GodsAcres.org
  • HOME
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • ABOUT
    • contact us
    • our history
    • our pastor
    • visitors (FAQ)
    • what we believe
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2023 radio
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2023 revivals & CM
    • audio - 2023 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • VIDEO - 2023 revivals & cm
    • VIDEO - 2023 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • music [choir]
    • music [video collections]
    • -----------------------------------
  • CHILDREN
    • children's choruses
    • KAREN'S KORNER
    • printable lessons
    • sunday school
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar of Events
    • camp meeting
    • dates and reservations
  • GALLERY
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2023 portraits
    • 2022 portraits
    • 2021 portraits
    • 2020 portraits
    • 2019 portraits
    • 2018 portraits
    • 2017 portraits
    • -----------------------------------
    • - 2015-2016 archives
    • - 2013-2014 archives
    • - 2011-2012 archives
    • - 2005-2010 archives
    • -----------------------------------
  • LIVE STREAMING
    • JOIN OUR LIVE BROADCAST
  • RESOURCES
    • -----------------------------------
    • radio broadcast
    • -----------------------------------
    • study materials
    • - by author
    • - by category
    • - by title
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school (adult)
    • sunday school (primary)
    • sunday school (youth)
    • -----------------------------------
    • The Gospel Trumpeter
    • Bible Questions & Answers
    • -----------------------------------
    • the revelation chart
    • -----------------------------------
  • YOUTH
    • -----------------------------------
    • meet our local youth group
    • -----------------------------------
    • youth devotions
    • youth lessons
    • -----------------------------------
    • ARCHIVES (audio & video)
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2022 audio messages
    • 2023 audio messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2022 video messages
    • 2023 video messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • bible studies
    • senior bible studies
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school lessons
    • video lessons
    • -----------------------------------
    • the revelation chart
    • -----------------------------------
  • HOME
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • ABOUT
    • contact us
    • our history
    • our pastor
    • visitors (FAQ)
    • what we believe
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2023 radio
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2023 revivals & CM
    • audio - 2023 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • VIDEO - 2023 revivals & cm
    • VIDEO - 2023 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • music [choir]
    • music [video collections]
    • -----------------------------------
  • CHILDREN
    • children's choruses
    • KAREN'S KORNER
    • printable lessons
    • sunday school
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar of Events
    • camp meeting
    • dates and reservations
  • GALLERY
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2023 portraits
    • 2022 portraits
    • 2021 portraits
    • 2020 portraits
    • 2019 portraits
    • 2018 portraits
    • 2017 portraits
    • -----------------------------------
    • - 2015-2016 archives
    • - 2013-2014 archives
    • - 2011-2012 archives
    • - 2005-2010 archives
    • -----------------------------------
  • LIVE STREAMING
    • JOIN OUR LIVE BROADCAST
  • RESOURCES
    • -----------------------------------
    • radio broadcast
    • -----------------------------------
    • study materials
    • - by author
    • - by category
    • - by title
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school (adult)
    • sunday school (primary)
    • sunday school (youth)
    • -----------------------------------
    • The Gospel Trumpeter
    • Bible Questions & Answers
    • -----------------------------------
    • the revelation chart
    • -----------------------------------
  • YOUTH
    • -----------------------------------
    • meet our local youth group
    • -----------------------------------
    • youth devotions
    • youth lessons
    • -----------------------------------
    • ARCHIVES (audio & video)
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2022 audio messages
    • 2023 audio messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2022 video messages
    • 2023 video messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • bible studies
    • senior bible studies
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school lessons
    • video lessons
    • -----------------------------------
    • the revelation chart
    • -----------------------------------
THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY​
​
​youth devotions for daily living
| inspiration from our youth leaders |

The Danger of rebuilding

2/18/2022

 
Picture
The destruction of Jericho is a well-known Bible story, but a lesser-known account is of the curse of Jericho. Joshua warned Israel of what would happen to the man who rebuilt this stronghold—his firstborn and youngest sons would die. For 530 years, the fortifications (walls and gates) of this city were not rebuilt.

In the days of the wicked King Ahab, Hiel of Bethel (one of the most wicked cities in the kingdom) rebuilt Jericho. Perhaps he was emboldened by the wicked time he was living in, but time had not changed God's words. When the foundation of the city was laid, his oldest son (Abiram) died, and when the gates were set, Segub (his youngest son) died. Some historians say this was a Hebrew saying, meaning that ALL Hiel's children died. What a high cost for going against God's warning and rebuilding a stronghold!

Consider strongholds in your life that have been pulled down. God wants these ruins to be a reminder (a memorial) of His great power. Yet, the enemy is always looking for ways to rebuild these strongholds. Paul wrote, "If I build again . . ." If a previously destroyed stronghold begins to be rebuilt and fortified, it will be because WE have allowed (or caused) it.

Just as evil days, no doubt, affected Hiel, causing a disregard of God's warning, the lack of God in our culture can affect us as well. "A little sleep" (Proverbs 6:10), spiritually speaking, can dull our memory of the seriousness of past strongholds. Temptations to rebuild come, and we think, "I can handle it this time."

​Paul warned of the danger in rebuilding things that have been destroyed. The story of Hiel the Bethelite should be a serious warning that there is a HIGH COST to building again what God wants left in ruins.
Joshua pronounced a curse against those who should build up Jericho, that the REMEMBRANCE of the miracle which God had wrought by destroying it might NEVER BE ERASED. 
— Maimonides (Jewish Rabbi)

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright ©   Church of God, Inc.   All Rights Reserved. 675 North Cedar Street, Newark, OH 43055