Heralds Digest

  ” And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph - to Ephraim and Manasseh - saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong .”“ Joshua 17:17-18 NKJV Tenancy agreements between owners and tenants are usually designed to protect the dignity and respect of tenants, especially in times of economic recession, instability, and war. Unfortunately, owners of properties under the regime of twisted tenancy are sometimes turned into the republic of obstructed ownership. Such were the experiences of the Israelites, especially the house of Joseph, with the Canaanites over their mountain country properties. Like the Canaanites with iron chariots and physical strength, tenants with financial, political, and social muscles are usually masters of insurre...

  ” There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. “ Psalms 53:5-­6 NKJV Wherever the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom from fear and the  capacity to fully trust in Christ’s settled victory at Calvary. Therefore, fear does not only bring torment; it is simply the fool’s expressions appearing rational. The Christlike content in Caleb made him stand tall against the mountain of Hebron and the children of Anakim at age 85. Little wonder the courageous capacity of Caleb inspired Othniel and many others who joined hands with him to drive out the enemies. Unfortunately, the lots of many fearful and unbelieving Christians are not so. They readily embraced panic attacks where there is no cause for alarm. Truthful...

  ” Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said. ”“ Joshua 14:12 NKJV Considering the age of Caleb when he claimed the mountain of Hebron for himself, there is no doubt in his leveraging on spiritual strength; rather than the reasonable dependence on human or physical strength. Dependence on physical strength requires consistent physical training of muscles for athletes; continuous education and professional development for knowledge experts; and constant market research and business innovation for business professionals. Notwithstanding, the exercise of physical strength is time-bound, depreciating, and unsustainable. Whereas, spiritual strength is sustainable because it leverages on God’s declarations and promises. That was the reason why Caleb could say “ g...

  ” And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war. “ ­Joshua ­11:5, 23 ­NKJV The collection of conspiracy and confrontation by the enemies is usually designed to send depression and panic to the attacked camp. Jabin the king of Hamor and all his northern armies had camped for similar confrontation with Israel, instead of pursuing peace with the peculiar people. Unknowingly, they have camped for easy collection by Israel, instead of constituting a threat to Israel’s occupation of the Promised land. Life’s conquests in the family, workplaces, and the society are similarly surrounded by depressing confrontations and conspiracies. Sometimes, these confrontations and conspiracies come in terms of oppression, esc...

  ” To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom. The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. “ Proverbs 10:23, 30 NKJV Righteousness is not the same as self-righteousness, but right relationships without an aorta of reproach. Even Moses, adjudged by the Almighty as the meekest of all men, once failed to believe God’s declaration on the possibility of a right relationship before the righteous God and a wicked man. Therefore, when the scriptures say “ The righteous will never be removed ”, a wise man with consistent grace against the wicked’s traps into unrighteousness is focussed. Even when he is unjustifiably removed before men, he only takes the responsibility of his right relationships personal. And from the unfortunate experience of Moses’s disobedience through ANGER or wrong relationship, believers can learn (1) Ask God for His understanding of the source of the people’s provocation, unbelief, and rejection; (2...

  ” For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ Therefore we will flee before them. Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.“ Joshua ­8:6-­7 NKJV In spite of a personal struggle for the relevance of a Yoruba  adage, paraphrased as “Whoever has witnessed the striking of Shango’s thunder bolt does not corroborate the story of Oba koso (meaning ‘the king doesn’t hang’ )”, the psychology of the assurances from both Israel and Ai going into this instance of battle is clear. From Israel’s perspective, the psychology was based on the Almighty assurance; while that of Ai was merely based on an artificial assurance, evidenced by their previous conquest of Israel. Obviously, Joshua played along the psychology of artificial assurance in the king of Ai without a doubt in the Almighty assurance: “ for the Lord your God will deli...

  ” And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him .“ Luke ­22:41-43 NKJV Salvation from stagnation, failures, and disappointment in life is not mostly by the outward movement of physical structure, material resources, and the manipulation of our sleeping strength or self will. There can be evidence of these movements without true motion. The surrendering of Jesus Christ to the power of darkness was earlier perceived by His sleeping disciples as weakness. But the salvation of the world from the bondage of sin and satanic manipulations through this sacrifice of Jesus is the true motion. Even the strong-willed and self-sufficient Peter ended up denying Jesus thrice, until Jesus looked upon him with His saving strength. Likewise, when we look unto Jesus and He looks upon us in...