Devotional Thoughts

Joshua 18:1-3    "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.  (2)  And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.  (3)  And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?" We jumped several chapters to chapter 18. The chapters previous to this list families and the borders of the land given to them. As I read through them, I was not stirred by any of the verses that I read. We come to chapter 18 and there are still some families that have not occupied the land which was promised to them. In fact, seven tribes had not received their inheritance. Joshua asks them a very important question and actually one that pertains to us today. "How long are ye slack to go to possess the ...

But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. – John 14:31 The Life of Jesus Christ was marked by obedience and dedication. Always about the Father’s business, the Savior worked to do the will and commandment of the Father for love and glory. It was the purpose of His life, and we should learn from it. When we dedicate our lives to arise and follow after Christ in obedience and love, we rid ourselves of the weight of sin that so easily besets us and ties us to old temptations and problems. This is the essence of looking forward and not backward. We cannot change the past. We can only live for today and hope for tomorrow. The path may not always be clear, but we can know by Christ’s example that the Father’s will is always for our good. So, let us too arise, and go hence with Jesus.

Joshua 14:13-15    "And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.  (14)  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.  (15)  And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war." I realize that many times in the Old Testament, we can get bogged down with names. But I believe the names hold special meaning and have actually been a source of blessing as the Lord has moved me to spend more time thinking upon the names in relation to the situation and circumstance in which they are involved.  In these passages, we see the names of Caleb, Jephunneh, Hebron, Kirjatharba, Arba, and Anakims. I won't go into the root meanings of each word, but will try to tell in paragraph form the impact of these names. Caleb was a man who would no...

Joshua 14:10-12     "And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.  (11)  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  (12)  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." As Joshua is dividing the land unto the various tribes (families), he comes to Caleb. Remember Caleb? He and Joshua were the only two out of the twelve spies to stand bold in the Lord. He had stood with Joshua to proclaim that if the Lord was wil...

Joshua 13:33    "But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them." Chapters 12 and 13 show the dividing of the land among the people of Israel. Two and a half tribes wanted to live on the east side of the Jordan River. Joshua divided the land of Canaan unto the other nine and a half tribes. Every tribe received land except for the tribe of Levi. Levi received no inheritance in the land of Canaan; rather, was given the responsibility of tending to the service of the Lord. The tribe of Levi was sustained by the other eleven tribes giving their tithes. They were constantly to be about the Lord's business and making sure all the vessels of the tabernacle (and later the temple) were fit for use. As I read each passage of Scripture that spoke of the inheritance given to each of the other tribes, I came to this verse and it grabbed my attention.  It first grabbed my attention because the Levites ...