February 21, 2014 - Friday

Start Time:  6:37 A.M.

End Time: 7:20 A.M.

Title: Allotment for Judah

Scripture: Joshua 15:1 – 63

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

→The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.  Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea, 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. It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their southern boundary.  The eastern boundary is the Dead 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,  went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.  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.  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.  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).  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.  It went to the northern slope of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalahand reached Jabneel. The boundary ended at the sea. The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.  These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.

NOTES:

Ø God gave the land to His people and extended their territory down to every corner of their area!  God’s promises are more than what we can expect!  He expands our territory to the end of each corner of our place!  From the south, north, east and west!  Hallelujah!  When God fulfills His promises, it is fulfilled in abundance and it is poured down to us overflowing that our lifetime is not enough to take hold of every promise – that’s who abundant God’s promises are for us!  Praise the Lord!

→ 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.)  From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak.  From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).  And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.”  Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage. One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him^[b] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”  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.

NOTES:

Ø God will not allow our own limitations to fulfill what He has promised to us!  Caleb was already 85 and is already old yet, he drove out the Anakites (3 tribes: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai) from their land (hebron) for God has given him Hebron.  He even marched against the people living in Debir and conquered it as well.  Our God is capable even if we are not!  Our Lord will not allow our own weaknesses to hinder Him in fulfilling His promises in our lives!  What a great God we serve!  Amen!  Lord, thank You for You are more than able and You do not allow our own limitations in fulfilling what You have promised to us!  Thank You Jesus!

Ø God gives us what we ask in accordance to His promise! Caleb’s daughter was given to the man who conquered and captures Kiriath Sepher (debir) but the land requires water for the people to live, with just one appearance to her father, Caleb gave his daughter the upper and lower springs (not just one spring but complete access to two springs).  This again is a representation of God giving us what we ask for in accordance to His promise!  Thank You Lord because we can just come boldly to You and ask and You will give it to us especially when it is in accordance to Your promise.  Thank You Jesus!

→ This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:  The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, ²² Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,  Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,  Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),  Amam, Shema, Moladah,  Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, Baalah, Iyim, Ezem,  Eltolad,Kesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.   In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,  Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh,Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen towns and their villages. Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,  Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah—sixteen towns and their villages. Libnah, Ether, Ashan,  Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, Keilah, Akzib and Mareshah—nine towns and their villages. Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages; Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.  In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh, Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon and Giloh—eleven towns and their villages.  Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages. Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah and Timnah—ten towns and their villages.  Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages. Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah—two towns and their villages.  In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah, Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi—six towns and their villages. Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah.

NOTES:

Ø God fulfills His promises to everyone and not just to anyone or to some!  God is a God of His words and what He says He will do, He does!  It’s great to know that we have a God we can trust to do what He says He will – this is both the promises, commands, instructions, judgment, and messages He gave us all.  It’s amazing to have a God that we can be assured of.  And every promise He made will be fulfilled to us all!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, amazing Lord!  I humbly come and in complete awe of Your power and Sovereignty!  Lord, I am astonish to be receiving this privilege of addressing You despite of all the things I did against You and probably the things I will still do.  Father, I am truly undeserving of Your promises but Your amazing Grace continues to overshadow my unworthiness!  Lord thank You because Your favor continues to set direction and lead me to the path to Your righteousness.  Thank You Jesus for You do not allow my own limitations and weaknesses to hinder or become an obstacle in completing Your word to me.  In reality, You use my weaknesses and limitations to do marvelous works in finishing what You have started in me.  So I give You all praise and worship Lord for You deserve all glory and honor and no one else.  Thank You because You hear us and gives us the desires of our hearts in accordance to Your will and promises.  Thank You because You never fail and fulfills every promise to us.  Thank You because Your promises are abundance and my whole lifetime on earth will not be enough to completely experience and receive everything You have in-store for me.  Thank You for the eternal life that will allow me to enjoy all the promises You have for me.  Thank You Jesus!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!