Post by Woody Williams on Sept 12, 2006 7:30:30 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Joshua 8:1-7
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Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear or be dismayed; take all
the fighting men with you, and go up now to Ai. See, I have handed
over to you the king of Ai with his people, his city, and his land.
You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king;
only its spoil and its livestock you may take as booty for
yourselves. Set an ambush against the city, behind it.'
So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to go up against Ai.
Joshua chose thirty thousand warriors and sent them out by night with
the command, 'You shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it; do
not go very far from the city, but all of you stay alert. I and all
the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out
against us, as before, we shall flee from them. They will come out
after us until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will
say, "They are fleeing from us, as before." While we flee from them,
you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city; for the Lord
your God will give it into your hand.
Devotional
----------
Jericho had fallen to Joshua through a miraculous act of God. At Ai
it is all strategy. God promised to give them a victory, to be with
them in the battle, but he allows Joshua to set the strategy.
Spiritually mature people rely on God but are not totally dependent
in an unhealthy way. They step out on God's promises and utilize all
of their own gifts and skills, in concert with God's purpose.
Prayer
-----------------
Keep me aware of my limitations, Lord, but also give me courage to
use my strengths and gifts properly. Amen
----------
Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear or be dismayed; take all
the fighting men with you, and go up now to Ai. See, I have handed
over to you the king of Ai with his people, his city, and his land.
You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king;
only its spoil and its livestock you may take as booty for
yourselves. Set an ambush against the city, behind it.'
So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to go up against Ai.
Joshua chose thirty thousand warriors and sent them out by night with
the command, 'You shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it; do
not go very far from the city, but all of you stay alert. I and all
the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out
against us, as before, we shall flee from them. They will come out
after us until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will
say, "They are fleeing from us, as before." While we flee from them,
you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city; for the Lord
your God will give it into your hand.
Devotional
----------
Jericho had fallen to Joshua through a miraculous act of God. At Ai
it is all strategy. God promised to give them a victory, to be with
them in the battle, but he allows Joshua to set the strategy.
Spiritually mature people rely on God but are not totally dependent
in an unhealthy way. They step out on God's promises and utilize all
of their own gifts and skills, in concert with God's purpose.
Prayer
-----------------
Keep me aware of my limitations, Lord, but also give me courage to
use my strengths and gifts properly. Amen