the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Joshua 9:1-16
While the people of God draw their strength from their dependence on the Lord, the world strives for strength in numbers. Its proverb "united we stand" forms the basis of all kinds of associations, including religious ones. Here we see all the hostile nations gathered together "to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord" (v. 2). Whenever it is a matter of fighting against the truth, men, who would naturally be antagonistic to one another, inevitably join forces. Herod and Pilate were reconciled and conspired against Jesus, "with the Gentiles and the people of Israel" (Luke 23:12; Acts 4:27).
While the conspiracy is taking shape and absorbing Israel’s attention, the enemy surprises the people by a subtle hoax. When Satan cannot achieve his ends by force, he tries other devices. Advances, words of flattery are often the trap into which we fall when we fail to seek the Lord’s guidance (v. 14). The world looks with approval on co-operation with God’s children and has the ability to appear pleasant in order to deceive them about its real intentions (Ezra 4:2). Let us be on our guard, for such associations involve disobedience firstly, and then open the door to all kinds of unfaithfulness (Exodus 34:12; Exodus 34:15-16).
