Key Verses: Judges 6:15-16, "'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.'"
Two hundred years had passed since the victories of Joshua in the land of Canaan. Many changes had taken place-most of them weren't good. The Promised Land was occupied by many enemies, and the Israelites were spending much of their time hiding in fear. During this time of oppression, God called out leaders known as "judges," or deliverers to rescue his people.
This was the time of a man named Gideon. God called on him to deliver the Hebrew people from a group of nomadic fighters known as the Midianites. God saw a mighty warrior in Gideon. Gideon, however, saw himself as a weakling. He told God he was the weakest person from the weakest family in the weakest tribe in all of Israel. God showed Gideon-through a series of signs-that he'd be the one God would use. Gideon was finally convinced.
When it came time for the big fight with the Midianites, Gideon felt pretty good about his army of 32,000-until God whittled the number down to just 300 men. Then God led Gideon and his tiny army to victory, and the people were delivered from their enemy.
Gideon was an unlikely hero-an average person who didn't think very highly of himself. His life was changed when the God of the ages touched him with the power of encouragement. God saw Gideon's potential and understood he was a person who'd always know that his ability to lead was a gift from God.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Student Devotional Week 22: Joshua: The Fall of Jericho
Key Verse: Hebrews 11:30, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days."
The promised Land consisted of groups of small city-states; each was governed and ruled by a separate king. As the Hebrews' prepared to take the land, they had to fight not just one army but many armies.
Rememberthe Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers, the battle of Helm's Deep and the huge fortified wall that protected the people of Rohirrim? They believed that no army could penetrate their walls and gates, but they were wrong and so were the people of Jericho.
The first battle took place at the city of Jericho, a city fortified by huge walls and gates. The prostitute Rahab hid the two Hebrew spies who sneaked into the city before the attack. Rather than scaling the walls of the city or attacking the doors with battering rams, God told his people to march around the city walls. So once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day the Hebrew soldiers marched around Jericho. No doubt that sounded like a strange military plan to the Israelites. But Joshua had learned the importance of trusting God and obeying him without question. He led the people to follow God's instructions to the letter.
Once the walls came down and Jericho was conquered, the battle moved to the city of Ai. Here the Israelites were soundly defeated. Why? This setback was due to the disobedience of just one person. God was continuing to teach his people how to obey him completely. After a time of repentance, a second confrontation with the people of Ai ended in victory for the Israelites.
Joshua lived the rest of his life as leader of the Israelites. When he passed away at the age of 110, there was a void in the leadership of Israel. The people had learned to trust God through Joshua, but now they were going to have to learn to trust God-period. The era of the judges was about to begin, and some very dark days were ahead for the children of Israel.
The promised Land consisted of groups of small city-states; each was governed and ruled by a separate king. As the Hebrews' prepared to take the land, they had to fight not just one army but many armies.
Remember
The first battle took place at the city of Jericho, a city fortified by huge walls and gates. The prostitute Rahab hid the two Hebrew spies who sneaked into the city before the attack. Rather than scaling the walls of the city or attacking the doors with battering rams, God told his people to march around the city walls. So once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day the Hebrew soldiers marched around Jericho. No doubt that sounded like a strange military plan to the Israelites. But Joshua had learned the importance of trusting God and obeying him without question. He led the people to follow God's instructions to the letter.
Once the walls came down and Jericho was conquered, the battle moved to the city of Ai. Here the Israelites were soundly defeated. Why? This setback was due to the disobedience of just one person. God was continuing to teach his people how to obey him completely. After a time of repentance, a second confrontation with the people of Ai ended in victory for the Israelites.
Joshua lived the rest of his life as leader of the Israelites. When he passed away at the age of 110, there was a void in the leadership of Israel. The people had learned to trust God through Joshua, but now they were going to have to learn to trust God-period. The era of the judges was about to begin, and some very dark days were ahead for the children of Israel.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Week 21: Rahab: Risk & Grace
Key Verse: Hebrews 11:31, "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."
Joshua was preparing his plan of attack in the land of Canaan. He decided to send two spies to look over the site where the first battle would take place. Joshua was especially interested in checking out the fortress city of Jericho. While in the city, the spies' cover was blown, and they were saved by the most unlikely of heroes-a prostitute named Rahab.
Many biblical scholars have speculated about the woman named Rahab. The most interesting discussion centers on the scarlet cord that eventually saved her life and the lives of her family. Some scholars believe the scarlet cord was used in Old Testament times to designate the house of a prostitute. But when she saved the spies from the king of Jericho, they promised Rahab her family would be saved when the Hebrew soldiers took control of the city. And the distinguishing mark used to signal her salvation was the scarlet cord that hung in front of her house. Just think: The very thing that marked her immorality would become the instrument of her salvation.
God can redeem anyone in any situation. A life of immorality can be instantly changed by a demonstration of faith. Rahab's confession of her belief in God saved her physically-and eternally.
Joshua was preparing his plan of attack in the land of Canaan. He decided to send two spies to look over the site where the first battle would take place. Joshua was especially interested in checking out the fortress city of Jericho. While in the city, the spies' cover was blown, and they were saved by the most unlikely of heroes-a prostitute named Rahab.
Many biblical scholars have speculated about the woman named Rahab. The most interesting discussion centers on the scarlet cord that eventually saved her life and the lives of her family. Some scholars believe the scarlet cord was used in Old Testament times to designate the house of a prostitute. But when she saved the spies from the king of Jericho, they promised Rahab her family would be saved when the Hebrew soldiers took control of the city. And the distinguishing mark used to signal her salvation was the scarlet cord that hung in front of her house. Just think: The very thing that marked her immorality would become the instrument of her salvation.
God can redeem anyone in any situation. A life of immorality can be instantly changed by a demonstration of faith. Rahab's confession of her belief in God saved her physically-and eternally.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Student Devotional Week 20: Joshua: Equipped & Exalted
Key Verse: Joshua 1:8 "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Imagine being a bricklayer one day and then the commander of an entire army the next. That's pretty much what happened to Joshua. Joshua served as Moses' assistant and simply did whatever he was asked to do. When Moses told Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land, Joshua accepted his new role the only way he knew how-with a humble spirit and willing heart.
Joshua would go on to be a fearless leader in the battle for the land of Canaan. His relationship with Moses was a big help because he saw firsthand the mighty work God did through Moses. That gave Joshua confidence to move forward in the conquest.
Joshua's most important relationship was with God, because that was the true source of his strength. God promised Joshua victory. God promised he'd never fail or abandon Joshua. With the staff of Moses in his hand and the promises of God in his heart, Joshua became Israel's fearless leader.
In our society, people seem to believe the way to the top is to push and shove everyone out of the way. Today a great leader is viewed as someone who is feared, but Joshua became a great leader by being a great servant.
During Jesus' ministry he said if a person wanted to be great in God's kingdom, then that individual had to first learn to serve. This spiritual example of leadership still applies today because godly leaders always have humble, servantlike hearts. If you want to lead, then learn to serve.
Imagine being a bricklayer one day and then the commander of an entire army the next. That's pretty much what happened to Joshua. Joshua served as Moses' assistant and simply did whatever he was asked to do. When Moses told Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land, Joshua accepted his new role the only way he knew how-with a humble spirit and willing heart.
Joshua would go on to be a fearless leader in the battle for the land of Canaan. His relationship with Moses was a big help because he saw firsthand the mighty work God did through Moses. That gave Joshua confidence to move forward in the conquest.
Joshua's most important relationship was with God, because that was the true source of his strength. God promised Joshua victory. God promised he'd never fail or abandon Joshua. With the staff of Moses in his hand and the promises of God in his heart, Joshua became Israel's fearless leader.
In our society, people seem to believe the way to the top is to push and shove everyone out of the way. Today a great leader is viewed as someone who is feared, but Joshua became a great leader by being a great servant.
During Jesus' ministry he said if a person wanted to be great in God's kingdom, then that individual had to first learn to serve. This spiritual example of leadership still applies today because godly leaders always have humble, servantlike hearts. If you want to lead, then learn to serve.
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