Joshua 3:5, 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
The Bible lays a lot of emphasis on the purity of life. In our personal and family life, if one seeks divine intervention and miracles, there should be purity in both personal and family sphere of life.
1 Samuel 15:22, 22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Through the ultimate sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ there came to be an end to sacrifice. His instructions will be kept till the end of time. There can be a decrease in the luxuries of life. Yet there will never be a decrease in the divine presence and grace for those who follow the Lord’s way.
After the death of Lord’s servant, Moses, Yahweh chose Joshua to lead the Israelites to the land of Canaan. In the middle of the journey they had to cross river Jordan. Joshua asks the people to consecrate themselves to witness His glory performed among them. the Israelites followed Joshua’s instructions. The Lord performed wonders that day.
Joshua 3:15-17, 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Just as the Lord had instructed, Joshua asked the seven priests to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. the army is to sound a long blast on the trumpets when they hear the priests. Then the whole army gave a loud shout; then the wall of the city of Jericho collapsed and the army took over.
The Israelites were defeated against the small city of Ai. The reason for the defeat was revealed to Joshua by the Lord. Joshua 7: 10-13
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.
The Israelites stoned to death the person and his family who had stolen the devoted things. The curse was lifted from among them.
Joshua 8:18, 18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand. Following the instructions of the Lord Joshua threw the javelin in his hand and delivered the city of Ai in to his hands. The people of Israel experienced divine grace once again.
Achan saw, coveted, stole and then hid the things that were supposedly devoted to the Lord. Joshua and the people did not know about this act. There is nothing hidden before the eyes of the Lord. Achan was deceived by the old serpent(Devil). Achan and his family did not reach the land of Canaan. There is a goal before us also, to reach the land of heavenly Canaan. Our fight is not against Jericho or Ai city. Our fight is against an invisible force which is several times powerful than the human army. So, the war will not be easy.
Ephesians 6:12, 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
In the 21st century the happenings around us, sickness, disasters, what do they indicate?? The biggest destruction known to mankind was the great flood during Noah’s time which destroyed the Earth completely. After that, the disease that we see today is one that has the whole world in its grip with no respite. the whole world is silenced. Places of worship are closed. Gathering of people to worship, adore and glorify Lord is no longer happening. Everything is taking place online. A mother today is scared to look after and nurture her own child. There is doubt and hesitation everywhere. Fear has the world in its grips. The time to reflect is long gone. Think have our acts become a curse upon the world.
Joel 1:3, 3 Tell it to your children,
and let your children tell it to their children,
and their children to the next generation.
Romans 12:1-2, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Lord Jesus too gave us forewarning in Luke 21:11, 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
Mathew 13:41, 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
Jehovah Roi 