Today’s reading: Josh 9:1–10:15, 2 Cor 10:9–18, Ps 50:1–23

Today’s theme: Look to God, not men

Today we learn that we should look to God and seek Him in the way He has prescribed in His word. We should not compare ourselves against mere men or judge with human judgement, we should measure ourselves against God’s holy standard and word.

Joshua 9:1–10:15

Seek God in God’s way

So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. Joshua 9:14 (ESV)

Israel’s sin in this chapter is not them being deceived, but their failure to seek the Lord for His guidance on whether these men were telling the truth, instead they relied on their own seemingly practical way of deciding whether the story was true. God had told all Israel how they should seek His guidance, in Numbers 27:21, but this was not followed.

It is easy to fall into the trap of measuring a situation using only our natural senses, but we need to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit in line with God’s Word. We must seek God, especially when a decision will bind us to a person or group in a relationship, as was the case with the Gibeonites. See John 16:13, Romans 8:4, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 5:18, 25 and 1 John 4:6

5 Kings

So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, Joshua 10:3 (ESV)

Pastor Dennis preached a message about the significance of these 5 kings, copies are available from our church bookstore if you do not have a copy. It has some excellent life application and prayer points for every believer.

The long day

And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13 (ESV)

This is one miracle that sceptics like to point to when debating the truthfulness of biblical accounts. The bible does not say that the earth stopped rotating or that the sun just stopped moving, in verse 13 it says the sun “did not hurry to set for about a whole day”. Modern researchers including Harry Rimmer, point to evidence from early Egyptian, Chinese and Hindu sources, that there was a long day in history and that “Pickering of the Harvard Observatory traced this missing day back to the time of Joshua; likewise has Totten of Yale” [Details adapted from Archer, G. L. (1982). New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.]

Documentary evidence supporting these findings is not all available – in any case, we believe that God is able to do anything and can if He wishes, suspend the laws of nature for His own purposes. God is the Lord and Creator of both time and space.

2 Corinthians 10:9–18

Avoid foolish comparisons

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 2 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)

Like we saw in our earlier reading regarding the Gibeonites, we should not judge using only our natural senses. This principle also applies when we measure our lives and conduct before the Lord, we should not measure ourselves against each other, this only leads to pride and self deception. God calls us to measure ourselves by the holy standard of His word and the perfect example of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 50:1–23

God is not a force to be tapped into

But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? Psalm 50:16 (ESV)

Despite the claims on popular “Christian” TV, it is not possible for the ungodly to “tap into God’s blessings” by following some 3 step principle. No, God is not a force to be tapped into, He is a person and all His promises are for His people who put their trust in Him and are in relationship with Him.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 10