April 10- Claiming the Land

April 10, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6;
Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26

Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24

Many years ago when my husband and I had just bought a home, our backyard was not fenced.  We shared a border with our neighbors that was invisible.  At the top of a hill in the back of our property was a wooded area.  My husband and I liked the wild untamed aspect of those woods.  Animals would nest back there.  We had a family of deer who stayed behind our house in those woods.  Our neighbors liked to garden.  They had taken a portion of the woods on their side of the property and thinned out the trees to plant flowers and create a garden.  This was fine.  I could look out my window and see their beautiful plantings.  After a while, I noticed that they were encroaching upon our property.  They would clear out shrubs and brush from our side of the woods and plant flowers in their place.  Over time, our neighbors took over about seven feet of our property and claimed the area for their garden.  They eventually moved out of the neighborhood, but I still have some beautiful daffodils that bloom each spring thanks to those pesky encroachers!

Today we see that Joshua is commissioned by God to go take possession of the Promised Land.  God had determined the boundaries of the land that He was giving them and it came to approximately 300,000 square miles. They were to walk upon the whole territory and claim wherever they walked.  God determined the borders. Do you know that the Jewish people have never fully occupied the land with the borders that God told them?  They only settled in approximately 30,000 square miles.  There are lessons here.  The Promised Land represents the blessed Christian life for the believer.  It does not represent heaven, because heaven is not something you fight for.  Heaven is a gift.  The Promised Land was possessed by conflict and conquest.  The struggle of the nation of Israel to claim the Promised Land is a picture of the how a Christian struggles to claim spiritual blessings in this life.  We have to fight spiritual battles in order to claim our blessings.  This is why Ephesians chapter six tells us to put on the full armor of God.  Everyday our spiritual warfare gives us the opportunity to claim the land of milk and honey in our souls.

Do you wear the belt of truth around your waist, the helmet of salvation over your mind, the breastplate of righteousness upon your heart, and use the sword of Word of God everyday to fight for God's blessings of peace in your life?  Like the Israelites, have you only claimed a small portion of the spiritual blessings available to you?

We are about to spend a number of days reading about Israel's conflicts and conquests. But first, we must say goodbye to Moses.

As our reading begins, Moses is standing on Mt. Nebo looking out across the Promised Land.  The man of the "Law" will not be brought into that land through the Law.  Moses will eventually set foot on this land, but not because of the Law.  He sets foot in the Promised Land because of Jesus Christ.  As we see in the New Testament, Moses is in the land when he and Elijah are with Christ in the Transfiguration.  God allows Moses to finally claim this promise through Jesus.  In the meantime, Moses dies and is buried by God, Himself.  The Bible tells us that there has never been another prophet like Moses to whom the Lord spoke face to face.  What an honor and a privilege to even read about this man's life.  Do you realize that following Jesus, rather than a bunch of rules and regulations, is what allows you to enter the promised land of the blessed spiritual life?  Like Moses, Jesus will lead you there and take you in.

Joshua is now the leader of the people of  Israel.  God assures Joshua that He will be with him.  He encourages him to be strong and courageous in battle.  Unlike Moses, who wrote the Law, Joshua is commanded to study the Book of the Law continually.  He is to meditate on it day and night. God tells Joshua to obey it in order to succeed. Once again, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.  This is God's way of telling his new general to equip himself for battle.  Notice, God reminds Joshua that he is not alone.  God will be with him wherever he goes.  Do you realize that God is with you in your daily battles and struggles?  Have you meditated on God's Word in order to find strength for the battle?

Before entering the Promised Land, Joshua sends two spies into Jericho to assess the situation.  The men are taken in by a prostitute who lives in the large wide wall of the city.  These walls were many feet thick and apartments were placed inside the walls.  Rahab, the prostitute, plied her trade from her position in the city wall.

The king of Jericho gets word that spies are in the city and sends men to Rahab's place to see if they are there.  Rahab lies and tells them that the men have left the city.  We find out Rahab's motivation is that the whole city is aware of the history of the Israelites.  They know about God rescuing them from the Egyptians and the miraculous things He has done for Israel, and their hearts are melting with fear.  She professes her faith in their God, describing Him as the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. She is seeking to be saved by helping the men of this One True God.

As our reading ends today, Rahab has hung a scarlet rope outside of her window to provide protection for herself and her family when the Israelites invade the city.  This is an act of faith.  Rahab is trusting that these men will keep their word and that this One True God will save her and her family. Rahab is a sinner who has faith in God.

Have you hung the scarlet rope outside of your window?  How have you put your faith into action like Rahab?  Did you know that Rahab is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11?   She is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 1.  This flawed woman of faith is a blood relative of Jesus Christ. We never know what the future results of our present action of faith will be.  Step forward in faith and live a life of action like Rahab.

Luke 13:22-14:6

Jesus' teaching today focuses on the fact that not everyone will enter heaven.  Remember, Jesus came to tell us the Truth.  He indicates to these Jewish questioners that in the Kingdom of God people from all over the world will take their places to sit by the patriarchs of the nation of Israel.  Entrance into heaven is not guaranteed just because you are Jewish.  He indicates that some who are despised now will be greatly honored then: and some who are greatly honored now will be despised then.  This reminds me of Rahab. This is Jesus' message to these people.  Jesus laments the fact that the people of his beloved city, Jerusalem, will reject him, for the most part. Jesus will be like all the other true prophets of God who came before him.

Jesus again heals a man on the Sabbath in front of the Pharisees.  He knows that the Pharisees are judging his behavior.  Jesus rebukes their hypocrisy for saving a cow from a pit on the Sabbath, but not wanting to help a person.

Are you bothered or comforted by Jesus' teachings?

Psalm 79:1-13

Here is a psalm expressing how Israel felt when they were taken into captivity and their land was overrun by foreigners.  This is a cry for God to rebuke those who do not believe in Him. 

Proverbs 12:26

"The godly give good advice to their friends.  The wicked lead people astray."  At the end of your life, which will be true of you?

What did you see today as you read?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton