IF GOD BE FOR US!

“Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?”

This was Joshua’s cry to God in Joshua 7:7 (NLT).

The Israelites had just fought Ai and suffered a humiliating defeat. But why?

God had made a covenant with Israel. So, in theory, they should have won. But that’s not what happened. Israel had sinned. One of them had not followed God’s instruction at the previous battle of Jericho. Achan had taken from the battle what had been dedicated to the Lord. This broke the covenant. God was now out of the equation. On top of that, no one asked God what to do concerning the battle at Ai. Spies were sent in and a plan was made, but God was not consulted. Therefore, in the end, Israel was defeated.

Joshua 7 tells us how God exposed the sin and commanded consequences for Achan and his family. Thus restoring the covenant between God and the Israelites. Then, in Joshua 8, Israel goes on to defeat Ai in a second battle.

We also have a covenant with God, and it is a new covenant!

Mark 14:24 says:

And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”

Jesus came to create this new covenant with us and take on Himself the consequences of our sin.

Hebrews 9:14-15 says:

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

The consequences for our sin (death) were paid once and for all by Jesus' perfect sacrifice for our sins. When we do fall short and sin, and we will, we must confess and repent [turn away] and God forgives. What a tremendous new covenant.

1 John 1:9 says:

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

What a good God we have! He says to us in Romans 8:31 b:

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

I’ve seen God win so many battles in my life. I encourage you to trust Him so He can win them in yours!

God bless you!

The man writing history for Rome confirmed the walls fell exactly as Joshua said.
Flavius Josephus occupies a unique position in the historical study of the biblical period. A Jewish general who surrendered to Rome during the revolt of 66-70 AD, defected and spent the rest of his life writing Jewish history under Roman patronage, Josephus had every professional reason to present a rational, credible, Rome-friendly account of his people's history. He was not a Christian. He had no theological investment in the miracles of the Hebrew Bible being historically accurate. His audience was Roman and Greek.
In his Jewish Antiquities, written around 93 AD, Josephus covers the story of Jericho from the Book of Joshua.
He records that when the priests blew the trumpets on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho fell down of themselves. He does not rationalise. He does not explain. He records the tradition that the walls fell spontaneously — of themselves — which is the language of miraculous causation.
He also records that Rahab's house was preserved and that she and her family were saved, consistent with the Joshua account of the scarlet cord and the protection of Rahab's household.
Josephus had access to historical sources and oral traditions that no longer exist. He was writing within living historical memory of the Jewish community's accumulated record of its own past. He was not copying Joshua — he was consulting sources and recording what they told him.
What they told him matched what Joshua recorded.
And the walls that fell of themselves, as both Joshua and Josephus describe, fell outward — as the archaeology at Jericho confirmed in the twentieth century.
Two ancient sources. One modern excavation. All three describing the same direction of collapse.
Share this with someone who treats Josephus and Joshua as incompatible.
"When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed." — Joshua 6:20
#Josephus #JerichoWalls #BibleFacts #VerifiedHistory

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days.”
— Hebrews 11:30 (CSB)

The walls of Jericho did not fall because of Israel's strength or military strategy, but because they trusted God enough to obey Him even when His instructions may not have made sense to them. Faith often requires us to keep walking in obedience before we can see what God is doing. This verse reminds us that when God gives direction, our responsibility is to trust Him, obey Him, and leave the results in His hands.

THE GOD WHO WALKS IN HISTORY
Thesis: The God who reveals Himself in Scripture also reveals Himself in the soil, stones, and civilizations of history. Faith is not blind; it is anchored in time, space, culture, and material reality.
SECTION 1 THE GOD WHO STEPS INTO HISTORY
Texts: Luke 1:1–4; John 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16 Doctrines: Incarnation, Revelation
Luke writes with the meticulous care of a historian, John speaks as a firsthand witness, and Peter writes as a man who saw Christ's glory and majesty with his own eyes. Christianity is not built on myth, speculative theories, or symbolic folklore; it is firmly anchored in concrete moments, specific places, real people, and verifiable historical events. Biblical faith is rooted in time, space, culture, and material reality.
Archaeology amplifies and illuminates this truth. While archaeology cannot create faith or prove divine inspiration, it bridges faith and historical inquiry by excavating, deciphering, and evaluating ancient material records. It demonstrates that biblical narratives are historically reliable, connecting sacred Scripture to the real world of ancient civilizations and providing material evidence that grounds divine revelation.
The Tel Dan Stele stands as a stone‑carved testimony that King David was not a legend, myth, or literary invention. Discovered in 1993 in northern Israel, this basalt victory monument commissioned by Hazael of Aram-Damascus contains the Paleo-Hebrew inscription Beit David ("House of David"). Written by a pagan king and bitter enemy of Israel, it provides an unshakeable external confirmation of David's historical existence, dynasty, and lasting impact.
In similar fashion, the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves along the Dead Sea shore, testify that the Scriptures were preserved with astonishing accuracy across generations. Containing biblical manuscripts over 1,000 years older than any previously known Hebrew texts—most notably the complete Great Isaiah Scroll—the scrolls demonstrate the faithful transmission and historical trustworthiness of God's Word across centuries.
Illustration: A man once told me, “I don't believe anything I can't touch.” I handed him a pottery shard from Galilee and said, “Then touch the world Jesus walked in.” He broke.
This moment illustrates how material evidence grounds divine revelation. The shores of the Sea of Galilee served as the floorboards of Jesus' classroom, where He ministered in real fishing villages like Capernaum and Magdala. Excavations in these towns have uncovered first-century synagogues, black basalt foundations, ancient homes, and fishing tools that directly reflect the Gospel accounts. Such artifacts and pottery shards demonstrate that the Incarnation is not an abstract theory or myth; the Word became flesh, breathed the air of a fishing village, walked on specific floors, and occupied the same physical world we do. By bridging faith and historical inquiry, archaeology confirms that biblical faith is firmly anchored in time, space, culture, and material reality.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE’S RELIABILITY THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGY
Texts: Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Psalm 119:89 Doctrine: Biblical inspiration
Archaeology does not create faith it illuminates faith.
The Lachish Letters
Written during the critical moments of the Babylonian invasion described in the prophetic book of Jeremiah, these military ostraca capture the immense fear, pressing urgency, and real-time collapse of Judah.
One notable message vividly records the military outpost's dire situation: “We are watching for the signals of Lachish… but we cannot see Azekah.”
As Jeremiah describes a nation enduring a catastrophic siege, the physical soil and artifacts of Lachish tangibly preserve the frantic final communications and authentic voices of its ancient defenders.
Other confirmations
Numerous other archaeological discoveries provide historical grounding for biblical accounts. For example, the Pool of Bethesda was excavated and uncovered precisely as described in John 5. Similarly, the powerful Hittite Empire—a civilization once dismissed by critics as mere literary fiction—is now fully documented through extensive historical records and material evidence.
Illustration: Archaeology acts as a floodlight. It does not create faith out of nothing, but rather illuminates the historic reality that was present all along, allowing us to see the historical record clearly.
SECTION 3 — THE WORLD OF THE PATRIARCHS
Texts: Genesis 12; Genesis 15; Hebrews 11:8–12 Doctrine: Covenant theology
Abraham lived in a world of law, covenant, and custom, deeply embedded in the cultural and legal frameworks of the ancient Near East. Surrounding civilizations possessed sophisticated legal traditions—such as the Code of Ur-Nammu, the Code of Hammurabi, and Hittite laws—demonstrating that codified law and covenantal structures were widespread during the second millennium BC.
The 15th-century BC Nuzi Tablets provide abundant cultural confirmation of Genesis, revealing adoption practices identical to Abraham’s heir dilemma where childless couples could adopt a servant as an heir—precisely mirroring Abraham's arrangement with Eliezer (Genesis 15:3). Nuzi documents also detail surrogate motherhood provisions requiring barren wives to provide servant girls to their husbands (matching Sarah and Hagar in Genesis 16:2) and document negotiable birthright transactions similar to Jacob and Esau.
Similarly, the 19th-century BC Mari Letters—a collection of 20,000 tablets—describe nomadic migrations, tribal movements, and Northwest Semitic customs that directly mirror Genesis. These texts contain name patterns specifically current in Mesopotamia during this period, including names closely matching Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abraham, and Jacob. Additionally, the contemporary Alalakh Texts further illuminate the authentic family and legal practices reflected throughout the patriarchal narratives.
God’s covenant was not communicated in a cultural vacuum; it was spoken into a real society with real expectations, authentic legal customs, and verifiable historical settings.
Illustration: A footprint in clay proves someone walked there. Genesis is full of footprints.
SECTION 4 EXODUS: THE GOD WHO LIBERATES
Texts: Exodus 3; Exodus 12; Psalm 77:14 Doctrine: Redemption
The Exodus is not a fairy tale. It is God confronting the Egyptian empire.
Egyptian records confirm Semitic populations resided in the Delta. The Merneptah Stele declares “Israel is laid waste,” providing early extra-biblical confirmation of Israel’s presence in Canaan. Furthermore, satellite technology using infrared sensors has detected ancient trails and heat patterns left in desert sands made by large groups leaving the Nile Delta along the Suez coast, mirroring the biblical route.
Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Kharouba in northern Sinai revealed a massive Egyptian military fortress guarding "The Way of Horus". This heavily fortified coastal highway explains why God redirected Israel through the wilderness—as recorded in Exodus 13:17–18—sparing a newly liberated population from encountering seasoned Egyptian military garrisons.
In Canaan, Late Bronze Age cities show sudden collapses consistent with Joshua’s conquest. At Jericho, archaeological excavations revealed massive fortifications featuring 4.6-meter stone retaining walls topped by mud-brick walls 1.8 meters thick. The collapsed mud-brick walls fell outward to form natural ramps for attackers at the wall base, while a massive 9-meter ash layer attests to fierce, intense destruction by fire. Jars of stored grain further indicate a brief siege before the city fell, exactly matching the biblical account in Joshua.
At Ai, traditional identification with et-Tell presented problems because that site was not occupied during Joshua's time. However, candidate sites such as Khirbet el-Maqatir show evidence of a 15th-century BC fortress that fits all biblical requirements, offering a promising resolution to long-standing geographical and chronological debates.
At Hazor—explicitly described as the "head of all those kingdoms" in Joshua 11:10 and noted uniquely in the 14th-century Egyptian Amarna Letters with a ruler titled "king"—excavations uncovered city walls over 7 meters wide, a massive conflagration layer, and evidence of sudden, violent destruction by fire dated to approximately 1400 BC.
Illustration: A chain breaks only when something stronger pulls against it. God pulled. The physical collapse of ancient Canaanite fortifications bears silent witness to divine intervention in human history.
SECTION 5 — THE KINGDOM ERA: GOD’S RULE IN REAL TIME
Texts: 1 Samuel 8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 2 Doctrine: Kingship
Israel’s monarchy unfolded in the same geopolitical world we excavate today.
The Karnak relief records Shishak’s campaign. Samaria ostraca reveals taxation systems matching Scripture. The Babylonian Chronicles align with 2 Kings and Jeremiah.
In 701 BCE, facing the imminent threat of Assyrian invasion, King Hezekiah secured Jerusalem’s water supply by redirecting the Gihon Spring—Jerusalem’s only permanent water source—through a 1,750-foot tunnel carved through solid rock, directly confirming 2 Chronicles 32:30. When Assyrian king Sennacherib boasted of shutting up Hezekiah "like a bird in a cage," he underestimated a king who had secured the city's lifeblood so that invading armies would not find water.
Inside the tunnel, the Siloam Inscription documents this extraordinary engineering achievement, describing how two teams of stonecutters guided by the sound of their axes carved through rock from opposite directions until meeting in the middle. This discovery validates the strategic preparations detailed in Scripture, demonstrating that Hezekiah did not simply pray and wait, but prayed and prepared by taking decisive action in obedience.
Illustration: History is God’s canvas. Kings rise and fall — the Artist remains. Faith does not wait for crisis; faith prepares for victory. Hezekiah dug a tunnel before the enemy arrived.
SECTION 6 — JESUS IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
Texts: Galatians 4:4; Luke 4:31–37; John 19:16 Doctrine: Christology
Jesus entered a world we can still touch. The Incarnation means the Word became flesh and dwelt in real geographical spaces, walking on physical stones and breathing the air of first-century Judea and Galilee.
At Capernaum—known as Jesus' "own city"—excavations uncovered the black basalt foundations of the very synagogue where He taught, along with an octagonal church built over a humble first-century home identified as the House of Peter. Nearby at Magdala, archaeologists discovered a first-century synagogue featuring the "Magdala Stone," which depicts the Second Temple and its Menorah, as well as fishing tools and home structures consistent with the Gospel accounts.
In addition, first-century burial practices and ornate limestone ossuaries confirm names common to Jesus' era, including the ossuary of High Priest Caiaphas inscribed "Yehosef bar Qayafa". In 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, archaeologists discovered the Pilate Stone—a limestone block explicitly inscribed "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea"—verifying the exact historical title and identity of the Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial. Excavations in Nazareth further confirm authentic first-century settlement patterns, establishing that the narrative of Christ is deeply anchored in real time, space, and history.
Illustration: Walk the streets of Capernaum today and you walk where Jesus walked. Faith becomes sight.
SECTION 7 — THE RESURRECTION: THEOLOGY MEETS TANGIBLE REALITY
Texts: 1 Corinthians 15; Matthew 28; Romans 6:4 Doctrine: Resurrection theology
The resurrection was proclaimed in a culture that understood death intimately. Second Temple Jewish burial customs involved precise two-stage practices, where bodies were laid in rock-cut tombs before bones were placed in limestone ossuaries. Excavations throughout Jerusalem reveal tombs featuring burial niches and rolling stone tracks that directly mirror the Gospel accounts. For example, the discovery of the ornate limestone ossuary inscribed "Yehosef bar Qayafa" (Joseph, son of Caiaphas) confirms the historical reality of the high priest who presided over Jesus' trial and demonstrates the authenticity of first-century Judean burial traditions.
Furthermore, physical evidence such as the heel bone of Yehohanan—pierced by a seven-inch iron nail—forensically confirms Roman crucifixion mechanics and subsequent proper burial in Jerusalem during this era. Excavations beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre complex have also uncovered a first-century limestone quarry transformed into a working garden outside the ancient city walls, containing a rock-cut tomb matching the exact geographical and architectural setting described in John's Gospel.
Ossuaries and funerary traditions reflect a deeply ingrained belief in bodily resurrection, while subterranean catacombs, sacred symbols, and early Christian inscriptions boldly proclaim, “He is risen”. While archaeology cannot measure the supernatural moment of resurrection, the physical record—from excavated gardens to empty tombs—demonstrates that the Gospel narrative is anchored in tangible historical reality.
”
Illustration: A seed buried in the ground does not stay dead. Neither did the Son of God.
SECTION 8 — CLOSING MOVEMENT: “THE STONES CRY OUT”
Texts: Luke 19:40; Psalm 78:4; Hebrews 13:8
SECTION 8 — CLOSING MOVEMENT: “THE STONES CRY OUT”
Texts: Luke 19:40; Psalm 78:4; Hebrews 13:8 Doctrine: Faithfulness of God
Scripture is inherently trustworthy because God Himself is faithful. While archaeology is not the primary foundation of faith, it serves as a powerful, unbiased witness to the historical reality of divine revelation. The archaeological record does not invent spiritual truth; rather, it shines a floodlight on the physical setting of redemption, confirming that God acted directly within human history.
When Jesus declared in Luke 19:40 that the very stones would cry out, He testified to a reality that echoes through centuries of excavation. From the basalt of the Tel Dan Stele to the rock walls of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, physical artifacts continuously affirm the biblical narrative. As Psalm 78:4 urges believers to tell the glorious deeds of the Lord to the next generation, material discoveries serve as tangible evidence that can be passed down across ages.
The stones cry out from ancient city ruins. The scrolls cry out from the caves of Qumran. The inscriptions cry out from military ostraca, royal stelae, and Roman limestone. History itself cries out in unison.
And they all proclaim the exact same eternal truth: Jesus Christ is Lord. Yesterday, today, and forever. Just as Hebrews 13:8 affirms His unchanging character, the historical record testifies that the God who acted in centuries past remains the faithful Lord of today and eternity.
Final Illustration: Archaeologists brush away layers of dust and debris from ancient ruins to reveal the historical truth beneath. In the exact same way, God brushes away the guilt, darkness, and decay of sin to reveal the glorious, living presence of Christ in the human heart.

daily devotion for August 6th
Working Together
The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.

Nehemiah 3:2
Chapter 3 is one of those chapters that consists largely of unpronounceable names and long-forgotten people! It can be discouraging to come to a chapter like this. But it tells the story of the work of repairing the gates and walls of Jerusalem that Nehemiah had been sent there to do.

They worked together. All through this account you will find the phrase next to him worked so and so, and next to them worked others. The writer takes note not only of the workers but also the shirkers, however. Verse 5 says of the men of Tekoa: their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. Did you know that God records slackers too? When people will not take up their ministry, God puts their name down in that column as well. But the rest all worked together. They helped one another. Nehemiah had so marvelously organized this that each one had a section of the wall or a gate assigned to him.

Notice also they worked near their home. Look at verse 10: Jedaiah made repairs opposite his house. Verse 23 tells of certain men who made repairs in front of their house. The important truth that emerges is that this is God's design for ministry. God has placed us all strategically where He wants us to be. Your neighborhood, office, or home is where your ministry should be. That is why God put you there. In John 15 Jesus said to His disciples that He had appointed them, and the word means strategically placed them. He had put them in the place where He wanted them to be. This is brought out beautifully here as we watch these people laboring in their own neighborhood.

Finally, each one completed his assigned task. They kept on until they had finished the work. Some had more to do than others, but no one failed--except the nobles of Tekoa who would not dirty their hands. I have learned through the years that responsibility is always the mark of spiritual maturity. The most mature members in a congregation are those who stay with the work that has been assigned to them until it is done.

Lord, help me to discover the place I have in Your great work. Grant that I might be faithful in the assignment You have given me in cooperation with others in the body of Christ.

THE PILGRIMS GUIDE

THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2026

THE POWER OF CRYING OUT TO JESUS

A WORD FROM THE WORD:

"Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.'" Luke 18:35-38 NKJV

Blind Bartimaeus on hearing that the LORD Jesus was passing through his way couldn't keep quiet about his optimal need. He obviously needed more than financial assistance from men, he sought the healing of his blindness from the LORD Jesus, even with a seeming rancorous behaviour with shouts, and did not cave in to peoples' rebuke to keep quiet (verse 39), so he went for broke, putting into action all he has heard about the LORD Jesus, not wanting to miss the opportunity of a lifetime as it were.
Do you know what? He attracted the attention of the LORD Jesus, and received healing for his blindness ultimately.

There's one clear point here, his tenacious faith. Even today, the LORD Jesus is still passing by, with healing, peace of mind, deliverance, favour, victory etc, you can anchor in your faith on Him and His presence, and receive by faith whatsoever you need.
This teaches that whenever the LORD Jesus passes by, boldly cry out to Him in times of need in faith, trusting in His response, and He will be merciful to you.

PRAYER BULLETS:

Dear Saviour, my faith is tenaciously anchored in You. Please do not pass me by, bring about all that concerns me according to Your will for me.

FURTHER READING:

Mark 10:46-52; John 1:46; James 5:16; Genesis 32:26.
__________________________________________

Amaobi Nwachukwu 2026.

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Conflict and Courage.
2 Kings 2:1-15

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52.
In the desert, in loneliness and discouragement, Elijah had said that he had had enough of life and had prayed that he might die. But the Lord in His mercy had not taken him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do; and when his work was done, he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude. Not for him the descent into the tomb, but the ascent with God's angels to the presence of His glory.

“And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.”

When the Lord in His providence sees fit to remove from His work those to whom He has given wisdom, He helps and strengthens their successors, if they will look to Him for aid and will walk in His ways. They may be even wiser than their predecessors; for they may profit by their experience and learn wisdom from their mistakes.6Ibid., 228.

Elijah, the man of power, had been God's instrument for the overthrow of gigantic evils.... As successor to Elijah was needed one who by careful, patient instruction could guide Israel in safe paths. For this work Elisha's early training under God's direction had prepared him....

Every act of life is a revelation of character, and he only who in small duties proves himself “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” will be honored by God with weightier trusts.7Education, 60, 61.

Amazing Facts.
Daily Devotionals

Dead For A Year

August 5th, 2026

In February 2007, police in Hampton Bays, New York, received a call to investigate a report of a home with burst pipes. Upon entering the home they were stunned to find the partially mummified body of a man who had been dead for more than a year. He was found alone in the house, sitting in a chair in front of his television, which was still on. The Suffolk County medical examiner said Vincenzo Ricardo, 70, apparently died of natural causes. A local morgue assistant said evidently the home’s dry air had helped to preserve his remains.

Ricardo’s wife died years earlier, and he lived alone. He had diabetes and had gone blind, but he was still very independent. The amazing thing is that he hadn’t been heard from in over a year and nobody sounded the alarm. Evidently he had his bills set up to be paid automatically. Still, you would have thought someone would have observed the lights never went off and the TV was constantly blaring. In addition, his mailbox was overflowing and yet no one seemed to notice even though it could be clearly seen by others. Neighbors said they just never thought to check on him. They had assumed Ricardo was in a hospital or nursing home.

It seems that the Bible’s teaching about caring for our neighbor has become a forgotten moral. A lawyer once asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). When Jesus asked what the law taught, the man responded by quoting the Old Testament, including the injunction to love your neighbor. But then he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” In this context, Christ told the story of the good Samaritan. In essence, the story points out, “Our neighbor is anyone around us in need.”

How often has the Holy Spirit whispered to your heart to “check on your neighbor”? You might need to see if your neighbors are doing well physically, but don’t neglect to be sensitive to their spiritual well-being. Share literature with people around you. Offer to pray for hurting people you come into contact with. Reach out. Don’t assume everything is fine. They may be dying right next door to you.

Key Bible Texts
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:30 KJV)

Conflict and Courage.
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62.
We are not all asked to serve as Elisha served, nor are we all bidden to sell everything we have; but God asks us to give His service the first place in our lives, to allow no day to pass without doing something to advance His work in the earth. He does not expect from all the same kind of service. One may be called to ministry in a foreign land; another may be asked to give of his means for the support of gospel work. God accepts the offering of each. It is the consecration of the life and all its interests, that is necessary. Those who make this consecration will hear and obey the call of Heaven....

It was no great work that was at first required of Elisha; commonplace duties still constituted his discipline. He is spoken of as pouring water on the hands of Elijah, his master. He was willing to do anything that the Lord directed, and at every step he learned lessons of humility and service.... Elisha's life after uniting with Elijah was not without temptations. Trials he had in abundance; but in every emergency he relied on God. He was tempted to think of the home that he had left, but to this temptation he gave no heed. Having put his hand to the plow, he was resolved not to turn back, and through test and trial he proved true to this trust....

As Elisha accompanied the prophet ... his faith and resolution were once more tested. At Gilgal, and again at Bethel and Jericho, he was invited by the prophet to turn back.... But ... he would not be diverted from his purpose.... “And ... Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.”

Elisha asked not for worldly honor, or for a high place among the great men of earth. That which he craved was a large measure of the Spirit that God had bestowed so freely upon the one about to be honored with translation. He knew that nothing but the Spirit which had rested upon Elijah, could fit him to fill the place in Israel to which God had called him; and so he asked, “I pray thee, let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me.” 5Ibid., 221-227.

EVERYONE SAW A HARLOT...

GOD SAW A PLACE TO HANG A SCARLET CORD.

Her name was Rahab.

She lived in Jericho.

She had a past that most people would use to define her.

Then two Israelite spies arrived at her house.

She had a choice.

Protect them...

Or hand them over.

Rahab chose faith.

She hid the spies and confessed something remarkable:

"I know that the Lord has given you this land."

She had never crossed the Red Sea.

She had never stood at Mount Sinai.

Yet she believed the God of Israel.

Before she ever belonged to His people...

She trusted His promise.

The spies made her one promise.

Tie a scarlet cord in your window.

When Israel came, everyone inside that house would be spared.

Think about that.

The very window through which danger once entered her life...

Became the window through which salvation was seen.

The scarlet cord became a sign of hope.

Years later...

Rahab didn't just survive Jericho.

She became part of Israel.

She married into God's people.

She became the mother of Boaz...

The great-grandmother of King David...

And one of the women named in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Here's the deeper revelation.

God didn't erase Rahab's past.

He redeemed her future.

The scarlet cord didn't remind God of who Rahab had been.

It pointed to the redemption He was bringing.

Just as the blood of the Passover lamb marked Israel's doors...

The scarlet cord marked Rahab's window.

And both point us to the greater redemption found in Jesus Christ.

LESSON

God's grace is greater than your past.

Faith opens the door to a future that shame could never imagine.

SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGEMENT

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

If you remember one thing, let it be this...

GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR A PERFECT PAST...

HE IS LOOKING FOR A HEART THAT WILL TRUST HIM.

Key Scriptures:
Joshua 2:1–24
Joshua 6:22–25
Matthew 1:5
2 Corinthians 5:17

Minister Clef Bible Insights
Bringing Scripture to Life

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