Joshua 22 – 24
Well, today we are studying the last three chapters of the book of Joshua. We are certainly making our way through God’s Word quite quickly.
The Jordan River separated the Israelites with Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the river. The warriors for those tribes had been fighting alongside the rest of their fellow Israelites with the understanding that once they were at rest, they could go back home. Joshua calls them together and praises their loyalty and obedience then says they may go home, back across the Jordan River. Apparently, they were going home with great wealth, wealth they had taken from their enemies. Joshua advises them to share that wealth with their relatives.
On their way home, they stop and build an altar at the edge of the land of Canaan just west of the Jordan. The tribes that were left behind saw this as a betrayal and were ready to go to war against them. They sent a delegation to confront them and soon discovered that the altar was a memorial so the Israelites on both sides of the Jordan would remember that those on the east side have a right to worship the Lord at his sanctuary. This came as a great relief to Phinehas (the son of Eleazar the priest) and the other leaders. The result was all the Israelites praised God and spoke no more of war.
Joshua is coming to the end of his days and he calls the elders, leaders, judges and officers of Israel together where he reminds them of what has happened. More importantly, perhaps, he reminds them that they are to follow the Book of Instructoin that Moses wrote, they are not to associate with the other people still remaining in the land, they are not to even mention the names of other gods and they are to cling tightly to the Lord their God as they have done until now.
What better advice could we get than to cling tightly to the Lord and to love Him?
He also warns them about what will happen if they do turn away. He then reviews their history and reminds them that they were not responsible for the victories they enjoyed.
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.” Joshua 24:14
Joshua makes a covenant with the people and sets up huge stone as a reminder and as a witness that it heard everything.
Joshua died at age 100 and was buried in the land he was allocated. There is even a reference to the burial of the bones of Joseph at Shechem in the parcel of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor.
Eleazar, son of Aaron, also died and was buried in the country of Ephraim.
So far, Israel has done pretty well, under the leadership of two men of God: Moses and Joshua. A godly leader is so important as we will see in the next book we study.
Tomorrow, it’s Judges 1 – 2.
My cousin sent me the following in an e-mail:
Do your children know. Do you know?
Who Was Haym Solomon?
Read this fascinating history of the $1 bill –
all the way to the bottom to know about Haym Solomon.You may be in for quite a surprise!
On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles.
Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States.The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.
If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This
country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the Capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin 's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.
'IN GOD WE TRUST' is on this currency.
The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, 'God has
favored our undertaking.' The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, 'a new order has begun.”
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral for 1776.
(MDCCLXXVI)
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully,
you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States .It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell,
Florida National Cemetery , and is the centerpiece of most heroes'
monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States , and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two
reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is
smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England .
Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now
stand on its own.
At the top of that shield there is a white bar signifying
congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation.
In the Eagle's beak you will read, ' E PLURIBUS UNUM' meaning,
'from many - one.'
Above the Eagle, we have the thirteen stars, representing the
thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive
branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
An (untrue) old-fashioned belief says that the number 13 is an
unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will almost never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this:
America, which relies on God (not a number) to direct and lead,
boldly chose:
13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence ,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the pyramid,
13 letters in 'Annuit Coeptis',
13 letters in ' E Pluribus Unum,'
13 stars above the eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits, and if you look closely,
13 arrows.
And finally, notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the
right-hand circle.
You will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Haym
Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army. Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself, but he would like something for his people.The Star of David was the result. Few people know it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions ...then died a pauper. Haym Solomon gave $25 million
to save the Continental Army, money that was sorely needed to help realize America’s –our- freedom and independence from England .
Therein lies America ’s Judeo-Christian beginning.
Most American children do NOT know any of this.
They are not taught because their history teachers do NOT know
this. [They were not taught!]
On America ’s Freedom:
Too many veterans gave up too much to let the meaning fade.
Many veterans came home to an America that did not care.
Too many veterans never came home at all.
They served, they died for you … for me.
I hope you will share this page with many-so they can learn
about the UNITED STATES DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for.
America is at a critical juncture.
Let's do whatever we can to save her while never, ever forgetting:
It is God in whom we put our trust!
Until next time…
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