believe. Miracles, my dearest Gideon, are to be rare, and few there are who find them, but it is all grace. Lord God, please let me walk in the light of Your precious word and bring honor and glory to Your name. 

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20: 24-31 NIV

#389 Low and Mighty

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

2 Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

4 Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

5 The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.

7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord.

10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.

14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.

20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.

23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.

24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,

30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

31 So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. Judges 5 KJV

When the people willingly offered themselves, praise the God Who never changes, Who is the same from all eternity. If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, I will hear their prayers and heal their land. It shows that leading up to her time the people lived in fear of the gentile king, that they left their farms, and there was not a shield or spear to be seen among them. They were disarmed, and under tyranny, but such tyranny did not protect them from the robber or the archer. They could not defend themselves and were afraid to even go for water. People beg for as much these days, they hate God and think there are those political heroes among them that only need more power, that should take the means of production, all your ability to defend yourself and your family, and they will make everything right. Those that deny the authority of God will somehow make better, and it always works out so well. History is here taught in the song, they drew nigh and like in other times passed, God showed His great love, they became His people once again for He had no need to change, and they became joint in pursuit of justice against the enemies of God. 

Deborah becomes a mother to this people and this song is a testimony with much instruction. It defies the folly of men's strength, and the hope of the mother of Sisera that her son is just raping and pillaging, that boys will be boys and this is what has slowed him down. Her "wise" ladies speak to clothing and spoil, that it was so much that it kept his chariot from coming. Men that have all those things already should be humbled all the more, just as Israel should have been in their times of peace, but men tend to honor those things more than integrity, more than humility, more than the image of God in others. A reason for war is oppression, not that my neighbor has gold, or land or oil. We should never make alliance with those that are cruel to others either.

Jael is remembered and blessed above women, a house wife, who took the strong. She is remembered as much if not more than Barak, more than all those in the field was the honor to the one inside the tent. Maybe, or not maybe, we should remember our moms, we should honor our wives. The guards of our homes and children; it is an office of utmost importance. It is a calling of great care and responsibility. Deborah is a mother to Israel and so is this gentile woman, like a bear defending her cubs, like Rahab realizing the work of God, so Jael chooses the part of God.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1: 46-55

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matthew 26: 6-13

#388 Cradle to the Cross

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead.

2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.

13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. Judges 4 KJV

After 80 years of rest, they are not resolved in their religion, but rather set upon their heroes. For after Ehud is gone then so is their covenant. They find evil waiting at the door and invite it in yet again. No one is there to chase it away from them, no one is there to remind them that they belong to God, or how they should behave. God raises up a woman of much wisdom, she is the next in a line of heroes, who God uses to correct Israel and their enemies. Deborah is a prophetess and she speaks to Barak in that manner, maybe of something that he knew to do, but like Gideon was uncertain of. She speaks with no uncertainty that this is what God would have him to do. He agrees but upon condition, and many say in cowardice here, but cowards usually don't march forward. He asks for her to accompany him in battle, and yes he must share the honor since he is not alone, but maybe there is more of a lesson here. Did not Aaron and Hur raise the hands of Moses to secure the victory of a battle they did not fight in? Did not Paul find it necessary to command Timothy against the youth's natural timidness to defend the honor of God's word against those who would bring another gospel?  I think it's better to go with someone, then to not go for fear of being alone or uncertain of what to do. Even so the honor that could be his alone will now fall to a woman, since it is only with her that he is willing to do this. I think it marvelous of her that she accompanies him, for what better proof of one's words than to live or die by them. 

They go to battle against a frightening opponent. He has many chariots, and they have their feet. Sisera is Jabin's captain, and he must surely see the odds as in his favor, but then something happens, God discomfits him, they are confused, scared. Deborah tells Barak to get up, and as if he had already won or it was in a bag that she was handing to him, she says, "this is the day." She is wisdom, she is Barak's resolve, his hope, comfort and faith. Jael shows him the tent spiked head and it must all come flowing back to him. I don't think he is upset, for it came to pass as she said, and he played his part, but all Israel is safe. God has used men, women, prostitutes, a donkey, a false prophet, a reed basket, Gentiles, Jews and whomever He wills. So none can stand before the Lord, none can say they have the formula for success within their stature. He will show them all sorts of men, favor, both enemies and heroes, great and small, and who will deliver them when they choose to be at odds with God? Heroes are a funny thing, for they don't exist on their own, they are sinners like us, yet God in His infinite mercy and wisdom has chosen to exercise both His judgment and His deliverance by the likes of such men and women. It is like the "foolishness of preaching" found in our day, often imitated but mostly by those who are drawn of greed, fame or seeking power. Men would love to be honored by men rather than honoring God, and waiting upon such favor that they think too far off, or that God's grace is somehow lacking. There is only One hero, one light that makes dim all that shined before Him, yet gives light as the sun does the moon, to reflect the Son. It is certainly our chief end, our duty, logic and life. We reflect the image of God, or we try to shatter the image. We glorify the Creator for that belongs to Him, it is His honor and cannot be rightly shared, for none is like Him. Heroes will come and wither away, like dust they will be lost to the wind, but God's word will remain. The serpent rose up to honor himself, and he took pleasure in leading humanity to corruption, but what did God say of the seed of the woman, "you will bruise His heal, but He will crush your head". 

Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people.[b] I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3: 1-11 NLT

#387 In a Bubble

Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.

9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. 

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.

13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.

18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.

19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.

20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.

23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.

24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.

25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.

27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.

28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.

29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. Judges 3 KJV

If it were an island or a bubble, this thing called religion, but not towards the God of the universe, the infinite, Holy, self sufficient God that leaves this people to be proved by such strong holds. I could do it most well inside of a bubble, untested, without the trials of human interaction. You could live out on a farm and surround yourself with people who looked and thought only like you do. There is the great commission though for Christians, but here in the reflection of the OT, they were to drive this people out, so what they contend with is what they were unwilling to deal with. They at first settled then eventually embraced. We still today should not be unequally yoked, not in close friendship and least of all in marriage, but they did, and after they married they went so far as to follow those gods made with hands. Before you ever take the knee to an idol, you make the decision to do so way before. She was beautiful, she was friendly, her hand felt nice in mine and her smile was so sincere. Hath God said? They spend eight years conquered, but God hears their cries and comes to their aid. He raises up Othniel which follows with 40 years of peace, then back like dogs to lap up their own vomit, they return to their strongholds. What better way to understand them then the resulting bondage, for you are a slave to your sins. They served Eglon for 18 years, then God raised up a lefty named Ehud who assassinated the king and led Israel against Moab, and they knew rest for 80 years. Then God sent Shamgar, but why do the people turn back, this is not a passive religion, their must be sincerity and a willingness to fight one's own holdings, to seek God's honor and chase His holiness, nothing else stands. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 1 & 2

#386 Became Flesh

Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? 3 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” 4 As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim.[a] And they sacrificed there to the Lord.

The Death of Joshua

6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. 7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. 9 And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. 10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

Israel's Unfaithfulness

11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.

The Lord Raises Up Judges

16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so.18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” 23 So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua. Judges 2 ESV

The messenger of the Lord here I think is Christ, for it was God Who brought the people out and it was with God they had this covenant. He does not say, "God said", but rather "I said". It is not a good message, for they are in breach of the covenant, like a cheating spouse, they have not only been lazy in their relationship to God, but have also sought peace with that which He hates. He will no longer fight on their behalf, and He will give them up to their uncleanness for a time, so they may feel the sting of it. It says they cried, they were moved that much, but this generation did what was evil in the sight of God, yet He will send them judges or champions, to bring relief and right for a time. There have been generations that have seen revival in the church. Roman Catholicism held the people in the darkest of ages, but God gave light to one of their own priests, and Luther among others started a Reformation. Gutenberg brought the Holy scriptures to the people with his press, and Calvin tirelessly defended the doctrines found in the Whole Counsel. Men like Edwards, Wesley and many more circuit preachers spread God's word in early America. In my day, they would almost go unrecognized by me, but I feel blessed to have read the works of John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Lutzer, Voddie Baucham and so many others that desire the Author's intent and care more for God's words than their own. With all that is available out there, the easy purchase of Holy Scripture, it is free on the internet, teachers who hold the word above their feelings, emotions and opinions, still so much of the church allows error and embraces it in the name of tolerance. They go so far as to call it love, but anything that would separate us from God cannot be true love, it leaves us reprobate and at odds with Him, heading for disaster. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6: 19-24

#385 Onward

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?”

2 The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.”

3 The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them.

4 When Judah attacked, the Lord gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. 5 It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites. 6 Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

7 Then Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem also and took it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.

9 After that, Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills. 10 They advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. 11 From there they advanced against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

12 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 13 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

14 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[a] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

15 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

16 The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms[b] with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad.

17 Then the men of Judah went with the Simeonites their fellow Israelites and attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they totally destroyed[c] the city. Therefore it was called Hormah.[d] 18 Judah also took[e] Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron—each city with its territory.

19 The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron. 20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak. 21 The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

22 Now the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz), 24 the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well.” 25 So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole family. 26 He then went to the land of the Hittites, where he built a city and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

27 But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. 28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. 29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. 30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. 31 Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. 32 The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out. 33 Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. 34 The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. 35 And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the tribes of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. 36 The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond. Judges 1 NIV

I don't see it as faithlessness on the part of Judah, asking his brother's tribe to accompany him. Yes, the Lord has given you the land, but iron sharpeneth iron, and so we encourage and our different gifts or resources can compliment one another. 

They take Adoni-Bezek and there is a sense of poetic justice since he is now as those he has formerly defeated. Maybe there is something here for any of us, a golden rule, maybe some humility, or do we suppose that we can somehow always avoid the same end? Those who live by the sword also die by it. 

How many times in this passage do we see that the enemy, who was broken by Joshua in the major battles, is yet here not fully driven out? How many of us Christians would proclaim that "yes, Christ defeated sin and death at the Cross", but would maintain those strongholds of the enemy, either in secret or pretending that they are a lighter disobedience? I recall Lot's wife, for the chariots of Egypt were never so much for the Lord, they were drowned like ants. Lot's wife was defeated in her heart. This is a fascinating time in Israel's history, and it is very honest and without polish. There is no singular leader like Moses or Joshua throughout this book, but I think this may reflect upon the time of the church and the end of days. 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”^{[e] 31} It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10: 19-31

#384 Joshua the Faithful Warrior

Joshua, called thus by Moses means "The Lord is Salvation". Even as Moses led the children in the wilderness, yet died outside the promised land, so Joshua leads them into the land.

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”[d]

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. Hebrews 4: 6-8

Joshua led the people to a temporary earthly kingdom, his battle was often against flesh and blood, but he was a fore type of Christ and Israel was a picture of God's eternal kingdom. Joshua pics up where Moses leaves off. 

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13: 11-14

 He was alive during Israel's time in Egypt as well, and he was also one of the 12 who entered the land to spy it out, some 40 years prior to their entry. He, along with Caleb were the only two to come back with the report that they could take the land. Why? By faith, and the foundation of it in human words is given by Joshua in the 24th chapter, the small history of what God has done. If  God can humble pharaoh, part the red sea and crush the army of what was one of the greatest nations of the bronze age, and he says this is the land I am giving you, well Joshua and Caleb rightly believe. It is by faith because it is occupied by the enemies of God, by faith because looking at myself  I cannot see the whole way clear. Joshua stayed faithful to God, and though a man, God honored his faithfulness. It says if we draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to us. 

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Hebrews 11: 25-31

Joshua is a great study in faith, without which it was impossible to please God, and he and Caleb only of that generation did receive inheritance in the land. Well that was then I use to think, a lovely story, but what of faith now? The Bible tells us how it works now, it is by faith:

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

And we know from Holy Scripture that faith produces a change, works fit to present to God, the fruit of the Spirit. Joshua's faith led  him to believe that what God says He was also able to perform and Joshua moved forward by faith. 

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made [d]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2: 14-26

Hmmm, so saving faith does not just believe what the demons believe, that God exists, or as the late R.C Sproul would say, God does not exist, He is, and we come into being because of  Him. He calls us into existence, for He is "I am", the eternal Being. Joshua could have believed God powerful enough to do what He said, but God is asking for obedience from him, to be a partaker in His kingdom, as Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course." True faith leads to repentance, it is engaged in the battle, it credits the victory to God, because it knows without Him, there would be no faith, no existence, no knowledge of present err. Faith responds to the truth and the course of the believer is forever changed. Joshua lived by faith and wanted this for his house as well, he said, "choose ye this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." There was nothing to go back to but slavery, ignorance and waste. Nothing has changed from then till now, other than that Christ has come to set the captives free, and the eternal kingdom is now in view, the New Jerusalem, do you believe? 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14: 1-14

Joshua Jesus Moses gave Joshua his name, which means “Yahweh saves.” (Num. 13:16) Matt. 1:21 God instructed Joseph to give his son the name Jesus because, “he will save his people from their sins.” God, to whom the whole earth belongs, charged Joshua to lead his people into Canaan to reclaim it for God, promising to be with him. (Josh. 1:2, 5) Matt. 28:18–20 Jesus, to whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth, charged his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, reclaiming people for God, promising to be with them. Joshua led the Israelites into physical battle against the people living in great wickedness in Canaan. (Deut. 18:10–14) Eph. 2:2–3; 6:11–13 Jesus leads us into spiritual battle against the world, the flesh and the Devil, against spiritual forces of evil. The ark going before the people signified that God himself was establishing his presence in the land among his purified people. (Josh. 3:3, 5) John 14:2–3; Heb. 9:24 Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place in heaven for his purified people. Joshua, led by the commander of the Lord’s army, brought destruction against the enemies of God. (Josh. 5:13–15) Rev. 19:14–15 Jesus, the commander of the Lord’s army, will, at the end of the age, bring final destruction upon the enemies of God.

Joshua brought divine judgment upon the Canaanites who persisted in wickedness and salvation to those who cried out for mercy. (Joshua 6) Acts 2:21; 2 Pet. 3:9–10 Jesus will return to bring divine judgment upon those who refused to repent, while those who cried out for mercy will be saved. Under Joshua, the Gibeonites, one small tribe of Gentiles, became part of the nation of Israel through faith in God’s power and promise. (Joshua 9) Rev. 5:9–10 Under Jesus, Jews and Gentiles from every tribe, language, and nation are made part of the people of God through faith in God’s power and promise. The day came when the kings in Canaan became a footstool for the Israelites’ feet, signifying complete defeat. (Josh. 10:24) 1 Cor. 15:25–28 The day will come when all of the enemies of God will become a footstool underneath Jesus’s feet signifying complete defeat. Joshua impaled the bodies of the Canaanite kings on poles to demonstrate that they were under God’s curse. (Deut. 21:22–23; Josh. 10:26) Gal. 3:13 Jesus hung on a tree, demonstrating that he was under God’s curse. Joshua had the king’s bodies taken down from the trees and put into caves and covered the openings with large stones that “remain to this very day.” (Josh. 10:27) Mark 16:4 The body of Jesus was taken down from the tree, put into a tomb, and covered with a large stone that was rolled away when he rose from the dead, signifying that he fully paid the penalty of the curse. Under Joshua, even after the Israelites entered into the land, perseverance in battle was required to take possession of all that God had given to them. (Josh. 11:18; 13:1) Phil. 3:12–14 In Christ, even after we enter into the rest of salvation, perseverance is required to truly possess all that God has given to us. Joshua gave to each tribe the promised inheritance of land in the Promised Land of Canaan that they had been waiting for. (Joshua 13–21) 1 Pet. 1:3–5; 2 Pet. 3:13 Jesus will give to us our promised inheritance in the new heaven and new earth that we have been waiting for. Joshua brought the people to a place of rest. (Josh. 21:44) Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:8–9 Jesus promises rest to all who will come to him, the rest of salvation we experience only in part now and fully when we cross over into the presence of God. Joshua called the people of God to loyalty to the Mosaic covenant so that they would not forfeit their promised inheritance of the land of Canaan. (Josh. 23:6–13) Heb. 9:15 Jesus calls us to embrace a new covenant, which is based not on our obedience, but on his. Because of this, our promised eternal inheritance is secure