June 30, 2023

Can we count on God’s promise?

Joshua 18

Sarah Ewing
Friday's Devo

June 30, 2023

Friday's Devo

June 30, 2023

Friday's Devo

June 30, 2023

Friday's Devo

June 30, 2023

Big Idea

God's definition of success is faithfulness. 

Key Verse | Joshua 18:3

So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

Joshua 18

Allotment of the Remaining Land

1 Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.

2 There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. 3 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? 4 Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. 5 They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north. 6 And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God. 7 The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their heritage. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.”

8 So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh, 10 and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.

The Inheritance for Benjamin

11 The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph. 12 On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan. Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 From there the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, to the shoulder of Luz (that is, Bethel), then the boundary goes down to Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-horon. 14 Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western side southward from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite Beth-horon, and it ends at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city belonging to the people of Judah. This forms the western side. 15 And the southern side begins at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim. And the boundary goes from there to Ephron, 1 18:15 See 15:9; Hebrew westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim. And it then goes down the Valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to En-rogel. 17 Then it bends in a northerly direction going on to En-shemesh, and from there goes to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. Then it goes down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18 and passing on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-arabah 2 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew to the shoulder over against the Arabah it goes down to the Arabah. 19 Then the boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-hoglah. And the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border. 20 The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin, according to their clans, boundary by boundary all around.

21 Now the cities of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to their clans were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, Geba—twelve cities with their villages: 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zela, Haeleph, Jebus 3 18:28 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah 4 18:28 Hebrew Gibeath and Kiriath-jearim 5 18:28 Septuagint; Hebrew Kiriath —fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin according to its clans.

Footnotes

[1] 18:15 See 15:9; Hebrew westward
[2] 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew to the shoulder over against the Arabah
[3] 18:28 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew the Jebusite
[4] 18:28 Hebrew Gibeath
[5] 18:28 Septuagint; Hebrew Kiriath

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Dive Deeper | Joshua 18

If you are anything like me, reading through the Old Testament can feel like reading a history book. Sometimes the stories are interesting, but they don't feel super relevant in 2023. In today's text, we see seven tribes of Israel who are reluctant to claim the land that the Lord has promised them as their inheritance. At first glance, this story does not feel very relatable to me and my life!

Who in their right mind would sit around when there is a gift to be claimed? What are they waiting for? Don't they want to claim their land? What could I possibly learn from this story that would apply to my life? I would definitely want to go get the gift!

As I re-read this passage and reflected on this story, I realized that my day-to-day life looks a lot more like this story than I originally thought. God has given us so many good gifts. He offers us peace when we abide with Him (Romans 5:1). He offers me freedom from anxiety when I cast all my cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7). He offers me rest when I come to Him weary and heavy with the troubles of this world (Matthew 11:28). Yet how many times have I put off receiving the good gifts  God has provided? 
 

I also love how God's provision is described as an inheritance. An inheritance is not something that can be earned, rather, it is a gift that's given because of one's close relationship with someone else. My works don't earn my inheritance from God. I simply have to appropriate the good gifts that He has already given me! (Recognize that God is offering, I am in need, and then walk in them.) It can be easy for us to focus on our past and remain stuck in fear, like the Israelites did. As we continue this journey through God's Word, let's look for the promises and provisions that God has already given us.

This month's memory verse

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

– 1 Corinthians 15:58

Discussion Questions

  1. What gifts (provisions) do you find in Scripture that may be more difficult to realize God is offering to you? 
  2. Who do you have in your life that is like Joshua – someone walking with you who regularly speaks life with grace and truth, encouraging you to claim the promises of God?
  3. Can you identify patterns or situations that distract you from claiming God's provision? What can you do to eliminate these distractions this week?


 

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HS

Hugh Stephenson

Good morning, Sarah. Love this devo. And I love your point about your life looking more like theirs than it seemed initially. Same here. Q1. Gifts that are difficult to realize? All of them. My sinful nature pulls me away from His gifts to that which satisfies right now. Recently I read a great definition of lust that applies to anything, not just sexual lust- “I want it right now!” I want that new truck, that new job, that ideal spouse, that big house etc etc et. Ouch. That said, the promise of joy, peace, and rest is what seems elusive. But voluntarily so. The mandate is clear and path is laid out. But the task list and inbox seem to scream loudly enough to drown everything else out. Q2. Who is like Joshua? #1 Amy. She’s amazing at this. #2 The guys and gals in my CG. #3 My brothers and sisters on the Prodigal leadership team. They are like Marines. Q3. See answer to Q1 and Q2. Conscious structure is what keeps moving forward.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

A favorite mentor from Prodigal says that discipling people can be boiled down to two questions- Q1. What do you want? Q2. What are you willing to do? Amy and I have seen these two questions have great application way, way beyond our groups in Prodigal. One of the ways I know that 2 Timothy 3:16 is true is in how God uses the authors to convey His truth and nature in the structure and flow of scripture. I’m taught that, in Joshua, we can break the book into two parts: Conquest 1-12 and settlement in 13-24. Even more amazing is the role of the tabernacle. Today’s passage, chapter 18, is at the center of the whole narrative. And this chapter starts outs with a different focus, the tabernacle- “Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.” The answer to Q1 is “We want the land that you promised to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant.” https://www.gotquestions.org/Abrahamic-covenant.html. God’s response is in verse 1b, “The land lay subdued before them.” There you are. Just like we’ve read many times so far; “There it is. Go possess it.” Q2 Gets a bit stickier as they, like me, must respond in faith and in obedience to the granting of God’s promises and the fulfillment of the covenant. It’s there for them but they must execute. “What are you willing to do”.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Among the most rewarding experiences I have ever had is to serve in the open groups at re:gen. 100/125 guys in the loft would all stream one by one. I’d be at a circle close to the door, standing up and watching as they came in. I could tell right away who was willing to do what it would take. The gait, countenance and body language gave it away. One would say, “I’m here because my CG made me.” (He’s done). Another would say “I’m here because my wife made me”. (He’s done too.)” The one I knew would make it would be the one who said something like this- “I can’t take this anymore. I’ll do anything.” That’s what I call the point of “Whatever it takes.” It looks a bit different in Prodigal and the same in Men’s Abortion Recovery. But it’s very close to the same. How many make it? In many conversations over the years with recovery leaders and directors I have heard the answer be somewhere between 10%-25%. My guess is the reality is closer to 10%. And they all combine looking like the “Whatever It Takes” guy. Sadly, the people of Joseph in Ch 17 and these 7 tribes see to be in the “but, but, but…” group. In a class awhile back the pastor went into detail about the spiritual realm. He pointed out that Scripture is clear that there is a realm we don’t see where immense battles are taking place all the time. Occasionally some elements of that realm will become visible to us. He noted that if we have glasses with “spiritual lenses” and could see this realm it would terrify us like nothing we could ever imagine. I have local friends who tell hair raising stories. My friends in the Middle East have first-hand accounts of dealing with possessed people who are rescued with prayers and actions. Their lives do a complete 180-degree turn. So, what does all this have to do with Joshua 18? God’s presence is key to everything. If one has it then they have become like the Gerasene demoniac. Once crazy. Now an evangelist. https://www.gotquestions.org/demonic-oppression.html Taking license, it seems clear to me that the reason God led the writer to put this part of the narrative here is because the tabernacle is at the center. His design in Eden was to dwell with us. His desire is still that we would be in unity with Him, (John 14:20, John 17). Since the conquest is not complete it seems God designed to have “…the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.” “Here is the land” “Here I am” “Go possess it”.
MS

Michael Sisson

Re: Jos 18:5 Jos 18:5 (NASB) “They shall divide it into seven portions; >>>Judah shall stay in its territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall stay in their territory on the north.<<< Thus, even before the land had been fully allocated, the above verse provides bit of tragic foreshadowing. It describes the boundary along which the northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah would historically distinguish themselves from one another throughout much of their national history. Re: Jos 18:28 Jos 18:28 (NASB) and Zelah, Haeleph and the Jebusite (that is, >>>Jerusalem<<<), Gibeah, Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their families. Q: In light of Jos 15:8, was Jerusalem in the territory of Judah or the territory of Benjamin? A: According to Jewish tradition, the area later occupied by the altar and sanctuary of the Temple was in Benjamin, whereas the area that would eventually contain the Temple’s courts was in Judah. Regardless, as originally allocated by Joshua, Jerusalem itself was outside of Judah's territory (Jos 15:8). However, after David finally captured Jerusalem (2Sam 5:7), the city was for all practical purposes absorbed into Judah. “The border [of Judah] here is carefully defined to go just south of Jerusalem itself, while the corresponding description for Benjamin places it just inside Benjaminite territory (Jos 18:16).” — Butler, T. C. Vol. 7, Word Biblical Commentary: Joshua (188). Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002.
SF

Shawn Foster

Very encouraging Sarah, Thank you! I came to Watermark broken hearted and crushed in spirit. Plugged into Men’s Summit and found several ‘Joshuas’ who crowned me with love, respect, compassion and truth. Them and the couples in our CG encourage one another to eliminate distractions and claim the promises of God. We are imperfect people following a perfect savior. Thanks again for this powerful devotional.
MH

morgan houghton

1. Hm, if I am understanding this correctly, I think there are many gifts God has given me or given me access to, that I lose sight of and have become used to. Yet it is easy to find things to complain about and pick apart. I think that the gift of salvation is one of those provisions, another being able to have the Holy Spirit with my at all times, and that God is like a friend to me! 2. I would say my mom. I am thankful for where we are in our relationship, because so many other people my age don’t have great relationships with their parents. Our relationship has not always been like that, but I am thankful for the way that she speaks truth to me and encourages me and is not afraid to speak the hard truths to me either. 3. Being tired is definitely one of them, being distracted and letting myself on my phone before I have even acknowledged God and talked to Him. These are the ones I have seen and acknowledged in my life this week! Working on getting the rest that is adequate for me, and breaking some bad habits that I have.
MS

Michael Scaman

There seems to be a mixture of man actively involved and the providence of God. Man actively involved: They sent out 3 men from each tribe to survey the land and write descriptions for Joshua , perhaps that gives a fair assessment. The providence of God" here was the drawing of lots. Benjamin gets land just north of Judah fro running to the Jordan. Benjamin gets Jericho (although no one is to rebuild Jericho because of a curse Joshua put on the builder). Benjamin will mostly join Judah and the temple when the kingdom splits. The other tribe north of Judah will be Dan which runs up to the Mediterranean and just north of the Philistine cities on the coast. Samson, the strong man of Dan, will have his run ins with the Philistines being in close proximity to the 5 cities of the Philistines on the Mediterranean. Dan falls and falls hard into idolatry at the end of Judges and will be one of the places a pagan temple is built for the Northern Kingdom.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. Through study of God’s word and through application of what I learn in Gods word in daily life, I currently do not struggle to believe God’s gifts (provisions).. I believe in God. 2. My closest friends keep me truthful and encourage me to believe in God. 3. No because God’s provisions are priority.