Judges 9

Abimelek, one of Gideon’s sons, was an evil leader. He murdered his 70 brothers, mercilessly murdered anyone who rose up against him, and left a trail of devastation wherever he went. He attempted one slaughter too many when he was in process to kill the citizens of Thebez who had all fled to a tower in their city. As he approached the tower to burn it down, an unsuspecting woman tossed a millstone over the side. It landed squarely on Abimelek’s head, mortally wounding him. His head smashed, he asked his young armor-bearer to thrust him through with a sword so that it could not be said “An ordinary woman killed him.”

Evil workers think they are above the judgement of God. It’s on His list of actions to repay their deeds in His own time, unless they repent and cast themselves upon His mercy.

Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. [Numbers 32:23]

Judges 7, 8

Gideon was used by God to achieve such great and miraculous victories over the Midianites, such as defeating an army of of 15,000 men to apprehend Zebah and Zalmunna, their leaders. Sadly, he used gold from the plunder to mold an ephod which ended up being used as an idol distraction. So soon God’s people would turn away from the Lord after He had given them such profound deliverances.

Our sin nature will continuously try to turn us away from God. The best safeguard is to read God’s Word EVERY DAY. It empowers us to resist our enemy’s allure.

If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1 Jn. 1:9]

Judges 5, 6

Gideon was the least of his tribe, yet God sent His angel to him with instructions on how to overcome the Midianites who were terrorizing Israel. He gathered an army to fight, but God said it was too large an army. God again instructed him through an elimination process to get the group down to 300 men.

The issue; if they were a large force, God said they would boast of their own strength rather than in His.

This is God’s way. He confounds our wisdom and natural strength so He can get all the glory. We can then praise Him and trust Him because He does it FOR US when we are insufficient.

But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. [James 4:6]

Judges 3, 4

God left hostile nations in the Promised Land to give the new generation of His Children opportunity to learn warfare. It was a training exercise for the youth. They also needed to taste victory for themselves.

Young people need to learn to be overcomers. They learn through the things they go through. Much of their challenge is in their mind … gaining life skills and self-confidence to navigate life’s trials. They need to learn that total victory IS AVAILABLE through the Lord. It’s a shame if they don’t learn and carry weaknesses throughout the rest of their lives.

Though He (Christ Jesus) were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; [Hebrews 5:8]

I am grateful that God ALWAYS makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. [2 Cor. 2:14]

Judges 1, 2

After God had given the Promised Land to His Children, they would serve Him as long as they had a Godly leader. After Joshua passed (he had been a great and Godly leader) God raised up judges who would likewise have a positive impact upon the nation, only to fall back into carnality after that judge would pass. How frustrating it must have been for the Lord to see this digression keep reoccurring. He knew man needed to be saved from himself.

Enter Christ Jesus. He is the perfect leader Who will never leave us or forsake us. We don’t have to fall into backsliding. Life is Christ keeps going up and getting better, He knows the mud we’re made of and He loves us enough to keep picking us up when we stumble. How great a Savior we have.

Joshua 24

This is a pivotal passage in the Bible. Joshua, a man with a circumspect view because of his experience … born in Egypt, suffered Pharaoh’s bondage, spied on the new land, served an apprenticeship under Moses, and selected by God to take the leadership reins over Israel … (Joshua) shares his decision and empirical wisdom with all Israel householders – USE THE CULTURE OF YOUR HOME TO IMPART GODLINESS TO YOUR FAMILY!

My experience as an administrator in a private Christian school gave me a perspective on the culture of the home. Children of all ages bring the culture of their home directly to school each day. The teachers see the distinct differences in the way children are raised.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. [Prov. 22:6]

Joshua 21-23

Because of their obedience, God gave respite to His Children in the Promised Land. They had routed and destroyed their enemies and settled in to inhabit and possess the land. This resulted in a rewarding rest, a time for them to enjoy their homes and carry on with life.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. [Ps. 84:11]

Joshua 18-20

Cities of refuge were established in the Promised Land. If you accidentally took a life, you could run to one of these cities and find protection from the avengers.

When we need protection from the bruises and injuries of life, we run to Christ Jesus Who IS our refuge.

^“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matt. 11:28-30]

Joshua 13-17

To each tribe of Israel was given a region of the Promised Land as an inheritance. There were lands and cities for them to dwell in thereafter. God took care of His Children then … and NOW. God has made us co-inheritors with Christ of an eternal life in heaven.

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [1 Peter 1:3,4]

Joshua 10-12

31 kings and kingdoms were conquered by Joshua and the armies of Israel. Fear and dread of them swept through the land, but they kept on their mission … to DESTROY the inhabitants and prepare a home for themselves. God gave it to them. They had to obediently eliminate their foes before they could rest and continue living.

Christ Jesus was prefigured by the man Joshua. Their names are very similar, and their mission likewise … lead God’s people into their inheritance and destroy the works of the evil one.

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [1 Jn. 3:8b]