DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
One reason prayer is so vital in the life of the believer is that it gives him the opportunity to ask God concerning His will and His ways. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are deeper than our thoughts. It’s imperative that every Christian seek God’s leadership. It’s not enough to understand the principles in God’s Word. We must also learn to be led by His Spirit — in every situation.
Joshua understood this, and it became the centerpiece of his leadership. An incredible statement is made about Joshua’s military strategy: “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. ‘Go, look over the land,’ he said, ‘especially Jericho.’ So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there” (Joshua 2:1).
Moses certainly didn’t do things that way. Moses sent twelve spies into the land of Canaan, but Joshua chose only two. Why? Perhaps Joshua remembered that ten of the twelve that Moses sent were men of fear. He knew that two men of faith could accomplish much more than ten men of doubt. But there was a greater reason only two were chosen: the providence of God.
God doesn’t change. He remains the same in His character and eternal attributes. But His ways and methods continually change. That’s one of the greatest lessons any Christian leader must learn. God knows everything. He knows every circumstance. Consequently, He knows the exact strategy needed for our leadership. With Moses, one strategy was needed. But for Joshua, another strategy was essential. God led Moses to choose twelve spies, but He led Joshua to pick only two.
If Joshua had tried to simply do what Moses had done, it would have been disaster. But Joshua found God’s plan for that moment — and it worked. At first sight, it may have looked like a catastrophe in the making. But God’s ways are higher than our ways. God had a plan far beyond anything Joshua could have imagined.
If I had been the leader, I would probably have told those spies, “Look, fellows, this is a dangerous mission. There’s all kinds of potential perils you’re going to face. Stay focused. Whatever you do, stay away from any prostitute’s house!”
But God’s ways are higher than ours! He led them to a most unlikely place to stay: the home of Rahab the harlot (Joshua 2:1). It would have been difficult for twelve men to stay there, but it was perfect for two. It would have been spiritual suicide for only one person to stay in a harlot’s house, but there was safety in twos. God’s ways are good and perfect.
Rahab protected and hid the spies. They were able to tell her of the greatness of their God. She embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. She turned from her idolatry and trusted in the one, true, and living God to save her and her family. The faith of the Israelite spies, combined with the faith of the Canaanite harlot, resulted in God’s protection of the children of Israel and the family of Rahab.
God’s ways are certainly higher than our ways. If we are to be all that God wants us to be, we must do what the Scriptures teach: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
1) Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2) The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3) So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4) But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5) At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6) (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8) Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9) and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10) We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11) When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12) “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13) that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14) “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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