"You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you." Joshua 7:13.
That verse jumped out of my Bible and hit me between the eyes this morning during our Sunday School study of Joshua. And I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was if God was speaking directly to me: "Precious child, what devoted things are you holding on to that are thwarting My power from working for you and through you?"
To truly grasp the magnitude of this verse, we need a little Biblical context. I have to admit that I've never studied Joshua before now. Let's be honest, I've probably never read it before now. But the context of the verse makes all the difference in its significance (imagine that!). So hang with me - here's what bring us to Chapter 7 , verse 13.
The book of Joshua recounts Israel's capture and settlement of the land of Canaan - the Promised Land. After deliverance from bondage and then forty years of wandering, Israel is finally poised at the beginning of Joshua to claim the land God had promised so long ago to Abraham and his descendants. (Because that's just who God is -- He always keeps His promises.) So, the Lord leads the Israelites into battle with the indigenous peoples of Canaan, promising that He will "without fail drive their enemies out from before them." (Joshua 3:10.)
The Lord makes clear in Joshua that He is ready to "do wonders" in Israel's conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 3:5). He will empower them to drive out enemies far more numerous and mightier. (Deuteronomy 7:1). So that "all the peoples of the earth [will] know that the hand of the Lord is mighty" and will have true faith in Him -- "that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:24).
And, true to His word, God's strength was apparent from the very moment that the Israelites stepped foot into the land of milk and honey -- He cut off the waters of the Jordan so that they could pass over to Canaan on dry ground. A little preview of the awesomeness that was to come in battle. Forty years to the day after He parted the Red Sea. (Joshua 4:19). Do you think God wants us to know that there are no accidents? There can be no doubt that He has dominion over every detail, down to the very hour and minute. "The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back." (Psalm 114:3).
Now you'd think that after witnessing such a miracle, the people of Israel would model faithful obedience, with no desire to sin. But that was not the case (as it never is with any of us fallen people). Despite the Lord's clear instructions to set aside for the Lord's treasury certain spoils of war from their battles, i.e., "devoted things," "the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things" by taking them and "putting them among their own belongings." (Joshua 7:1, 11).
Which brings us to the verse at hand: "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, 'There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take the devoted things from among you.'" (Joshua 7:13). There are devoted things in our midst. Devoted things that belong to God. Devoted things that were never meant to be ours. Devoted things that we sinfully hold onto. And the consequences of holding onto that sin? Of not removing those devoted things from among us? Of not consecrating ourselves for tomorrow? We "cannot stand before our enemies." We thwart God's power working through us. We miss out on His mightiness. And we cannot stand.
So, are there devoted things in your midst? Do you need to consecrate yourselves for tomorrow? I know I do.
That verse jumped out of my Bible and hit me between the eyes this morning during our Sunday School study of Joshua. And I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was if God was speaking directly to me: "Precious child, what devoted things are you holding on to that are thwarting My power from working for you and through you?"
To truly grasp the magnitude of this verse, we need a little Biblical context. I have to admit that I've never studied Joshua before now. Let's be honest, I've probably never read it before now. But the context of the verse makes all the difference in its significance (imagine that!). So hang with me - here's what bring us to Chapter 7 , verse 13.
The book of Joshua recounts Israel's capture and settlement of the land of Canaan - the Promised Land. After deliverance from bondage and then forty years of wandering, Israel is finally poised at the beginning of Joshua to claim the land God had promised so long ago to Abraham and his descendants. (Because that's just who God is -- He always keeps His promises.) So, the Lord leads the Israelites into battle with the indigenous peoples of Canaan, promising that He will "without fail drive their enemies out from before them." (Joshua 3:10.)
The Lord makes clear in Joshua that He is ready to "do wonders" in Israel's conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 3:5). He will empower them to drive out enemies far more numerous and mightier. (Deuteronomy 7:1). So that "all the peoples of the earth [will] know that the hand of the Lord is mighty" and will have true faith in Him -- "that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:24).
And, true to His word, God's strength was apparent from the very moment that the Israelites stepped foot into the land of milk and honey -- He cut off the waters of the Jordan so that they could pass over to Canaan on dry ground. A little preview of the awesomeness that was to come in battle. Forty years to the day after He parted the Red Sea. (Joshua 4:19). Do you think God wants us to know that there are no accidents? There can be no doubt that He has dominion over every detail, down to the very hour and minute. "The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back." (Psalm 114:3).
Now you'd think that after witnessing such a miracle, the people of Israel would model faithful obedience, with no desire to sin. But that was not the case (as it never is with any of us fallen people). Despite the Lord's clear instructions to set aside for the Lord's treasury certain spoils of war from their battles, i.e., "devoted things," "the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things" by taking them and "putting them among their own belongings." (Joshua 7:1, 11).
Which brings us to the verse at hand: "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, 'There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take the devoted things from among you.'" (Joshua 7:13). There are devoted things in our midst. Devoted things that belong to God. Devoted things that were never meant to be ours. Devoted things that we sinfully hold onto. And the consequences of holding onto that sin? Of not removing those devoted things from among us? Of not consecrating ourselves for tomorrow? We "cannot stand before our enemies." We thwart God's power working through us. We miss out on His mightiness. And we cannot stand.
So, are there devoted things in your midst? Do you need to consecrate yourselves for tomorrow? I know I do.
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