Heralds Digest

"So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt." (Joshua 9:9 NKJV) No matter the adopted means of transportation, transit from a known station to another comes with certain level of risk. When a shift in nationality is anticipated, the risk may escalates to loss of certain rights and privileges of the current national status in pursuit of a new status. The voyage of the Gibeonites from the land of the Hivites to the Promised Land is perfectly simulated with a shift in allegiance from their gods to the Lord God of Israel. It was a journey of the mind and not of the body, taking the risk from their comfort zone to the secret place of the Most High. Therefore, it was difficult for Israel to deny them the shadow of the Almighty God. It pays to always be ready to take a smart voyage from our present preoccupation, instead of the frustration of throwing a ...

"As Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings." (Joshua 8:31 NKJV) Irrespective of the state of the art technology available for stone cutting, the significant principle remains the introduction of pressure in order to create certain impression or model a preconceived pattern on the whole stone. A new altar, which was built in Mount Ebal with whole stone, would foreclose the possibility of using stones with impressions of strange images or imaginations from Israel's wilderness experience. The heart of man is a product of various impressions, especially through relationships with people, places, and positions. Only a consistent and sincere fellowship with God can enable a fresh impression of grace for a sweet-smelling offering to the Lord.

"Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land."" (Joshua 8:1 NKJV) 'Once beaten', the people say, 'twice shy', especially when comparative review of personal strategy improvement against the enemy's battle plan is a challenge. However, after Joshua had adequately reviewed Israel's defeat before little Ai with the Lord and uncompromisingly removed the accursed from the camp, the spiritual battle against Ai has been won. Yet, Joshua needed to take the physical battle to the camp of the enemy, without fear and timidity. Victory is a done deal when we wait on God to do what we cannot; but it remains a dumb deal when we wait on the memories of failure by refusing to take possession.

"Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you." (Joshua 7:12 NKJV) With a beautiful Babylonian garment, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing 50 shekels, the tent of Achan suddenly became the accursed temple for the worship of wealth. Not only was he and his immediate family got doomed with their tent, the whole of Israel also could no longer retain the presence of God within the camp, leading to their unfortunate defeat before little Ai. Although our possession of earthly riches appears a necessary security against most threats and potential damage to dignity and respect, the presence of the Lord within the tent remains the only indispensable treasure against eternal doom to destruction. Unrighteous gain and ill-gotten position may command attractive dignity a...

"And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it." (Joshua 6:18 NKJV) The pursuit of greatness often come with the temptation to build empire, which unfortunately become an Emperor that demands the worship of its builder. The status of Jericho and all its fullness had changed from a city to a shrine, when its wall became the stronghold against the existence of God and His plans. When possessions that are made to provide service to man turned to invariably demand or possess worship from the same man, they are accursed; and would drown anyone who cannot abstain from its attractions. Whatever is desired for purposes other than the worship of God probably represents submission to the worship of the accursed possession.

"Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so." (Joshua 5:15 NKJV) Sandals are important for the protection of the feet from debris that could endanger the health of the body, but they also function as dirt collectors. However, dirt on sandals represents unwanted blemish on holy ground. Since Joshua needed spiritual guidance in order to perfectly shoulder the responsibility of leading Israel to take possession of the Promised Land, he was eager to clean up the impediment on his access to the hill of the Lord. When divine guidance becomes matter of great essence in certain life's mission, human intelligence will truly be considered irrelevant. Confidence in the safety of our barefoot on God's holy hill actually implies total surrender of the heart to heaven for divine intervention.

"Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:7 NKJV) Like Joshua set up twelve special stones in Gilgal for a memorial of the miraculous parting of the Jordan river before the children of Israel to cross over on dry ground , many memorials are marked with symbolism like stones, crosses, statues, portraits, etc. For example, the parting of the temple veil that signifies the opening of the entrance into the presence of God is often marked with the symbol of the cross. We can hang the cross on our doorposts, housetops, and even wear them on our necks; but the submission of the heart of man to the sacrifice at the cross, for the redemption of the soul, is often withdrawn from the recurring statements from his head knowledge. Only the blood of Christ by grace...