February 28, 2014 - Friday

Start Time: 5:20 A.M.

End Time: 5:53 A.M.

Title: Eastern Tribes Return Home

Scripture: Joshua 22:1 – 34

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you.  Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes.  (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.” So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

NOTES:

Ø God send those who sacrificed and obeyed Him with great wealth and plunder from the enemies of their fellow Israelites!  When we are called by God to make sacrifices for His Will and when the mission is completed, we will not go home empty handed!  God blessed not only those He called to take possession of His promises but even those who helped His children make that calling a reality!  So this is why we are to do good to others and see that they live the lives God promised them.  We are to help them achieve this and rejoice with them when they do so because God will surely not allow us to go home with nothing!  He has made His blessings available not only to the person He called but also to the ones who helped Him accomplish his calling from God!  Hallelujah!  That’s why it is not a waste to help out a friend because God sees every sacrifice we make and He ensures that we are rewarded for it with great wealth and we even get to enjoy the plunders from the enemy!  Amen!  Thank You Jesus for You take care of us always!

→  When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side,  the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them. So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans. When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord!  And are you now turning away from the Lord? “‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God.  When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,^[a] did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’ Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.  “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.“That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’ “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witnessbetween us and you.’  “Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.”

NOTES:

Ø The Lord remains silent in times when there is chaos (doubts) for He, unlike us, does not jump into conclusions!  He sees the hearts and intentions of His people and does not go in rage whenever an action was made that doesn’t seem right in the eyes of men.  When doubts come God remained cool and get to the bottom of His people’s actions and not act upon doubts and we should do the same.  In many cases, we act upon our suspicions and end up judging others without really understanding the main purpose or intentions of the action.  This is what happened to the Israelites.  The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, decided to build an imposing alter by the Jordan but when the Israelites heard this, they rushed to their land and accuse them of rebelling against the Lord.  The passion of the Israelites seems right as they learned their lesson and made a decision to obey the Lord and anything that is not commanded by God to Moses or the prophets or Joshua, seems like a command against God.  But there is a flaw to this as they have become quick to judge!  The law guided them to live rightfully before the Lord but they have become so self-righteous that in the end a simple act of worship to God becomes an act of rebellion.  The same goes with the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, because of their fear of being distance from the Promised land, they resorted to think for themselves and build an altar (more like a replica) to declare that they are part of God’s people.  But in all these chaos and uproar, God remained silent for He knew what’s in the hearts of His people and He saw that both shows pure and good intentions!

→ When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.” Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites.  They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.  And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that theLord is God.

NOTES:

Ø God is a teaching God and He reveals the hearts (intentions) of His people to each other and unite them in Peace in His Presence!  God could have intervened and assured His people that the Reubenites, Gadites, half-tribe of Manasseh were not thinking of anything wrong by building the altar yet He allowed His people to charge in their land and find out the truth for themselves and make the right decisions based on what they found.    Our God is a truly a teaching God and He wants us to exercise our will and our freedom to choose and make decisions rightfully with His guidance!  Hallelujah!  We do not have a dictator God but a God who guides and teaches us to practice the gifts and skills He gave to us as we live rightfully in the land He has chosen for us!  Praise the Lord!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, amazing Lord!  Thank You because You see everything and You took note of everything that we did and gave up to help others in receiving the promises You have for them.  Thank You because as You bless them, You bless us as well because of the sacrifices we made and You make sure that we do not go home empty handed.  Thank You Lord because You plans are far greater than what we can think of.  Thank You that even in times when You allow us to rest and enjoy Your blessings, when chaos arises or doubts come, You remain cool and silent; always seeking the hearts and intentions of Your people.  You are truly slow to anger unlike us that we tend to jump into conclusions and make judgments.  Lord help me to be more like You every day that I will not act in rage but will always seek to know the truth at all times.  Lord thank You because You are a teaching God and I am blessed to know that You will always reveal our intentions and unite us in peace in You.  Guide me always Lord and help me make the right decisions in life.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

 

February 27, 2014 - Thursday

Start Time:  5:10 A.M.

End Time: 5:41 A.M.

Title: Towns for the Levites

Scripture: Joshua 21:1 – 45

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”  So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:  The first lot came out for the Kohathites, according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh. The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar,Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. The descendants of Merari, according to their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses. From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name  (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):  They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession. So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.   And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.  The total number of towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.  The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim: In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer,  Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands—four towns. Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Aijalon and Gath Rimmon,together with their pasturelands—four towns. From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns. All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans. The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns; from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands—four towns; from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon, Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands—four towns;  from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns. The total number of towns of the Gershonite clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands. The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given: from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands—four towns; from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz,  Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands—four towns;  from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, Heshbon and Jazer,together with their pasturelands—four towns in all. The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve. The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands. Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

NOTES:

Ø God surrounded the Israelites with the Levites – The Lord ensures that our shepherds (Pastors, Priest, Spiritual leaders, etc) are surrounding His people!  God knows how life can be on earth for His people and so He wants them guided properly and so He ensures that we, His people, have access to His Shepherd at all times.  We ought to be grateful for these spiritual leaders in our lives for they are purposely placed by God around u so we are guided in God’s wisdom and word at all times.  Thank You Lord for giving me a shepherd in my life!

→ So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands.Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.

NOTES:

Ø God is a God of rest!  After all the victories and after fulfilling every promise He gave to His people, God gave them rest on every side.  And in their rest, no one of their enemies was able to withstood them.  Amazing!  As we rest in God, we become strong that our enemies cannot withstand us for God is fighting for us.  So let us rest in His presence for in His existence in our lives gives courage and strength and power to overcome!  Hallelujah!

Ø God is a God who fulfills His promise and according to the scriptures, NOT ONE of all the Lord’s good promises to His people failed!  Amen!  How great to know and how assuring it is to know that God fulfills every promise and not one will fail because He spoke it!  Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus!  Thank You God!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Great and mighty Lord!  The Mighty Conqueror and Almighty Savior!  I am truly  blessed and favored to have a God like You!  Thank You because You surrounds me with Your shepherd that will guide me to the correct path You have chosen for me.  Thank You because in You, I can find rest and in that peaceful and restful time I have in You, No enemies of mine can stand against me.  Hallelujah!  It’s amazing that in resting in You gives me the power I need to overcome and conquer my enemies.  Thank You Jesus for You have truly finished everything and so all Your promises have made true.  Lord thank You because not one of Your promises will fail and I am excited to experience it every day.  Thank You Jesus!  Open my eyes continually to see Your love, goodness, favor and grace in my life Lord and walk with me in my journey in this life.  I want to rest in You at all times that I may have the strength to win every battle I face.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

February 26, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time:  5:34 A.M.

End Time: 5:54 A.M.

Title: Cities of Refuge

Scripture: Joshua 20:1 – 9

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Then the Lord said to Joshua: “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.  When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them.  If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.” So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.  East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

NOTES:

Ø God is a God of refuge!  He sets safe places for His people to just run and hide at times when they are in trouble.  When God established the Israelites in the Promised Land, He ensured that there are cities of refuge established in the whole land because He wants His people to feel safe when everything seems to be moving at a different direction than what we want.  Truly, God’s love is amazing that the moment the people are settling in the land He gave, (to think about it – the safest place is to be in the land the Lord called us to be yet in this passage, we see that God established a safe refuge for His people within the Land He gave them).  God knows us more than anyone and He is looking after our safety at all times.  Thank You Father!

Ø God is our Protector!  God, our Lord, protects His people against anyone who oppress or unfairly treats them.  God protects us not only from our enemies but even to our brothers and sisters who we may have misunderstandings with.  Thank You Jesus because You protect us from any form of oppression or mistreatment from everyone.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, amazing God, Marvelous Savior, Almighty Lord, Divine and Sovereign Father!  I am deeply moved and touched of how You are passionate to protect me.  Thank You because wherever I am, You set a place of refuge for me.  Even in safe places, You still set a refuge for us in times when things just don’t go our way.  Lord I want to be in Your safe refuge at all times, even in places that my human eye perceives as safe, still I desire to be in Your presence where safe refuge is provided.  Lord thank You because You are a God with a “Protector” nature to His children.  I am grateful that I have You to protect me at all times – not only from my enemies but to just anyone who seeks to mistreat, oppress or go against me.  Lord, You are amazing!  Holy Spirit, help me to seek refuge to You and You alone.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

February 25, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 5:07 A.M.

End Time: 5:35 A.M.

Title: Allotment for the rest of the tribes

Scripture: Joshua 19:1 – 51

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. It included: Beersheba (or Sheba),^[a] Moladah, Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,  Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag,Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah,  Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;  Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan—four towns and their villages— and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, according to its clans.  The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah. The third lot came up for Zebulun according to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid. Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.  It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah.There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages.  These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun, according to its clans. The fourth lot came out for Issachar according to its clans. Their territory included: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,  Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,  Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. The boundary touched Tabor, Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages.  These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to its clans. The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its clans.  Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph, Allammelek, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath.  It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul on the left.  It went to Abdon,^[b] Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Akzib,  Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.  These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, according to its clans. The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans: Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan^[c] on the east. The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, Adamah, Ramah,Hazor,  Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.  These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans. The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans.  The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,  Elon, Timnah, Ekron,  Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,  Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.  (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their ancestor.) These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to its clans.

NOTES:

Ø God is the God of details!  In this whole passage, the Lord is a God of every little detail.  There is just no insignificant detail to Him, no matter how little it is.  Every number, every city, every name…God said it for a purpose.  How amazing our God is and how His wisdom supersedes every human intelligent there is.  From every tribe, He specifically listed all the allotments and to some even given them more so they can share it with the other tribe.  God works in ways beyond our thinking and the purpose of every detail He specifically utter is beyond our human comprehension but in the end, we know that it is because of His greatest love for us.  Thank You Jesus, because we can clearly trust You to do Your will and it will surely be for our good always.  Thank You Lord because You do not miss on any detail and You ensure that everything has a purpose. 

→ When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them,  as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah^[d] in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.  These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

NOTES:

Ø God never forgets His chosen servant!  God has a specific allotment for His chosen shepherd of His people!  After all the allotments were distributed, God did not end it without giving something big for Joshua.  After every tribe received their portion, God touched the hearts of the Israelites to give Joshua an inheritance among them and gave him the town he asked, Timnath Serah.  And for Eleazar, the priest, as well.  All our labors for God is not in vain because He remembers everything we did and did not do for Him.  So let us be assured that every labor we do for His calling is noted and will be rewarded when the time comes.  Amen!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You!  Thank You because You are the God of details and You do not leave anything or any little details useless, including me.  I am just one detail out of the millions You created and lives here on earth, yet You find the time and attention needed to set a plan and an inheritance for my life.  Thank You God because You have set everything for me and all I have to do is possess it.  Lord give me the strength, the faith, the boldness and the courage to claim what is rightfully mine as You have given.  Lord thank You because You never forgets and You remember everything Your people do for You and with You.  Despite of our weaknesses and limitations, You take note of everything we do and even when what we did is not good enough, You consider it as perfect.  Lord, thank You because You never forget us and You ensure that everything we do even when it has fallen short of Your standard is rewarded.  Thank You God!  Thank You Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

                                             

February 24, 2014 - Monday

Start Time:  5:53 A.M.

End Time: 6:12 A.M.

Title: Division of the Rest of the Land

Scripture: Joshua 18:1 – 28

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north. After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the Lord our God.  The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them.”As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.”  So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.

NOTES:

Ø God wants us to be proactive in possessing the promises He has for us!  More often, we lay waiting for God to give His promises or handed it down to us but we have to remember that this process is cooperation between the giver and the receiver.  As the receiving end, it is important that we take charge and come boldly to God with the land that we want.  Know that God did not create a robot, He wants interaction.  Even in the promises He has for us, He wants us to exercise His gift of free Will and take charge of the promises we want.  We have to do our part and claim what is ours and not just wait around lazily for the promises to be handed or spoon-fed to us.  We must act and claim what belongs to us boldly before the Lord, just like Caleb!  Lord, I claim boldly in Your presence the gift of health, wealth, joy, fullness, marriage, success, victories, greatness in Your Name, and the gift of productivity in everything that I do.  Thank You Jesus for the answers and the promises poured out to me daily!

→ The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph: On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness of Beth Aven.  From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon.  From the hill facing Beth Horon on the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side. The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.  The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.  It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.  It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah^[a] and on down into the Arabah.  It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary. The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side. These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.  The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,  Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba—twelve towns and their villages. Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,  Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zelah,Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.

NOTES:

Ø God is patience with His children that at times, He finds a way to give His inheritance even when we are too lazy to claim it!  God is marvelous!  He fulfills His words and makes sure that we get to enjoy His promises.  Even at times when we are too lazy to act or do anything, He rebukes us and reminds us of what we need to do so we can claim what is rightfully ours.  Lord I want to personally thank You because I know that at times I am very lazy or I fall short and decide to just wait on You instead of acting on Your promises.  I tend to procrastinate and second guess myself which leads to me not accomplishing anything.  But Lord You are faithful and just and You find a way to provide me what is mine even when I am too weak or lazy to claim it.  Thank You Jesus!  I could have asked for whatever I want but then I decides to keep silent yet, You find a way to give me what is mine and it is the best for me always! 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, the Great I am!  Thank You for Your everlasting love that continues to amaze me every single day!  Lord thank You because You want me to come boldly into Your presence and claim what is rightfully mine; to receive what You have given me and what I clearly do not deserve.  Thank You because You are truly a magnificent and wonderful Savior.  Thank You because You want me to not feel shy or unworthy or wrong to ask or receive what I clearly do not deserve.  Thank You Jesus for everything You did that gave me the confidence to receive and ask in Your Name.  Thank You Lord that despite of my weaknesses, You find the strength to still give me what I am unworthy of.  Thank You for this Jesus.  I cannot clearly speak how grateful and moved I am for Your love and grace on me that just amazes me every day.  I love You Lord but more importantly, I love that You love me more.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

February 23, 2014 - Sunday

Start Time:  6:04 A.M.

End Time: 6:30 A.M.

Title: Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

Scripture: Joshua 17:1 – 18

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashanbe cause the Makirites were great soldiers.  So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.  Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.  Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

NOTES:

Ø God is fair and just!  He is a respecter of both men and women.  When Zelophehad, a descendant of the tribe of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, God made sure that these women were also given land or inheritance of their own.  No can accuse God of being a sexist because He created and treated both men and women equally according to their functions, skills and purpose.  Thank You Lord because You made us and respect us individually and You do not allow our gender to affect Your treatment on us.  You give us what is due us when it comes to what belongs to us.  Thank You Jesus!

→The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah.  (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.)  Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor,Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth^[a]). Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

NOTES:

Ø God does not allow our enemies to take root in our lands and if they insist of doing so, they will end up laboring for the people of the Lord!  God puts a distinction of who is His and who are not!  He will ensure that those who are not His will become subject to His people especially when they live in the land that God has promised for us!  Our Lord, will not allow others to take a hold of what is rightfully ours.  And if in cases when we will have to share it with them, God will ensure that they serve us!  Hallelujah!

→The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”  “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.

NOTES:

Ø God gives more than what our eyes can see and our minds can comprehend!  He not only one allotment but also the forested hill country to His blessed people, the tribe of Joseph!  God gives in abundance and His promises are beyond our understanding.  The tribe of Joseph doesn’t understand why they were only given 1 allotment when they are so numerous but they didn’t know that God is not stingy and no can out-give God.  At times we are limited by our own understanding and our own eyes and we start to complain or raise concerns but we forgot that God is the God of abundance and His name speaks of overflowing and outpouring.  Praise Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Glorious Savior and Amazing Father!  Thank You for Your abundance!  Thank You because You treat each one fairly and justly and You deal with us more than what we deserve.  Thank You because You are a respecter of our Gender.  Thank You because You do not allow our enemies to take root or take hold of what belongs to us.  You ensure that there is distinction between Your people and those that are not.  Lord thank You because You have set us above the rest and when we do have to share what is ours to them, You made sure that they are to serve us for Your purpose.  Lord thank You because Your promises and blessings are beyond what our eyes can see and what our minds can comprehend.  So thank You because though our eyes and mind fail us to see Your goodness, You are still faithful to us.  Thank You Lord.  Truly You are an Amazing God.  Show me Lord every day Your love, favor and grace.  I want to be a witness of Your goodness in my life every day.  In Jesus’ Name! Amen! 

February 22, 2014 - Sunday

Start Time: 6:42 A.M.

End Time: 7:01 A.M.

Title: Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

Scripture: Joshua 16:1 – 10

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel.  It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz),^[a]crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth,  descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.  So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.  This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon  and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east.  Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan.  From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans.  It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.  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.

NOTES:

Ø God is specific when it comes to His inheritance to us!  He is not vague with His promises and when He fulfills His promises, He has every details laid out.  From every corners or aspect of our lives, He has set things up for each.  He expands our territories in every corner and blessed us with exceedingly overflowing outpouring from every aspect of our lives.  And our inheritance is always according to His riches and glory.

Ø God extends His goodness to the foreigners around us but they will be required to serve us!  In truth, God has set people to help us. God allowed the Canaanites living in Gezer to continue living with His people but they are required to do force labor. They are there to serve us no matter what because they are enjoying the benefits of the promises God has given specific for us.  So whatever plans or tasks we have in our hands, God has provided foreigners or the people around us as instruments in accomplishing the tasks He has set us to do.  Praise be to God for He has given us the abilities, the tools, the support, and everything else we need as part of the fulfillment of His promises to us!  Thank You Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Hallelujah!  Great and Wonderful is Your Name!  You are truly Almighty God!  My Father, My Savior and Lord!  Thank You because You are a God who is into details and You give as much attention in every detail of Your promises to us as You give value to Your word.  Lord thank You because Your promises cover every corners and every aspect of our lives so we can be assured and safely trust that You have taken care of everything about us, all the things we need and all the things we want.  Lord thank You because our inheritance is more than enough for us and it is far beyond what we have hoped and imagined it to be.  Thank You because You have set us to do tasks but You ensure that there are help provided for us to fulfill our tasks.  This is part of Your promises!  Praise God!  Thank You because I can be sure to be worry-free because Your promises include my victories and successes in whatever my hands do.  Thank You Jesus because You have given everything I needed, the tools, the abilities and the support to complete and gain the victory I need to every battle I face in life and every mission I am given to accomplish.  All this is made possible because of You Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name Amen!