Devotional

Jos 21:2-3, And they (LEVITES) spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock.” SO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GAVE TO THE LEVITES FROM THEIR INHERITANCE, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their common-lands:

The Levites were not given land as an inheritance, but they were to be given cities from all the children of Israel!  GOD DIDN’T WANT THE PRIEST TO BE ONLY IN ONE STATE, BUT RATHER SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE LAND OF ISRAEL! JUST LIKE CHRISTIANS ARE IN ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD IN ORDER TO SPREAD HIS WORD!

Jos 21:45, NOT A WORD FAILED OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. ALL CAME TO PASS. 

HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD! WHAT HE HAS SAID HE SHALL DO! WE AS MEN BREAK OUR PROMISES BUT HE WILL NOT! Num 23:19

1Th 5:24, HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL, WHO ALSO WILL DO IT. 

TRUST IN THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, AND FAITHFUL. HE IS OUR HOPE AND OUR STRENGHT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE! HE SHALL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US! EVEN IF YOU DON’T SEE HIM AROUND KNOW THAT HE IS ALWAYS THERE! CALL ON HIS NAME!

Jos 20:2-3, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘APPOINT FOR YOURSELVES CITIES OF REFUGE, of which I spoke to you through Moses, THAT THE SLAYER WHO KILLS A PERSON ACCIDENTALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY MAY FLEE THERE; and they shall be your refuge from the AVENGER OF BLOOD.

Cities of Refuge were to protect any person whether Jew and Gentile who ACCIDENTALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY KILLS ANOTHER, NOT THE GUILTY!  The avenger of blood; his GOEL or REDEEMER WAS TO MAKE SURE JUSTICE WAS CARRIED OUT!

Pro 18:10, The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. 

Job 19:25, FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 

JESUS IS OUR REFUGE AND OUR REDEEMER! AND, THE GUILTY CAN COME TO JESUS; FOR NO ONE IS INNOCENT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD! FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD! THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS NONE WHOES DOES GOOD! ROM 3:10-13, 23, PSALM 14:3. HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE SO CALL ON HIS NAME!

Rom 10:13, For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”

The rest of the children of Israel received their inheritance according to the word of God!

Jos 19:49-50, WHEN THEY HAD MADE AN END OF DIVIDING THE LAND as an inheritance according to their borders, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GAVE AN INHERITANCE AMONG THEM TO JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN. ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD …

Joshua the servant of God received his inheritance last. His concern was not for himself but for others. This is a picture of Christ Jesus who, being KING and Creator came here to serve the needs of others!

Mat 20:28, JUST AS THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.” 

Php 2:4-5, Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

MINISTRY IS ALWAYS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS, NOT THE BENEFIT OF THE MINISTER AS WE SEE TODAY! SEEK HIM FIRST AND SERVE HIM BY SERVING OTHERS! 

Jos 18:2-3, But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “HOW LONG WILL YOU NEGLECT TO GO AND POSSESS THE LAND WHICH THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS HAS GIVEN YOU?

The people of Israel lived in tents so long they neglected the inheritance that the LORD promised!  HE HAS GIVEN US GIFT’S BUT WE TYPICALLY DON’T USE THEM OR DON’T EVEN KNOW THAT WE HAVE THEM!

1Tim 4:14-15, Do not neglect the gift that is in you, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO YOU by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY TO THEM, THAT YOUR PROGRESS MAY BE EVIDENT TO ALL.

THE LORD HAS GIVEN EACH ONE OF US TALENTS, SOME 5 OTHERS 2… “ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES!” MAT 25:15. DON’T NEGLECT THESE GIFTS BUT STIR THEM UP FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! HIS PLAN FOR YOU IS FAR BETTER THAN ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF! DON’T NEGLECT HIS GIFTS!

Rom 12:6, HAVING THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE THAT IS GIVEN TO US, LET US USE THEM:..

Jos 17:1, THERE WAS ALSO A LOT FOR THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH, FOR HE WAS THE FIRSTBORN OF JOSEPH:…

It is true that Manasseh was the first born of Joseph, Yet he didn’t get the blessings of the first born! Jer 31:9 “FOR I AM A FATHER TO ISRAEL, AND EPHRAIM IS MY FIRSTBORN.”

In Gen 48:13-14, Israel blessed Ephraim as first born with his right hand. Israel Knowingly crossed his arms to place his right hand on Ephraim’s head!

Gen 48:17, Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 

Gen 48:19, …”I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; BUT TRULY HIS YOUNGER BROTHER SHALL BE GREATER THAN HE,

Col 1:15, HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION. 

JESUS IS THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION FOR HE IS GREATER THAN ALL AND HE CREATED ALL!

Heb 1:6, But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”

Jos 16:1, The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel, 

Now it’s time for Manasseh and his brother Ephraim to get their inheritance! Joshua divided their portion of land!

Jos 16:10, And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers. 

Jos 15:63, As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem

The LORD wanted these people out of the land because of their idolatry, yet Israel partially completed their task leaving remnants here and there!

1Ki 9:16, Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, had killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city … 

HIS WILL BE DONE! IF IT ISN’T BY THE HAND OF ISRAEL THEN THE LORD WILL ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL ANOTHER WAY! GET INVOLVED IN DOING HIS WILL TO THE FULLEST!

1Ki 8:61, LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE LOYAL TO THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WALK IN HIS STATUTES AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS….

Jos 15:1, So this was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

The land is now being divided and it starts by assigning the borders of Judah! But within these borders Caleb was given Hebron!

Jos 15:13-14, Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron… CALEB DROVE OUT THE THREE SONS OF ANAK FROM THERE: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

Caleb at 80 years of age had the will and the strength to take the land from the anakim (the giants).  BUT HIS STRENGTH CAME FROM KNOWING HIS LORD; FOR HE FOLLOWED THE LORD WHOLLY!

Num 14:24, But My servant Caleb, BECAUSE HE HAS A DIFFERENT SPIRIT IN HIM AND HAS FOLLOWED ME FULLY, I WILL BRING INTO THE LAND WHERE HE WENT, AND HIS DESCENDANTS SHALL INHERIT IT. 

THE FATHER REWARDS THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM WITH FAITH KNOWING THAT HE IS (HEB 11:6). IF WE SEEK, FOLLOW AND SERVE THE LORD, THEN HE WILL BE LIFTED UP BY THE FATHER! JESUS SAID,

Joh 12:26, If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. IF ANYONE SERVES ME, HIM MY FATHER WILL HONOR.

Jos 14:6,7, 8 … And Caleb… said to him… I WAS FORTY YEARS OLD when Moses… sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land,… NEVERTHELESS MY BRETHREN WHO WENT UP WITH ME MADE THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE MELT, BUT I WHOLLY FOLLOWED THE LORD MY GOD.

Now Caleb was eighty years old and still more than willing to do the will of GOD!

Jos 14:11, As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

Psa 103:5, WHO SATISFIES YOUR MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS, SO THAT YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S.  

Jos 14:12, … give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; FOR YOU HEARD IN THAT DAY HOW THE ANAKIM WERE THERE, and that the cities were great and fortified. IT MAY BE THAT THE LORD WILL BE WITH ME, AND I SHALL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THEM OUT AS THE LORD SAID.” 

THE STRENGHT OF CALEB CAME FROM THE LORD! HE HAS SEEN THE LORD’S WORK; THE MIRACLES IN THE WILDERNESS, THE PARTING OF THE RED SEE AND THE JORDAN! HOW THE LORD FEED ISRAEL DAILY FOR 40 YEARS!  HIS FAITH WAS WHOLLY ON THE LORD! PUT YOUR FAITH WHERE IT COUNTS ON GOD AND HIS PROMISES!  TRUST IN HIM!

Jos 13:1, Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: “YOU ARE OLD, advanced in years, AND THERE REMAINS VERY MUCH LAND YET TO BE POSSESSED. 

As Christians there is no sense of retiring from the work of the LORD! BLESSED IS THE SERVANT WHOME HIS MASTER WILL FIND SO DOING WHEN HE COMES! Luke 12:43

Mat 9:37-38, Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW. THEREFORE PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST.”

Jos 13:13, Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but … DWELL AMONG THE ISRAELITES UNTIL THIS DAY.   

Later king David would marry a princess of Geshur who bore Absalom (2Sam 3:3)!  Absalom would go back to Geshur for 3 years and plotted against his father David!

Isa 40:28, Have you not known? Have you not heard? THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, NEITHER FAINTS NOR IS WEARY. HIS UNDERSTANDING IS UNSEARCHABLE. 

WE NEED TO READ AND OBEY HIS WORD NOT OUR REASONING! FOR HE KNOWS ALL AND IS ALWAYS WORKING FOR OUR GOOD!

Jos 12:1, These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed…

This chapter gives a list of kings that were defeated, by Israel with the hand of GOD! 

Jos 12:24, …ALL THE KINGS, THIRTY-ONE. 

IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN SO ISRAEL COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR THEM! REMEMBER!

REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE SLAVES IN EGYPT & WHAT THE LORD DID TO PHAROAH! REMEMBER HOW THE LORD PARTED THE RED SEA AND THE JORDAN! REMEMBER HOW HE FEAD YOU DAILY FOR 40 YEARS!

Deu 32:7, “REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD, Consider the years of many generations. ASK YOUR FATHER, AND HE WILL SHOW YOU; YOUR ELDERS, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU: 

Psa 78:3-4, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. WE WILL NOT HIDE THEM FROM THEIR CHILDREN, TELLING TO THE GENERATION TO COME THE PRAISES OF THE LORD, AND HIS STRENGTH AND HIS WONDERFUL WORKS THAT HE HAS DONE.

THE VICTORIES IN CHRIST SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND SHARED WITH YOUR CHILDREN! BECAUSE IT’S NOT BLIND FAITH WHEN YOU SEE THE FRUITS OF FOLLOWING HIM! HE IS FAITHFUL! REMEMBER!