July 30, 2025 • 25 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You should never ever vote on the will of God.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Doctor Tony Evans says, when God declares his will, it's settled,
end of discussion.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
When God has clearly stated his will, the vote has
been taken.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings
from the archives of doctor Tony Evans. Having a promise
from God doesn't mean the journey will be easy, but
it does mean he'll walk with you through the battles.
In today's message, doctor Evans reveals how God's power isn't
limited by numbers or resources, and how faith plus obedience
(00:39):
is the key to unlocking his provision and purpose in
our lives.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Let's listen.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Joshua is the book about God's fulfilling his promise to
his people. God had promised them a land, a land
flowing with milk and honey. They've been waiting forty years
to experience this, and now Joshua generation has entered the
land and God is guiding them in taking over the
(01:06):
land that he has promised to them. We've explained that
the promised land is not heaven because there were enemies
in the promised land. They were Canaanites, Hittites, Jebusites, and
many other enemies. There are no enemies for us in heaven.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
This is.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
As far as you and I concern fulfilling God's purpose
in our lives, experiencing God's promises for our lives as
we follow God in addressing the challenges of life that
we face.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And just as Israel, even though.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
They had a promise concomitant to that promise, of those
promises were challenges to Jericho Ai and the many challenges
we've seen. So they're in the process of conquering the
land of promise that was promised them the Lord.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Beginning in chapter eleven.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
We have now this attack on the northern part of
the promised land and the campaigns that were associated with it. Well,
obviously all these kings, now knowing that the South have
been defeated, are a little nervous because Joshua.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Is on the march.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
So they all come together in the first five verses,
verse four, they came out, they and all their armies
with them, as many people as the sand that is
on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. So
this is like those boxing shows when you say, let's
(02:43):
get ready to rumball. They say, hey, look, we gotta stop.
We gotta stop Israel. We gotta stop Joshua. And the army.
So all these armies come together in the north for
the purpose of stopping Joshua. And they bring everything but
the kitchen sink. Everybody's coming. It says, they got They
got an army like the sand of the sea. Far
(03:03):
as you can look. They are soldiers with their horses
and with their chariot. And this is this is a
good one. I like this one. So all these kings
verse five agreed to meet to fight Israel. They're they're
outnumbering Israel, and they're about to stop them from inheriting
or seek to stop them from inheriting the promise.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Verse six. Then the Lord said to Joshua, do not
be afraid.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Now, whatever the Lord tells you, not be afraid, that's
because something.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Is scaring you.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Okay, In this case, he's grossly outnumbered. They got the chariots,
they got the equipment, they got the stuff. So when
God tells you don't be afraid, that's because you scared.
You know, something is, something is shaking you up. And
so he tells him, as he told him a number
of times, don't be a's raid for tomorrow, at this time,
(04:03):
I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. Don't
be afraid, because I got you you.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And I watch this.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
You shall ham string their horses and burn their chariots.
To hamstring the horses means to lame them. You are
to lame the horses so they can't run. Ham string
the horses and burn that chariot. So Joshua and all
(04:35):
the people of war with him came upon them suddenly
by the waters of Miraam and attack them. The Lord
delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they
defeated them and pursued them as far as great sight,
and Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him.
He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. Yeah, now,
(05:01):
what was all this about the horses and burning the
chariots or very simply God wanted to show them his
power of giving them victory over and above the human
elements they were dependent upon. See, they had soldiers, and
(05:22):
they were dependent upon their horses to carry them and
their chariots. And God was going to give them victory
through conquering what they were depending upon to give them victory.
In other words, sometimes God wants to show you how
big he is, and he will show that by limiting
(05:47):
your enemy's ability to use the expertise at their disposal.
They may be smarter than you, bigger than you, richer
than you, more powerful than you. They may have more background,
more contact, they may have more of this world's stuff.
But when God wants to show off and show out,
when God wants to let you see that, it's not
(06:11):
by might, not by power, it's not by horses, it's
not by chariots, it's by the will of God. Then
he will he doesn't mind hamstringing what the enemy is
dependent upon to bring them victory. Then Joshua verse ten
turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck
(06:35):
its king with the sword. For Hazel formerly was the
head of all these kingdoms. So cut off the head
of the snake. Okay, he was the lead God, so
he went down. So he made an example of that
particular city. So so we're going to find out now
(06:56):
that Joshua, having made an example of them, Joshua's now
on the march and taking the spoils of the city.
Verse fourteen, Verse sixteen, Joshua took all the land in
the hill country.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
He's in the north.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Now verse eighteen, Joshua waged war a long time with
all these kings.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Now watch this.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
There was not a city which made peace with the
sons of Israel, except that Hevites living in Gibeon. They
took them all in battle. So Joshua's defeating everybody. Now
what brought about this defeat from God's perspective? We know
from Joshua's perspective, because he's doing what he's been told
to do. But let's look at it from God's perspective.
(07:41):
He says in verse twenty, for it was of the
Lord to harden their hearts to meet Israel in battle,
in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they
might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them,
just as the Lord had command did Moses. As a
(08:02):
whole lot, there whole theology about the hardening of the heart.
Romans Chapter nine talks about God hardening hearts. Even in
the New Testament it talks about God hardening the heart
of Pharaoh, just as it happened with Moses.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
So the question is, why does God.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Harden a heart force a heart to be unresponsive. Well
if you go back, because he uses just as he
told Moses. So that go takes us back to Pharaoh.
He says, God, harden Pharaoh's heart. But when you look
at the story, God only hardens Pharaoh's heart after Pharaoh
(08:47):
hardens his own heart. So when you look at the history,
Pharaoh hardens his heart. That is, he takes a strong refusal. No, God,
I don't care what you say. I'm gonna do what
I want to do when I want to do it.
And it became hard hearted. You probably know people like
this with hard hearts. They're cold, they are are determined
(09:11):
to not do right. They're not struggling to do right,
they're determined to do wrong. So when a person hardens
their heart against God, God basically says, oh that's how
it is. Okay, Well, why don't I just make it harder.
Since you already got a hard heart. We're gonna make
(09:33):
this baby stone, We're gonna make this brick rock, we
gonna harden it. We're gonna make you so hard since
you're already hardened, We're gonna make you hard in your
heart and there will be no mercy. So God hardens
the heart when you have crossed the line with your rebellion,
(09:54):
not struggle, but rebellion. And when you cross that line
of a a hard heart, that is a heart that's
stubbornly determined to rebel against God, then God cooperates with
your heartening and he hardens it now toward his purpose.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Doctor Evans will return shortly to show us how the
Egyptians hardened hearts set the stage for their dramatic downfall.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Well.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
As we're learning in this series, the Book of Joshua
is full of stories where God works through both victories
and challenges to fulfill his promises. Today's lesson reminds us
that God's plan always moves forward, even when obstacles look overwhelming.
To help you dig deeper into these powerful truths, we're
offering Tony's complete nine part audio series on the Book
(10:44):
of Joshua as our gift when you support the Ministry
of the Alternative and for a limited time. Will also
include the Kingdom Family Devotional written by doctor Evans with
his son, pastor and author Jonathan Evans. It's a fifty
two weeks yearny through important topics like prayer, forgiveness and
spiritual growth, crafted to help your family walk closer with
(11:07):
God and each other every day of the year. Don't
wait to take advantage of this special double offer. Visitors
today at Tonyevans dot org to make your request, or
call our friendly team at one eight hundred eight hundred
thirty two twenty two anytime of the day or night.
That's Tonyevans dot org, or by phone at one eight
(11:30):
hundred eight hundred three two two two. Well, right now,
let's rejoin doctor Evans for more on conquest and division
from the Book of Joshua.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
You would have thought that when Egypt saw it that
ransea open and two million people going across on dry land,
you would have thought, if you're in your right mind,
I ain't going in there. But because they were hearted,
(12:01):
they were driven by hard hearts to their own death.
And so Joshua verse twenty three took the whole land
according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses,
and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according
to their divisions of tribes.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Thus the land had rest from war. The chapter twelve.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
We won't spend much time here because chapter twelve is
merely a catalog of thirty one kings thirty one kings
listed who were defeated by Israel. But we do want
to go to chapter thirteen. Now, Joshua was old and
advanced in years. It's close to one hundred years old
(12:47):
when this takes place. When the Lord said to him,
you were old and advanced in years, and very much
of the land remains to be possessed, So we still
got more territory to conquer. You're getting old at one
hundred years old. So he tells them to apportion out
the land, and in verse fourteen to the tribes, he says,
(13:09):
only to the tribe of Levi, he did not give
an inheritance, the offering the fire to the Lord, the
God of Israel, or their inheritance as he spoke to them.
So each of the tribe is a portion their parcel
of land in the Promised Land, except the tribe of Levi,
because that was the priestly tribe. They were set aside
(13:33):
uniquely for special ministry in the tabernacle, and because of
their special ministry calling, they were not allotted land in
the same sense that the other tribes were. Because they
were to be the religious servants to the people. They
were the clergy if you will to the people. And
(13:54):
therefore because of that unique responsibility, they were not given land,
but he the rest of the land to the tribes.
Again it stated in verse thirty three. But to the
tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance. The Lord,
the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he had
(14:16):
promised to them. So God would have a special relationship
with the Levites because of their special purpose and calling
for ministry to the people that they were to have.
Now Chapter fourteen, this is a story about a man
named Caleb.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Verse six.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Then the sons of Judah drew Nea to Joshua and Gilgal,
and Caleb, the son of Jeffni the Kenzite, said to him,
you know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses,
the man of God, concerning you and me in kadish Barnia.
I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of
(14:57):
the Lord, sent me from katish Barnia to spy out
the land, and I brought word back to him as
it was in my heart. Nevertheless, my brethren went up
with me, made the heart of the people melt with fear.
But I followed the Lord my God fully, so Moses
(15:19):
swore on that day, saying, surely the land on which
your foot is troden will be an inheritance to you
and to your children forever, because you have followed the
Lord my God fully. Now behold, the Lord has let
me live just as he spoke these forty five years.
(15:40):
I am still strong today as I was the day
Moses sent me. Now, then give me this hill country
about which the Lord spoke on that day. For you
heard on that day the Anakin were there. They were
great fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me
and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken.
(16:02):
So Joshua blessed him and gave hebrem to Caleb as
an inheritance. Caleb is forty years old. He's one of
the twelve spies sent to spy out the land in
numbers fourteen. They spied out the land. The twelve spies
(16:24):
came back. They said, yes, the land is exactly what
God said. It was a productive land, flowing just oozing
with milk and honey. They brought back some of the
fruit of the land, and it was just spectacular. But
they said ten of them said, but they're giants in
the land, some big people out there, and we can't
(16:49):
defeat them. That's when Joshua and Caleb spoke up. They said,
hold it. God has given us this land. God has
promised us this land. Let us go up and take
the land, because God told us it was ours. God
(17:09):
didn't send us there to debate whether it was our land.
He already told us it's our land. He just sent
us that despy out how we gonna take it, not
whether it was ours. So let's go get it. But
you know what they did. They did something you should
(17:30):
never ever ever do, and that is vote on the
will of God. Now you can vote on a lot
of stuff, but what you don't do is take a
(17:52):
vote on something God has clearly said. If God has
clearly said it, the vote has already been taken. So
they voted ten to two. Tense five said no, two
said yes. And the Bible says, and God was hot
(18:15):
and wanted to destroy the whole nation because they did
not believe. Now, there is a whole lot in the
New Testament, particularly in the Book of Hebrews, about this,
that they did not enter God's rest. It's called God's
provision for them. Hebrew six talks about this. He was
four talks about this. Hebrews two talks about this. They
(18:38):
did not enter God's rest because of their disobedience.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
And you know why.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
They disobeyed watched this because of the size of the problem.
They said that giants in the land is too big.
When God has clearly stated his will, the vote has
been taken. I'm gonna say this. It's a true statement,
(19:08):
but I'm gonna say a little bit in jest, although
it's totally true. You know why we don't believe and
why the Bible doesn't teach congregational rule where the congregation
gets to vote, because you got too many connor people voting.
(19:30):
You got people don't know God, don't love God, don't
walk with God, don't obey God, don't talk to God.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
But they got an opinion.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
And when it comes to the will of God, you
want spiritual people, people who know God and trust God
and believe.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
God and follow God. He says, I wholly followed the Lord.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
In other words, I didn't go I didn't go with
the crowd, and I didn't watch this compromise my convictions
for convenience. I did not compromise my convictions for convenience.
It would have been easy to go with the crowd,
(20:16):
because then you know, I would have been like everybody else.
But my convictions spiritually took precedents over popularity, acceptance and
playing the numbers game. So I fully followed the Lord.
(20:38):
So then he says, God made a promise because you
were willing to follow me, I'm going to give you
in Joshua one day.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
This land.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Doctor Tony Evans highlighting how God honors those who follow
him in faith and reminding him that his promises always
unfold right on time according to his perfect plan. Doctor
Evans will return in just a moment to share how
you can experience those promises in your own life. Before
he does, though, I want to remind you that today's
(21:15):
lesson on conquest and division comes from Tony's powerful series
on the Book of Joshua. It's an inspiring journey through
how God leads his people into victory even when they're
facing overwhelming odds, unexpected challenges, or impossible obstacles. And as
we mentioned, when you make a donation to help keep
Tony's teaching on this station, we'll send you the complete
(21:38):
nine part audio series on Joshua so you can dive
deeper into these life changing truths, and for a limited time,
we are also including the Kingdom Family Devotional, written by
doctor Evans and his son Jonathan. It's a fifty two
week guide that helps families grow closer to God and
to each other, covering topics like prayer forgives, spiritual warfare,
(22:02):
and more, with daily readings, simple enough for kids, yet
rich enough to challenge adults. Don't miss this special double offer.
It's only available for a short time. Visit us today
at Tonyevans dot org to request your copies, or give
us a call at one eight hundred eight hundred thirty
two twenty two any time of the day or night. Again,
(22:25):
that's Tonyevans DOTRG or by phone at one eight hundred
eight hundred three two two two. Well, Doctor Evans is
back now to talk about the promises of God on
a personal level.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
When you're going through tough times, a job loss, a breakup,
or maybe financial stress, having someone who loves you unconditionally
is a game changer, and no one can do that
better than Jesus Christ. He proved it long ago when
he made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us, and
he proves it again and again each day. In the
lives of those who've already acknowledged his incomparable love. When
(23:04):
you embrace Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you not
only receive an eternal home with him, but you also
unlock extra carriage and hope for today, helping you face
life's challenges with confidence. Invite Him into your life right
now by saying this simple prayer with me, Defly, Father,
(23:25):
I recognize Jesus Christ as your son who died on
the cross from my sins and rose again. I invite
you into my life to be my savior and Lord,
wash away my sins, lead me in your ways. Thank
you for your unconditional love and your gift of salvation.
(23:46):
I trust in you and place my faith in your
promise of eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
We encourage you to follow up on that prayer at
Tonyevans dot Org. Click the link at the top for
the homepage that simply says Jesus. Doctor Evans has posted
a video that explains God's plan of restoration, and you'll
find some additional follow up resources there as well. Again,
that's Tony Evans Doorg. Sometimes God's commands in the Old
(24:18):
Testament can seem harsh to us, but doctor Evans explains
that even his judgments carry a purpose rooted in grace
and protection. Tomorrow we'll discover way experiencing God's promises requires
not only faith, but also decisive.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Action on our part.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Be sure to join us
You should never ever vote on the will of God.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Doctor Tony Evans says, when God declares his will, it's settled,
end of discussion.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
When God has clearly stated his will, the vote has
been taken.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings
from the archives of doctor Tony Evans. Having a promise
from God doesn't mean the journey will be easy, but
it does mean he'll walk with you through the battles.
In today's message, doctor Evans reveals how God's power isn't
limited by numbers or resources, and how faith plus obedience
(00:39):
is the key to unlocking his provision and purpose in
our lives.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Let's listen.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Joshua is the book about God's fulfilling his promise to
his people. God had promised them a land, a land
flowing with milk and honey. They've been waiting forty years
to experience this, and now Joshua generation has entered the
land and God is guiding them in taking over the
(01:06):
land that he has promised to them. We've explained that
the promised land is not heaven because there were enemies
in the promised land. They were Canaanites, Hittites, Jebusites, and
many other enemies. There are no enemies for us in heaven.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
This is.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
As far as you and I concern fulfilling God's purpose
in our lives, experiencing God's promises for our lives as
we follow God in addressing the challenges of life that
we face.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And just as Israel, even though.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
They had a promise concomitant to that promise, of those
promises were challenges to Jericho Ai and the many challenges
we've seen. So they're in the process of conquering the
land of promise that was promised them the Lord.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Beginning in chapter eleven.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
We have now this attack on the northern part of
the promised land and the campaigns that were associated with it. Well,
obviously all these kings, now knowing that the South have
been defeated, are a little nervous because Joshua.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Is on the march.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
So they all come together in the first five verses,
verse four, they came out, they and all their armies
with them, as many people as the sand that is
on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. So
this is like those boxing shows when you say, let's
(02:43):
get ready to rumball. They say, hey, look, we gotta stop.
We gotta stop Israel. We gotta stop Joshua. And the army.
So all these armies come together in the north for
the purpose of stopping Joshua. And they bring everything but
the kitchen sink. Everybody's coming. It says, they got They
got an army like the sand of the sea. Far
(03:03):
as you can look. They are soldiers with their horses
and with their chariot. And this is this is a
good one. I like this one. So all these kings
verse five agreed to meet to fight Israel. They're they're
outnumbering Israel, and they're about to stop them from inheriting
or seek to stop them from inheriting the promise.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Verse six. Then the Lord said to Joshua, do not
be afraid.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Now, whatever the Lord tells you, not be afraid, that's
because something.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Is scaring you.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Okay, In this case, he's grossly outnumbered. They got the chariots,
they got the equipment, they got the stuff. So when
God tells you don't be afraid, that's because you scared.
You know, something is, something is shaking you up. And
so he tells him, as he told him a number
of times, don't be a's raid for tomorrow, at this time,
(04:03):
I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. Don't
be afraid, because I got you you.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And I watch this.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
You shall ham string their horses and burn their chariots.
To hamstring the horses means to lame them. You are
to lame the horses so they can't run. Ham string
the horses and burn that chariot. So Joshua and all
(04:35):
the people of war with him came upon them suddenly
by the waters of Miraam and attack them. The Lord
delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they
defeated them and pursued them as far as great sight,
and Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him.
He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. Yeah, now,
(05:01):
what was all this about the horses and burning the
chariots or very simply God wanted to show them his
power of giving them victory over and above the human
elements they were dependent upon. See, they had soldiers, and
(05:22):
they were dependent upon their horses to carry them and
their chariots. And God was going to give them victory
through conquering what they were depending upon to give them victory.
In other words, sometimes God wants to show you how
big he is, and he will show that by limiting
(05:47):
your enemy's ability to use the expertise at their disposal.
They may be smarter than you, bigger than you, richer
than you, more powerful than you. They may have more background,
more contact, they may have more of this world's stuff.
But when God wants to show off and show out,
when God wants to let you see that, it's not
(06:11):
by might, not by power, it's not by horses, it's
not by chariots, it's by the will of God. Then
he will he doesn't mind hamstringing what the enemy is
dependent upon to bring them victory. Then Joshua verse ten
turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck
(06:35):
its king with the sword. For Hazel formerly was the
head of all these kingdoms. So cut off the head
of the snake. Okay, he was the lead God, so
he went down. So he made an example of that
particular city. So so we're going to find out now
(06:56):
that Joshua, having made an example of them, Joshua's now
on the march and taking the spoils of the city.
Verse fourteen, Verse sixteen, Joshua took all the land in
the hill country.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
He's in the north.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Now verse eighteen, Joshua waged war a long time with
all these kings.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Now watch this.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
There was not a city which made peace with the
sons of Israel, except that Hevites living in Gibeon. They
took them all in battle. So Joshua's defeating everybody. Now
what brought about this defeat from God's perspective? We know
from Joshua's perspective, because he's doing what he's been told
to do. But let's look at it from God's perspective.
(07:41):
He says in verse twenty, for it was of the
Lord to harden their hearts to meet Israel in battle,
in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they
might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them,
just as the Lord had command did Moses. As a
(08:02):
whole lot, there whole theology about the hardening of the heart.
Romans Chapter nine talks about God hardening hearts. Even in
the New Testament it talks about God hardening the heart
of Pharaoh, just as it happened with Moses.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
So the question is, why does God.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Harden a heart force a heart to be unresponsive. Well
if you go back, because he uses just as he
told Moses. So that go takes us back to Pharaoh.
He says, God, harden Pharaoh's heart. But when you look
at the story, God only hardens Pharaoh's heart after Pharaoh
(08:47):
hardens his own heart. So when you look at the history,
Pharaoh hardens his heart. That is, he takes a strong refusal. No, God,
I don't care what you say. I'm gonna do what
I want to do when I want to do it.
And it became hard hearted. You probably know people like
this with hard hearts. They're cold, they are are determined
(09:11):
to not do right. They're not struggling to do right,
they're determined to do wrong. So when a person hardens
their heart against God, God basically says, oh that's how
it is. Okay, Well, why don't I just make it harder.
Since you already got a hard heart. We're gonna make
(09:33):
this baby stone, We're gonna make this brick rock, we
gonna harden it. We're gonna make you so hard since
you're already hardened, We're gonna make you hard in your
heart and there will be no mercy. So God hardens
the heart when you have crossed the line with your rebellion,
(09:54):
not struggle, but rebellion. And when you cross that line
of a a hard heart, that is a heart that's
stubbornly determined to rebel against God, then God cooperates with
your heartening and he hardens it now toward his purpose.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Doctor Evans will return shortly to show us how the
Egyptians hardened hearts set the stage for their dramatic downfall.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Well.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
As we're learning in this series, the Book of Joshua
is full of stories where God works through both victories
and challenges to fulfill his promises. Today's lesson reminds us
that God's plan always moves forward, even when obstacles look overwhelming.
To help you dig deeper into these powerful truths, we're
offering Tony's complete nine part audio series on the Book
(10:44):
of Joshua as our gift when you support the Ministry
of the Alternative and for a limited time. Will also
include the Kingdom Family Devotional written by doctor Evans with
his son, pastor and author Jonathan Evans. It's a fifty
two weeks yearny through important topics like prayer, forgiveness and
spiritual growth, crafted to help your family walk closer with
(11:07):
God and each other every day of the year. Don't
wait to take advantage of this special double offer. Visitors
today at Tonyevans dot org to make your request, or
call our friendly team at one eight hundred eight hundred
thirty two twenty two anytime of the day or night.
That's Tonyevans dot org, or by phone at one eight
(11:30):
hundred eight hundred three two two two. Well, right now,
let's rejoin doctor Evans for more on conquest and division
from the Book of Joshua.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
You would have thought that when Egypt saw it that
ransea open and two million people going across on dry land,
you would have thought, if you're in your right mind,
I ain't going in there. But because they were hearted,
(12:01):
they were driven by hard hearts to their own death.
And so Joshua verse twenty three took the whole land
according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses,
and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according
to their divisions of tribes.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Thus the land had rest from war. The chapter twelve.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
We won't spend much time here because chapter twelve is
merely a catalog of thirty one kings thirty one kings
listed who were defeated by Israel. But we do want
to go to chapter thirteen. Now, Joshua was old and
advanced in years. It's close to one hundred years old
(12:47):
when this takes place. When the Lord said to him,
you were old and advanced in years, and very much
of the land remains to be possessed, So we still
got more territory to conquer. You're getting old at one
hundred years old. So he tells them to apportion out
the land, and in verse fourteen to the tribes, he says,
(13:09):
only to the tribe of Levi, he did not give
an inheritance, the offering the fire to the Lord, the
God of Israel, or their inheritance as he spoke to them.
So each of the tribe is a portion their parcel
of land in the Promised Land, except the tribe of Levi,
because that was the priestly tribe. They were set aside
(13:33):
uniquely for special ministry in the tabernacle, and because of
their special ministry calling, they were not allotted land in
the same sense that the other tribes were. Because they
were to be the religious servants to the people. They
were the clergy if you will to the people. And
(13:54):
therefore because of that unique responsibility, they were not given land,
but he the rest of the land to the tribes.
Again it stated in verse thirty three. But to the
tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance. The Lord,
the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he had
(14:16):
promised to them. So God would have a special relationship
with the Levites because of their special purpose and calling
for ministry to the people that they were to have.
Now Chapter fourteen, this is a story about a man
named Caleb.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Verse six.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Then the sons of Judah drew Nea to Joshua and Gilgal,
and Caleb, the son of Jeffni the Kenzite, said to him,
you know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses,
the man of God, concerning you and me in kadish Barnia.
I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of
(14:57):
the Lord, sent me from katish Barnia to spy out
the land, and I brought word back to him as
it was in my heart. Nevertheless, my brethren went up
with me, made the heart of the people melt with fear.
But I followed the Lord my God fully, so Moses
(15:19):
swore on that day, saying, surely the land on which
your foot is troden will be an inheritance to you
and to your children forever, because you have followed the
Lord my God fully. Now behold, the Lord has let
me live just as he spoke these forty five years.
(15:40):
I am still strong today as I was the day
Moses sent me. Now, then give me this hill country
about which the Lord spoke on that day. For you
heard on that day the Anakin were there. They were
great fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me
and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken.
(16:02):
So Joshua blessed him and gave hebrem to Caleb as
an inheritance. Caleb is forty years old. He's one of
the twelve spies sent to spy out the land in
numbers fourteen. They spied out the land. The twelve spies
(16:24):
came back. They said, yes, the land is exactly what
God said. It was a productive land, flowing just oozing
with milk and honey. They brought back some of the
fruit of the land, and it was just spectacular. But
they said ten of them said, but they're giants in
the land, some big people out there, and we can't
(16:49):
defeat them. That's when Joshua and Caleb spoke up. They said,
hold it. God has given us this land. God has
promised us this land. Let us go up and take
the land, because God told us it was ours. God
(17:09):
didn't send us there to debate whether it was our land.
He already told us it's our land. He just sent
us that despy out how we gonna take it, not
whether it was ours. So let's go get it. But
you know what they did. They did something you should
(17:30):
never ever ever do, and that is vote on the
will of God. Now you can vote on a lot
of stuff, but what you don't do is take a
(17:52):
vote on something God has clearly said. If God has
clearly said it, the vote has already been taken. So
they voted ten to two. Tense five said no, two
said yes. And the Bible says, and God was hot
(18:15):
and wanted to destroy the whole nation because they did
not believe. Now, there is a whole lot in the
New Testament, particularly in the Book of Hebrews, about this,
that they did not enter God's rest. It's called God's
provision for them. Hebrew six talks about this. He was
four talks about this. Hebrews two talks about this. They
(18:38):
did not enter God's rest because of their disobedience.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
And you know why.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
They disobeyed watched this because of the size of the problem.
They said that giants in the land is too big.
When God has clearly stated his will, the vote has
been taken. I'm gonna say this. It's a true statement,
(19:08):
but I'm gonna say a little bit in jest, although
it's totally true. You know why we don't believe and
why the Bible doesn't teach congregational rule where the congregation
gets to vote, because you got too many connor people voting.
(19:30):
You got people don't know God, don't love God, don't
walk with God, don't obey God, don't talk to God.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
But they got an opinion.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
And when it comes to the will of God, you
want spiritual people, people who know God and trust God
and believe.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
God and follow God. He says, I wholly followed the Lord.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
In other words, I didn't go I didn't go with
the crowd, and I didn't watch this compromise my convictions
for convenience. I did not compromise my convictions for convenience.
It would have been easy to go with the crowd,
(20:16):
because then you know, I would have been like everybody else.
But my convictions spiritually took precedents over popularity, acceptance and
playing the numbers game. So I fully followed the Lord.
(20:38):
So then he says, God made a promise because you
were willing to follow me, I'm going to give you
in Joshua one day.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
This land.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Doctor Tony Evans highlighting how God honors those who follow
him in faith and reminding him that his promises always
unfold right on time according to his perfect plan. Doctor
Evans will return in just a moment to share how
you can experience those promises in your own life. Before
he does, though, I want to remind you that today's
(21:15):
lesson on conquest and division comes from Tony's powerful series
on the Book of Joshua. It's an inspiring journey through
how God leads his people into victory even when they're
facing overwhelming odds, unexpected challenges, or impossible obstacles. And as
we mentioned, when you make a donation to help keep
Tony's teaching on this station, we'll send you the complete
(21:38):
nine part audio series on Joshua so you can dive
deeper into these life changing truths, and for a limited time,
we are also including the Kingdom Family Devotional, written by
doctor Evans and his son Jonathan. It's a fifty two
week guide that helps families grow closer to God and
to each other, covering topics like prayer forgives, spiritual warfare,
(22:02):
and more, with daily readings, simple enough for kids, yet
rich enough to challenge adults. Don't miss this special double offer.
It's only available for a short time. Visit us today
at Tonyevans dot org to request your copies, or give
us a call at one eight hundred eight hundred thirty
two twenty two any time of the day or night. Again,
(22:25):
that's Tonyevans DOTRG or by phone at one eight hundred
eight hundred three two two two. Well, Doctor Evans is
back now to talk about the promises of God on
a personal level.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
When you're going through tough times, a job loss, a breakup,
or maybe financial stress, having someone who loves you unconditionally
is a game changer, and no one can do that
better than Jesus Christ. He proved it long ago when
he made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us, and
he proves it again and again each day. In the
lives of those who've already acknowledged his incomparable love. When
(23:04):
you embrace Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you not
only receive an eternal home with him, but you also
unlock extra carriage and hope for today, helping you face
life's challenges with confidence. Invite Him into your life right
now by saying this simple prayer with me, Defly, Father,
(23:25):
I recognize Jesus Christ as your son who died on
the cross from my sins and rose again. I invite
you into my life to be my savior and Lord,
wash away my sins, lead me in your ways. Thank
you for your unconditional love and your gift of salvation.
(23:46):
I trust in you and place my faith in your
promise of eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
We encourage you to follow up on that prayer at
Tonyevans dot Org. Click the link at the top for
the homepage that simply says Jesus. Doctor Evans has posted
a video that explains God's plan of restoration, and you'll
find some additional follow up resources there as well. Again,
that's Tony Evans Doorg. Sometimes God's commands in the Old
(24:18):
Testament can seem harsh to us, but doctor Evans explains
that even his judgments carry a purpose rooted in grace
and protection. Tomorrow we'll discover way experiencing God's promises requires
not only faith, but also decisive.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Action on our part.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Be sure to join us
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