DCLM Daily Manna, Saturday March 26, 2016 by Pastor Kumuyi - Restraint Please!

Topic: Restraint Please! [Saturday March 26, 2016]

Text: Joshua 10:1-11

Key Verse: "Little leaven has the capacity to adulterate an entire landscape."

According to Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States of America, "Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die". How true that statement credited to Herbert Hoover is from the events recorded in today's text.

Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, gathered along with him four other kings of the Amorites to make war against the Gibeonites because they thought making peace with Israel was both cowardly and an act of betrayal. When Joshua was informed about the development, he enquired from God, and having obtained clearance, invaded the five kings that attacked Gibeon and defeated them. Apart from those that were slain in battle, many died under a rain of great stones which fell from the sky; it was a great victory for Israel.

It is hard to find the justification of these five kings coming together to attack a sovereign nation for pursuing what it sees as its national interest. Making war with a nation that has not acted in any way provocative to other nations is an act of aggression. War should be a last resort after all diplomatic avenues have been exhausted. It is not an option to be decided upon without reason or justification.

Many needless wars that were started hastily in history has resulted in the death of millions of young men and women. We have had some modern-day Adonizedek in the persons of Adolf Hitler, the bloody fuhrer of Germany and Benito Mussolini of fascist Italy to mention but a few. Watch out; the conflicts you initiate today may end up destroying many souls and at the end claim your life also. Be slow to ignite a flame of passion whose unintended consequences might simply spiral out of control.

Thought for the day: Little leaven has the capacity to adulterate an entire landscape.

Bible Reading in one Year: Deuteronomy 21-24

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.