Day 81-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

A. The conquest of Canaan ~ cont.

3. Invasion and conquest ~ cont.

a. Central campaign ~ cont.

(4) Victory at Ai - Joshua 8:-1-29

(5) Altar built at Mt. Ebal (Deuteronomy 27:4) - Joshua 8:30-35

(6) Gibeonites (Hivites) spared - Joshua 9:1-27; Judges 2:1-5

{pages 354-358}

Fear not...that phrase is found 63 times in Scripture.  Fear not opens up today's reading in Joshua 8:1.

fear - H3372 - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.

not - H408 - A negative particle (akin to H3808); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job_24:25) as a noun, nothing.

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision saying fear not, Abram I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  (Genesis 15:1)

God says it to Abram ~ God says it to Hagar ~ God says it to Isaac ~ Midwife to Rachel ~ Joseph's steward to the sons of Jacob ~ God says it to Jacob/Israel ~ Joseph says it to his brothers ~ Moses says it to Israel at the Red Sea ~ Moses says it to the people after they heard God speak and were fearful ~ God says it to Moses about the king of Bashan ~ Moses to the people regarding taking the land ~ the priest to speak unto the people about going into battle ~ God says it to Joshua ~ Joshua says it to the warriors fighting against the kings of the land whom they were to slay ~ Jael says it to Sisera ~ Lord says it to Gideon ~ Boaz says it to Ruth ~ midwives to Phinehas' wife ~ Samuel says it to the people ~ David says it to Abithar ~ Jonathan says it to David ~ Saul says it to the medium ~ David says it to Mephibosheth ~ Absalom says it to his servants in killing his brother Amnon ~ Elijah says it to the widow woman ~ angel of the LORD says it to Elijah ~ Elisha says it to his servant ~ Isaiah says it to Hezekiah ~ Gedaliah says it to Ishmael, Johanan, Seraiah, and Jaazaniah ~ David says it to Solomon ~ Lord via Zechariah to the inhabits of Jerusalem ~ Hezekiah to the people of Jerusalem ~ Nehemiah to the people ~ references in the Psalms and Proverbs ~ Lord GOD to the people who dwell in Zion ~ Isaiah to the people ~ LORD to Jeremiah ~ God via Jeremiah to the people about false gods ~ Lord to Israel ~ Lord GOD to Ezekiel ~ heavenly servant to Daniel ~ Joel to the people ~ Joel to the beasts of the field ~ Zephaniah to Jerusalem ~ Lord via Haggai to the people ~ LORD via Zechariah to Israel and Judah

Quite a lot of fear not reminders in the OT.  What about the NT, just using the phrase 'fear not'?

Angel of the Lord to Joseph ~ Jesus to disciples about persecution, death ~ angel to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ~ angel to Zacharias ~ angel to Mary (mother of Jesus) ~ angel to the shepherds ~ Jesus to Simon ~ Jesus to the ruler of synagogue about his daughter ~ Jesus to daughter of  Sion ~ angel of God to Paul ~ Paul to servants about masters ~ Son of Man to John on the Isle of Patmos

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.  (Hebrews 13:6)

It is easy to be fearful and afraid, I take comfort in Father's provision, repeatedly, throughout HIS Word in reminding me of those who have gone before to not fear or fear not.  He is more than sufficient to provide and protect HIS people and bring them to the exact place, at the exact time, in the exact condition HE wants.

And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.  (Joshua 8:32)

wrote - H3789 - A primitive root; to grave; by implication to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe).

copy - H4932 - From H8138; properly a repetition, that is, a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount); by implication a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location).

• H8138 - A primitive root; to fold, that is, duplicate (literally or figuratively (); by implication to transmute (transitively or intransitively).

Not the whole law?  I browsed Gill and Henry - enjoyed Henry, sharing:

1. The law of the ten commandments was written upon stones in the presence of all Israel, as an abridgment of the whole, Jos_8:32. This copy was not graven in the stone, as that which was reserved in the ark: That was to be done only by the finger of God; it is his prerogative to write the law in the heart. But the stones were plastered, and it was written upon the plaster, Deu_27:4, Deu_27:8. It was written, that all might see what it was that they consented to, and that it might be a standing remaining testimony to posterity of God's goodness in giving them such good laws, and a testimony against them if they were disobedient to them. It is a great mercy to any people to have the law of God in writing, and it is fit that the written law should be exposed to common view in a known tongue, that it may be seen and read of all men.

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.  (Joshua 9:14)

I have always wondered why Joshua and the people continued to keep the league made with the Gibeonites.  Our ladies bible study teacher recently did a study on covenants and explained the significance of making a covenant.  If you would like to view, it is available for download, here.

And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.  (Joshua 9:15)

peace - H7965 - From H7999; safe, that is, (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, that is, health, prosperity, peace.  {236x in 208 verses}

• H7999 - A primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively to be (causatively make) completed; by implication to be friendly; by extension to reciprocate (in various applications).

league - H1285 - From H1262 (in the sense of cutting (like H1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh).  {284x in 264 verses}

• H1262 - A primitive root; to select; also (as denominative from H1250) to feed; also (as equivalent to H1305) to render clear (Ecc_3:18).

sware - H7650 - A primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from H7651; to seven oneself, that is, swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times).  {186x in 175 verses}

Reputation?

Joshua 9:9-10 - Gibeonites heard of the fame of him (the Lord thy God), all HE did in Egypt, two kings of Amorites, king of Hesbon, king of Bashan.

And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.  (Joshua 9:24)

What do our actions, or lack thereof, say about how we view the Sovereign Lord?  Do we boldly step out and follow HIS leading, even when we *see* giants in the land?  Are we fearful and afraid?  More concerned about our temporal bodies, houses, lives?  O Lord, how horribly I fail in laying down my life and all that I have (or think I *have*) to surrender completely to Your will, Your way, Your plan.  Lord, help me NOT to be stubborn and rebellious against You.  Father, cleanse me fresh daily, stirring, growing, creating a deeper craving desire to know You more intimately.  To trust You fully, to accomplish all that is within Your heart, all to Your glory and honor.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.  (Mark 8:35)