146th Week, Joshua Chapters 15-19 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

 Click on Title for Video Introduction

Monday, Joshua Chapter 15

Joshua 15

Verse 12b

Jane Jones

Verse 12b:  “These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans.”

THOUGHT

This chapter described the allotment for Judah. These boundaries and descriptions of the Promised Land are very specific. God was telling Israel exactly what to do. This was the promise.  This was the Promised Land. How awesome that Moses led the people to it, and Joshua followed out the orders and established it.

God gave these people just exactly what they needed. There was no excuse for disobedience.  And to this day, God is still giving us just exactly what we need. There are times in our lives that we feel we desire something or want something, and it is unreachable. Is it because we truly don’t need it and God does not want us to extend ourselves to acquire it? Today’s chapter might be a lesson on redefining our needs vs our desires.

You say: “I can’t manage.”

God says: “I will supply all your needs.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

PRAYER 

Lord Jesus, we thank You for being there for us and providing for our every need. You have promises throughout the Bible that You will never leave us or forsake us and that You will meet all our needs. What a promise. We thank You for the promise of HOPE as Jeanie ended her week with. With hope in our hearts we realize our needs are met. Thank You for the beauty of the day and for blessing us with family and friends. AMEN

Tuesday, Joshua Chapter 16

Joshua 16

Verse 10

Jane Jones

Verse 10:  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.

THOUGHT

Have you noticed in the past several chapters that when the territories were taken over and the boundaries set, not all the people were removed like God had ordered? By not doing this, it was contrary to God’s explicit desire and command. The failure to completely remove the pagan people and their gods from the land would cause many problems and struggles for these nations.

And so it goes with us, my friends. If we fail to remove things in our lives which the Lord God has requested or if we fail to obey the risen Lord, things in our lives will turn into problems, and struggles will start. We had a wonderful lesson at Orchard Hill Church on Sunday morning.  One of our teachers gave his testimony, and he shared with us about surrendering. He told the story of how he would continue and continue to give his problem and struggles to the Lord. He’d hand them over to him, turn around, and he’d have them back again. With God’s help we can do this.

PRAYER

We thank You for Your direction and guidance in our lives. You know best. Why do we have such a hard time surrendering that? Through our struggles You continue to make us stronger. May we never doubt what You tell us to do.  Thanks for Your love. AMEN

Wednesday, Joshua Chapter 17

Joshua 17

Verse 16a

Jane Jones

Verse 16a:  The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us…”

THOUGHT

I couldn’t help but think reading Joshua what a huge undertaking it must have been for Joshua to divide up the land. I mean all the territories and boundaries were a very large job let alone assigning them to all the correct people. The women scored in this chapter in fairness with land even going to the daughters in one family. But the verse that stood out to me this evening

was 16a...

“The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us...”

How many times do you suppose the Lord hears that in a day?  ‘The money I earned today, Lord, was just not enough.’ ‘The clothes I purchased for work were just not enough. I wanted more.’  ‘The tractor I settled for was just not big enough.’ ‘The weather today was just not nice enough.’ ‘We could only have two children.  Lord, that just wasn’t enough for us.’

The point is that God does give us enough. He gives us enough to meet our needs. He has promised that He will not leave us or forsake us. The hill country was enough for the people of Joseph. They just had to clear it. Let’s work at clearing our minds and finding out that we do have enough.  It is the love of Jesus in our hearts.

PRAYER

Lord, I thank You for Your Word. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” It is food for our souls, and we can’t live without it. Lord, please enable us to truly comprehend its deepest meaning. Give us greater understanding than we have ever had before and reveal to us the hidden treasures buried there. We pray that we will have hearts that know Your love is enough for us. Thank You, Jesus, as You continue to give enough to us to meet our needs. We thank You for our ‘enough’. AMEN

Thursday, Joshua Chapter 18

Joshua 18

Verse 3

Jane Jones

Verse 3:  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 fathers, has given you?”

THOUGHT

Tonight’s lesson is on procrastination. Joshua was beginning to get weary. He was almost done with his assignment from the Lord on the division of the land and the allotment, but still he had to ask, “How long are you going to wait?”

Often we delay doing jobs that seem large, difficult, challenging, scary, different (out of the norm), boring or disagreeable. But to continue putting them off shows lack of discipline, poor stewardship of time, and in some cases disobedience to God. How many times have we told the Lord, “Sorry I didn’t get around to inviting our neighbors to church, I’ll do it next week.”?  “Lord, sorry I forgot to tell my family that I loved them. I’ll do it the next time I see them.”  “Lord, sorry for not following the plans you have for me right now. The timing is just not convenient.”

Jobs we don’t enjoy require concentration, teamwork, twice as much time, lots of encouragement and accountability. Remember this when you are tempted to procrastinate.  Aren’t we all glad that Jeanie did not procrastinate when she made up her mind to read a chapter a day?  It turned into the Salt Shakers. Praise God.

PRAYER

Lord, we know we procrastinate. It is truly a very bad habit. Please help us to concentrate more fully on what you want us to do and when.  May we all have a peaceful night's sleep to wake up refreshed tomorrow.  AMEN

Friday, Joshua Chapter 19

Joshua 19

Verse 51b

Jane Jones

Verse 51b: ...And so they finished dividing the land.

THOUGHT

Family, what an accomplishment. The job was done that Moses started out to do 40 years prior.  (Planned way back in the time of Jacob) WOW! No wonder Joshua had to finish the work for Moses. Can you imagine if any of us had to wait 40+ years for something? In conclusion of the parcel division of land, there are several good reasons for establishing these well-set boundaries instead of turning the Promised Land into a single undivided nation.

. The boundaries gave each tribe ownership of an area promoting loyalty and unity that would strengthen each tribe.

. The boundaries delineated areas of responsibility and privilege which would help each tribe develop and mature.

. The boundaries reduced conflicts that might have broken out if everyone had wanted to live in the choicest areas.

. The boundaries fulfilled the promised inheritance to each tribe that began to be given as early as the days of Jacob.

What a plan God had from the very beginning, and it was starting to unfold right before His eyes. Salt Shakers, today He still has plans. They are plans for you and me, for your family, for your children, for your friends. We just have to be vested in the fruits of the spirit and total surrender of ourselves to the Lord. We will start today seeking out the plan He has for us.

PRAYER

Thank You, Father, for this beautiful week. Thanks for Your unfailing promise of “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.  With that assurance we can head into the weekend with love in our hearts and peace in our minds. Thank You, JESUS!!!!!!! AMEN