Joshua 21
The Levites are being presented with their pieces of land, a few of them being cities of refuge, just as God promised. Rather than being given a large territory of land like the other tribe, the Levites had towns within the other tribes' areas. At the end of the list of cities is the declaration that all things that God promised had been fulfilled.
God keeps His promises. What I've been learning is that even when I don't hear Him in the moment, that doesn't make His promises from the past any less true. It's in those times that I need to hold onto them; full of hope that He will fulfill what He has promised.
Also read today: Luke 1
2/8/09
Day 20 - February 8/09
Joshua 20
This chapter is about the cities of refuge set up throughout Israel so that if someone accidentally kills another, he can flee to one of those cities. By their law, if he does not flee and someone thinks he is guilty, they have the right to murder him.
When I was younger I used to go to this camp during the summer, and two of our cabins, Hebron and Bezer, were named after cities of refuge. I'm sure this wasn't by accident.
God always provides a way out for us in temptation and, from the looks of it, He also provides a way out for those who are falsely accused or genuinely did something wrong without meaning to. It's so fascinating to me how trials were done by prayer, and God, unless the High Priest was corrupted, had the final say in all matters. So if they were following the right protocol, whatever that may be, to find out what He wanted, then there should never have been false convictions.
Right now, I don't hear God's voice, and it's the strangest thing for me to not have His voice in my head all the time. But life isn't lived in the high times; life is all about when we're down in the dumps, "up to our knees in mud...." I need to persevere through this season and trust in who I know He is, even when I can't hear Him right now. I'm standing at the gate of the city, waiting to be let in so that I can sit in His refuge.
This chapter is about the cities of refuge set up throughout Israel so that if someone accidentally kills another, he can flee to one of those cities. By their law, if he does not flee and someone thinks he is guilty, they have the right to murder him.
When I was younger I used to go to this camp during the summer, and two of our cabins, Hebron and Bezer, were named after cities of refuge. I'm sure this wasn't by accident.
God always provides a way out for us in temptation and, from the looks of it, He also provides a way out for those who are falsely accused or genuinely did something wrong without meaning to. It's so fascinating to me how trials were done by prayer, and God, unless the High Priest was corrupted, had the final say in all matters. So if they were following the right protocol, whatever that may be, to find out what He wanted, then there should never have been false convictions.
Right now, I don't hear God's voice, and it's the strangest thing for me to not have His voice in my head all the time. But life isn't lived in the high times; life is all about when we're down in the dumps, "up to our knees in mud...." I need to persevere through this season and trust in who I know He is, even when I can't hear Him right now. I'm standing at the gate of the city, waiting to be let in so that I can sit in His refuge.
2/5/09
Day 19 - February 5/09
Psalm 130
This psalm is so humble and full of praise and awe. The author is crying out for mercy from the depths...of despair? of depression? of possible death? There is thanksgiving for God's grace and forgiveness of sins, because otherwise no one on earth would ever be able to stand before the Lord. The psalmist's soul is waiting on God, and in the meantime putting his hope in the Word. Israel is told to put all her hope in God, because He is the only one who can redeem her from her sins.
So many of the words and phrases are interesting, in choice and in placement. Verses three and four state that BECAUSE God is forgiving, He is feared. At first this didn't make sense to me, but the best I can gather is that because He is the forgiving One, we should live in holy awe of Him because He has the power to give and withhold forgiveness. Verse six is about the soul waiting for God "more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." My guess is that these watchmen would probably be exhausted from lack of sleep and waiting desperately for the sun to rise; yet, we are called to wait on God with even more fervor than those who have nothing to live for except the morning sunlight spilling over the mountain tops.
I need to ask God for a desire to wait on Him. I need the holy fear of God put inside of me. When did I stop waiting on Him for every decision, even down to the smallest choice? There is a lot missing when I stop living my life for Him. Breathing for myself is doing nothing but wasting air.
This psalm is so humble and full of praise and awe. The author is crying out for mercy from the depths...of despair? of depression? of possible death? There is thanksgiving for God's grace and forgiveness of sins, because otherwise no one on earth would ever be able to stand before the Lord. The psalmist's soul is waiting on God, and in the meantime putting his hope in the Word. Israel is told to put all her hope in God, because He is the only one who can redeem her from her sins.
So many of the words and phrases are interesting, in choice and in placement. Verses three and four state that BECAUSE God is forgiving, He is feared. At first this didn't make sense to me, but the best I can gather is that because He is the forgiving One, we should live in holy awe of Him because He has the power to give and withhold forgiveness. Verse six is about the soul waiting for God "more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." My guess is that these watchmen would probably be exhausted from lack of sleep and waiting desperately for the sun to rise; yet, we are called to wait on God with even more fervor than those who have nothing to live for except the morning sunlight spilling over the mountain tops.
I need to ask God for a desire to wait on Him. I need the holy fear of God put inside of me. When did I stop waiting on Him for every decision, even down to the smallest choice? There is a lot missing when I stop living my life for Him. Breathing for myself is doing nothing but wasting air.
2/4/09
Day 18 - February 4/09
Joshua 19
This is the chapter where the rest of the tribes receive their inheritance. The remaining tribes are, in order of the casting of lots: Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan. Simeon's land was interesting because it was taken out of the land already allotted for Judah, because Judah had more than enough territory. Once all the tribes have been assigned to their land, Joshua is given his own town.
God is faithful. He doesn't let them forget any of the small stuff. No one is unaccounted for. God does not misplace anyone on this earth, including me. Even if I don't notice someone, God still does. I need to be more aware of those around me. God loves them, so why don't I?
This is the chapter where the rest of the tribes receive their inheritance. The remaining tribes are, in order of the casting of lots: Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan. Simeon's land was interesting because it was taken out of the land already allotted for Judah, because Judah had more than enough territory. Once all the tribes have been assigned to their land, Joshua is given his own town.
God is faithful. He doesn't let them forget any of the small stuff. No one is unaccounted for. God does not misplace anyone on this earth, including me. Even if I don't notice someone, God still does. I need to be more aware of those around me. God loves them, so why don't I?
2/3/09
Day 17 - February 3/09
Joshua 18
At this point in the story, there are still seven tribes that have not received their land. Joshua sends out three men from each remaining tribe to scout out the land and divide it into seven equal parts. Once they return with the descriptions of the land and their new borders, Joshua casts lots for which tribe will live where. The first tribe to be picked was Benjamin, which received the territory between Joseph and Judah. Benjamin's territory included the city of Jericho.
At first when I started reading this passage, I got the impression that the men would go out from each tribe and choose where they wanted to live. As I continued to read, however, I realized that they had to actually divide up the land evenly because they did not know to which tribe each plot of land would go.
I hate the entire idea of casting lots. This is probably because I like to have control over situations, especially something as serious as the location of my people for, what I at the time perceive to be, forever. Although I have become fairly good at giving things up to God once I wrap my head around the idea of Him knowing what's best for me, but leaving it up to Him by lots just seems so...I don't know. Maybe I just don't trust Him enough yet.
At this point in the story, there are still seven tribes that have not received their land. Joshua sends out three men from each remaining tribe to scout out the land and divide it into seven equal parts. Once they return with the descriptions of the land and their new borders, Joshua casts lots for which tribe will live where. The first tribe to be picked was Benjamin, which received the territory between Joseph and Judah. Benjamin's territory included the city of Jericho.
At first when I started reading this passage, I got the impression that the men would go out from each tribe and choose where they wanted to live. As I continued to read, however, I realized that they had to actually divide up the land evenly because they did not know to which tribe each plot of land would go.
I hate the entire idea of casting lots. This is probably because I like to have control over situations, especially something as serious as the location of my people for, what I at the time perceive to be, forever. Although I have become fairly good at giving things up to God once I wrap my head around the idea of Him knowing what's best for me, but leaving it up to Him by lots just seems so...I don't know. Maybe I just don't trust Him enough yet.
2/2/09
Day 16 - February 2/09
Joshua 16 & 17
These two chapters consist of the land disbursement of Ephraim and Manasseh, the two half-tribes deriving from Joseph. The first story that struck me was that of the five daughters of Zelophehad who, because they had no brothers, asked for their own portion of land and it was given to them. Second, the sons of Joseph came before Joshua and said that even though they were one tribe, they were a numerous people who did not have enough room in the land they were given. Because of their request, Joshua also permitted for them to have the entire hill country as well.
I also found some challenging parts in this passage. The men of Ephraim failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land, so they were made laborers instead. Once again, they do not have enough faith to follow through and trust that God will take care of them and give the victory. Then, when they are given the hill country, Joseph's tribe complains that the Canaanites living there have chariots and will never be driven out. Joshua tells them to get their act together and fight for their land.
In both of the first situations I mentioned, the people asked and they received. God never withholds good things from His children who love and obey Him! Sometimes it may seem like He isn't giving us what we want, but that's only because He knows far better than we do what will be good for us. I suck at trusting that He has better things coming for me. And I'm terrible at asking for what I really want. I think I need to start praying a lot more.
These two chapters consist of the land disbursement of Ephraim and Manasseh, the two half-tribes deriving from Joseph. The first story that struck me was that of the five daughters of Zelophehad who, because they had no brothers, asked for their own portion of land and it was given to them. Second, the sons of Joseph came before Joshua and said that even though they were one tribe, they were a numerous people who did not have enough room in the land they were given. Because of their request, Joshua also permitted for them to have the entire hill country as well.
I also found some challenging parts in this passage. The men of Ephraim failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land, so they were made laborers instead. Once again, they do not have enough faith to follow through and trust that God will take care of them and give the victory. Then, when they are given the hill country, Joseph's tribe complains that the Canaanites living there have chariots and will never be driven out. Joshua tells them to get their act together and fight for their land.
In both of the first situations I mentioned, the people asked and they received. God never withholds good things from His children who love and obey Him! Sometimes it may seem like He isn't giving us what we want, but that's only because He knows far better than we do what will be good for us. I suck at trusting that He has better things coming for me. And I'm terrible at asking for what I really want. I think I need to start praying a lot more.
2/1/09
Day 15 - February 1/09
Psalm 105
This passage is all about remember how wonderful God is, and being glad that He is so good. The psalmist recounts the plagues of Egypt and how God redeemed His people and made His name known throughout the land. At the end, it says that He gave the land that was promised to the Israelites "so that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws" (105:45a).
God didn't deliver the Israelites into a land of their own so that they could worship false gods, do as they pleased, or be "happy." He is concerned with a life lived in obedience and reverence for Him.
I've finally faced up to the convictions God has been laying on my heart. He did not give me breath in my body to use it for however I deem fit; He has such amazing plans for me, if I will only surrender to His will and let go. Unless my hands are open, how can He put anything into them? But that means letting go of what I was holding onto so tightly and letting Him have the steering wheel.
This passage is all about remember how wonderful God is, and being glad that He is so good. The psalmist recounts the plagues of Egypt and how God redeemed His people and made His name known throughout the land. At the end, it says that He gave the land that was promised to the Israelites "so that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws" (105:45a).
God didn't deliver the Israelites into a land of their own so that they could worship false gods, do as they pleased, or be "happy." He is concerned with a life lived in obedience and reverence for Him.
I've finally faced up to the convictions God has been laying on my heart. He did not give me breath in my body to use it for however I deem fit; He has such amazing plans for me, if I will only surrender to His will and let go. Unless my hands are open, how can He put anything into them? But that means letting go of what I was holding onto so tightly and letting Him have the steering wheel.
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