King James Daily Bible Study: Prayer And Supplication
Date: Wednesday March 16, 2011
Chapters: Joshua 9-10
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-march-16
Details of Today's Reading: Five kings join in alliance to defeat Israel, the Gibeonites cunningly make an alliance with Israel, the five kings make war with Gibeon, the Israelites help, the sun and moon stand still until the kings, people, and several cities were destroyed.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
As a child of God you have one thing going for you that not even Satan himself can take from you and that is God Himself. You are His and He is yours and nothing, not even turning your back on God can separate you from Him. Oh, a person can get caught up in sin and when that happens God will turn His back to the sin, He hates sin, but He loves you, He knows who are His and He will do whatever it takes to get them to realize He is still with them and has been all along. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” - Hebrews 13:5.

Since you are a child of God, believe it or not, the world fears you, they are afraid of you, not because of anything that you have done, but because they know you are one of God's people. When God's people show up that means God is around, they might tell you that they do not want anything to do with God, but deep down they know that God is powerful and if they mess with you, they mess with God and are in big trouble. With that said, you can expect a lot of sweet talkers and charmers coming your way to try and make an alliance with you. We must be careful who we align ourselves with, while nothing can separate us from God, it can prove harmful later on, especially if they have no intention of converting.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:14-18.

After the Israelites defeated Jericho and Ai the surrounding cities were scared, they knew that God's people were coming to get them. They were so scared that five kings, normally enemies, joined in alliance together to defeat Israel. While they were plotting a neighboring city, Gibeon, came up with a deceitful plan to join in alliance with Israel.

“And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us...And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.” - Joshua 9:3-6,15.

The mistake here is that Joshua made a league with them before consulting with God about it, these were actually Canaanites, people that God commanded to be destroyed. It was not until after making peace with them that Joshua found out who they were. However, once he made a league with them he could not go back on his word. Therefore, Israel would always be bound to the agreement, meaning they would never be able to defeat the Gibeonites no matter what they did to them. This is an example of a mixed marriage, two religions trying to live together in the same house, which always creates problems. Marrying a person can not change them, especially if it is done in a deceitful way. We must consult with God on every matter, especially those from the heart. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” - I Corinthians 4:5.

After all the chaos with the Gibeonites here come the five kings, first, to make war with the Gibeonites for joining in with the Israelites. This time Joshua consulted with God and got the okay to join the Gibeonites in battle. They not only defeated and killed the five kings, destroying their towns, and everyone in them, they took on seven more as well.

“So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah...So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.” - Joshua 10:7-10,40-42.

The Lord fought for His people, it is amazing how God will take a failure and turn it into a victory. While the Israelites did err in joining with the Gibeonites without consulting God, that err proved beneficial when Joshua turned to God. Only by his turning to God did God give them the victory, we only win when God fights for us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - I Corinthians 15:57,58.

Although their alliance proved beneficial now, years later it would prove to be a problem. It is seldom that every step of our way is taken in faith and dependence upon God, we are going to make decisions without consulting Him, even major decisions, and once we make them there is no turning back, we must face any consequences that follow. We are going to let our guard down and align ourselves with people that have deceived us, maybe even marry someone. However, as a child of God, once you humble yourself before Him He makes it easier, lessens the chastisement, and even blesses you through your obedience. While we can not do anything about our past mistakes we can change today. The most effective way to change today is by prayer and supplication (humbling yourself) before God. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:5-7.

By the way, the only way to be a child of God is to know His Son, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness...For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” - Romans 8:10,15-17.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the One whom we have victory (10:25). Jesus gives us the victory over Satan and all who deceive us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 15:57.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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