On July 4, 1776, our founders signed the Declaration of Independence. They had enough of the tyrannical policies of the British Crown and wanted to separate from it. They were tired of dependence on the Crown and instead wanted to be independent. However, this spirit of independence is being replaced by a spirit of dependence for many in our nation.
It all began with Roosevelt’s New Deal. The country was experiencing a great depression. Roosevelt’s new deal promised to give people a hand up to assist them until the economy recovered. However, like many well-intentioned government programs, they expanded and more and more individuals have come to depend on these programs. Instead of saving for their retirement, many depend on Social Security and Medicare to take care of them. This is the main reason both of these programs are broke and cannot be sustained in their present state.
The elderly are not the only ones who are dependent. Instead of helping the poor work out of their poverty, our government continues to give them more money. Without any incentive to better themselves, these individuals become entrenched in poverty.
Even corporations have come to depend on government grants and small business loans to survive. In addition, our higher education system is primarily funded through government grants and student loans from the government.
Whenever an individual or corporation accepts government money, there are usually strings attached. Through Social Security and Medicare, the government can dictate the quality of life someone will enjoy in their retirement years. The poor who have been entrenched in poverty for several generations no longer believe they can work their way out of poverty. Corporations receiving government largesse open the door for the government to regulate their business. Institutions of higher learning that depend on grant money and student loans must be accredited by the government. This accreditation process allows the government to control the school’s curriculum.
It is time to begin dismantling the dependent class and create a new independent class. Welfare payments and refundable tax credits need a limit on how many years an individual can take them. This will create an incentive for these individuals to better them selves and become independent of government handouts before they run out.
We need a less intrusive government so that jobs and opportunities can be created for these individuals coming off welfare programs. This will also create a business friendly atmosphere for businesses to profit without government handouts.
Our education system also needs to teach people how to think instead of teaching them what to think. Independent thought encourages innovation. Innovation is what has made this country great since its inception.
The American Dream is asleep for many today. It is time for it to awaken. When it does, we will see this nation become the land of opportunity it once was. Most of us are descendents of immigrants who came to this nation with dreams of a better life. That dream is still alive and available for any one of us who wants to put in the effort to pursue it.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Finding the Ideal Leader (Part 5)
In part 4 of finding the ideal leader, we studied the Type A personality. We discovered that these individuals exhibit the characteristic of time urgency, competitiveness, polyphasic behaviors and hostility. Because of these characteristics, these individuals usually experience high work stress (Walter, 2010). However, Walter (2010) discovered that a reduction in this work related stress occurred by placing the Type A in a position of leadership where he or she could control their environment. Type A’s function best in crises requiring a turnaround or transformation of an organization.
Our focus will now switch to the Type B personality type. The temperament of a Type B is characterized by “a relaxed, easygoing approach to life, a focus on quality over quantity, low competitiveness and a tendency for self reflection. Type B behavior is essentially the opposite of Type A” (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology, 2001). However, does this antithetic behavior disqualify them as potential leaders?
Rastogi and Dave (2004) conducted a study of the effectiveness of both Type A and Type B managers in both marketing and production. The study looked at both lower and upper level management. One would believe that the hard driving and highly competitive Type As would out perform the Type Bs but the study results concluded that the Type Bs ranked higher in managerial effectiveness. Type As make good salespersons but, surprisingly, Type Bs make better senior executives.
President Ford is an example of a Type B leader. He assumed office during a devastating national crisis where the sitting president, President Nixon, resigned due to the Watergate Scandal. The nation was in need of national healing to recover from both this crisis and the controversial Vietnam War. President Ford’s calming Type B style was just what the nation needed to begin the healing process (Leighton, 1998).
This is because the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War had caused the nation to loose confidence in its very foundation. President Ford continually reminded the people of the nation to “stop-downgrading” themselves. When he left office, the nation still had challenges but they had regained confidence in the foundations of government, especially the Presidency (Leighton, 1998).
President Carter also exhibited Type B characteristics. However, in his case the situation facing the country was different. He won election promising to be “a man of the people” (Leighton, 1998). His plan was to carefully construct legislative proposals that Congress would be unable to resist passing. However, his resistance to engage Congress prevented passage of his agenda. In this case, his Type B characteristics were a hindrance to passage of legislation needed to restore the nation’s economy. He was also late in engagement during the Iranian Hostage Crisis and when engagement was attempted, it failed (Leighton).
These two examples of Type Bs in action as leaders demonstrate that the Type B characteristic is an asset when the organization needs healing after suffering a crisis but can fail when it prevents engagement during a crisis. This might explain why the nation chose Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Presidential Election (Leighton, 1998). Perhaps they viewed Reagan as more willing to engage in a time of crisis.
In our next lesson, we will look at the leadership characteristics of President Reagan. President Reagan seemed to exhibit both Type A and Type B characteristics. This leads us to ask the question, is it possible for a leader to exhibit both Type A and Type B characteristics depending on the situation? Could this be a key to finding the ideal leader?
References
Leighton, A. (1998). Public therapy and the presidency: Presidential symbolism and the
post-Watergate presidents PhD dissertation, Temple University, United States –
Pensylvania. Retrieved April 17, 2010, ProQuest Database Dissertations & Tesis: Full
Text (Publication No. AAT9838501)
Rastogi, R. & Vandana, D. (2004). Managerial effectiveness: A function of personality
type and organisational components. Singapore Management Review, 26, pp.79-87.
Retrieved April 17, 2010, EbCohost Database
The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology (2001). Type B personality. Retrieved April 17,
2010, http://www.credoreference.com/entry/penguinpsyc/type_b_personality
Walter, L. (2010, January). Leadership: The type A characteristic that lowers work
stress.. EHS Today, , . Retrieved March 24, 2010, ABI/INFORM complete (document
ID: 1952095791
Our focus will now switch to the Type B personality type. The temperament of a Type B is characterized by “a relaxed, easygoing approach to life, a focus on quality over quantity, low competitiveness and a tendency for self reflection. Type B behavior is essentially the opposite of Type A” (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology, 2001). However, does this antithetic behavior disqualify them as potential leaders?
Rastogi and Dave (2004) conducted a study of the effectiveness of both Type A and Type B managers in both marketing and production. The study looked at both lower and upper level management. One would believe that the hard driving and highly competitive Type As would out perform the Type Bs but the study results concluded that the Type Bs ranked higher in managerial effectiveness. Type As make good salespersons but, surprisingly, Type Bs make better senior executives.
President Ford is an example of a Type B leader. He assumed office during a devastating national crisis where the sitting president, President Nixon, resigned due to the Watergate Scandal. The nation was in need of national healing to recover from both this crisis and the controversial Vietnam War. President Ford’s calming Type B style was just what the nation needed to begin the healing process (Leighton, 1998).
This is because the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War had caused the nation to loose confidence in its very foundation. President Ford continually reminded the people of the nation to “stop-downgrading” themselves. When he left office, the nation still had challenges but they had regained confidence in the foundations of government, especially the Presidency (Leighton, 1998).
President Carter also exhibited Type B characteristics. However, in his case the situation facing the country was different. He won election promising to be “a man of the people” (Leighton, 1998). His plan was to carefully construct legislative proposals that Congress would be unable to resist passing. However, his resistance to engage Congress prevented passage of his agenda. In this case, his Type B characteristics were a hindrance to passage of legislation needed to restore the nation’s economy. He was also late in engagement during the Iranian Hostage Crisis and when engagement was attempted, it failed (Leighton).
These two examples of Type Bs in action as leaders demonstrate that the Type B characteristic is an asset when the organization needs healing after suffering a crisis but can fail when it prevents engagement during a crisis. This might explain why the nation chose Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Presidential Election (Leighton, 1998). Perhaps they viewed Reagan as more willing to engage in a time of crisis.
In our next lesson, we will look at the leadership characteristics of President Reagan. President Reagan seemed to exhibit both Type A and Type B characteristics. This leads us to ask the question, is it possible for a leader to exhibit both Type A and Type B characteristics depending on the situation? Could this be a key to finding the ideal leader?
References
Leighton, A. (1998). Public therapy and the presidency: Presidential symbolism and the
post-Watergate presidents PhD dissertation, Temple University, United States –
Pensylvania. Retrieved April 17, 2010, ProQuest Database Dissertations & Tesis: Full
Text (Publication No. AAT9838501)
Rastogi, R. & Vandana, D. (2004). Managerial effectiveness: A function of personality
type and organisational components. Singapore Management Review, 26, pp.79-87.
Retrieved April 17, 2010, EbCohost Database
The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology (2001). Type B personality. Retrieved April 17,
2010, http://www.credoreference.com/entry/penguinpsyc/type_b_personality
Walter, L. (2010, January). Leadership: The type A characteristic that lowers work
stress.. EHS Today, , . Retrieved March 24, 2010, ABI/INFORM complete (document
ID: 1952095791
The History of U.S. Taxation (Part 2)
Like many other government programs, the U.S. Income Tax has changed since its inception. Rates have changed, more individuals are subject to the tax, and tax deductions and tax credits were added to the system. With these changes, the income tax is more than just a means for the government to raise revenue, it is also a means for politicians to gain favor with special interest groups who help them gain election to office.
When the income tax was first instituted in 1913, the bottom tiered rate was only one percent and it did not kick in until an individual earned $20,000 (Tax Foundation, 2010). $20,000 in 1913 was worth much more than it is in 2010. In fact, accounting for inflation, $20,000 in 1913 is equivalent $439,659 in today’s dollars (U.S. Inflation Calculator, 2010). This means that the initial income tax only affected the wealthy.
Through the years additional tax brackets were added, making more individuals subject to the tax. For example, in 1962 there were 24 tax brackets with a low rate of 20% starting at zero income up to 91% for individuals making $400,000 plus. In 1982, the number of brackets was reduced to 12 with a low rate of 12% and a high rate of 50%. In 2009, there are six brackets with a low of 10% and a high of 35% (Tax Foundation, 2010).
The lowering of the threshold where individuals are required to pay income tax has broadened the tax base to where not only the wealthy but also the middle class and lower income individuals are now required to pay income tax. However, tax deductions and credits have been introduced to the tax code with the intention of making it fairer.
The difference between tax deductions and tax credits is that a tax deduction reduces an individual’s taxable income. This has the effect of lowering the individual’s tax liability but only by the percentage of the tax bracket the individual is in. A tax credit, however, is a direct reduction in an individual’s tax liability dollar for dollar (Phillips, 2003).
The home mortgage interest deduction and the charitable contribution deduction are examples of tax deductions. Individuals who own a home are able to deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage. In addition, they are able to deduct the property taxes they pay for their home. Many believe that this deduction has encouraged more individuals to buy their own home as opposed to renting.
However, in a study conducted by Glaeser and Shapiro (2003) the findings showed that the percentage of home ownership has remained unchanged through the years of this deduction, in spite of many changes that have occurred. The deduction has caused more individuals to itemize their deductions as opposed to taking the standard deduction, but the research concluded that the deduction did little to cause renters to move into home ownership. However, home consumption did increase in relation to the deduction. This is most likely do to current homeowners moving into a more expensive home, possibly to receive a higher deduction.
Another common deduction for individuals is the charitable contribution deduction. It is believed that individuals giving to charities relieve the government of some responsibility for taking care of the needy in society, so giving individuals a deduction would encourage more charitable giving.
In his doctoral dissertation, Toolson (1986) conducted a study of individuals with the goal of determining if the deductibility of charitable contributions caused individuals to give more. Interestingly, unlike the home mortgage deduction, individuals did give more when their contributions were tax deductible. This might me because individuals must obligate themselves to a long-term mortgage to take advantage of the home mortgage deduction whereas contributing to a charity usually does not carry such a long-term obligation. We can therefore, conclude that use of a tax deduction to encourage certain behavior works best when no long-term obligation is required to take advantage of the deduction.
Tax credits come in two different varieties. They can be either refundable or non-refundable. A refundable tax credit is given to an individual even if their tax liability is less than the amount of the credit. If the amount of the credit exceeds their tax liability, the additional amount is given to the individual in the form of a tax refund. Non-refundable tax credits are limited by the amount of the individual’s tax liability (Lattanzi, 2009).
The energy credit is an example of a non-refundable tax credit. It is a credit offered to individuals for energy saving improvements to their home (i.e. installing an energy efficient air conditioning unit). In individual can earn a tax credit for purchase of such a unit but if the amount of the tax credit exceeds their tax liability, they can only deduct the amount of their tax liability, bringing their liability to zero. Their tax liability cannot be less than zero due to this type of credit (Lattanzi, 2009).
The (EITC) is a refundable tax credit implemented to assist lower income individuals. Individuals making under a specific income qualify for this credit. Since it is a refundable credit, they receive the entire credit regardless of their tax liability. For example, if an individual qualifies for an (EITC) of $2000 but only has $500 of tax liability, their tax liability will be eliminated and they will receive a refund of the additional $1500 (Bartlett, 2003).
Tax deductions and credits may have made the tax code fairer but they have also had an unintended consequence. Any attempt to change a deduction or credit is met with lobbyists who want to block the change. In addition, depending on the demographics of a representative’s district, congresspersons will make promises to increase or reduce a deduction or credit in order to gain votes. This has had the unintended consequence of politicizing the tax code.
For example, many view the EITC as a welfare program contained in the current tax code (Bartlett, 2003). Congresspersons with wealthy constituents will promise to reduce or even eliminate the credit to gain more votes whereas congresspersons with poor constituents will promise to increase the amount of the credit by taxing the wealthy. The resulting class warfare in congress creates many heated debates.
The original intent of the income tax was to create a means for the government to raise revenue based on the incomes of individual citizens. However, changes to the tax code through the years have created a politicized tax system. In our next lesson, we will begin looking at some alternatives to the current income tax code that make it fairer and eliminate the politicization that has crept into the system
References
Bartlett, B. (2003, June 30). Tax-credited welfare. Human Events, 59 (22), pp. 1-3. Retrieve
April 17, 2010, Academic Search Complete Database Accession Number 10155839
Glaeser, E. L., & Shapiro, J. M. (2003). The benefits of the home mortgage interest
deduction. NBER/Tax Policy & the Economy (MITPress), 17, pp. 37-82. Retrieved April
17, 2010, Business Source Complete Database Accession Number 11690482
Lattanzi, M. (2009, October). Explaining the federal tax credit. Air Conditioning,
Heating & Refrigeration News, 238(6), pp. 26-28. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from
ABI/INFORM Complete (document ID: 1889089341) ProQuest Database
Phillips, M. J. (2003, February). Tax zone; credits vs deduction. The Atlanta Tribune,
16(10), 17. Retrieved April 18, 2010, From Ethic NewsWatch (ENW). (Document ID:
4947734210
Tax Foundation (2010). U.S. federal individual income tax rates history, 1913-2010.
Retrieved April 17, 2010, http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
Toolson, R. B. (1986). The tax incentive effect of the charitable contribution deduction,
Ph.D. dissertation, Arizona State University, United States -- Arizona. Retrieved April
18, 2010, From Dissertations & Thesis: Full Text (Publication No. AAT 8702940).
ProQuest Database
U.S. Inflation Calculator (2010). U.S. inflation calculator. Retrieved April 21, 2010,
http://www.inflationcalculator.com/
Lattanzi, M. (2009, October). Explaining the federal tax credit. Air Conditioning,
Heating & Refrigeration News, 238(6), pp. 26-28. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from
ABI/INFORM Complete (Document ID: 1889089341) ProQuest Database
When the income tax was first instituted in 1913, the bottom tiered rate was only one percent and it did not kick in until an individual earned $20,000 (Tax Foundation, 2010). $20,000 in 1913 was worth much more than it is in 2010. In fact, accounting for inflation, $20,000 in 1913 is equivalent $439,659 in today’s dollars (U.S. Inflation Calculator, 2010). This means that the initial income tax only affected the wealthy.
Through the years additional tax brackets were added, making more individuals subject to the tax. For example, in 1962 there were 24 tax brackets with a low rate of 20% starting at zero income up to 91% for individuals making $400,000 plus. In 1982, the number of brackets was reduced to 12 with a low rate of 12% and a high rate of 50%. In 2009, there are six brackets with a low of 10% and a high of 35% (Tax Foundation, 2010).
The lowering of the threshold where individuals are required to pay income tax has broadened the tax base to where not only the wealthy but also the middle class and lower income individuals are now required to pay income tax. However, tax deductions and credits have been introduced to the tax code with the intention of making it fairer.
The difference between tax deductions and tax credits is that a tax deduction reduces an individual’s taxable income. This has the effect of lowering the individual’s tax liability but only by the percentage of the tax bracket the individual is in. A tax credit, however, is a direct reduction in an individual’s tax liability dollar for dollar (Phillips, 2003).
The home mortgage interest deduction and the charitable contribution deduction are examples of tax deductions. Individuals who own a home are able to deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage. In addition, they are able to deduct the property taxes they pay for their home. Many believe that this deduction has encouraged more individuals to buy their own home as opposed to renting.
However, in a study conducted by Glaeser and Shapiro (2003) the findings showed that the percentage of home ownership has remained unchanged through the years of this deduction, in spite of many changes that have occurred. The deduction has caused more individuals to itemize their deductions as opposed to taking the standard deduction, but the research concluded that the deduction did little to cause renters to move into home ownership. However, home consumption did increase in relation to the deduction. This is most likely do to current homeowners moving into a more expensive home, possibly to receive a higher deduction.
Another common deduction for individuals is the charitable contribution deduction. It is believed that individuals giving to charities relieve the government of some responsibility for taking care of the needy in society, so giving individuals a deduction would encourage more charitable giving.
In his doctoral dissertation, Toolson (1986) conducted a study of individuals with the goal of determining if the deductibility of charitable contributions caused individuals to give more. Interestingly, unlike the home mortgage deduction, individuals did give more when their contributions were tax deductible. This might me because individuals must obligate themselves to a long-term mortgage to take advantage of the home mortgage deduction whereas contributing to a charity usually does not carry such a long-term obligation. We can therefore, conclude that use of a tax deduction to encourage certain behavior works best when no long-term obligation is required to take advantage of the deduction.
Tax credits come in two different varieties. They can be either refundable or non-refundable. A refundable tax credit is given to an individual even if their tax liability is less than the amount of the credit. If the amount of the credit exceeds their tax liability, the additional amount is given to the individual in the form of a tax refund. Non-refundable tax credits are limited by the amount of the individual’s tax liability (Lattanzi, 2009).
The energy credit is an example of a non-refundable tax credit. It is a credit offered to individuals for energy saving improvements to their home (i.e. installing an energy efficient air conditioning unit). In individual can earn a tax credit for purchase of such a unit but if the amount of the tax credit exceeds their tax liability, they can only deduct the amount of their tax liability, bringing their liability to zero. Their tax liability cannot be less than zero due to this type of credit (Lattanzi, 2009).
The (EITC) is a refundable tax credit implemented to assist lower income individuals. Individuals making under a specific income qualify for this credit. Since it is a refundable credit, they receive the entire credit regardless of their tax liability. For example, if an individual qualifies for an (EITC) of $2000 but only has $500 of tax liability, their tax liability will be eliminated and they will receive a refund of the additional $1500 (Bartlett, 2003).
Tax deductions and credits may have made the tax code fairer but they have also had an unintended consequence. Any attempt to change a deduction or credit is met with lobbyists who want to block the change. In addition, depending on the demographics of a representative’s district, congresspersons will make promises to increase or reduce a deduction or credit in order to gain votes. This has had the unintended consequence of politicizing the tax code.
For example, many view the EITC as a welfare program contained in the current tax code (Bartlett, 2003). Congresspersons with wealthy constituents will promise to reduce or even eliminate the credit to gain more votes whereas congresspersons with poor constituents will promise to increase the amount of the credit by taxing the wealthy. The resulting class warfare in congress creates many heated debates.
The original intent of the income tax was to create a means for the government to raise revenue based on the incomes of individual citizens. However, changes to the tax code through the years have created a politicized tax system. In our next lesson, we will begin looking at some alternatives to the current income tax code that make it fairer and eliminate the politicization that has crept into the system
References
Bartlett, B. (2003, June 30). Tax-credited welfare. Human Events, 59 (22), pp. 1-3. Retrieve
April 17, 2010, Academic Search Complete Database Accession Number 10155839
Glaeser, E. L., & Shapiro, J. M. (2003). The benefits of the home mortgage interest
deduction. NBER/Tax Policy & the Economy (MITPress), 17, pp. 37-82. Retrieved April
17, 2010, Business Source Complete Database Accession Number 11690482
Lattanzi, M. (2009, October). Explaining the federal tax credit. Air Conditioning,
Heating & Refrigeration News, 238(6), pp. 26-28. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from
ABI/INFORM Complete (document ID: 1889089341) ProQuest Database
Phillips, M. J. (2003, February). Tax zone; credits vs deduction. The Atlanta Tribune,
16(10), 17. Retrieved April 18, 2010, From Ethic NewsWatch (ENW). (Document ID:
4947734210
Tax Foundation (2010). U.S. federal individual income tax rates history, 1913-2010.
Retrieved April 17, 2010, http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
Toolson, R. B. (1986). The tax incentive effect of the charitable contribution deduction,
Ph.D. dissertation, Arizona State University, United States -- Arizona. Retrieved April
18, 2010, From Dissertations & Thesis: Full Text (Publication No. AAT 8702940).
ProQuest Database
U.S. Inflation Calculator (2010). U.S. inflation calculator. Retrieved April 21, 2010,
http://www.inflationcalculator.com/
Lattanzi, M. (2009, October). Explaining the federal tax credit. Air Conditioning,
Heating & Refrigeration News, 238(6), pp. 26-28. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from
ABI/INFORM Complete (Document ID: 1889089341) ProQuest Database
Joshua Unwavering Faith in God
We live in troubled times. Many have had the financial rug pulled out from under them and are searching for answers. Many look to the government to help them but it seems that whatever they try fails. Some look to the economic system to rebound and recapture their lost wealth but in spite of everyone’s best efforts, things just seem to be getting worse. Is there a place where we can turn when facing a seemingly impossible situation? One man who lived several thousand years ago provides an answer for us. That man is Joshua.
After leaving Egypt and miraculously escaping Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea, the Israelites are at the border of the Promised Land but before entering in, Moses decides to select 12 men to go in and spy out the land.
Num 13:4-16
4 These were the tribes and the names of the leaders:
Tribe Leader
Reuben Shammua son of Zaccur
5 Simeon Shaphat son of Hori
6 Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh
7 Issachar Igal son of Joseph
8 Ephraim Hoshea son of Nun
9 Benjamin Palti son of Raphu
10 Zebulun Gaddiel son of Sodi
11 Manasseh son of Joseph Gaddi son of Susi
12 Dan Ammiel son of Gemalli
13 Asher Sethur son of Michael
14 Naphtali Nahbi son of Vophsi
15 Gad Geuel son of Maki
16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. By this time Moses had changed Hoshea's name to Joshua.
NLT
However, when everyone reported on what they saw, they focused on the strength of the enemy and the fortification of their cities.
Num 13:25-33
25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned 26 to Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. 27 This was their report to Moses: "We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country — a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit as proof. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns are fortified and very large. We also saw the descendants of Anak who are living there! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley."
30 But Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!"
31 But the other men who had explored the land with him answered, "We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!" 32 So they spread discouraging reports about the land among the Israelites: "The land we explored will swallow up any who go to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that's what we looked like to them!"
NLT
Joshua and Caleb now find themselves in the minority.
Num 14:10
10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites from above the Tabernacle.
NLT
This is often the case when we decide to dedicate ourselves to the Lord. Some of our friends will think we have lost our minds and desert us. We will be told that believing in God is only for the weak. However believing in and dedicating ourselves to God does have rewards. For Joshua this meant he would get to enter the Promised Land but this would not happen immediately
Num 14:26-30
26 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 27 "How long will this wicked nation complain about me? I have heard everything the Israelites have been saying. 28 Now tell them this: 'As surely as I live, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. I, the LORD, have spoken! 29 You will all die here in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, none of you who are twenty years old or older and were counted in the census 30 will enter the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
NLT
Num 14:34-35
34 " 'Because the men who explored the land were there for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years — a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. You will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' 35 I, the LORD, have spoken! I will do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will all die here in this wilderness!"
NLT
Joshua must now wait 40 years to enter the Promised Land. Just because we have a promise from God does not necessarily mean it will happen immediately. God’s time is not our time and our prayers will not change God’s mind. Sometimes he makes us wait so he can prepare us for what he plans on doing. Perhaps Joshua needed this time to prepare him to lead God’s people into the Promised Land.
However, God is true to his promises and Joshua remained strong in spite of his age.
Deut 34:9
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
NLT
Finally, the forty years have ended and it is time for Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land. However, how will Joshua convince the people that he is their next leader? Joshua, being the dedicated man of faith he was, seeks the Lord and receives instructions on what to do when crossing the Jordan.
Josh 3
Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. 2 Three days later, the Israelite leaders went through the camp 3 giving these instructions to the people: "When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, follow them. 4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don't come any closer."
5 Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you."
6 In the morning Joshua said to the priests, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river." And so they started out.
7 The LORD told Joshua, "Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites. Now they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: 'When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.' "
9 So Joshua told the Israelites, "Come and listen to what the LORD your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 11 Think of it! The Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will be carrying the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap."
14 When the people set out to cross the Jordan, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, 16 the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD's covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by them. They waited there until everyone had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
NLT
The children of those who remembered the crossing of the Red Sea had no doubt heard the story of how Pharaoh’s army was defeated. Seeing the Jordan River part in a similar fashion was a sign that Joshua was indeed their new leader.
Next God shows them that he will enable them to defeat their enemies by miraculously bringing down the walls of Jericho without the Israelites needing to do anything other than marching around the city and shouting. If there were any lingering doubts about God being able to defeat their enemies, it would be gone now.
Josh 6:1-21
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go in or out. 2 But the LORD said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its mighty warriors. 3 Your entire army is to march around the city once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the horns, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the walls of the city will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the city."
6 So Joshua called together the priests and said, "Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram's horn." 7 Then he gave orders to the people: "March around the city, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the LORD."
8 After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams' horns started marching in the presence of the LORD, blowing the horns as they marched. And the priests carrying the Ark of the LORD's covenant followed behind them. 9 Armed guards marched both in front of the priests and behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. 10 "Do not shout; do not even talk," Joshua commanded. "Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!" 11 So the Ark of the LORD was carried around the city once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests with the rams' horns marched in front of the Ark of the LORD, blowing their horns. Armed guards marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the LORD. All this time the priests were sounding their horns. 14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.
15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the city as they had done before. But this time they went around the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies. 18 Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on all Israel. 19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury."
20 When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it. 21 They completely destroyed everything in it — men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, donkeys — everything.
NLT
The faith of Joshua was contagious and with these demonstrations of Gods power under his leadership, the people took possession of the Promised Land.
So how did Joshua develop such great faith and what can we learn from his example. First, we see that Joshua stayed close to the Lord.
Ex 24:12-13
12 And the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there while I give you the tablets of stone that I have inscribed with my instructions and commands. Then you will teach the people from them." 13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua climbed up the mountain of God.
NLT
Second, Joshua learned from his spiritual mentor, Moses
Ex 17:10-11
10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill.
NLT
Finally, even when circumstances seemed to say otherwise, Joshua trusted God to bring him victory.
Josh 7:1-15
But Israel was unfaithful concerning the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, of the family of Zimri, of the clan of Zerah, and of the tribe of Judah.
2 Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the city of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. 3 When they returned, they told Joshua, "It's a small town, and it won't take more than two or three thousand of us to destroy it. There's no need for all of us to go there."
4 So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5 chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.
6 Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed down facing the Ark of the LORD until evening. 7 Then Joshua cried out, "Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! 8 Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has fled from its enemies? 9 For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe us off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?"
10 But the LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied about it and hidden the things among their belongings. 12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
13 "Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things. 14 In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the LORD will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the LORD will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the LORD will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come one by one. 15 The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the LORD and has done a horrible thing in Israel."
NLT
Josh 8:1-29
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the entire army and attack Ai, for I have given to you the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2 You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the captured goods and the cattle for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."
3 So Joshua and the army of Israel set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: "Hide in ambush close behind the city and be ready for action. 5 When our main army attacks, the men of Ai will come out to fight as they did before, and we will run away from them. 6 We will let them chase us until they have all left the city. For they will say, 'The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.' 7 Then you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will give it to you. 8 Set the city on fire, as the LORD has commanded. You have your orders."
9 So they left that night and lay in ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night. 10 Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the leaders of Israel. 11 They camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the city. 12 That night Joshua sent five thousand men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13 So they stationed the main army north of the city and the ambush west of the city. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.
14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurriedly went out early the next morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn't realize there was an ambush behind the city. 15 Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten, 16 and all the men in the city were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the city. 17 There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the city was left wide open.
18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Point your spear toward Ai, for I will give you the city." Joshua did as he was commanded. 19 As soon as Joshua gave the signal, the men in ambush jumped up and poured into the city. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.
20 When the men of Ai looked behind them, smoke from the city was filling the sky, and they had nowhere to go. For the Israelites who had fled in the direction of the wilderness now turned on their pursuers. 21 When Joshua and the other Israelites saw that the ambush had succeeded and that smoke was rising from the city, they turned and attacked the men of Ai. 22 Then the Israelites who were inside the city came out and started killing the enemy from the rear. So the men of Ai were caught in a trap, and all of them died. Not a single person survived or escaped. 23 Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
24 When the Israelite army finished killing all the men outside the city, they went back and finished off everyone inside. 25 So the entire population of Ai was wiped out that day — twelve thousand in all. 26 For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed. 27 Only the cattle and the treasures of the city were not destroyed, for the Israelites kept these for themselves, as the LORD had commanded Joshua. 28 So Ai became a permanent mound of ruins, desolate to this very day.
29 Joshua hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset the Israelites took down the body and threw it in front of the city gate. They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today.
NLT
When facing hard times, we need to become like Joshua by
1) Staying close to the Lord and fellowshipping with the Lord’s people
2) Find a spiritual mentor who can teach us Gods Word.
3) Never waver in your belief that God will work all things out for your own good
Rom 8:27-28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
NLT
Become a man or woman of faith like Joshua and watch God’s power deliver you from your difficulties and deliver you to your Promised Land.
After leaving Egypt and miraculously escaping Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea, the Israelites are at the border of the Promised Land but before entering in, Moses decides to select 12 men to go in and spy out the land.
Num 13:4-16
4 These were the tribes and the names of the leaders:
Tribe Leader
Reuben Shammua son of Zaccur
5 Simeon Shaphat son of Hori
6 Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh
7 Issachar Igal son of Joseph
8 Ephraim Hoshea son of Nun
9 Benjamin Palti son of Raphu
10 Zebulun Gaddiel son of Sodi
11 Manasseh son of Joseph Gaddi son of Susi
12 Dan Ammiel son of Gemalli
13 Asher Sethur son of Michael
14 Naphtali Nahbi son of Vophsi
15 Gad Geuel son of Maki
16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. By this time Moses had changed Hoshea's name to Joshua.
NLT
However, when everyone reported on what they saw, they focused on the strength of the enemy and the fortification of their cities.
Num 13:25-33
25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned 26 to Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. 27 This was their report to Moses: "We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country — a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit as proof. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns are fortified and very large. We also saw the descendants of Anak who are living there! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley."
30 But Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!"
31 But the other men who had explored the land with him answered, "We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!" 32 So they spread discouraging reports about the land among the Israelites: "The land we explored will swallow up any who go to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that's what we looked like to them!"
NLT
Joshua and Caleb now find themselves in the minority.
Num 14:10
10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites from above the Tabernacle.
NLT
This is often the case when we decide to dedicate ourselves to the Lord. Some of our friends will think we have lost our minds and desert us. We will be told that believing in God is only for the weak. However believing in and dedicating ourselves to God does have rewards. For Joshua this meant he would get to enter the Promised Land but this would not happen immediately
Num 14:26-30
26 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 27 "How long will this wicked nation complain about me? I have heard everything the Israelites have been saying. 28 Now tell them this: 'As surely as I live, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. I, the LORD, have spoken! 29 You will all die here in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, none of you who are twenty years old or older and were counted in the census 30 will enter the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
NLT
Num 14:34-35
34 " 'Because the men who explored the land were there for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years — a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. You will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' 35 I, the LORD, have spoken! I will do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will all die here in this wilderness!"
NLT
Joshua must now wait 40 years to enter the Promised Land. Just because we have a promise from God does not necessarily mean it will happen immediately. God’s time is not our time and our prayers will not change God’s mind. Sometimes he makes us wait so he can prepare us for what he plans on doing. Perhaps Joshua needed this time to prepare him to lead God’s people into the Promised Land.
However, God is true to his promises and Joshua remained strong in spite of his age.
Deut 34:9
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
NLT
Finally, the forty years have ended and it is time for Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land. However, how will Joshua convince the people that he is their next leader? Joshua, being the dedicated man of faith he was, seeks the Lord and receives instructions on what to do when crossing the Jordan.
Josh 3
Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. 2 Three days later, the Israelite leaders went through the camp 3 giving these instructions to the people: "When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, follow them. 4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don't come any closer."
5 Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you."
6 In the morning Joshua said to the priests, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river." And so they started out.
7 The LORD told Joshua, "Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites. Now they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: 'When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.' "
9 So Joshua told the Israelites, "Come and listen to what the LORD your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 11 Think of it! The Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will be carrying the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap."
14 When the people set out to cross the Jordan, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, 16 the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD's covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by them. They waited there until everyone had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
NLT
The children of those who remembered the crossing of the Red Sea had no doubt heard the story of how Pharaoh’s army was defeated. Seeing the Jordan River part in a similar fashion was a sign that Joshua was indeed their new leader.
Next God shows them that he will enable them to defeat their enemies by miraculously bringing down the walls of Jericho without the Israelites needing to do anything other than marching around the city and shouting. If there were any lingering doubts about God being able to defeat their enemies, it would be gone now.
Josh 6:1-21
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go in or out. 2 But the LORD said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its mighty warriors. 3 Your entire army is to march around the city once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the horns, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the walls of the city will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the city."
6 So Joshua called together the priests and said, "Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram's horn." 7 Then he gave orders to the people: "March around the city, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the LORD."
8 After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams' horns started marching in the presence of the LORD, blowing the horns as they marched. And the priests carrying the Ark of the LORD's covenant followed behind them. 9 Armed guards marched both in front of the priests and behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. 10 "Do not shout; do not even talk," Joshua commanded. "Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!" 11 So the Ark of the LORD was carried around the city once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests with the rams' horns marched in front of the Ark of the LORD, blowing their horns. Armed guards marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the LORD. All this time the priests were sounding their horns. 14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.
15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the city as they had done before. But this time they went around the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies. 18 Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on all Israel. 19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury."
20 When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it. 21 They completely destroyed everything in it — men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, donkeys — everything.
NLT
The faith of Joshua was contagious and with these demonstrations of Gods power under his leadership, the people took possession of the Promised Land.
So how did Joshua develop such great faith and what can we learn from his example. First, we see that Joshua stayed close to the Lord.
Ex 24:12-13
12 And the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there while I give you the tablets of stone that I have inscribed with my instructions and commands. Then you will teach the people from them." 13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua climbed up the mountain of God.
NLT
Second, Joshua learned from his spiritual mentor, Moses
Ex 17:10-11
10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill.
NLT
Finally, even when circumstances seemed to say otherwise, Joshua trusted God to bring him victory.
Josh 7:1-15
But Israel was unfaithful concerning the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, of the family of Zimri, of the clan of Zerah, and of the tribe of Judah.
2 Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the city of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. 3 When they returned, they told Joshua, "It's a small town, and it won't take more than two or three thousand of us to destroy it. There's no need for all of us to go there."
4 So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5 chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.
6 Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed down facing the Ark of the LORD until evening. 7 Then Joshua cried out, "Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! 8 Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has fled from its enemies? 9 For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe us off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?"
10 But the LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied about it and hidden the things among their belongings. 12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
13 "Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things. 14 In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the LORD will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the LORD will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the LORD will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come one by one. 15 The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the LORD and has done a horrible thing in Israel."
NLT
Josh 8:1-29
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the entire army and attack Ai, for I have given to you the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2 You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the captured goods and the cattle for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."
3 So Joshua and the army of Israel set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: "Hide in ambush close behind the city and be ready for action. 5 When our main army attacks, the men of Ai will come out to fight as they did before, and we will run away from them. 6 We will let them chase us until they have all left the city. For they will say, 'The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.' 7 Then you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will give it to you. 8 Set the city on fire, as the LORD has commanded. You have your orders."
9 So they left that night and lay in ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night. 10 Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the leaders of Israel. 11 They camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the city. 12 That night Joshua sent five thousand men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13 So they stationed the main army north of the city and the ambush west of the city. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.
14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurriedly went out early the next morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn't realize there was an ambush behind the city. 15 Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten, 16 and all the men in the city were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the city. 17 There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the city was left wide open.
18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Point your spear toward Ai, for I will give you the city." Joshua did as he was commanded. 19 As soon as Joshua gave the signal, the men in ambush jumped up and poured into the city. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.
20 When the men of Ai looked behind them, smoke from the city was filling the sky, and they had nowhere to go. For the Israelites who had fled in the direction of the wilderness now turned on their pursuers. 21 When Joshua and the other Israelites saw that the ambush had succeeded and that smoke was rising from the city, they turned and attacked the men of Ai. 22 Then the Israelites who were inside the city came out and started killing the enemy from the rear. So the men of Ai were caught in a trap, and all of them died. Not a single person survived or escaped. 23 Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
24 When the Israelite army finished killing all the men outside the city, they went back and finished off everyone inside. 25 So the entire population of Ai was wiped out that day — twelve thousand in all. 26 For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed. 27 Only the cattle and the treasures of the city were not destroyed, for the Israelites kept these for themselves, as the LORD had commanded Joshua. 28 So Ai became a permanent mound of ruins, desolate to this very day.
29 Joshua hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset the Israelites took down the body and threw it in front of the city gate. They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today.
NLT
When facing hard times, we need to become like Joshua by
1) Staying close to the Lord and fellowshipping with the Lord’s people
2) Find a spiritual mentor who can teach us Gods Word.
3) Never waver in your belief that God will work all things out for your own good
Rom 8:27-28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
NLT
Become a man or woman of faith like Joshua and watch God’s power deliver you from your difficulties and deliver you to your Promised Land.
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