The large, powerful Israelite army successfully attacked Jericho (under the precise directions of the Lord) but the sin of one man caused the wrath of God to fall on the whole camp. Personal righteousness and holiness come first in the Kingdom of God.

Directed in ministry. No element of the service of Aaron, his sons, or the Levites was conducted according to the ideas of Moses or anyone else. God very carefully gave explicit directions for the construction of the Tabernacle. He called by name those who were to construct the furnishings of the Tabernacle.

The ordination of the priests and the manner in which each sacrifice was to be made was described in detail. All was performed according to the pattern given to Moses on the holy mountain.

God did not leave it to people to decide what was sin and what was righteousness. God did not leave it to people to decide how to establish the priesthood or the sacrifices for sin. All was commanded detail by detail, and Moses carefully obeyed the directions given by the Lord.

What can we say about the Christian ministry? Is it God's will that we follow the Holy Spirit in every aspect of ministry?

Directed in the conquest of Canaan. God did not leave it up to people to decide what behavior was sinful and what behavior was righteous and holy. All was set forth in the Law of Moses.

God did not leave it up to people to decide how to build the Tabernacle, who to ordain as priests, how the priests should dress and minister, or how the sacrifices should be made. All was set forth in the Law of Moses.

God did not leave it up to people to decide what land to invade or how to invade it. Each part of the operation was directed by the Lord from Heaven. The Lord was directing the army of Israelites under Joshua, and the army of angels who probably were commanded by Michael the archangel.

After Moses had died, Israel being assembled on the plains of Moab east of Jordan, God began to personally direct the invasion. It was not left to the Jews to decide what land to conquer or how to go about conquering it.

From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. (Joshua 1:4)

And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. (Joshua 3:8)

At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. (Joshua 5:2)

And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. (Joshua 6:2,3)

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it. (Joshua 8:1,2)

And so on and on and on.

To be continued.