But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them. – Joshua 13:14

Today's Scripture Reading (April 4, 2025): Joshua 13

I spoke to him over the phone. To be blunt, I had heard very little that was good about the man. He had led a church for almost a quarter of a century and had built the physical church where the church continued to meet. He was the originator of an unparalleled music ministry during that era. Part of that directly resulted from the physical church he had built; the acoustics were terrific and intentional. 

When I spoke to him, the church was preparing to celebrate a significant anniversary, and I wanted to hear his stories about the over two decades that he had led the church. One church leader had laughed when I suggested that I was thinking about phoning this pastor. He had one sentence to sum up my intention. "Why would you spend time talking to someone so insignificant in the history of the church?" However, I couldn't get my head around the twenty-four years the pastor had spent leading the church and the word "insignificant."

I went ahead with my phone interview and heard the story of what happens when a church goes wrong. We talked about his last days at the church. The campaign that this church leader, who had called this pastor insignificant, had waged against him. He told me about being kicked out of the church-owned home where he had lived and raised his kids for over two decades. We talked about his last trip to the church on the day he left the city, sitting in the church's parking lot with his car packed with all his worldly possessions but with nowhere to go. And I couldn't imagine the pain that existed in that car on that day. 

The priests and Levites were to receive no land inheritance. Yes, they would receive some land around the Levitical cities where they would live, but nothing more. The idea was that the Levites would receive the offerings which were brought into the Temple. And that system worked as long as the people followed the instructions of God. The problem was that, for long periods, the people refused to bring their tithes into the Temple. And it was the priests and Levites who paid the price. Like my new friend, they were left on the outside with not enough to live on and nowhere to go. It was and continues to be a sad narrative about the plight of these servants of God who sacrificed much to minister to the people. The story of my friend is one that remains in my memory as a cautionary tale about what happens when we lose sight of the task with which God has charged us and allow personal feelings to lead us instead of the will of God. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 14

The king of Jerusalem – one, the king of Hebron – one. – Joshua 12:10

Today's Scripture Reading (April 3, 2025): Joshua 12

Over the past few years, I have been trying to knock off some of my essential reads. Last summer (2024), I finally read Charles Dickins's "A Tale of Two Cities." The story is set before and during the French Revolution in London and Paris. It is a look at the conditions that set the stage for the French Revolution and an examination of one person who had spent eighteen years in the Bastille. This person is finally released into society and seeks to leave Paris for a life in London with his daughter. Of course, the situation of these two historical cities is contrasted in the novel.

The author of Joshua lists over thirty cities defeated by Israel when they entered Canaan. But not all of these cities were equal. Enter two of the most important cities in ancient Canaan: Jerusalem (also called Jebus) and Hebron. The two cities are listed together here, and while the contrast between the cities is likely unintentional, there is a comparison between the two places. Joshua defeated the kings of both important cities, but only one city fell: Hebron. Hebron was located about 40 km south of Jerusalem. 

During the time of Joshua, both cities were ruled over by Amorite Kings. Both cities also, for a time, served as the Capital city of Israel. Joshua defeated both of these Kings in a battle fought in defense of the Gibeonites, a war that Israel was forced to engage in only because they had entered into an ill-timed diplomatic treaty with the city. The Kings of Jerusalem and Hebron, as well as the kings of Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, decided to move against Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua and requested help. "So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men" (Joshua 10:7). 

Adoni-Zedek was the King of Jerusalem, and Hoham was the King of Hebron. When the battle was over, all five kings hid in a cave. Israel sealed the cave entrance while they mopped up the rest of their armies and then returned and arrested the kings. At that time, Joshua executed all five kings. However, the defeat of these five kings took place outside of their cities. The Kings died, and their armies were defeated, but there was no effort to take control of the cities they represented. Concerning Jerusalem and Hebron, Hebron fell to Caleb a little later as he worked to clear the area for the tribe of Judah. But Jebus, Jerusalem, survived not just during the days of Joshua and Caleb but throughout the Judges era and King Saul's reign. It wasn't until the reign of David that the city finally came under the control of Israel. Joshua had defeated the King of Jerusalem hundreds of years earlier but hadn't taken the city. As a result, Jerusalem remained a thorn in the side of Israel until David took the throne and made the city his own.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 13

So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them. – Joshua 11:7

Today's Scripture Reading (April 2, 2025): Joshua 11

It was codenamed "Operation Overlord." In the West, we have all heard of it, yet we probably don't understand how much of a longshot the battle was. Until the last moment, military officials were not even sure that the operation would take place. But it did, although the cost was high. Among the allies alone, Operation Overlord resulted in almost 250,000 casualties, and over half of that number were military personnel from the United States. 

If you are still unsure what I am talking about, "Operation Overload" was the codename for the Normandy landings in June 1944. The problem was that the Western Allies had lost all footholds on the European continent. They needed to gain not just a foothold back onto the continent but also a way to resupply troops fighting in the European Theater. Adolf Hitler knew they would have to attempt something and had wanted to build his "Atlantic Wall" along the coast, but a lack of concrete and human resources meant that most of that wall never got built.

Still, the Normandy Landings were a longshot. The Allies had to dedicate all of their resources to the attempt. It just didn't make any sense not to. To accomplish anything, they had to win on the Atlantic Coast. And so, it was time to risk everything to try to gain that foothold.

The Kings of Canaan decided it was time to unite and fight against Israel. It was an all-or-nothing moment, and they had agreed to go with the all. They gathered their troops and then began to plan their attack on Israel. The coming battle would be another faith test for Joshua. God told Joshua that Israel would win, so Joshua decided not to delay the fight. He surprised his Canaanite opposition in two ways. First, Joshua attacked quickly. The Kings weren't expecting the rapidity of this attack. Second, Joshua committed all of his forces to the battle. If Joshua had lost, Canaan would have been lost to Israel. The rest of the nation would have been driven to the other side of the Jordan River and would have no foothold on the west side of the Jordan, making the defense of Canaan for these Palestinian Kings an easier task. Joshua trusted God and dedicated all his forces in this battle.

The phrase "His whole army" should be taken to mean not only that all of the forces of Israel were dedicated to the battle but that there was political unity in the nation. The coming battle was not just a statement of faith by Joshua but a statement that was echoed by the whole country.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 12

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.” – Joshua 10:6

Today's Scripture Reading (April 1, 2025): Joshua 10

Joshua’s heart must have sank when he received this message. Experts agree that this was a test of the treaty. While Joshua was trying to get a foothold in this new territory, his armies were now being drawn into somebody else’s war. And he didn’t have the human resources for this distraction. However, the worst was that he had nobody to blame for his current predicament besides himself. God had told him not to make a treaty with these people. Just don’t do it. And Joshua – well, he had made the treaty. He had done it. It was his fault.

Here is the reality of most of the things happening in our lives. Most of the bad stuff we struggle through doesn’t happen out of the blue. It happens because we have done something. I look back at the stuff that has happened in my life, and the truth is that I get to stand up and say, “Yep, I did that.” I suffered through that moment because of something that I did. I don’t have the privilege of trying to tell myself that these things happened because of something that someone else did. The vast majority of the bad things that happened in my life have happened because of my actions. Me. No one else. And the truth is that in the darkness of the night, all of these things come rushing back. I don’t think that I am alone. How far back do you have to go before you come to a moment when, if you are being honest, you received exactly what you deserved? Most of the monsters that I fear are of my creation.

One famous Bible story takes place on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples have gotten into this ancient boat and have tried to make the crossing of the Sea of Galilee for no other reason than because crossing the Sea was much easier and faster than trying to walk around it. The problem was that storms often came up fast on big lakes. The bottom of many large inland lakes is littered with ships, not because the area is filled with stupid ship captains but because storms come up fast. Storms come up fast on the Sea of Galilee. If the benefit of crossing the Sea of Galilee is that it saves time and effort, the bad is that if a storm comes up while you are out there, you are in trouble. I mean, if a storm comes up while you are walking around the outside, you will find shelter, and everything will be okay. There is no hiding place when a storm comes up on open water.

The disciples are in a boat, and a storm comes up while they are on the open water, and there is no place to hide. They are in trouble. The apostles are working hard at the oars but they are going nowhere. And then, suddenly, out of the mist, they see a ghost walking across the water, coming right at them. And they are terrified. But then a voice comes out of the storm. We find the story in Matthew 14.   

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus (Matthew 14:27-29).

Can you picture it? The storm was raging, and you see this ghost. Your heart stops. But then you hear a voice. It is a voice you know, saying, “Don’t be afraid; it is just me. And because I am here, there is nothing to fear.” 

Maybe you are in the position of Peter. Perhaps you are even brave enough to answer, “If it is you (and you know it is him), tell me to come to you.” And the word comes back to you: Come. You climb out of the boat. The waves feel weird as they press against your feet. And the wind and mist of the storm whip around you. But you do it. You walk on water. You take that first step and then the second toward Jesus. It is a fantastic moment.

I know you have heard the story before and know it doesn’t end here. But when Peter felt the wind and concentrated on the waves, he became afraid and began to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30)! Quick question. Whose fault was it that Peter started to sink? Maybe it was Jesus’s fault. He didn’t say enough to prepare him for the experience. I mean, all he said was, “Come.” What kind of prep is that? Maybe Jesus should have said, “Now, Peter, it will feel weird. But you are going to be okay.” 

Or maybe it is simply Peter’s fault. He got a couple of steps in, but then he took his eyes off Jesus and fixated on the wind and the waves. And he began to doubt, and fear began to take over. Peter violated the principle; “What God Originates, God will Orchestrate, If you don’t doubt.” Maybe this should have been the end of Peter. After all, it was Peter’s fault. Nothing has happened in this story, with the exception of the storm, that does not originate within Peter: nothing! Peter doubted, Peter failed, Peter sank beneath the waves, and the world never saw his face again. This adventure on the waves is the end of Peter.

Except, that is not the way that the story ends. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt’ (Matthew 14:31)? I can almost see the smile on Jesus’s face as he says the words. Peter, you were doing so well. But immediately, Jesus shoots out his hand and catches his friend even though it is Peter’s fault.

The treaty with the Gibeonites is Joshua’s fault, but that doesn’t mean God has left Joshua and Israel. I can almost see God shake his head and smile as he reaches his hand out to Joshua. “It’s okay, Joshua, I got you.”

And he still has us, even when it is our fault.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 11

Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)—they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. – Joshua 9:1-2

Today's Scripture Reading (March 31, 2025): Joshua 9

There is some evidence that at least part of the hope of Russia in attacking Ukraine was to divide the West. Vladimir Putin is a student of history and is well aware that European conflicts have produced divisions before. Often, those divisions have lasted until it was almost too late to recover. Such was the truth in World War II. Then, Nazi Germany had been the aggressor and had been allowed to run over central Europe for a while before a response was finally given. And even then, the response was muted. By the time the European powers responded to the threat of Adolf Hitler, it was too late for mainland Europe. Hitler already controlled most of it. The only nations that remained were those who had declared their neutrality, although not even all of those were left alone. Had things gone a little differently, the rest of the countries could be picked off at Hitler's leisure. Who knows what might have happened if Japan had not bombed the United States and brought them into the conflict?

If division was part of Russia's plan, it hasn't worked, at least not yet. The role of the United States is a little more murky, but even that is a bit of a historical reality. The United States has a history of wanting to go it alone; there is absolutely nothing new about Donald Trump's Make America Great Again strategy. It has been used several times over the years and usually results in a much weaker United States. Someday, we may learn that we are stronger together than we can ever be if we go it alone. And that the world needs heroes who will stand up against those who want to lead us into these solitary moments. It might be easier to go it alone, but it is seldom better.

In Canaan, there was a history of city-states who liked their independence, often choosing to fight with each other. But Israel presented a threat to all of them. After the defeat of Jericho and Ai, the kings of these cities got together and decided that it was time for them to stop their independent actions and band together for the defense of the land. Israel's original defeat at Ai bolstered their belief. The Canaanite kings realized that there was a way to defeat these intruders. Sin often has that lasting effect; it exposes our weaknesses.

Did the strategy work? Actually, in some ways, the answer is yes. Israel, for whatever reason, did not take all of Canaan for hundreds of years after they crossed the River Jordan and entered the area. The Philistine cities along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (think of an area along the coast a little larger than the Gaza Strip) were thorns in the side of Israel for generations. The city of Jebus (Jerusalem) did not fall into Israelite hands until the reign of David. In some ways, the current problems in the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights are a continuation of the struggles that Israel had in antiquity. A combination of the unity of the people opposing Israel and the sin of the people of God has made Canaan or Palestine a contested land ever since. And it is proof of the lessons that we seem unable to learn. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 10

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. – Joshua 8:1

Today's Scripture Reading (March 30, 2025): Joshua 8

Some battles are remembered only because of an unexpected result. The battle of Agincourt, which was part of the larger Hundred Years War, fought between 1337-1453 C.E., was fought on October 25, 1415. The battle should have been a French victory; the French went into the fight with superior numbers and an expectation of victory. However, the English, under Henry V's leadership, ended up winning the battle. Henry was able to win the battle against the larger numbers because the French underestimated the lethality of his longbowman, the distance at which these archers could strike, and the muddy terrain that disallowed any swift movement on the part of the French. I am not sure that even Henry expected to win, not if we believe the story that William Shakespeare handed down is in the least bit accurate. Still, Henry had a plan for victory, which seemed to be more than the French possessed; the latter seemed just to be depending on their superior numbers. Among the leaders, only Edward, the Duke of York, was killed on the English side, while the French lost all five of their military commanders, two who were killed and three who surrendered to the English forces. The Battle of Agincourt is remembered for the unexpected English win and the fact that superior numbers never outweigh the existence of a military strategy for battle.

As Israel went up against Ai for the first time, they depended on superior numbers and a healthy reputation for their victory. There is no doubt that sin inside the Israelite Camp was the main reason for their defeat, but they also seemed to go into the battle without a plan. Neither mistake could be repeated when Israel went up against Ai a second time. The second attack of the city would depend on an even more significant numerical advantage ["Take the whole army with you" (Joshua 8:1) vs. "Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there" (Joshua 7:3)]. And the second attack of Ai would entail a plan [Set an ambush behind the city (Joshua 8:2)]. Most importantly, this time God would be with them. 

This time, in faith, the people could expect a different result. Just as they had taken Jericho on faith, so would Ai fall before the God of Israel. It could never be about the numbers, military strength, or strategy. The most critical factor in the taking of Canaan was the presence of God.

That hasn't changed. We might be disappointed if we go into battle depending on the "stable genius" in our midst. The presence of sin and our willingness to do wrong things because someone has told us that is the way to win will always decide the battle in the favor of our enemies. But, in our weakness, God continues to be our strength.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 8

The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?” – Joshua 7:9

Today's Scripture Reading (March 29, 2025): Joshua 7

Sun Tzu is credited with writing his Chinese military Treatise, “The Art of War,” sometime during the 5th century B.C.E. The work is composed on thirteen chapters with each chapter relating to a different skill set that Sun Tzu (Master Sun) believed was necessary in any winning strategy employed during a conflict. But what might be the most surprising element of “The Art of War” is that this treatise on how to win a war in antiquity is still a document that many contemporary generals read and use.

Some of the modern uses of Sun Tzu’s military tactics include the idea of “Shock and Awe” or “Rapid Dominance.” Shock and Awe was used during the Gulf War. Sun Tzu’s phrases his ancient advice on this tactic saying it is the "selective, instant beheading of military or societal targets to achieve shock and awe." 

Another piece of advice from the legendary Chinese General is that the goal of any conflict should always be “to subdue the enemy without fighting” (Sun Tzu). Another way that Sun Tzu says this is that “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle” (Sun Tzu). The master tactician is speaking about the thing that a lot of armies still try to achieve. We call it peace through strength. It is the hope that the enemy will believe that our power is so overpowering that they will just lay down their weapons and surrender. In the modern era, it was what Russia hoped would be the result when they began their full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. 2022. The hope was that Ukraine would be overwhelmed by the Russian military and simply surrender. But that didn’t happen.

Israel entered Canaan and defeated the fortress of Jericho. It was a surprise victory, maybe especially from those living in Canaan. Yes, Jericho had feared Israel, but they also took precautions against Israel because of that fear. Mybe the most appropriate description is that that Jericho had a healthy respect for Israel and took certain precautions; their defeat was not due to taking Israel lightly. So, it was expected that the rest of Canaan might simply run from them. However, then sin altered the equation as it so often does and the next battle against the town of Ai, which should have been a rout, turned into an embarrassing Israelite defeat. Joshua was concerned, and angry with God. Everything that had been won at Jericho had been compromised at Ai. Now, instead of surrendering in fear at the approach to the Israelite conquerors, the inhabitants of Canaan would know that the invading army was fallible and could be defeated. It was precisely the reverse of the image that Joshua wanted to project. And Joshua knew that he had to get to the reason of the defeat before the armies of Canaan surrounded Israel and expelled them from the west side of the Jordan River.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 8