JULY 11, Joshua 6:21-24

God commanded Joshua and His people to utterly destroy Jericho. He even put a curse on whoever would rebuild Jericho. Do you know how drastic it was? Buildings and structures were razed to the ground. It is also meant every human being, young and old had to be killed including all their animals.

Doesn’t that make God look cruel and His people seem heartless? It is not so. God was being wise and protective of His own people of Israel. God knows the hearts of men. He knows how wicked and sinful the people of Jericho were. These wicked people worshipped idols and killed and offered their own children as sacrifices to the idols. Can you imagine the pain and agony the children suffered?

Sin is contagious. It spreads easily. Like a virus, it would spread and affect people everywhere if unchecked. The people from Jericho were sinful and even the children grew up familiar with sinful practices. So, if they were allowed to live, God’s people would also be influenced by them to rebel against God. God wants His chosen people of Israel to be separated from sinful men. God is holy and His people must be holy.

          Remember the Lord’s Prayer.
          In Matthew 6:12-13, Jesus taught us to pray against falling into sin:

           1. “And __________ (rofigve) us our __________ (betds),
              as we forgive our debtors.”

          2. “And lead us not into __________ - (emiontpatt),
              but __________ (edivrel) us from __________ (ilev):
              For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
              for ever. Amen. ”

Thought: There is never a sin too small for me to confess. It will grow if I do not repent of it quickly.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive all my sins, even the little ones I commit and often neglect to confess to You. Help me to fight the good fight of faith so that I can prevent more sin in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray – Amen.