I’ve often heard that God is willing and able to give us so much more than we could ever imagine; we just never ask. What surprises me about Joshua chapter 10 is that God has already done so much for Israel and Joshua asks for more. The Lord has already promised Israel victory over the Amorite kings; He’s already thrown hailstones down from heaven, killing more of their enemies than the Israelites did themselves. He’s answered their prayers, and victory seems within their grasp.  Read More

At the city of Ai, God used both defeat and victory to teach His children profound lessons about covenant relationships. For starters they had the painful reminder that the benefits they enjoyed from their covenant relationship with God could quickly be forfeited when they failed to walk in obedience and faith. But more importantly, they gained assurance that God would not withdraw His promises because of their sin.  Read More

Joshua 7 is always uncomfortable for me to read. One man sins, and his entire family pays the price for it. Oh, and 36 Israelites die in battle, too. It seems so harsh—to allow the whole nation to be defeated and to stone a man and his sons and daughters all because he stole robes, silver, and gold.  Read More

It was a new day for a new generation. After 40 long years in the wilderness, they were finally about to enter the promised land. And not without some fanfare. God had just shown off in a dramatic, Red Sea Part II kind of moment. Thousands of Israelites passed over the Jordan River on dry ground. And to make sure no one dared forget, they’d situated twelve stones at their camp as a reminder for their kids that God is real. And He’s powerful. And He’s faithful to His people.  Read More

What makes a memorial memorable? First, a memorial is truly memorable when it is God-ordained. Amid moving an entire nation from one side of a river to another on dry land, God told Joshua to send men to gather stones. God initiated the thought, because He knew the importance of the moment.  Read More

When the Israelites arrived at the Jordan River as recorded in Joshua 3, it was their second time. Forty years earlier, their parents and grandparents had been at that place. And things didn’t go well. Instead of trusting in the Lord for safe passage into their promised land, they wanted to go back to Egypt. They had heard that the people living there were big and rough and mean. Even though the produce from the land was amazing - grapes so big it took two men to carry one cluster - they could not see past their fear.  Read More