Joshua 12:1, 6, and 24
- These are the kings of the land whom
the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over
east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount
Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah……..
Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites conquered
them. And Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land to the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession…..
The ones who had requested to live on the East side of the
Jordan with their great flocks and families could finally return to their
families and herds. The land had been
conquered...31 kings and cities had been vanquished from a land that flowed
with blessings for the people of Israel. God called Moses ….and he obeyed and started
the huge process of rescuing the Israelites…and teaching them to depend on God. Then Joshua brought it to completion….following
all the rules he had been given to wipe out 31 kingdoms of evil people…so God
could bless the Israelites…and they could enjoy a time...a season of peace and prosperity.
God had so blessed the Israelites with his power…with his
strength…with his mercy… that they could now rest in his great provisions.
Joshua did not become drunk on his accomplishments…but gave due praise to his
mentor and teacher…remembering the wonderful training he had received at Moses
hand…remembering the promise Moses had made to the tribes that wanted to possess
the land on the far side of the Jordan.
Joshua also remembered the God who he followed…and how he conquered the
land for them…with miracles and strange military tactics that wrote stories of
wonder of God’s deliverance…not man’s power or intelligence.
Times of peace should be precious…I have peeked…and the
fighting isn’t entirely over…each tribe is going to have to fight some minor
battles within the inheritance they will receive. I guess that is just the way God designed it...for
he calls to us to give our life to him completely…grants us total deliverance from
our enemies and sins with his great power and mercy…then gives us each a period
of true peace and prosperity. But Satan never truly leaves us alone while we
are still on this earth…he watches us closely and sets all kinds of traps…that
keep us battling his influence over our decision to follow Christ.
God’s mercies are always there….new ones that bring us back
to a deeper understanding of who he is…that also call us to remember all the
former mercies that brought us to this season of peace…that we pray will last
for a long …long…time…cause it is just sweet beyond words to rest in the grace
of the father awhile…especially when the battles we have fought to get there
were difficult or painful.
Thank you God…you have granted me so much peace in these
last few weeks. I marvel at just how
wonderful life has been…and how you can take the battles of the past…the pain
and memory of tragic things…and use them to remind me that they were all a part
of how you taught me to love you…to draw me into a deeper understanding of who
you are…and what I am to be about in this present world. Help me to enjoy this peace…as I know as I
write this… Satan is plotting his next trap…he knows me almost as well as you…and
I will need your eyes…and ears…and heart to recognize it. Thank you for all the people like Moses…that
you have used to teach and train me…and thank you in advance for all the new
teachers and mentors you have lined up to work with me in the future. Help me to listen...and discern from their
words quickly what you would have me do next in life. Amen.
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