Devotional

Joshua being 110 years old gathered the people of Israel together and gave them a review of their history starting with Abraham!

Jos 24:2, And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘YOUR FATHERS, INCLUDING TERAH, THE FATHER OF ABRAHAM AND THE FATHER OF NAHOR, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; AND THEY SERVED OTHER GODS. 

Faithful Abraham, started out as an idol worshipper and served other gods! Yet by faith  he left all for the LORD!

Heb 11:8, By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING. 

In a similar way we all served other gods, and have fallen short of HIS calling.  BUT HE LEAD US OUT WHEN HE OPENNED OUR EYES TO THE TRUTH! WE ARE SINNERS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A SAVIOR; JESUS!

Jos 24:15, …choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, … BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” 

IT’S A CHOICE GIVEN TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF US! FOR THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAT WILL GIVE ALL TO SAVE US!

Isa 45:5, I am the LORD, and THERE IS NO OTHER; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 

Jos 23:2-3, And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I AM OLD, ADVANCED IN AGE. YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS DONE TO ALL THESE NATIONS BECAUSE OF YOU, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS HE WHO HAS FOUGHT FOR YOU.

Joshua is 110 years old and he is giving a final warning to the children of Israel! He glorifies GOD and not himself! He tells them to “HOLD FAST TO THE LORD YOUR GOD” verse 8. 

Jos 23:6, THEREFORE BE VERY COURAGEOUS TO KEEP AND TO DO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 

THE LORD HAS GIVEN US A PATH TO FOLLOW; A PATH OF BLESSING & ANOTHER OF CURSING! THE PATH OF BLESSING IS THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF! FOR HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. THE ONLY PATH TO THE FATHER! HIS WORD DID NOT FAIL! Jos 23:14. BUT JOSHUA KNOWS THE HEART OF ISRAEL WHO WILL CHOSE THE PATH OF CURSING! Jud 2:8-10,

Mat 7:13, “ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE; FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND THERE ARE MANY WHO GO IN BY IT.

Jos 22:6, SO JOSHUA BLESSED THEM AND SENT THEM AWAY, AND THEY WENT TO THEIR TENTS. 

THESE 3 TRIBES PROMISED TO HELP THEIR BROTHERS GET THEIR INHERITANCE AND NOW THEY ARE SENT BACK HOME! Deu 3:20

Jos 22:10, …the children of REUBEN, the children of GAD, and half the tribe of MANASSEH BUILT AN ALTAR THERE BY THE JORDAN—A GREAT, IMPRESSIVE ALTAR.

ISRAEL BELIEVED THAT THEIR BROTHERS TURNED TO IDOLS WHICH WOULD BE TREACHERY AGAINST THE LORD! THEY SAID!

Jos 22:22, “The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD, do not save us this day. 

THEY BUILT IT AS A WITNESS, NOT FOR SACRIFICE, FOR THEIR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME! FOR IT IS A WITNESS BETWEEN US THAT THE LORD IS GOD! SOMETIMES WE MISUNDERSTAND THE INTENTIONS OF OTHERS AND WE JUST REACT! DON’T JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT BUT CONFRONT IN LOVE WITH THE INTENT OF UNITY AMONG BRETHREN IN THE LORD! JESUS SAID!

Joh 15:17, THESE THINGS I COMMAND YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

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….