Joshua 10:28-39
"That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the King of Jericho. Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel's hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho... Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. They took the city, its king and its villagesm and put them to the sword everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.
Every time Joshua took hold a city, he did to the city what he had done to the previous cities he took hold, all the way back to what he had done to Jericho. First, the beginning of everything is always important. If the beginning of something is good, things that follow are usually good. This is why Bible describes Jesus Christ as the first fruit. If the first fruit is sweet, the fruits that follow are sweet as well. In the same way, if Jesus Christ is the first fruit, those that later believe in Christ would be perfected like Jesus. This is the hope we who are in Christ have, that one day we will be like the Lord; And regardless how unlike Him you and I currently are, God will work on us until we are like Jesus.
Secondly, Joshua is a submissive person. In every battle he followed the Lord's command. The best example Joshua left for us is faithfulness and submissive to the Lord. Compare to Moses, he is neither a leader with much charisma nor much gift of administration. But the reason that God used Joshua was because of his faithfulness and submission. The most important quality for a servant of God is to be faithful and submissive, and things like background, knowledge, talents are not as important. In the book of Acts, God used Apollos who was mighty in scriptures as well as Peter who had no learning; in the Old Testament, God used Abraham the father of faith as well as Rahab the prostitute; He used Daniel the righteous one as well as David the adulterer. Every man used by God has a common trait, which is their faithfulness and submission. Dear brothers and sisters, are you willing to be used by God? Let's start to be faithfulness on the little things today.
Pray with Pastor Tong
Dear Lord, may You grant us a gentle heart to be like Joshua, so that we can willingly and joyfully follow Your commands so that Your heart will be satisfied. May the Lord add strength to us. I thank You and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!
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