DCLM Daily Manna 21 January 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Holy Withdrawal
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TOPIC: Holy Withdrawal (DCLM Daily Manna 21 January 2024)
KEY VERSE: “Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies until ye take away the accursed thing from among you” (Joshua 7:13).
TEXT: Joshua 7:1-13 (KJV)
1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took off the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai, and make not all the people labor thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
6 And Joshua rented his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we have been content and dwelt on the other side, Jordan!
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
9 For the Canaanites and all the land’s inhabitants shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
12 Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies but turned their backs on their enemies because they were accursed: neither will I be with you anymore, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies until ye take away the darn thing from among you.
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
Stephen M. Miller, in his book, The Complete Guide to the Bible, says, “Right after wiping Jericho off the map, the seemingly unstoppable Israelites were stopped by a tiny contingent of militia, from a tiny town, with a tiny name: Ai.”
Today’s passage reveals how one man’s sin caused the defeat of a whole nation through a very small and seemingly insignificant group of people. Before then, Israel had defeated Jericho, a powerful country with tall and fortified walls. God had given them the instructions not to take to themselves anything unapproved by Him. But unknown to Joshua and other leaders, Achan had taken some booty out of the city and hidden them in his tent. Joshua and the elders, without consulting God, launched a battle against Ai with a small number of troops. They were stunningly defeated. They prayed and wept before the Lord to know the reasons for this setback. In answer to their prayers, God revealed that someone had brought accursed things into the camp, forcing Him to withdraw from them.
Also Read: Open Heaven 21 January 2024 – God’s Best Friends (3)
When God withdraws from the life of an individual, family, church, or nation, the ensuing problems may include death. For example, some of the soldiers of Israel were killed. When God withdraws, Satan will inevitably take over. The defeat will persist until the source of the problems is identified and removed.
Joshua did not sit on the fence and blame God or the people. He identified the problem and then prayed. He dealt with the cause of the sin and received directives from God on how to be restored to full fellowship with Him. Do you sense God’s withdrawal? Then you must search your life to find out what went wrong.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The more distance you maintain from God, the nearer you are to the devil.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Acts 15-17
Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2024 was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, founder and general superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Ambydennis Notice Board: We trust you have been blessed by the devotional. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior is one of the best decisions, especially for you; imagine having Christ in your life; what a fantastic experience it will be. It starts here as you proclaim: Dear Father, I humbly come to you in sincere repentance, claiming you as my Lord and personal Saviour. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness, be the center of my life, and let my life revolve around you as I partake in the eternal life you gave us in Jesus’ Name. Congratulations, you are now Born again. God bless you.
