JOSHUA AND JUDGES

It's a beautiful Saturday morning, and I am looking forward to the day.  I have been reading in Joshua and Judges this morning, and I did not get to write yesterday, so I have a few thoughts to jot down.  Here are some of them: 1) GOD KNOWS!!  Joshua 22:22 says:  "The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knowth,.."  Yes, God does know.  He knows everything and nothing is hid in His sight.  Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?  I heard this many years ago in Bible College and it is because God already knows everything so there is nothing new for God to learn!  He knows!! 2) WHERE ARE YOUR WITNESSESS?  In Joshua 22:27, the two and a half tribes on the east side of Jordan erected an altar to be a witness that they too were of Israel.  They got in hot water until they explained their reasoning.  They called this altar 'ED' meaning "a witness".  Also, in Joshua 24:27, Joshua wrote out the law once again and placed a large pile of rocks around it under an oak tree by the tabernacle, and called it a witness as well.  Now, where are your witnesses?  How about:  Bibles around your home?  Prayer in a restuarant before your meals?  Family members seeing you read your Bible?  Having Christian Music playing in your home and vehicle?  Neighbors seeing you go to church each and every Sunday and other times thorughout the week?  Where are your witnessess?? 3) YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW- Even ungodly people understand this principle of life.  Sometimes they will say: "What goes around, comes around."  But it means the same thing.  In Judges 1:7, Adoni-bezek a king said: "Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me."  In the verse before, he had his thumbs and big toes cut off.  We reap what we sow.  Let's sow some good seed today!! 4) SIGN?? In Judges 6:17, Gideon said to the Lord: "show me a sign".  In all, God showed him four signs.  The flesh and cakes were burned by fire from God upon an altar.  The fleece was dry and the ground was wet.  The fleece was wet and the ground was dry.  The dream about the barley roll meant that Israel would defeat the Midianites.  God gave him signs!  But, Jesus warned us that "This generation seeketh a sign..."  Signs sound good, but even when God does it, we wonder.... did God do this??  Why not just go by His Holy Word!!  Leave the signs alone... rather, seek godly counsel from your pastor.  He will know the way you should go. 5) WHO GOD CAN USE- In Judges 11:1, God uses Jephthah, a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot:"  Son of an harlot, yet used of God.... yes... it is not our pedigree that God is interested in, but our availability!!  Are you available for God to use today?  I hope we both are!! Well, so much for today.  Have a blessed day in the Lord today!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler