Victory’s Battle Cry-A Study in Joshua-Part 4-From Gentile Harlot to Faith’s Hall of Fame

So, under the leadership of Joshua the people are preparing to cross over Jordan into the land that God had promised them. Their fathers had stood here once before; but, the people didn’t trust God and became afraid when the “spies” had returned with a fear filled report about the giants—that is all the spies except Caleb and Joshua. Caleb and Joshua had said, the land is good let’s go, God will give us the land as He promised. Because of the lack of faith of the majority, God’s judgment was that they would spend 40  more years wandering in the desert until that generation of faithless people would die and Joshua is now to lead the next generation into the land. In Joshua 2, he sends out two spies to view the land—particularly he sends them to Jericho. He knew and had been a part of the history, so why would he risk a repeat of the previous story?  Why would he send out spies?  Now, I wonder if he really sent the men to check out the land or if at God’s command he sent out the men, not even knowing that God’s plan was to find and save Rahab. Precisely it was her home where they ended up at and where they were hidden by her. Rahab was a harlot in Jericho; but, Rahab had heard the stories of this God of Israel and she believed with all her heart that He was the one true God over heaven and earth.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

She had heard of His miracles and she believed that God would lead His people into the land and to be victorious in taking that land. She believed that God was the one and true God who would deliver this land into the hands of His chosen. Rahab had seen God as Glorious and so worthy of her humble adoration, fear and awe. So when Rahab saw the men, she ushered them onto her rooftop where she hid them.

Listen to the conversation that followed.

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Victory’s Battle Cry-A Study in the book of Joshua-Part 3: Leaving All to Lead the Way

As we saw in the first two lessons from Joshua, Moses has died and Joshua has been chosen by God to lead the people into the Promised Land. So, He now prepares the people. Among the Israeli nation, there were two and a half tribes that had been given the land east of Jordan because they were the tribes that raised the livestock. They had large herds of livestock including cattle and sheep. This land had been appointed to the descendants of Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh (descendants of Joseph) by God through Moses. This we can find by reading Deuteronomy 3: 12-22. These tribes had already been established along with their wives, their families and their herds in the land God had given them east of the Jordan River.  They have known peace, prosperity and have rested from their wandering.  They had no need to go across the Jordan River with the remaining tribes to claim any land. They had already arrived to their destination.  Yet, Joshua has now commanded all their men that could fight  to cross over to the west side of the Jordan River ahead of the remaining tribes who would enter the Promised Land west of the Jordan.  Imagine this, they now must leave their wives, their children and all of their possessions behind to go in front of the remaining tribes and to lead them in battle and they are not going to possess any of that land.  Once the remaining tribes have secured their land and position, these men will cross back over the Jordan to rejoin their families.

photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

Along this Christian journey, we must not become so comfortable in our current situation that we are not willing to go forward in the frontline to assist other Christians. We must not become too comfortable during our moments of great blessings that we forget our brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling. We must not get so comfortable that we forget those Christians and missionaries who must risk their life everyday for the gospel. We cannot become so complacent that we do not speak up for the truth of the gospel when it is not “politically correct” to stand for Christ.

Indeed, when Joshua called these men out to go ahead of the fellow Israelites, they essentially said; “here we are—send us. Only be strong and Courageous!”

Continue reading Leaving All to Lead the Way →

God’s Battle Song

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

In the Battles of this life

All the trials all the strife

I hear God’s voice, this battle cry

His song of love that fills the sky

Chorus:

“Cast aside your pain and fear

For I AM always near

I have promised, so wait and see

You will have the victory

It is my Joy, My strength, my song

So take courage and be strong”

 

In my battles deep within

My heart so bent to sin

I hear God’s voice this battle cry

A song of love that fills the sky

Chorus:

“Cast aside your pain and fear

For I AM always near

I have promised, so wait and see

You will have the victory

It is my Joy, My strength, my song

So take courage and be strong”

 

When sorrow breaks my heart

When I don’t have strength to start

I hear God’s voice, this battle cry

His song of love that fills the sky

Chorus:

“Cast aside your pain and fear

For I AM always near

I have promised, so wait and see

You will have the victory

It is my Joy, My strength, my song

So take courage and be strong”

 

One day I’ll face my setting sun

When my life on earth is done

I’ll hear God’s voice, this battle cry

His song of love that fills the sky

Chorus:

“Cast aside your pain and fear

For I AM always near

I have promised, so wait and see

You will have the victory

It is my Joy, My strength, my song

So take courage and be strong”

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Victory’s Battle Cry-A Study in Joshua Part 2—Be Strong and of a Good Courage

So Joshua was chosen by God to lead the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land. Before Moses had died he was told by God to instruct the Hebrew nation and to anoint Joshua to be the leader of the nation. In Deuteronomy 31

Drawing used by written permission Ronald Barba,

 Moses commanded Joshua and the people three times “Be Strong and of a Good Courage.”  We will soon see these same words repeated to Joshua by God in the first chapter of Joshua.  Those words become Joshua’s battle cry to his own heart over the span of his lifetime. Are they yours?

  At God’s instruction, Moses then took Joshua with him to the tabernacle where God appeared in the in a pillar of a cloud. One might think that God was going to tell them that the people would never again be rebellious; but, that was not what God told them.  In fact, God told them that the people would once more seek after other Gods and idols once they had tasted the pleasures of the Promised Land. God knew they would be unfaithful; yet, God remained faithful to His promise and God had a plan of redemption for all who would believe in Him.

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Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua-Part 1; From Servant to Commander in Chief

There was an incredible Christian lady I met once at a conference who declared that in the book of Joshua was found every secret needed by a child of God to be victorious in every battle against the forces of sin within and the enemy without. So, I have decided it is time to embark on a journey through the book of Joshua.

As an introduction to the history behind Joshua, let us quickly review the scene on which this book begins. Moses had been chosen to lead the Israelite nation out of Egypt where they had been enslaved and into the Promised Land that had been given to Abraham so long before. God had promised this land to Abraham and his descendants.

Despite the grave moments of failures in faith and the sin filled hearts seeking self exaltation, God had preserved His remnants of faithful followers who sought after God with all their heart and soul. Despite their own human frailties they had seen just enough of God’s Glory that they knew Him to be their greatest treasure and they became those who were chosen to carry on the message of God from generation to generation

Continue reading From Servant to Commander in Chief →