Friday, March 30, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Take Possession
The book of Joshua has
encouragement and wisdom for the soldiers of the Cross more than any other
book. This is the book of conquest or the battlefield of Canaan. In this book,
Israel not only overcomes the enemy, but also occupies the land God promised
them. Joshua completes what Moses began. The nation that was led out by Moses
was led in by Joshua. This book focuses on overcoming the enemy and occupying
the land.
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Joshua instructed the people to
sanctify themselves, for on the morrow the Lord would do wonders among them (Joshua 3:5). The children of Israel had
followed the cloud in the wilderness. Now they would follow the Ark of the
Covenant, which represented the presence of Jehovah. Joshua told the priests to
take up the Ark and step into the Jordan. When the soles of their feet touched
the waters of the Jordan, they stood on dry ground (Joshua 3:9-17). After they crossed the Jordan River, from the river
bed where the priests stood, stones were taken and piled up on the other shore
as a lasting memorial of the wonders God did for them (Joshua 4:3).
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Israelites went out a second time
to Ai and they were victors. The fame of Israel began to spread far and wide. The
kings of Canaan formed a league against them. But Joshua routed the allied army
(Joshua 10: 10-13), where even the
sun stood still over Gibeon for their victory.
Finally we see the land rested
from war (Joshua 11:23). We see the
name Jerusalem mentioned this time. It is a city with great past history and a bright
future history. Here Christ will reign when he comes again in power and great
glory (Luke 21:27).
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In Joshua 24 we see him old. He called first the leaders and then all
the people together and urged them to remember the power and faithfulness of
God and asked them to be faithful to him (Joshua
24:14). The book closes with his death at the age of 110 years.
This book gives us an account of
how God will lead and guide his children to overcome all the odds, if they are
truthful to him. Even though this book is about children of Israel, through
Jesus Christ whoever believes in the sacrifice of Christ is New Israel and God
is going to guide them to victory over all enemies. The enemies may be an addiction,
or a sickness, or an abuse, through Christ Jesus, the victory will come to you
when you believe in him and his salvation.
May the Spirit of God lead you to
understand the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and help you to born again in Christ
Jesus and possess the victory as New Israel.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Rules and Regulations
The book of Deuteronomy is a
collection of orations and songs of Moses he gave as his farewell to the
children of Israel. This book shows the blessings of obedience and the curse of
disobedience. Everything depends on obedience – life itself, possession of the
Promised Land, victory over foes, prosperity and happiness. Moses did this to
remind the people what God had done for them and what they were to do to serve
him when they reached the Promised Land.
As the book opens we see the
children of Israel on the border of the land of Canaan, in a place where 11
days journey, some 40 years before, could have brought them. Yet it had taken
them 40 years. How slowly they covered the ground. How often we have to go over
the same ground again and again. We marvel at Israel’s slowness. We can rather
marvel at our own. We, like they, are kept back by unbelief. We should be
ashamed at the time it takes us to learn or lessons. God is a faithful teacher.
He never lets us pass to another grade until we are ready.
Here God is putting before the
children of Israel the conditions summed up in one great word, Obedience. The children of Israel
entered the Promised Land under the conditions of Law. Moses gives the children
of Israel a look back. He recalls the history of Israel and reviews their
wanderings. He reminds them of Gods faithfulness and urges them to be grateful
and obedient. He likens God’s care of them to a loving father who cherishes his
little ones lest they should be lost in the wilderness or be injured by the
heat of the sun. He supplied all their needs; they lacked nothing (Deuteronomy 2:7).
Moses repeatedly reminds them
that they are a people of holy to the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2, 21; 26:19). Because Gods people are his, he
wants them to walk in the world in the way that befits them, separating themselves
from evil (Deuteronomy 14). They should
show charity toward their fellow humans (Deuteronomy
15). They must gather together to worship (Deuteronomy 16).
We see Moses giving the people
some solemn warnings. He first spoke of the blessings the children of Israel
could enjoy if they would be obedient. He then told them the results of
disobedience. Misfortune would follow them in everything they would undertake –
in business, in farming and in health. They would suffer for their disobedience
to God.
Deuteronomy 28 is a most remarkable chapter. It traces what Israel
might have been through obedience (Deuteronomy
28:1-14) and is yet to be in the millennial age to come (Isiah 60-62; Zechariah 14:8-21; Jeremiah
31:1-9; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Romans 11:25-31). Deuteronomy 28:47-49 refers to the Roman invasion (70 AD) which can
be found in history. Deuteronomy 28:
63-67 describes the Jewish people in last century. God spoke these more
than 3000 years ago.
The end of the book is the
calling of Joshua. The charge that Moses gave to the people and to Joshua was
built on one great fact, “The Lord is
with you; be strong”. If God is present, fear is baseless.
In Deuteronomy 32, Moses closed his
life’s work with a song. After the song,
in Deuteronomy 34, Moses went up to
Mount Nebo (Pisgah) and there God showed him the Promised Land and there he
died and Lord buried him.
In Deuteronomy 30:1-10, we see the present Israel. Everything which
was said about their future got fulfilled and they cried and called the Lord
and the Lord brought them back to their land. Now they are prosperous.
History and Old Testament tells
about Israel’s curses and blessings. As believers of Christ, the New Testament
Israel should analyse their life on what they are going through. If these
curses are there in their life, do what children of Israel did – cry and call
unto the Lord. Confess the sins, accept Christ as saviour and live a holy life.
Whatever blessings the country of Israel is enjoying, the same can be inherited
through the son of God Jesus Christ.
May God help you to analyse your
life and confess before him and enjoy his blessings of salvation.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Wilderness Wandering
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At the start of this book we see
the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. The law had been given, the
Tabernacle had been built and the priests had been assigned to their service.
Now God was going to prepare the nation for its work. In chapter 1 and 2, God numbered and arranged the tribes, choosing and
assigning duties to the priests and Levites (Chapter 3, 4). Moses was commanded to take a census.
God gave his children a cloud to
guide them by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were guided a step at a
time. They did not know when they were to go and when to stop, but the Ark of
the Covenant (signifying God’s presence)
went on before, the pillar of cloud always leading (Numbers 10:33). Sin came into this camp life as well. The people
began to murmur against God. God sent judgement of fire (Numbers 11:1-3). Then they complained about their food (Numbers 11:4). As a result of their
complaining, God sent them quails for 30 days. Then we see the sin of Aaron and
Miriam, the brother and sister of Moses. God had chosen Moses to be the leader
of this great people and Aaron and Miriam were only his assistants. Jealousy
crept into their hearts. They wanted more honor and Miriam got the punishment
as she was smitten with leprosy for 7 days (Numbers 12:1-16).
After one year at Mount Sinai,
the Israelites journeyed to Kadesh. This is at the southern border of the
Promised Land. Afraid to enter, they turned
back and wandered in the wilderness to the south and east till that generation
died. After 2 years in the wilderness, people could have gone into the land of
promise immediately had it not been for the sin of unbelief. They listened to
the discouraging words of most of the spies. When the spies came back and told
them about the giants in the lands and the high-walled cities, their hearts
failed them. They would not listen to Joshua and Caleb who agreed with all that
was told, but added, “We should go up and
take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30). When they refused to
enter Canaan, the door was closed to them. It meant wandering in the wilderness
for 40 years. God said that he would not allow any of those who were over 20
years old to enter Canaan, except Joshua and Caleb. 11 days from the land of
promise. But they turned back. They could have made 11 days of progress, but
they chose 40 years of wandering. God opens doors that no human can close, and
he closes doors that no human can open (Isaiah
22:22; Revelation 3:8). Their fear disqualified them to take over the land
of promise. Oftentimes our fear keeps us from enjoying all that God wants to
give us. We fear what others will say. We fear what might happen if we put our
trust completely in Christ.
Chapter 20 describes how the people complained bitterly to Moses
and Aaron and said they wished they had never been brought out of Egypt. Moses
patience was at an end. The people had complained about everything. In a fit of
anger he called the people rebels and instead of speaking to the rock he struck
it. The water gushed out. Even though Moses disobeyed, God was faithful and
kept his promise. Moses put himself up as God – “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10). This dishonoured
Jehovah God. Because Moses smote the rock a second time (Exodus 17:5,6) instead of speaking to it, he was not permitted to
enter the Promise Land.
In Numbers 17, Aaron’s priesthood got questioned, so God himself was
to confirm it. Moses gathered 12 staffs, one from the leader of each tribe, and
placed them overnight in the tent of meeting. God put life into Aaron’s alone,
causing it to sprout and bud. All authors of the religions of the world have
died, even Christ died. But only Christ was raised from the dead and exalted to
be our rich high priest (Hebrews 4:14;
6:4-10).
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The only way people can live is
by looking to the one who took upon himself the likeness of a human and was
lifted up on the cross to take the sting of death upon himself (Philippians 2:7-8). If we look on him,
our saviour, we shall live (John 3:14,
15). Even though God chosed the people of Israel to be his chosen one,
through the death and resurrection of Christ, the entire world got saved and
become chosen, if they accept Christ Jesus.
“For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:23
May God help you to know Christ
and be the chosen one.
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