North Yorkshire Bible Rally 9th Feb 2023

Caleb son of Jephunneh - A model of Faith

Text Joshua 14 Time 25 10 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We come this week to Joshua 14 and to the wonderful example of faith found in Caleb son of Jephunneh. Chapter 14 begins the allotment of the Promised Land the inheritances ... assigned by lot to the nine and a half tribes, west of the Jordan as the LORD had commanded through Moses. This is explained in the first five verses of the chapter.

Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses. Don't miss that - this was a matter of obedience to what Moses had dictated. Obedience is always necessary and it is often beneficial. The lands also were allotted - some apparently random means was used to assign the areas, a lottery. But remember (Proverbs 16:33) The lot is cast into the lap but its every decision is from the Lord.

Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest, for Joseph's descendants had become two tribes - Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds. So the Israelites divided the land, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

With this introduction the chapter goes on to concentrate on Caleb son of Jephunneh (the phoenix of his age Matthew Henry calls him) who acts as a model of faith - for the Israelites then and for Christians today. The section 14:6-15 forms the first bookend for another two bookends. Firstly, a second bookend can be found in Chapter 19:49, 50. Here Caleb's inheritance is dealt with and there Joshua's. These are the only two, remember, surviving from Moses' generation and surviving because they were the only two spies of twelve who returned confident they could take the Promised Land. The other ten all said it was impossible. This is why a whole generation spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness until they all died except these two. The story is in Numbers 13 and 14.

A second nearer bookend can be found for Joshua 14:6-15 at the end of Joshua 17, in verses 14-18, where we read of The people of Joseph complaining to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly." And Joshua replying that if they are so numerous and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for them to go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites. They are not placated, however, and complain that all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel. Joshua pacifies them by saying that they should have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. If they Clear it ... its farthest limits will be theirs even though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, as they can drive them out. The lack of faith in Joseph contrasts with Caleb who fair oozes with faith and is a marvellous example to us of how we should be.

Let's focus then on verses 6-15 and let's observe four elements in this man's wonderful faith and learn to imitate him.

1. Observe Caleb and learn to imitate the wholeheartedness of his faith

We read in verses 6-8 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

Caleb comes with the people of Judah and so one presumes he is from that tribe but Kenizzite would suggest that he was not an Israelite by birth. Caleb recalls what happened when he and Joshua were sent as spies into the Promised Land. Caleb brought back a report according to his convictions, but his fellow Israelites who went up with him made the hearts of the people melt in fear. He, however, followed the LORD his God wholeheartedly. It is a reminder that if you are faithful you may well need to take a stand. It can be lonely if you are wholehearted in faith. Caleb is a hero now at this point but it cannot have been easy at the time falling out with everyone else except Joshua. Faith calls for that sort of courage.

We talked this morning about Martin Luther and nailing his 95 theses to the door of the castle church. That took some faith but much more difficult again was when he was later hauled before the Diet of Worms and asked to defend his writings in 1521. He had to ask for extra time to think it over but in the end he spoke those famous words

"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen."

According to tradition, he then said, "Here I stand, I can do no other," and "God help me. Amen." It is disputed but whether he said it or not that is what he was doing and what we all need to do in one way or another.

2. Observe Caleb and learn to imitate the anchoring of his faith

In verses 6-12 we see where Caleb's faith is anchored. I remember reading a short story once by Joanna Trollope called Faith. I don't remember much about the book but I do remember being rather disappointed with it because what she meant by faith and what I mean are quite different. If I remember rightly by faith she means a positive and active outlook that can give you the strength you need in difficult times. For many people faith simply means staying strong. If we are Christians, however, we know that what makes faith so important is where it is placed rather than the faith itself.

Now if you read verse 6 again and verses 9 and 10 you will see where Caleb's faith is, what is anchoring his faith, where it is rooted.

In verse 6 Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to Joshua You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. What the LORD said was that they would enter the Promised Land and not die with the rest. It was a promise.

He speaks similarly in verses 9 and 10 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! Look, he says, this is the result of a promise. This is why I'm still alive. Indeed, he could say (11) I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

And then in verse 12 in the same spirit he says Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. We know from Numbers 13:22 that the spies went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) We do not get a record of the specific promise but no doubt this is how it arose. Caleb is standing on the promises.

We can think of the whole Bible as a book full of promises, cast-iron guarantees given by God. All we have to do is to believe them.

Spurgeon used to talk of the Bible and its promises it as “the cheque book of the bank of faith” – all ready signed, we simply have to fill in the amount. We used to sing a hymn in my home church ‘Standing on the promises of God’ – are you standing on the promises?

Bunyan’s slough of despond in Pilgrim's Progress had a way out - steps that stand for the promises of God. Bunyan has Help say

there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and substantial steps placed even through the very midst of his slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside; and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there: ....

Get to know the promises in God's Word and believe them. God says that he so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Do you believe that? Are you living your life on the basis of that promise? He says to those who believe never will I leave you or forsake you? Again, do you believe that and are you acting upon that truth? When he says that those who honour him, he will honour, do you believe that?

Every promise God makes will hold good. They are all ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Christ. God’s Word cannot fail. One writer has written ‘You cannot starve a man who’s feeding on the promises of God.’ Look at Caleb here and believe it.

3. Consider Caleb and learn to imitate the perspective of his faith

We can go on to speak about the perspective of Caleb's faith. As we have seen, he remembers what happened in the past very clearly. 9-11 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

It prompts him to say (12) Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said. He is not afraid of giants. Why? Because of all the ways God has helped him and blessed him in the past. He would identify with the lines that say

Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I'm come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home.

True faith sees the blessings of the past and look forward to the blessings of the future.

4. Consider Caleb and learn to imitate the energy of his faith

In verses 13-15 we read Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, notice that word again wholeheartedly. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.

If we look at verse 12 again perhaps there is something more to learn. He says Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said. The sheer difficulty of the task appears to appeal to him and draws out his faith. It is that but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out however, that makes the difference. As Dale Ralph Davis observes, he was confident but not cocky.

There is a story told of John Wesley how he was talking to a man who was full of doubts and fears. “I do not know what I shall do with all this worry and trouble” he said. Just at that moment they were walking past a cow looking over a stone wall. Wesley said to him, “Do you know why that cow is looking over the wall?”

“No,” said the man who was worried.

Wesley replied, “The cow is looking over the wall because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble - look over it and avoid it.”

That is what Caleb was doing - looking over the wall not at it.

The first two missionaries to the New Hebrides or Vanuatu as it is now were killed and eaten by cannibals the day they arrived. After that the LMS who sent them from Scotland found it difficult to find missionaries. But then a young man called John G Paton agreed to go. Well-meaning people in the church tried to dissuade him. One elderly man warned him that he would be eaten by cannibals. Paton replied, “I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.” After fifteen years of fruitful ministry, a large number of people on the island of Aniwa, where Paton ministered, were converted and the place was transformed.

He had a Caleb sort of faith - cannibals? Well, let's see if they eat me.

Learning from the distribution of the land under Joshua 1

Text Joshua 13 Time 27 09 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

Unlike myself, my father was a big football fan all his life. Sometimes he would say things to me that at first would seem strange. "Grimsby lost on Saturday" he would say or "I notice that Halifax Town beat Lincoln midweek". At first I would wonder why he was telling me about teams hundreds of miles away. Sometimes I would ask why he was giving me this information and sometimes it would slowly dawn on me - Grimsby losing or Halifax winning was important because of the way it affected Newport County's position in the table.

A lot of things are like that - they can seem wholly irrelevant but then once you spot the connection, it suddenly becomes relevant. I'm interested in Grimsby and Halifax because I'm interested in Newport County.

Eleri's sister was never much interested in cricket growing up but then she married a man who loves cricket and soon she was a minor expert on the game.

Now I'm saying this because I want us to back to back to our studies in Joshua and we have come to a section of the book that is potentially uninteresting to us.

Joshua can be divided into three or four parts.

1 (1-4) Entering the land 2 (5-12) Taking the land and then 3 (13-21) Possessing the land

As D Ralph Davies observes a war film is always going to be more interesting than watching land surveyors at work. For that is what we have in this section - a description of the land that the Israelites took.

However, our only real problem is that we don't see its relevance. If we could put ourselves in the sandals of an Israelite of the time we would have no problem - what part of the land is going to come to my tribe? Where am I going to be living? If I said I'd bought the houses in this street and I wanted to give one to each of you and to listen as I describe who's getting what, you'd be eager to listen. So let's try and see how this would have sounded to the first people who heard it.

The chapter divides into three or more parts - first there is verses 1-7 which acts as an introduction to the whole section from here to Chapter 21 and then there is the part that deals with the two and half tribes east of the Jordan and also Levi - first more generally (8-13) and then individually (14-33). So three things

1. Hear this promise in the midst of some potentially discouraging facts

The first two sections are like opposites. The first section reminds me of my mother's stew and the second section of my mother's trifle. I remember as a child my mother used to make stew in the winter months. I was not a big fan of stew. The meat was okay but I hated onions and swede and wasn't that keen on potatoes. However, what saved it for me was that in the midst of all that there were usually lovely dumplings. The opening verses of the chapter are a bit like that - lots of swede and onions but with a nice fat dumpling in the middle of it.

The chapter begins with the writer saying When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. So Joshua is now old. Apart from Caleb, no-one was as old in Israel as he. No doubt he would die soon, as Moses had before him. However, there are still large areas yet to be taken. So two bits of bad news in one there.

From verse 2 we learn what land remains. This is the land that remains: on the west all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; then the territory of the Avvites on the south; and then to the north all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites (to the east) the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath about 50 miles north of Damascus! So, although there is plenty of land already won there is still plenty to go if they are going to occupy all the land that they have been promised. Joshua was to let them know this just as it is part of my job as a preacher to let you know how much more there is to know and to experience as Christians.

With this rather downbeat assessment comes a wonderful promise (6, 7) As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh. It is all going to be taken, God promises and so it must be divided up and allocated. I myself will do it, he says. Joshua will not complete the taking of the land (that would be completed only in the time of David) but he is to divide and distribute the land. It does point us to Jesus in that Joshua conquers the land and distributes it to the people - just as Christ won the victory on the cross and grants salvation to his own.

Yes, in Joshua's time, this meant that some tribes received land already conquered and others land that still needed to be fought for but they are still a united nation and they can all fight for each other.

All this reminds us of how it often is for those who have been Christians for some time. Yes, much progress has been made but there is still room for improvement. Onward and upward must be our motto. We have God's promise of future victories.

Further, we must be concerned not only that we will grow but that others will also. Some of us have had great advantages and making progress is relatively easy. For others they need our help.

2. Note this qualifying statement in the midst of some potentially encouraging facts

As I said to you, the first two sections are like opposites. I told you how the first section reminds me of my mother's stew - swede and onions with a fat dumpling in the middle. Well, the second section reminds me of my mother's trifle. I used to love my mother's trifle - sponge soaked in jelly at the bottom then red jelly in the middle and then set custard on top - although with the custard there would sometimes be a bit of skin on top that I had to gulp down. This section is like that - all good stuff but then at the end a little bit of skin that is not as nice.

Next in verses 8-13 we have mostly encouraging statements. We are told about tribes to whom land has already been allocated. The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them. The territory is described It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah - that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was the last of the Rephaites.) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land.

But then in verse 13 comes the fly in the ointment But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maakah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day. Geshur was north east of the Sea of Galilee and Maakah further north again. For all their great successes these people fell down at certain points and here some of the detail is recorded.

It again reminds us of how for all their godliness some who have been Christians many years nevertheless fall down sometimes on certain things. D Ralph Davis puts it like this

"We frequently and strangely prove faithful in the great crisis of faith, remain steadfast in severe storms, perhaps even relish the excitement of the heaviest assaults, yet lack the tenacity, the dogged endurance, the patient plodding often required in the prosaic affairs of believing life; we are often loath to be faithful (in what we regard as) little."

Let's not be like these Israelites. Let's keep fighting so that all the ground is won.

3. Consider the references to Levi bookending what's said of the Transjordan land inheritance

You will notice that the verses 14-33 which are mainly about the three and a half tribes that settled east of the Jordan are bookended by references to the tribe of Levi.

First, in verse 14, it says But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them. Then in verses 32, 33 we read This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

So first in verses 15-31 you have a description of the land inherited by Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. If you picture it in your mind it is a little bit like the way in England you have the north, the midlands and the south, although it's on a smaller scale so more like North Wales, Mid-Wales and South Wales. In London terms it would be north of the north circular (Finchley, Edgware, Enfield, etc), within the area bounded by the north and south circular (Central London, Camden, Brixton, etc) and south of the south circular (Tooting, Balham, etc). Here it is Manasseh, Gad and Reuben with two sort of tongues extending north from Gad either side of Manasseh.

So first Reuben to the south (15-23) This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans: The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, a tributary of the Dead Sea, the southern border and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth - all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba - princes allied with Sihon - who lived in that country. In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. The western boundary of the Reubenites was the Dead Sea then the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans.

Then Y shaped Gad in the middle (24-28) This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans: The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee). These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, according to their clans.

And finally the most northerly eastern half of Manasseh (29-31) This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans: The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan - all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh - for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans

Of course, these tribes should have been thankful to God for their territory but by placing them as he does with references to Levi either side there is a quiet reminder that there are things that are more important to inherit than land. Levi's inheritance was not land but the food offerings presented to the LORD, the God of Israel and ultimately the LORD, the God of Israel, himself. In the end, that is the only inheritance worth having. Yes, we need land to live on, a house to live in, food to eat but far more important is to know the LORD and to know he is at work in our lives. What a matchless inheritance that is.

The promise of victory for all God's people

Text Joshua 12 Time 20 09 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

We come this week to Joshua 12. It is the final chapter in the second part of Joshua. The first part (Chapters 1-4) is about the entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua and then the second part (Chapters 5-12) is about the conquest of the land under Joshua.

In some ways Chapter 12 is very simple. First in verses 1-6 we are reminded how Moses had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei the two kings on the east of the Promised Land which today is in Syria and Jordan.

Then in verses 7-24 we have a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon in the north in what is now Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir in the South East.

Now there are two problems with these verses. Firstly, it's a bit tedious to read - 15, 16 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one. And even when you have got hold of it all, so what? How is it going to help me to live for the Lord?

The truth is that a little background will stop it being too tedious and a little attention to it will help us to learn some useful lessons.

Four things then

1. Remember the importance of the unity of God's people

One writer tells us that he read about a church in America that split and the split began over an argument at a potluck supper when a lady brought a jelly salad that she made with Cool Whip instead of real whipping cream.

Apparently, there’s a whole book entitled War in the Pews that talks about real-life instances which are absolutely outrageous. Churches have split over whether the pianist should sit to the right or the left side of the building, over whether the Lord’s Supper should be served from the front to the back or the back to the front, over trying to decide whether a kitchen should be a part of the church building or not.

One church split over who was the real pastor. They had two pastors. Two groups thought they each had their own man, and both of them got up to lead a service one Sunday. Both announced a hymn and the two groups tried to out-sing the other. Then the two pastors started preaching, trying to out-preach each other. Finally, it turned into a fist fight and the police had to be called.

There are apparently in Mississippi, in a small town near Vicksburg, two churches that share a car park or parking lot. They are in the same denomination but because of some split they started different churches but still share the same car park.

The first six verses are a little bit of a surprise because they take us back to the time when Moses was still alive and to the victories won then over Sihon and Og. The story is in Numbers 21 and Deuteronomy 2:26-3:11. The victory is mentioned in Israel's praises later in Psalms 135, 136 and elsewhere.

These are, of course, the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah: They defeated Sihon in the south. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge - from the middle of the gorge - to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

We also read of the big man with a short name, Og, and how his territory was taken in the north. He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. The Rephaites were giant people. We read elsewhere of Og's iron bed that it was 13 feet long and six feet wide!

Verse 6 sums up Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.

The reason the writer goes back to this is probably to emphasise the unity of the people - those east and west of the Jordan river.

It is an important point to remember. In the New Testament (Ephesians 4:3) we are told to Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. And so on the local and wider level we must be careful. We dare not suggest that the only Christians are Baptists or Calvinists or non-Charismatics. And on the local level we must not forget that some people do feel left out in churches and we must do what we can to help them overcome it. I heard recently of a church where they had a question time for members of the congregation. It was an opportunity to ask questions about theology and Christian practice. However, one person put in a slip saying that he felt out of things and under appreciated. That happens even in the best churches and we need to do all we can to stop it happening with us. Unity is important.

2. Note how God keeps his promises

In verses 7-24 we read

Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions.

The land is described in summary form in two ways positively and negatively (8)

Positively The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev.

Negatively These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. It is interesting that six tribes are listed. Six is man's number and it reminds us of the weakness of those who had previously occupied the land and were under God's judgement.

In a similar way, the Christian life can be described both positively and negatively. So for example in Galatians 5 where Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit he also lists the deeds of wickedness. And so when we speak of the Christian life we can, on one hand, say it is to turn from (Galatians 5:19-21) The acts of the flesh ... sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. At the same time. it is the fruit of the Spirit that is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

In 1994 a 67-year-old carpenter called Russell Herman died in Illinois. When his will was revealed it contained a staggering set of promises. He promised $2B to the City of East St Louis, another billion and a half for the State of Illinois, $2.5B for the national forest system, and to top off the list, Herman left $6T to the government to help pay off the national debt. It sounds amazingly generous, but there was one small problem - Herman’s only asset when he died was a 1983 Oldsmobile. Promises are only worth having if they can be and are kept.

Perhaps the writer's main point here is that God is a God who keeps his promises. What he promised to Abraham and then to Isaac and to Jacob he now fulfils in the generation of Joshua. Suddenly a potentially boring list becomes very exciting. Dale Ralph Davis compares it with singing Great is Thy faithfulness - the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one (10, 11).

3. Consider the detail with regard to God's goodness

Of course, the writer goes further than merely saying God has been faithful. He itemises how God has been faithful by listing 31 different kings who were defeated by Joshua. Some of them we have had mentioned before but one or two are added and in each case we are being reminded that God has brought about victory as promised. Generally the movement is south to north.

These were the kings: the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai (near Bethel), one. You remember how it all began there in the centre. We go south first the king of Jerusalem, one; not mentioned before the king of Hebron, one; the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one; Then come the king of Geder, one; the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; the king of Libnah, one who was mentioned before the king of Adullam, one; the king of Makkedah, one mentioned the king of Bethel, one; then north again the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; the king of Shimron Meron, one; the king of Akshaph, one; the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; the king of Kedesh, one the most northerly then back down south again first towards the coast the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor), one; the king of Goyim nations in Gilgal, one; the king of Tirzah, one; thirty-one kings in all.

There is a danger that our praying can get a bit vague. Yes, it is good to pray sometimes in public thanking him for his many blessings but we need to get specific at some point. What are these many blessings? Get specific.

There is a hymn called Count Your Blessings that was written in 1897 by Johnson Oatman, Jr (1856-1922). Early on it was especially popular here. They said, “The men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep on this hymn.” During the revival in Wales in 1904 it is said that it was one of the hymns sung at every service.

Oatman's father was in business but was a wonderful singer. Oatman himself went into the ministry but was never a pastor in one charge. In his mid-thirtirs he discovered he had a talent for hymn writing and threw himself into that. He wrote over 5,000 hymns but this was his best known.

The hymn is popular in America around Thanksgiving but it was written simply to encourage people to pray. One of the most striking lines in it is the call to Count your blessing, name them one by one and it will surpise you what the Lord has done. Oatman is right.

4. Look forward to the victory that is to come in the future

The new football season has begun and fans are hoping their team will be promoted or will win the Premier League. One way football fans encourage themselves is by reading about past triumphs. If you were an Everton fan you might be encouraged to read of what happened in 1890-91

Runners up the previous season they made just one signing of note in the summer when William Campbell was brought from Bootle to be centre half. Robert Smalley's position in goal was under threat from an emerging 20-year-old Scot, Jack Angus. Their forwards were called Latta, Brady, Geary, Chadwick and Milward.

This settled look ensured there were just two new faces in the opening 4–1 victory over West Brom. Campbell scored and Angus kept goal. The team remained unchanged for the first 4 games, which were all won, before Latta missed the fifth game. Everton still won to take their winning start to 5 games, before being held to a draw at Aston Villa. They remained unbeaten for the first seven games but their first choice 11 did not play again as a run of three straight defeats saw the return of Smalley in place of Angus for one game before they signed David Jardine from Bootle.

Everton completed all bar one fixture before the end of January and had to wait while their nearest challengers, Preston, played a series of games to close the gap at the top to 2 points. Everton's final game of the season was at Burnley on March 14, 1891 when almost half the 10,000 attending were visiting Everton fans. They needed at least a draw but lost 3-2. Preston would have claimed a third consecutive title if they had beaten Sunderland but they lost 3-0 and Everton had won the title for the first time.

Encouraging if you're an Everton fan. It works the same for us when we read of victories here. These victories point to the future. They point firstly to the victory of the cross when, as Paul puts it in Colossians 2:15, having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Just as Joshua disarmed these kings and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them so Christ would do the same on the cross. And beyond that, of course, there is the final victory to come when Christ returns. It is anticipated in Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." What blessings lie ahead for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.