“I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.” Joshua 24:8

Joshua who was the successor to Moses brought Israelites into the land of promise by conquering the cities and people who lived there before. Then he assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officials of Israel and they all stood in the presence of the Lord. Then Joshua said to the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says.” He gave a small historical background from their ancestors, Terah, the father of Abraham, who was a worshipper of Idols and lived beyond the Euphrates River. Then in verse 8, he said our today’s insight. The LORD God said, “I brought you to the land of the Amorites who live east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them before you, and you took possession of their land.”

Beloved, this statement has many profound meanings packed inside it. When God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:13-16 God already foretold Abraham this, know for certain that for 400 years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there…. In the 4th generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. “Did you notice the last verse, “for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure? In short Lord’s deliverance of Israelites from the slavery in Egypt and their entrance into the promised land were all pre-planned by God and it happened exactly at the time of the sin of the Amorites reached its full measure. Israelites captured cities and slaughtered people mercilessly when God brought them into the promised land that God promised to Abraham.

Don’t you agree, four hundred years is a long time? And God was patient and longsuffering toward the iniquities of Amorites who occupied the land. God in heaven endured and was patient toward the Amorites even though they lived wickedly and fully immersed in idol worship and dishonored the living Lord in heaven. God gave time and time again for repentance. However, they multiplied their wickedness and idol worships with all its immoralities. Ripe time for God’s wrath came. Now God said to the leaders of Israel in our today’s verse, I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived in the east of Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them before you, and you took possession of their land.”

God says he did the destruction because He performed justice after a long-suffering and perseverance. May we never take God’s patience lightly. Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” A solemn warning from the Bible based on historical and verifiable facts that God takes sins seriously. If you are living in sin with no repentance and confession, you may think all is well. However, God’s wrath and judgment day are coming.

Beloved, God is patient and long-suffering. He is the God who loves and has Mercy and compassion toward people. He is the creator God and Bible say in Acts 17 that He wants us to turn from worthless things like manmade idols and turn to the living God in heaven who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. He has shown His kindness toward Amorites who occupied the land and to all of us by giving rains from heaven and crops in their seasons. He provided plenty of foods and filled hearts with joy hoping we will come to our sense by knowing one true God and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. Bible says in Psalms 2, “Kiss his son, or he will be angry, and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Did you notice God’s wrath on the wickedness of the people and nations can flare up in a moment? Where are we going to hide at God’s wrath? Today is the time of repentance and salvation, the Bible declares.

There is only one safe place from God’s wrath, and there is only one single way to be saved from God’s judgment over sins, and that is by taking refuge in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for your sins and shed His divine blood. He was buried and then rose again from the dead proving victory over sin and death. If you come and accept Him as your savior and Lord, He will cover your sins with His precious blood and will grant you eternal life. Either we face God’s judgment, or His Son’s blood protects us from God’s judgment. What would you choose?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I do not want to face the judgment of God over my sins. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. Thank you for talking to me today. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. Please save me and grant me your love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and eternal life in heaven with you. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”