Need to Dislodge

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

NEED TO DISLODGE

Josh 16

16:1 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea. 4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance. 5 This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon 6 and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, clan by clan. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites. 10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

NIV

We remember the sons of Joseph when it was time for Jacob to bless his sons. As he was in the last days of his life, he took both Manasseh and Ephraim and made them his own. Therefore, they were allotted lands as a tribe of Israel. There is not much we can use as a lesson for our lives in this narrative, although there are some interesting facts, such as the Canaanites. Archeologists and geneticists have researched the history of these people and found Canaanite DNA in Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel. This is possibly because the Ephraimites did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer, which is in the foothills of the Judean mountains and present day is an Israeli national park. However fascinating all that is, what we can learn is there is a reason the Canaanites should have been dislodged. The pure strain of the Israeli people has been deluded as the DNA of the Israeli people are mixed with those who are the descendants of the Canaanites. The purity of true Israel is not the same as before they entered the land of their inheritance. They failed to obey the command of God and drive out all foreign people and their foreign gods. We can see evidence that many of the Israeli people today are secular rather than following the ways of God. Of course, there are still the orthodox Jews, but they are in the minority, who still celebrate Shabbat. What we learn is that as followers of Jesus Christ, there was a moment in our lives that we had to rid ourselves of those things or ways we used to follow. The instructions of the New Covenant, or New Testament, have many ways we should rid ourselves of. We are to rid ourselves of the old yeast of malice and wickedness and be the bread with new yeast of sincerity and truth. We are told to rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander which can be seen as gossip, and every form of malice (which is ill will or the desire to injure, as in gossip). The point is that there can be foreign thoughts we have not dislodged from our land, or hearts and minds, and they can become a permanent part of our acceptable lives. Let us always make every effort, with the help of the Lord, and the power of the Spirit, to drive out, rid ourselves of all foreign thinking, instead thinking about what is pure, holy, right, noble, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, remaining in Christ and He remains in us. Let us dislodge whatever should not be in our lives. 

The Lion of Judah

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

THE LION OF JUDAH

Josh 15:20-63

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan: 21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon — a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages. 33 In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)-fourteen towns and their villages. 37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah — sixteen towns and their villages. 42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Aczib and Mareshah — nine towns and their villages. 45 Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages; 47 Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea. 48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh — eleven towns and their villages. 52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,   54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior — nine towns and their villages. 55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah — ten towns and their villages. 58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon — six towns and their villages. 60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah — two towns and their villages. 61 In the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi — six towns and their villages. 63 Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

NIV

Another set of boundaries, this time it is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. We remember Judah, the fourth and last son of Leah, the first wife of Jacob. He was the one who convinced the other brothers to sell Joseph rather than kill him. Now it is the turn of his descendants to get the inheritance in the promised land. Although we cannot glean any truth about the promised land that we have not already, one comment makes us wonder why. The tribe of Judah received the city of Jerusalem as part of their territory. The first thing we wonder about is why Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites. Was not God fighting for them? Did they not counsel with God about overcoming the Jebusites? Did it matter that much, were there that many? If Judah could not dislodge them, it would seem there were more Jebusites than there was of the tribe of Judah. However, Judah is the most important tribe of them all. Because Judah’s territory included Jerusalem, the place where many of the great events in history occurred, we have so much to ponder. The first is from the line of Judah; King David sits on the throne in Jerusalem, a man who God testified, “I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to”. How could we spend many words on wondering if God would ever say that about us? However, the importance of Judah goes beyond David to his son Solomon, who built the temple in Jerusalem where the ark of the covenant rested in the Holy of Holies, signifying the presence of God residing with his people. What a great moment in the history of Israel because of the line of Judah. Even if God testified there was not a wiser man in all the world than Solomon,  yet he still fell, like all men. Second, the greatest truth is who came through the line of Judah. It is no coincidence that both Mary and Joseph were in the Line of David, and thus the line of Judah, and the son of God, who came as a baby, born of a virgin, was now the Lion of Judah. We know from the revelation that was given to John,  “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has triumphed”. Jesus is the greatest gift that has been given to man, to us. Jerusalem is where it all happened. There is where our salvation took place, the city given to the tribe of Judah, which again, was no coincidence, but ordained by God. Our lives did not happen because of happenstance but because we were ordained by God to be who we are and when we are, for an expressed reason, to accomplish his will, doing everything he wants us to do. We are not here to advance our own will but to do his will, just as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, Solomon, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, who showed us and taught us to follow the will of God. We live to bring praise and give glory to our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus, the Lion of Judah. 

What Can I Do For You

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU

Josh 15:1-19

15:1 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south. 2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea,   3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary. 5 The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6 went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7 The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel. 8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. 9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah. 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalah and reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea. 12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans. 13 In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah-Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites-Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai — descendants of Anak. 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." 17 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. 18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?" 19 She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

NIV

We are still in the middle of the distribution of land as was directed by Moses through the command of God. Although it is interesting to see how the land was set up and its boundaries listed, we would not think we could glean much truth from it. When we get to the situation with Caleb and his daughter, there is something we believe could be used as a lesson for our lives. The man who won the city Kiriath Sepher would have Caleb’s daughter in marriage, and it happened. When the daughter came to her father, she asked him for a favor. Caleb had already given her and her husband the land in Negev. She urged her husband to go to her father for a favor. When she arrived where her father was, he asked. “What can I do for you?”. This question and her reply, “Do me a special favor,” is where we find ourselves in this story. We have the privilege, because of Jesus, going through Jesus, to come to our Heavenly Father. Jesus told us that we could ask anything in his name, and he would do it. We wonder why we have difficulty asking for anything. Of course, our first desire is to ask for the will of our Father to be complete in our lives. We pray that many times, when we pray, “You will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” which means we are asking for God’s will to be done in our lives just as his will is always done in the heavenly realms. Who in heaven would go against the will of the Father? Once upon a time, one did with those he influenced, and they were all cast out of heaven for all eternity. We know there are people on this earth who refuse to accept Jesus, or for that matter, God as being real and his word being true. If they maintain their position against the will of God, they too will be cast out on that last day into the lake of burning sulfur for all eternity. However, we who accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior want God’s will in our lives; we want to submit our will to his. When we go to the Father, we can hear him ask, “What can I do for you?”. It is alright for us to ask for a special favor, although the Father has already done a special favor for us by sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins, redeeming those who accept that special favor, Jesus. Still, there is more of God’s will to be done in our lives. He is always in the process of transforming us into his likeness. He is continually shining his light on us so that we reflect his glory in ever-increasing glory. Yet, we still struggle with our will, wanting what we want when we want it. Would it not be best if we were to ask the Father what he wants for us and when he wants it? We just have to remember the Father is asking, “What can I do for you?” 

Wholeheartedly

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

WHOLEHEARTEDLY

Josh 14

14:1 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. 2 Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses. 3 Moses had granted the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest, 4 for the sons of Joseph had become two tribes — Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds. 5 So the Israelites divided the land, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'   10 "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.

NIV

This is the story of Calab, who, along with Joshua and ten others, was sent in to spy out the land of Canaan. Calab recounts to Joshua how they were the only two who said that Israel could take the land, but the other ten reported there were giants in the land, and the hearts of the Israelites melted with fear. However, the story is about Caleb being forty when he was one of the spies, and he walked those forty years in the wilderness, just as Joshua did. The rest of the spies died, as did all those adults who refused to go into the land of promise. Calab told Joshua that he was forty when he was a spy, and now he is eighty-five, and it had to be five years of war, driving out those people who lived there. However, the truth we want to focus on is that Calab, at eighty-five, was still as strong as he was at forty and was ready to drive out the Anakites from the area of Hebron where he wanted his inheritance. Of course, Calab said that he could do it with the Lord helping him. Once again, we deal with age meaning nothing when the Lord wants to do something in our lives. Calab made the statement that he followed the LORD his God wholeheartedly. This may well be the secret to growing old but maintaining the vigor of our earlier years. From what we can tell, it does not appear that all the aches and pains of old age bothered Calab at all. But then he followed God wholeheartedly. There are truths here for our lives. First, we should examine our hearts and see if we are truly following our Lord wholeheartedly. We should reflect on all our years since we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, that moment we turned from our wicked ways, and decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. Tho’ none go with me, still will follow, the world behind me, the cross before me, I have decided to follow Jesus. This was the story of Calab; no matter what the other ten said, he would follow the LORD wholeheartedly. It does not matter how other Christians live out their days; we cannot do anything else but follow Jesus. Reflecting over the years, we believe we did whatever the Lord wanted and went where he led. Calab never confessed to be a perfect man, nor have we. However, we can say we have followed our Lord Jesus wherever he has led us and tried to do whatever he has told us. Have we missed the mark at times? Sure, but we have decided to follow Jesus. Are we following Jesus wholeheartedly? Maybe, just maybe, we could say one of the signs of wholeheartedness is being able to continue to move forward for the Lord, keeping on keeping on, being as vigorous and able to take the war against the forces of evil as we did in our earlier years. We wonder if our bodies are attacking us, fighting against us. Are we following as wholeheartedly as we think we are, or is this just a different time in history, and we age faster than they did then, and the condition of our bodies is not any reflection on how we follow Jesus wholeheartedly. 

He Promised

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

HE PROMISED

Josh 13:15-33

15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, clan by clan: 16 The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth 21-all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba — princes allied with Sihon — who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, clan by clan. 24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, clan by clan: 25 The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, clan by clan. 9 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, clan by clan: 30 The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan — all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh — for half of the sons of Makir, clan by clan. 32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

NIV

Once again, we are in a place where all the territories are enumerated from city to town or gorge to valley, plateau to hill country. The one phrase that keeps being repeated that was made in the previous verses and now again here is about their inheritance was, “As he promised them”. However, it is also interesting that the inheritance of the tribe of Levi is, “The LORD, the God is Israel”. Who would rather have land than the LORD, the God of Israel? This makes us wonder how much, if any, of an inheritance we receive from either our parents or some family member and how much value, if any, we have put on that inheritance. Are we trying to leave our possessions or whatever amount of money we have as an inheritance for our children? All the tribes received land as an inheritance just as the LORD had promised. Property still seems to be one of the valued possessions today. Many of us have numerous or various possessions which either have been stored somewhere or spend time using daily. The question, as believers, is how much value have we placed in things, compared to the value we have in Christ Jesus, and having the LORD as our inheritance. When it all comes down to our last breath, none of the things of this world matter as much as a hill of beans. We have yet to see a trailer hitched to a hearse, although the Pharaohs of Egypt and Emperors of China thought all their stuff would do them good in the afterlife; they were dead wrong. The only inheritance that matters is the Lord God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and our Savior. The Israelites received what the LORD promised them. Jesus promised our inheritance was a place he went to prepare for us. We have already received what God has promised; it is ours, not just for a few years, but for all eternity. Everything in this world will wear out eventually, but our home in heaven will never cease. Let us live looking forward to the day when we our Jesus we will see, when we look upon his face, the one who saved us by his grace, when in our inheritance we will walk with our Lord. We always keep this before our eyes and hearts because it will be just as He promised. 

Be Sure

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

BE SURE

Josh 13:2-14

2 "This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites: 3 from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite (the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron — that of the Avvites); 4 from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek, the region of the Amorites, 5 the area of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 6 "As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 7 and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh." 8 The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them. 9 It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. 11 It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salecah— 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had survived as one of the last of the Rephaites. Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day. 14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

NIV

As two and one-half tribes were given land on the east of the Jordan, now the rest of the twelve tribes, the nine and one-half have been assigned their portion of the promised land. Of course, the half tribes of Manasseh who was the son of Joseph who his father Jacob blessed and made him his own, as a tribe onto himself. With all the names of the territories that still remain unconquered, there is not much for us to learn from them. However, what God said is the important lesson for today. After all those places and groups who occupied them, God said, “ I myself will drive them out before the Israelites”. Then God made one more statement, or command, “Be sure to allocate it as an inheritance, as I have instructed you”. What we can be sure of is that God was on the side of Israel; they were his chosen people. However, it is not that God has not chosen anyone else; it is just that he chose Israel to reveal all his power and authority to all men. What we can know about God and his relationship with his creation can be seen in the lives of the Israelites. Yes, they are a special people, the descendants of the promise given to Abraham, a man of faith, who believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. We are people of faith, descendants by a promise of God when he sent Jesus. We accept the work Jesus did on that cross for us, shedding his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. We have a great inheritance that Jesus has assigned to us in the promised land, the kingdom of God within the new city of Jerusalem. That is a wonderful truth that we have a territory a place in Jerusalem as the true Jew, or true descendent of Abraham, the man of faith, whose heart has been circumcised by God. We are the people of faith in Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness. God sees us as holy and blameless or counted as righteousness. Still, there are two more truths we must add. First, God assured He would drive those people out. God will fight for us; he will conquer the Goliaths or mountains in our lives. We only need to believe, have faith, be still, and know that he is God, and he will do it. Second, God told Joshua to “Be sure,” a command to do that which he has instructed him to do. This, too, is how our lives should be as we walk by faith. We need to “Be sure” we do that which God has called us to do, not giving up until the task is completed, and that will not happen until our last breath. Although we each may have our individual assigned calling or task, we all have been called to run the race straining toward the finish line, the prize of eternal life. Therefore, we live with the desire to do whatever God tells us and to “Be sure” we do as he has instructed us. 

Still More to do

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

STILL MORE TO DO

Josh 13:1

13:1 When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

NIV

All of chapter thirteen, fourteen. Fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen are mostly about the territories within the land of Canaan that Israel tribe by tribe, clan by clan were to inherit according to how the LORD told Moses how to divide up the land. However, the first verse grabs us right where we live. The LORD said to Joshua, although he was very old, that there is much to still do. Our culture today has been moving toward the young to accomplish the great things in life by putting the older ones out to pasture, so to speak. We are witnessing today that may be the norm for many of the people who are very old and well advanced in years, but it does not have to be. We can see some who are considered old doing great things. Retirement does not have to be our inheritance, for the Lord has never told anyone that we can find in the Bible that it was time to quit doing that which he called them to do and that he would find someone else younger to do it. Sure, Joshua replaced Moses, but Moses did not retire. He led Israel until God decided to take him home, on top of Mt. Nebo, at the ripe old age of one hundred and twenty. Now, Joshua is old, but not so old that God still had more for him to do. What we know is that we cannot retire from the call God has on our lives. Sure, our culture has established a retirement agenda, with some endeavoring to amass as much as they can to live out their days in comfort, spending them on their own pleasures. However, we cannot quit, we cannot give in, or give up no matter how old and well advanced we are in age, for the Lord has placed the call upon us to do that certain thing in his plan until he decides to take us home, or he releases us from his call. Yet, until he tells us we have done enough, we will continue to work for the Lord, doing whatever he has planned for our lives. Let us not even consider how old or advanced we are in age, for with God all things are possible and therefore we still have life within us, we still have his breathe within us, sound of mind, strength in our bones, and able to take nourishment. Let us serve with him all the passion he has given us. We still have more to do. 

The King

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

THE KING

Josh 12

12:1 These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge — from the middle of the gorge — to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. 3 He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah. 4 And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. 5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maacah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession. 7 These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (their lands Joshua gave as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions— 8 the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the desert and the Negev — the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites): 9 the king of Jericho one the king of Ai (near Bethel)one 10 the king of Jerusalem one, the king of Hebron one, 11 the king of Jarmuth one, the king of Lachish   one 12 the king of Eglon one, the king of Gezer one 13 the king of Debir one, the king of Geder one 14 the king of Hormah one, the king of Arad one 5 the king of Libnah one, the king of Adullam one 16 the king of Makkedah one, the king of Bethel one 17 the king of Tappuah one, the king of Hepher one 18 the king of Aphek one, the king of Lasharon one 19 the king of Madon one, the king of Hazor        one 20 the king of Shimron Meron one, the king of Acshaph        one 21 the king of Taanach one, the king of Megiddo one 22 the king of Kedesh one, the king of Jokneam in Carmel one 23 the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor) one, the king of Goyim in Gilgal one 24 the king of Tirzah one, thirty-one kings in all.

NIV

What can we learn from this long list of kings defeated by the Israelites? The fact there were thirty-one has no significance as far as numbers are concerned, except that the world the Israelites were promised had too many worldly kings. Of course, Israel had only one King, the King of kings, and it was the LORD God Almighty who handed all those kings over to the hand of Joshua and the army of Israel. Today, we have a world that is filled with kings, little kings, although they think they are larger than life, making their proclamations for the people. Currently, we now have one hundred and ninety-five countries in the world, each with their own brand of king. They may not be called kings, although forty-three of the countries have monarchs, which have some title like king, queen, bishop, prince, etc. Some countries elect their head of state, but all could be seen as little kings when it comes to the King of kings. We may serve our country as some do in other countries in various ways, but it is not a servitude as we are free to make our own choices in life; at least, that is the way it has been set up. However, we serve with our whole heart the King of kings. Joshua put all those kings to the sword, and someday all the kings of the world will bend their knees before the great King of all kings, the Lord God Almighty. Every knee will bow, no matter how powerful of a king they think they are, or for that matter, any person who thinks they are special or above others, will all bow before God. When the Book of Life is opened and He who is worthy, Jesus, to read it, those names that have been blotted out of the Book of Life will be put to death in the Lake of burning sulfur, and it will be by the sword in a sense, for his very words are a double-edged sword that pierces the heart, that divides soul from spirit, bone from marrow. However, we who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and our Savior and have offered ourselves as living sacrifices will hear our names called out in the Book of Life, for our names have not been blotted out, and we will enter His rest. We will be given a new name and a place in the house of God, where Jesus prepared for us. What a day that will be when our Jesus we will see, when He takes us by the hand and leads us to that promised land, what a day, what a glorious day that will be, when we are with the King.