Joshua 21 - Our Promise-Keeping Lord

Joshua 21

Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. (Verse 45)

Message: Our Promise-Keeping Lord

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: This chapter marks a culmination of a promise made to Abraham centuries earlier - Genesis 12:1-9. In verses 6 and 7 it reads, "Now the Canaanite was then in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And now in Joshua 21:45 it states, "Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." From the promise to the conclusion. Unfortunately, in a way, the way Israel gets the land is through domination and many people going to their deaths. God provides for his people Israel. Yet, we submit and surrender to God for his ways are not our ways. Israel would carry out God's commands. One people would receive His promise. One important lesson is that God is on the throne and we submit and surrender to His will. 

Levi did not receive the land provided to the tribes (of the 12 tribes, Joseph was separated into land for his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh). Levi instead ministered in the tabernacle and taught God's law and instead Levi was allotted cities as described in Joshua 21:1-40. Numbers 35:1-8 gives this promise of the cities to the Levites, also includes the cities of refuge spoken of in Joshua 20. 

Numbers 21:1-7 mentions how the Levites received their lands - receiving 13 cities from the tribe of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin; 10 cities from the tribe of Ephraim and Dan and half-tribe of Manasseh, 13 cities from the tribe of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and half-tribe of Manasseh, 12 cities from tribe of Reuben, Gad, Zebulun. 

Joshua 21:43-45 is really an exciting passage. It is quite the culmination of hundreds of years. "The Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give..." "And the Lord gave them rest on every side..." "Not one of the good promises...failed." God is faithful. He is our deliverer. He promises and carries those promises out. He provides rest to His people. And we celebrate the promise keeping God we have. 

Summary: God keeps his promises and comes through on all promises. He never fails and provides land for all the tribes of Israel, culminating here in cities given from each tribe to tribe of Levi. 

Promise: The Christian faith is founded on the promises of God. The Lord keeps His promises. 

Prayer: Praise God. Praise God for your faithfulness and providing land and cities to the tribes of Israel. You are a Great God and the one that never fails to deliver your promises. Only you are praised and adored and you receive all of our thanksgiving. You are faithful. You provide us rest and all that is good. You know what is best for us. The reality is not everyone yields your promises. You do indeed set aside your riches for those you choose. This is life. Forgive us Lord for writing a different way in life and not really understanding these truths. Let us be a people that is always submitting ourselves to You and You alone. And then may we be a people that carries out your tasks, protects people and looks forward to being united with You in heaven and earth for all eternity. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Philippians 2:14-16a - The Danger of Discontent

Philippians 2:14-16a

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life.

Message: The Danger of Discontent

Time: AD 62. One of the 4 prison epistles. 

What the Lord is Saying: This was the message at our church, Hoffmantown, on Sunday, February 14, 2025 by Lamar Morin. I was struck in a way by the simplicity of the message. His premise began with discontent we often feel from social media platforms. He mentions that we are to live without grumbling or disputing and this is on the heels of verse 12 in which Paul says we are to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This is what is said first and foremost as to how we are to live. 

He mentioned that when adversity comes our way, we tend to blame others or God. We don't fault ourselves or our sin or rejoice even that we are in this trial. Arguing comes from pride or discontent and we are to be about the opposite. Complaining is offensive to God. Wouldn't it be great if people saw this in us - no complaining and grumbling. Wouldn't we stand out everywhere, at home, and at work. In other words we are found to be blameless. We live in such a way that we are found to different from the world. The tragedy is most Christians look the same as non-Christians. The only difference is they go to church. Thus, a walk that doesn't equal their talk. People are watching us. 

I was impressed with this passage. It is a rather simple command from verse 14 and in looking at different translations I see this as do all things without grumbling, disputing, arguing, complaining, murmuring, questioning the providence of God. And we do this and live in this way, "so that you may be God’s children, blameless, sincere and wholesome, living in a warped and diseased world, and shining there like lights in a dark place. For you hold in your hands the very word of life" (J B Phillips translation). There is a great result to this sort of behavior in our life. Once again, I was struck by my attitude at times toward those near me, even my wife and maybe my critical way toward her and her weight. And think about the way I live at work, complaining about things. Instead of praying through tough situations and trusting and encouraging, I model complaining. I am to be different so that people can see a difference. 

I went to an Alexander Maclaren sermon on this passage called "Copies of Jesus." He says, "The ‘murmurings’ are not against men but against God. The ‘disputings’ are not wrangling with others but the division of mind in one’s self-questionings, hesitations, and the like." So while this verse has application to grumblings and complaining in my life, when I do those complaints, I am really complaining against God for his hand of providence in my life. 

Summary: Don't grumble and as a reward I will be show to be a person people admire, all for the glory of God.

Prayer: O God, help me in those states I get in when I am discontent and dissatisfied and thinking that surrounds on me. I don't trust in others and think instead people are tired of me. help me to not listen to those attacks by Satan who convinces me that I am the problem and along the way I am not being effective any longer. O help me father in my daily self-talk to glorify You and not seek my own ways as the best way. Help me to be a team player versus thinking it must always be about me. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 20 - Designating Cities of Refuge

Joshua 20

1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Message: Designating Cities of Refuge

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Well, this is a short chapter of 9 verses. So far in the previous chapters, cities of Canaan have been divided up according to the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi did not get land because of their status as priests. Now here is a city of refuge. 

The Lord speaks to designate these cities, according to what was spoken through Moses. Number 35 verse 9 states, "Then the Lord spoke to Moses." About? Verses 11 and 12, "you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial." And specific instructions are given. For those who strike others with iron, stone, wood, with hatred, this person will be put to death, but for those that threw something without enmity, he shall go to the city of refuge. And "he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil." As such, the Law, God's law, protects those that kill others unintentionally. 

This happened here Saturday night. I heard out about it through my work. A bus driver was entering the west on-ramp of the interstate and a bicyclist was heading south and the bus struck the cyclist at around 5:30pm. And the man died as a result of his injuries at the hospital. My friend Bobby called me yesterday to say that the principal at their school gave them an announcement that a father of children at the school had died from a cycling accident the night before. He was a missionary to Africa, here in the states temporarily because his son had been sick and was back here getting the son treatment. He had 6 school aged children, the youngest being twin 4 year old girls. His name was Craig.

Joshua 20:2-3 follows through on this designation of cities. It is interesting as it reads in verse 6, "He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled." The death of the High priest (and the covenant recommences with the inauguration of a new High Priest) served as a sort of atonement to the manslayer, restored to the inheritance which had been forfeited by sin. Thus the high priests death took on a meaning like that of Christ, affording restitution of the offender. 

Interesting. I guess I never thought of it like this. Atonement is like a man dying for murdering someone. And this was laid out in the law of God and is carried out today in our courts. Some believing a man will die for killing another while others think the man is set aside in prison to live the rest of his life. But in each case, a life is atoned for another. In Christ, he has atoned for us, for our sins. We have not murdered, but through our sin before a holy God, our offense results in death. "For the wages of sin is death." We place our faith and hope in the work of Jesus Christ so that we can be restored to fellowship with God in heaven. 

Summary: Cities of refuge are now designated in Canaan as a refuge for those individuals that unintentionally take another person's life. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "When we do not support appropriate penalties for the taking of human life, we show disdain for other people and for the Lord in whose image we are made."

Prayer: O Father, rich in mercy and love. You show me today the seriousness of life and those who take it, even though unintentional in that taking of life, life is still precious. Our law today is kinder to the unintentional crime. Life remains important. There is grace. There is forgiveness, but according to your ways. Thank you for being a God who is over all and specifies truth into our lives. You are holy and sin must be paid for, in all instances. Thank you for the places of refuge you give us - like our church and being with people of God in many different settings. We are sinners in need of grace and in need of restoration. Thank you Jesus for paying for my sin. Let my life be lived to honor you in all things. I also pray for this man, this family that is now victim of this, and their life which has now forever changed - for those children and for the wife - to bring them comfort and hope for the future, for today, for tomorrow. Be their strength when they have no strength to live. Be the God of mercy to this family. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 16, 17, 18, 19 - Dividing the Remaining Land

Joshua 16, 17, 18, 19

So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?" (verse 3)

Message: Dividing the Remaining Land

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 15 dealt with the dividing of land for Judah and now Chapter 16 states, "the lot for the sons of Joseph." Judah prevailed, but Joseph had the birthright. In verse 4 are the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim and their inheritance. Ephraim finishes out this chapter and then in 17:1 begins the tribe of Manasseh, starting with Manasseh's first-born son Machir, followed by Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. Machir's 5 daughters are mentioned as he had no sons. In verse 10 there is mention that the Canaanites would not leave so they put them into forced labor. In Chapter 18, it states the sons of Israel subdue the remaining land at Shiloh. Verse 2 mentions 7 tribes left to divide their inheritance (Benjamin, Dan, Issachar, Zebulun, Simeon, Naphtali, and Asher). Joshua asks each tribe to send 3 men to be responsible for determining each of their inheritances. This is further carried out and delineated in chapter 19. 

Shiloh was an important place of worship. Located 30 miles north of Jerusalem (in tribe of Ephraim). 

In chapter 18, verse 10, it states that "Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there divided the land to the sons of Israel." Lots scream random and yet in Proverbs 16:33 it says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Lots is the method that the land is divided and yet, in that process, the Lord makes his decision, thus there is nothing ultimately random about it. I wonder if this is true in our lives as well. 

Like recorded here in Joshua, although they were charged to divide the land, it was not yet all subdued and this mirrors our role now on this earth, in that Christ has conquered death and saved people from their sin, but the Church still has a job to do in reaching those that have not yet conformed to the Gospel of Jesus of Christ. 

Summary: Land continues to be divided among the many tribes of Israel. 3 1/2 tribes thus far, and in this section of scripture, the remaining 8 1/2 tribes. 

Promise: All of us are called to contribute to the work of making disciples of every nation.

Prayer: Lord, help me to continue to have an ambition to seek out those that need the Gospel. My ways are often selfish and me-focused. I am noticing this lately as I stare at my needs and want them met in my way and as I do this, I take my focus off of my commission and that is to seek out those who need to hear the gospel. Thank you for your direction in life and being in control. Forgive me an so many others in this world who are constantly questioning You and Your ways. It is hard to be around a world and so many prescribing that life is random and up to chance. You use lots and games of chance to determine outcomes and yet You God are over all. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 15 - Territory for Judah

Joshua 15

13 Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the Lord to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron). 14 Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak.

Message: Territory for Judah

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Well, for some reason I took the time to look at this chapter, verse by verse and see all of the cities that and areas that were named, the territory of Judah. 

1 - sons of Judah lot - border of Edom south to Zin

2 - South to lower end of the Salt Sea

3 - further south to ascent of Akrabbim, to Zin, to Hezron

4 - to the brook of Egypt

5 - north border at the mouth of the Jordan

6 - then up to Beth-hoglah, to the stone of Bohan and the son of Rueben

7 - up to Debir, then toward Gilgal, ended at En-rogel

8 - then border up to valley of Ben-hinnom, then to Jerusalem, to the top of the mountain 

9 - then curved to spring of water s of Nephtoah, cities of Mount Ephron, then to Baalah

10 - then to Mount Seir, then to slope of Mount Joordan on the north and to Timnah

11 - then to the side of Ekron northward, to Shikeron, to Mount Balaah, to Jabneel, ending at the sea

12 - west border at the Great sea, to coastline - this is the border of the sons of Judah

13 - Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh, according to command of Joshua

14 - Caleb drove out the 3 sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, Taliman

15 - then against the inhabitants of Debir (Kiriath-sepher)

16 - "whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher will receive my daughter"

17 - Othmiel, brother of Caleb, captured it and received daughter Achsah

18 - Achsah asked for a field

19 - She asked for a blessing, the land of Negev (South country).

20 - inheritance of tribes of Judah

21 - cities Kahzeel, Eder, Jagur

22 - Kinah, Dimonah, Adabah

23 - Kedresh, Hazor, Ithnan

24 - Ziph, Telem, Bealoth

25 - Hazar-haddattah, Kerioth-hezron

26 - Amam, Sherma, Moladah

27 - Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet

28 - Hazaar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah

29 - Baalah, Iim, Ezem

30 -  Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah

31 - Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah

32 - Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, Rimmon -- 29 cities with their villages

41 - 16 more cities named

44 - 9 more cities named

46 - several more cities

47 - more cities to coastline

51 - 11 more cities

54 - 9 more cities

57 - 10 more cities

59 - 6 cities

60 - 2 cities

62 - 6 cities

63 - Jebusites lived with sons of Judah at Jerusalem to this day

Just a little over 100 cities are named in this region. Seems kind of amazing. According to Tabletalk, God is in the process of telling Joshua how he is to divide the land. It is to be according to the 12 tribes of Israel. This information, while not very stimulating to us would have been very beneficial to readers a the time. This was information about people's homes and where they are to live. Property lines are always important. Wars have been fought and were fought over these lines. So this specific information, given by Joshua to the people was very important. 

This chapter is the most detailed description so far and it is in regards to Judah. 

Summary: Joshua describes to Judah boundary lines for property for the clan of the tribe of Judah, providing over 100 cities in this region. 

Promise: God cares about the land, sea, air, and creatures that He has made, and the meek - His poeple - will inherit the earth. 

Prayer: Lord, God you care about the details of our lives. You specify here details about boundaries and property lines to help people understand how much you care. Thanks for that reminder. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.