Wilderness Wandering

It was God’s plan that the children of Israel should go straight into the land he had promised them, the land of Canaan, but the people would not. God said that all those at Kadesh over 20 years old, except Joshua and Caleb, would have to die. A new generation arose during a 40 year wandering, but at the end the nation was about as strong in numbers as the day they left Egypt.

At the start of this book we see the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. The law had been given, the Tabernacle had been built and the priests had been assigned to their service. Now God was going to prepare the nation for its work. In chapter 1 and 2, God numbered and arranged the tribes, choosing and assigning duties to the priests and Levites (Chapter 3, 4). Moses was commanded to take a census.

God gave his children a cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were guided a step at a time. They did not know when they were to go and when to stop, but the Ark of the Covenant (signifying God’s presence) went on before, the pillar of cloud always leading (Numbers 10:33). Sin came into this camp life as well. The people began to murmur against God. God sent judgement of fire (Numbers 11:1-3). Then they complained about their food (Numbers 11:4). As a result of their complaining, God sent them quails for 30 days. Then we see the sin of Aaron and Miriam, the brother and sister of Moses. God had chosen Moses to be the leader of this great people and Aaron and Miriam were only his assistants. Jealousy crept into their hearts. They wanted more honor and Miriam got the punishment as she was smitten with leprosy for 7 days (Numbers 12:1-16).

After one year at Mount Sinai, the Israelites journeyed to Kadesh. This is at the southern border of the Promised Land.  Afraid to enter, they turned back and wandered in the wilderness to the south and east till that generation died. After 2 years in the wilderness, people could have gone into the land of promise immediately had it not been for the sin of unbelief. They listened to the discouraging words of most of the spies. When the spies came back and told them about the giants in the lands and the high-walled cities, their hearts failed them. They would not listen to Joshua and Caleb who agreed with all that was told, but added, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30). When they refused to enter Canaan, the door was closed to them. It meant wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. God said that he would not allow any of those who were over 20 years old to enter Canaan, except Joshua and Caleb. 11 days from the land of promise. But they turned back. They could have made 11 days of progress, but they chose 40 years of wandering. God opens doors that no human can close, and he closes doors that no human can open (Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:8). Their fear disqualified them to take over the land of promise. Oftentimes our fear keeps us from enjoying all that God wants to give us. We fear what others will say. We fear what might happen if we put our trust completely in Christ.

Chapter 20 describes how the people complained bitterly to Moses and Aaron and said they wished they had never been brought out of Egypt. Moses patience was at an end. The people had complained about everything. In a fit of anger he called the people rebels and instead of speaking to the rock he struck it. The water gushed out. Even though Moses disobeyed, God was faithful and kept his promise. Moses put himself up as God – “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10). This dishonoured Jehovah God. Because Moses smote the rock a second time (Exodus 17:5,6) instead of speaking to it, he was not permitted to enter the Promise Land.

In Numbers 17, Aaron’s priesthood got questioned, so God himself was to confirm it. Moses gathered 12 staffs, one from the leader of each tribe, and placed them overnight in the tent of meeting. God put life into Aaron’s alone, causing it to sprout and bud. All authors of the religions of the world have died, even Christ died. But only Christ was raised from the dead and exalted to be our rich high priest (Hebrews 4:14; 6:4-10).

While the people camped in Kadesh, Miriam, Moses sister died and Aaron, his brother also died. Israelites battled with the Canaanites and became discouraged. Then they grumbled because they had to march around the land of Edom instead through it. They growled again against God and against Moses because they loathed the manna (Numbers 21:5). This time God sent venomous snakes’ among the people, which caused suffering and death. After they confessed their sin, Moses prayed for deliverance of his people. God did not take away the venomous snakes, but told Moses to make a bronze snake and fasten it to a pole so that all could see it. As soon as they looked, they would live (Numbers 21:6-9).

The only way people can live is by looking to the one who took upon himself the likeness of a human and was lifted up on the cross to take the sting of death upon himself (Philippians 2:7-8). If we look on him, our saviour, we shall live (John 3:14, 15). Even though God chosed the people of Israel to be his chosen one, through the death and resurrection of Christ, the entire world got saved and become chosen, if they accept Christ Jesus.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:23

May God help you to know Christ and be the chosen one.

The BOOK – Farewell

When the Israelites walked into the Promised Land, Joshua had a friend Caleb, who along with him trusted God in taking Promised Land. These were the only 2 people in their generation who could enter the Promised Land because of their obedience. Now you see in Joshua 14:12, Caleb, who was 85 years old asks for high and walled cities, which Joshua gave him as granted. Caleb might be the happiest man in the camp because he had overcome so much and yet had fields to conquer. “Difficulties are things which show what men are”. In your life when you see the glory of God come and change your life in the midst of trials and tribulations, you will trust God all through your life, even in the hardest times. 

Lord never promised his children that they will have an easy time serving him. “In this world you will have trouble” – John 16:33. We see Paul encouraging Timothy, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” – 2 Timothy 2:3. Caleb knew since he is obedient to God, God had given him the land, as he had seen it before. Even when you face diseases, sickness, financial problems or any earthly problems where the whole world comes around to take you out, if you are faithful to God, you will see your saviour fighting the battle on your behalf and giving you the victory.

Like Moses, Joshua also gave the people some last words when he became very old. He called the leaders and then people and told them not to forget the power and faithfulness of God and told them to be faithful to God. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness” – Joshua 24:14. He also warned them about choosing whom to serve, whether to serve the gods of their forefathers or the true living God, and confessed he and his family will serve the Lord. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” – Joshua 24:15

It is good to make open confessions and commit ourselves to a solemn purpose. People of Israel also said they will serve the Lord. When you confess your weakness and how you overcame it through the power of Jesus, your followers will also do the same and become a testimony. If you live a life of hypocrisy, your followers will also come as hypocrites, and even they will not be faithful to you.

At the age of 110, Joshua died. His greatest achievement Certificate is seen in Joshua 24:31 – “Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua”. A leader or a minister should be faithful to Lord and his people and be a testimony to each of his followers. 

You cannot run away from your sins. Be sure, your sin will find you out. In the midst of a sinful life, it is better to leave everything and confess it before God and ask for the forgiveness. Most of the people hate this step – confession. Yes everyone have a problem of confessing before men, but they take the same attitude before God also. We should understand the sins which happened through our mind, mouth and even physically, God was a witness. So confessing before God does not make you a small being, as we are already small and nothing before the Holy God. But for coming out of the sinful world, you need to confess the sins before God and believe in faith that for all the sins you have done, Christ came and took the punishment. Now as you take Christ in your heart, you are free, but you will sin no more. 

Joshua served the Lord and walked with him. He led a testimonial life so that the people who followed him did as he did. Today, without our knowledge our children or other people near to us, follows us and does what we do. It is a choice for every one of us how you want them to be as their life depends on your holiness and faithfulness. May Almighty empowers you to lead a holy life in Christ Jesus and be testimony for him as Joshua was. Amen

The BOOK – Division of Land

When Joshua was about 90 years old, he decided to divide the land which they had taken and to-be taken among the Israelites. They divided it in a way – This is Judah’s, this is Asher’s and so on. They said this even while most of the portions were occupied with Amorites, Jebusites and Hittites. This division of the land was the announcement of faith that under God’s guidance they will occupy the land. When you read the life of great men of God, most of the decisions taken by them were with faith and then depend on God’s providence. 

I am reading about a book on Oral Roberts, a great healing evangelist in the 50’s and 60’s. Everything he did in life was with prayer and faith. He prayed and heard the word of God and in faith took decisions. It started with his ministry and even with that faith he started the Oral Roberts University. They fast, they pray and then by the word and faith they start impossible and God will guide them to move forward. 

Although all this land was allotted to various tribes, all of it was not conquered until the time of David. Division happened according to the will of God, and so the strong did not take the best part leaving the fragments to weak, neither did the rich purchase the choicest spot, leaving the poor more undesirable sites. 

When God takes control, there is no rich or poor. I have heard preaching that poor will be the privileged people in God’s kingdom. God does consider everyone sinners with respect to his holiness. Whosoever confess their sins and accept Jesus and believes that through accepting Christ his sins are forgiven and forgotten are taken equally into God’s Kingdom, whether it is rich or poor, strong or weak. 

I pray that you understand the faith which people of Israel had at the time of division, and have that faith with prayer and a personal relationship with God and do the things which are impossible according to the world, Amen.

The BOOK – Campaign

From Joshua 10 to 12 we see God helping his people to capture and take over the land. Taking of Ai shows a real military strategy. Fame of Israel began to spread far and wide. Kings of Canaan formed a league against the children of God who came to possess their land. One by one came against Israel and were defeated. In Joshua 10 we read about how on the word of Joshua, the sun stood still, or in modern scientific terms, earth stood still. Ordinary things come to a standstill when God’s work is on.

We can see people around us worshipping the sun and see the stars to check their future. They don’t know we worship the creator who made this sun and the stars. So if you are a follower of Christ, kindly don’t follow and check with the people who bow down before the sun and check their life status according to the stars. If you are a believer, your life is saved when Christ died for your sins on the cross. So if you walk with God and obey him, your life will be fruitful. 

The Northern Kings joined together and came against Israel and by the power of God, Joshua routed them all. This did not happen at once. The word says that it took a long time. “At last the land rested from war” – Joshua 11:23

Jerusalem, possibly one of the most famous places in the world is first mentioned in this book of Joshua. This is a city with a great past history and a bright future history. Here Christ will reign when he comes again in power and great glory (Luke 21:27).

Once they occupied the Promised Land, the next assignment to Joshua was to divide the land and give it to the tribes, which we can see in the next chapters. 

In 2016, when the Gaza war was going on between Palestine and Israel, I saw lots of forwards and mails criticizing UN on why they gave the Jewish people the land. They were writing that the land belongs to the Palestine. But the oldest record, or the oldest library, history – The Bible reveals us that long before the Palestinians, say more than 3000 years ago, Israel occupied the land. How they lost the land? They disobeyed God and God punished them and scattered them.

Bible is not the book of past. It shows us the future and present. In the scriptures the prophets mentions that there will be a time when the Jewish people will call upon the name of God and God will help them and unite them together. In 1948, Jewish people got their state surrounded by the Arab countries. The Arab countries took the decision to wipe out Israel from the Earth and for that they tried to capture Israel. But when you look history, the small nation surrounded by big Arab nations, fought and survived, even they captured some enemy territory. How is it possible? With the God who called them anything is possible.

If you are going through a rough time, if you see people surrounding you are against you criticizing, harassing and humiliating you, don’t give up. Believe in Christ Jesus, accept him as your saviour and have a personal relationship with him in prayer and obey the word. Holy Spirit will energize you and provide ways for you to go and recapture your joy and life back. May Lord be with you and fight wars for you and give you victory, Amen.

The BOOK – Ambush City

Joshua 7 and 8 tells about how the children of God failed because of a sin. The capture of Jericho gave Israelites a chance to enter Canaan. The next place was Ai, which commanded the entrance into the valley leading into western Canaan.

As he had done in the case of Jericho, Joshua sent spies to Ai to learn the situation. Since they were very confident, they decided not to go in full strength against Ai. A small force was sent up the steep ascent, but when the garrison at Ai sallied forth and attacked them, the Israelites fled without striking a blow. In this disaster, all of them saw the withdrawal of God’s guiding hand. 

All happened because of one man’s sin. Achan hid the wedge of gold. He alone was guilty, yet we read that Israel has sinned. One man’s sin was counted as everyone’s. Same way, sin against one commandment means sin against all commandments. People may gossip and talk rubbish, they may flirt, or enjoy little bit lust, which they think won’t be counted. Since God wants us to be perfect, a small sin will get counted according to your walk with God. It may depend upon how your walk with God is. If your walk is not in a good way, if you don’t have a personal relationship with him, God won’t bother about you, as you will be equalled with others. But when you walk closer and see his glory in your life, and you fell to sin, it hurts him and he may count it (Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land since he did not listen to God just one time). Same way here Israel saw the glory of God in their life, and then one man sinned and it was taken as a nation’s sin by God. “Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions” – Joshua 7:11. Once God gave the punishment, Joshua led the Israelites and got victory over Ai. It is not about your strength and intelligence, but your walk with God that matters you to go high in life.

One man stricken with chicken pox can infect an entire house. Same way here the sin of one became the sin of an entire community. Through Grace, our sins are forgiven – when we confess it before Christ and accept him. We are forgiven not to sin anymore. David did adultery and killed an innocent man, but he asked forgiveness to God and God forgave him and loved him. But he had to go through problems in life, which can be counted as the punishments. Same way, sin is sin, and a person who commits sin will have punishment. But the punishment by taking away eternity from you can be avoided when you confess it before Christ and accepts him as your saviour and believe in faith that the punishment for your sins have been taken by Christ on the cross. So now you are free, but you won’t sin anymore. You are a new person and now you live for Christ. May the Spirit of Lord help you to live a careful holy life, Amen.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here” – 2 Corinthians 5:17