February 19, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time: 5:17 A.M.

End Time: 5:55 A.M.

Title: Land Still Be Taken

Scripture: Joshua 13:1 – 33

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

→ When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.  “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites; the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. “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, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

NOTES:

Ø God’s promises are abundance!  Joshua became very old but there are still remaining lands that need to be taken.  This is God’s promises to us, it is overflowing and abundance that our lifetime will not be enough to receive it all.  So His promises will be fulfilled even in the lives of our children and our children’s children because He is the God of abundance!  Hallelujah!  That is why, even before we are born, He has abundant blessings waiting for us to receive when we step out of our mother’s womb and start our lives here on earth.  This is how God pours out His blessings – it is sure to impact not only us but also the people in our lineage.  Thank You Lord!

→ 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.  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, and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah— that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.(He was the last of the Rephaites.) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maakah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.  But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.  This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans: 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  to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,  Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 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. In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans. This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans: The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;  and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth 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 Galilee^[b]). These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites, according to their clans. This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans: 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,  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, according to their clans. 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.

NOTES:

Ø God gives His people’s inheritance at the right time!  The half of Manasseh (the Reubenites and the Gadites) received their inheritance ahead of the others because their inheritance is set across the River Jordan yet this did not create any jealousy or issue among the Israelites.  When God gives us His promises, He ensures that our receiving will bring encouragement to the rest and not jealousy so the remaining of us who are still yet to receive God’s abundant promise will continue to push thru and conquer what He has promised us to conquer! 

Ø God ensures that the division of His inheritance to His people is fair and just!   No one questions the division of the promised land because they know that God is fair and His division is proper and right in the eyes of everyone.  Even to the Levites who received no inheritance found the division fair and just.  When God works, everything is set in order and nothing evil comes to destroy or plant seed of jealousy, anger, envy, etc.  Because there is always more than enough in God!

Ø God gives everything of Himself to His chosen tribe as His tithe! God gave no inheritance to the Levites yet has given Himself as their inheritance, which makes the Levites wealthier in a sense than any of the tribes for their inheritance is the source of all blessings!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You because You are a God of abundance and in You there is no lack!  Thank You because You are the master of all rewards and the fulfillment of all promises!  Thank You God because You are fair and just and how You divide and share Your blessings to Your people are unquestionable.  Lord thank You because Your promises to us is overflowing that our lifetime will not be enough to receive it all, that’s why our children’s children will be born with the assurance of Your promises.  Thank You because You have thought of every angle and because You know every details of us, You are able to address all questions or complaints or reasons we have.  Thank You Lord because You are all knowing and I am truly blessed to know that You are my God.  Heal me Lord in and out and show me the works of Your hands run thru my whole body, soul and spirit that I may be renewed and refreshed each day.  Let me see Your Grace flowing and Your love upon me each day.  Let Your favor continue to flow in my life that people will know that You are in me.  Lord let my life be an instrument that people may see who You are and what You are capable of.  And they can do nothing else but Praise You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!