14/08/2023
METHODIST DAILY REFLECTION FOR:
Monday, 14th August, 2023
THEME: God is not Limited by Nature
PASSAGE: Joshua 10: 1-14
1. Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
2. That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
3. Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
4. Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
5. Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
6. And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
7. So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
8. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
9. Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10. And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
*THE MESSAGE*
Today’s text speaks volume of practical demonstration of God’s power. Scientifically speaking, it is the earth that travels or revolves around the sun which suggests that the sun always stands still. However, we must not doubt the miracle and the terminology used in today’s passage. After all, we are not confused whenever someone tells us that the sun rises or sets. A preacher once gave a–down-to earth preaching on this matter. He assumed that the miracle of Joshua’s day accounted for the month of February being shorter than other months!
The fact remains that God stepped into the matter of the day on behalf of Joshua and his people to prolong the day for them to have an overwhelming victory over their enemies, the warlike and dreaded Amorites. The unusual miracle of the day justifies the veracity of today’s consideration that “God is not limited by nature”.
This kind of miracle was reflected in the lives of Abramham and Sarah. After they have lost hope of child bearing due to their natural body metabolism, God visited them and proved the natural order wrong. Lions became friendly to Daniel instead of tearing him, which is their nature towards their prey.
Are there life-threatening issues and challenges in your life? Are you thinking of committing su***de? Have you been told to hurriedly prepare your will because of the death lurking around you? Is your medical report a concern to you and your family doctor? Have you been married for years with no child? Please go on your knees, and, if possible, declare days of fasting and prayer with holiness and humility and see God of wonders in action. As you believe in God’s power when God steps into your matter the irreversible becomes reversible, the impossibility becomes possible, the most unqualified becomes qualified, human protocols are suspended or broken, and the law of nature is suspended.
MEMORY VERSE: Joshua 10:14 “And there was no day like that before it or after it that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of man, for the Lord fought for Israel.”
HYMN: 335 (8.5.8.5 and refrain) PASS me not, O gentle Saviour
1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
Refrain: Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
2. Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief; kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief. [Refrain]
3. Trusting only in thy merit, would I seek thy face; heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by thy grace. [Refrain]
4. Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me, whom have I on earth beside thee? Whom in heaven but thee? [Refrain]
PRAYER: O Lord, I thank You for accepting to step into my precarious situation. Let those waging war against me and my family be annihilated, in Jesus’ name. Amen.