91 - Gideon.

Kathleen's thoughts

Judges 7,8,9

Gideon's journey into victory and destroying the Medianites was directed by the Lord guiding him each step of the way and showing him through a dream that was interpreted by the Medianites was an assurance for Gideon that the Lord will deliver and destroy them.

I just love the way the Lord works with each of us too when the load is too heavy to bear the Lord shows us the direction in which to travel. There are many times we do not listen as we think we know best but the Lords plan is there. One can see it in these passages of Gideon. God also tell Gideon that he needs to send home those who are in fear leaving Gideon with 300 men. This was to show the Israelites that it is the Lord that goes before them and they cannot do it on their own. In Judges 7:17 Watch me, he said, "and do the same. When I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do when I and everyone with me blow our trumpets, you are also to blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then you will say, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" So each Israelite took his position around the camp and the entire Midianite army fled, and cried out as they ran.

When Gideon was in pursue of the Medianites he asked Succoth and Penuel for bread for those who were following him but they declined and Gideon told them what was going to happen when he came back with Zebah and Zalmunna and Gideon carried out "I will trample your flesh on thorns and briers from the wilderness and to Penuel he said When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower! And so Gideon did this according to what he said.

The Israelites said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandson, for you delivered us from the power of Midian" But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you"

Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Gideon had 70 sons and had many wives.

The sad part here is when Gideon died the Israelites turned to Baal worship.

Abimelech the son of Gideon is made king of Shecham.

Blessings

Kathleen.

91- Imperfect vessels for His honour

Chareen's Thoughts

Battle of Gideon against the Midianites.
Nicolas Poussin 1626

Today signifies that we are a quarter of our way through the bible and a quarter of the way through this year.

I just hate it when life gets in the way of good intentions.  Once again I am 'behind in my readings'  I feel like I am constantantly in catch up mode :( ! 

I am looking forward to the beginning of our holiday and the time this will provide for me to read and learn. I am hoping to catch up and blog depending on the availability of internet in South Africa.

• Gideon had an army of 32,000 men with him.  The Lord declared that that was too many and he needed to release those who were in fear to go home. 22,000 went home. 
• Next the Lord Himself chose 300 to represent Him in the war against Midian so that the people of Israel would know that it was the Lord who delivered them and not their army.
• The Lord encouraged Gideon who was in fear and led him to overhear a dream and it's interpretation down in the camp of the enemy. 
• Gideon and his 300 surrounded the camp and did as the Lord commanded. The Lord won the battle and the huge army fled.
• As the armies fled Gideon the Lord handed them over to Israel. The tribe of Ephraim captured the Kings Oreb and Zeeb and killed them.
• Gideon and his small army of 300 continued to pursue the fleeing armies. During their pursuit they went through Succoth and Penuel but were denied support. Over 120,000 men of the enemy army had already died. Gideon captured the kings leading these armies and disciplined the cities who did not stand with him and support his army.
• The people asked Gideon to lead them but he said no the LORD will rule over you.
• Gideon took gold from the plunder and made an idol that the people worshiped.  He went home after avenging his brothers deaths and there was peace for 40 years in Israel while he lived.  He had 70 sons because he had many wives.
• Abimelech was Gideon's son.
• After Gideon died Israel once again turned their hearts to Baal.
• Abimelech was made king and then killed all his brothers accept for Jotham who had hidden away. 

I was a little shocked today when I read the conclusion of the story of Gideon.  I had not remembered the parts of him making an idol and having so many wives and concubines!  It saddened me to read that a nation is led astray by a godly man.

I was also encouraged me that God used a sinner who loved him and did not follow him perfectly to deliver His people. There is hope for us who are not 'perfect' vessels that we might become vessels of honour in His mighty hand.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (Amplified Bible)
Blessings
Chareen 

90 - Sisera' death and the rise of the 6th Judge Gideon

Kathleen's thoughts

Judges4,5,6,

When I read Judges 4: 17-24 I could not imagine taking a tent peg and placing it on someones temple and hammering it through the temple. What courage Jael must have had but I do believe the Lord's hand was upon her as one notes in chapter 5:24 Jael is most blessed of women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; she is most blessed among tent-dwelling women.

Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to greet him and took him to the site where Sisera laid dead from the tent peg. That day Jabin King of Canaan became subdued before the Israelites and so the power of the Israelites continued to increase against Jabin King of Canaan until they destroyed him.

The Israelites fell back into sin and so the Lord handed them over to Midian for 7 years. In this time the Israelites fell into famine. The Midianites destroyed the produce of the land even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep ox or donkey. and so Israel became poverty stricken.

The sixth Judge - Gideon

The Angel of the Lord came, and He sat under the oak that was in Ophrah belonging to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son was Gidion who at the time was threshing wheat in the wine vat Then the Angel of the Lord spoke to Gidion and said The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. The Lord gave strength to Gideon to destroy his fathers altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it and build a well constructed altar to the Lord your God on the top of this rock. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down. Gideon did this. His fathers people were very upset and wanted justice to be done but the Lord of Gideon was with him.

The spirit of the Lord enveloped Gideon and he blew the rams horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.

The fleece of Gideon. Gideon once again needed proof that the Lord will deliver Israel by his hand and so the fleece of wool was laid on the threshing floor. If dew is only on the fleece and all the ground is dry I will know that You will deliver Israel by my strength as You said this did happen but Gideon needed more proof and asked if the dew is only on the ground and not on the fleece and this God did for Gideon.

Psalm 101:6 My eyes favour the faithful of the land so that they may sit down with me. The one who follows the way of integrity may serve me.

Blessings

Kathleen.

90 - you mighty man of [fearless] courage

Jael Shows to Barak, Sisera Lying dead.
James Tissot 1896

Chareen's Thoughts.

• Jael was definately a woman of courage!  I don't think I could have done what she did in putting a tent spike into Jabin's head in her tent.
• Deborah and Barak sang and praised God for what He had done.
• Israel had been delivered once again and the kingdom of Israel grew.  Some were good and some not so good.
• There was peace for 40 years in Israel.
• Once again Israel turned from the Lord and he handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. As a result Israel became impoverished and cried out to the Lord and He rebuked them.
• The Lord then appointed Gideon son of Joash. He sent the Angel of the Lord to Gideon to appoint him.
• In fear Gideon tore down the altar to Baal at night in his fathers house.  Because of this the Midianites, Amalekites and Qedemites gathered together to come against Israel.
• The Spirit of the Lord enveloped Gideon and he became courageous and blew the trumpet calling Israel together.
• Gideon then places a fleece before the Lord who graciously does as Gideon requests.

Today I enjoyed reading about the calling of Gideon.  I often picture him as this courageous man of God to aspire to and yet as I read today I read about a man who is fearful (but because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night. Judges 6:27).
A man who is hiding and yet God says:  ..., you mighty man of [fearless] courage. Judges 6:12  This is a  man who doubts himself and his calling and I am encouraged.  Encouraged that the Lord uses real people who love Him to lead His people to freedom. 

I pray He would encourage you and speak words of wisdom to you today.  May you be blessed as you walk with Him.

Elsewhere on the web:

• Gideon (Jerubbaal) at Chabad.org Jewish History.
• Jerubbaal over at Jewish Encyclopedia.
• Gideon  over at Jewish Encyclopedia.
• Gideon over at Wikipedia.

89 - Ruth & Boaz

The Summer (Ruth and Boaz)
Nicolas Poussin 1660

Kathleen's thoughts
Ruth 2,3,4
Judges 4

The story of Ruth is such a lovely story of how she supports her mother-in-law and her mother-in-law speaks over her.

Ruth goes to gather the fallen grain in Boaz's fields and he notices her and has compassion and tells his workers to leave the the extra grain on the ground for her to pick up and he gives commands to the workers to protect her as well as tells Ruth to only pick from his harvest. Boaz also invites her to eat lunch with the workers and himself.

Naomi asks Ruth where she is gathering her grain and when Naomi finds out she tells Ruth he is a family member of her husband now known as a redeemer.

Naomi gives instructions to Ruth to put her best clothes and perfume on as the evening will be a winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Naomi says to Ruth "When he lies down, notice the place where he's lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do"

Ruth obeys her mother-in-law by doing exactly what she was told to do. Boaz woke to find Ruth lying at his feet asking who she was . "I am Ruth your slave,' "Spread your cloak over me, for you are a family redeemer" Boaz said to Ruth May the Lord bless you , my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. Now don't be afraid, my daughter I will do for you what every you say. because the people in town say you are of noble character.

Boaz also tells Ruth that there is another family member who is actually her redeemer and will confront him in the morning and this he did but this family member when discovering that he would be landed with Ruth on the purchasing of Naomi's property he declined in front of the elders who were witnesses to this who was sitting with Boaz. And so Boaz took over the purchase of property as well as marrying Ruth.

Ruth then bore him a son naming him Obed who is the father of Jesse,the father of David.

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse Matthew 1:5

Naomi took this child and looked after him.

Judges

During this time there was a prophetess named Deborah the wife of Lappidoth who was judging Israel at the time. It was custom for her to sit under the palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her for judgement.

She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and asked him has not the Lord, the god of Israel commanded you , Go deploy the troops on Mount Tabor to fight Sisera and this he did along side Deborah and Sisera was defeated.

It's wonderful when one sees that when you listen to the Lord you shall prosper in all things.

Psalm 37:23 A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.

Blessings
Kathleen.

89 - From Gleaner to Wife and Mother

Ruth and Boaz
Gustave Dore

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today continues the story of Ruth.
• Ruth goes to glean food in Boaz's fields.
• Boaz gives her his blessing and instructs her to glean in his fields.  He tells his harvesters to look after her and feed her.
• As was their custom Boaz was the family redeemer and Naomi encouraged Ruth to stay with the woman in Boaz's fields for protection.
• Naomi instructed Ruth to go to Boaz after the winnowing of barley. She did as Naomi said and Boaz acknowledges his duty to her as redeemer.
• Boaz spoke to the family redeemer at the gate who refuses his inheritance at the city gates.
• Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth and married Ruth.
• The Lord blessed Ruth with Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ]. Ruth 4:17.
• During this time the Lord anointed and appointed Deborah and Barak as the fourth and fith judges of Israel.
• Barak was a man of fear too and would not go as the Lord said unless Deborah went with him.  She warned him that because of this he would receive no honour for the Lord would deliver Sisera into a woman's hand.
• Sisera was defeated ...all the army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left. Judges4:16

As I read the story of Ruth today my thoughts were about how Naomi's husband moved to make a better life for his family yet he and his two sons both died.  When you look at this situation in the flesh it looks hopeless and yet God's design was to graft a non believing nation into Israel.  Not only that she was the mother of the grandfather of King David from whom the Messiah was born. She who's heart was faithful and obedient was rewarded with a book in the bible named for her and she is mentioned in the linage of Jesus. I think I forget to often that The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Psalm 37:23

Blessings
Chareen.

A Triumphant Love Story.

Available to purchase from: Amazon, Koorong, Word and Fishpond.

88 - When all seems lost He is quietly working

by P Calderon CA1800

Chareen's Thoughts

• Israel is at war.  Many from the tribe of Benjamin have died.  It took months before they gained a victory but it cost them dearly.
•  The tribe of Benjamin has been desecrated. There is great mourning and heartache. There is however a remnant. The remnant are given Jabeshgilead to live in and wives from Shiloh and virgins from Jabeh-gilead.
• After Ehud, Shamgar became the Judge of Israel and deliver them from the Philistines.
• Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and were then sold into the hand of Jabin.
• Today begins the journey of Ruth and Naomi.  Two woman on a journey to become the mother of the grandfather of King David from whom the Messiah was born.
• Elimalech has left Israel to try and find something better because of the famine in the land.
• He has two sons who marry moabite woman. Him and his two sons both die. Ruth is left with her two daughters in law in a foreign land and no husband.
• She decides to go home to Israel. At first both daughters in law follow but eventually she persuades Orpah to go home but Ruth is determined to support and stay with Naomi.
• Naomi returned home bitter and empty. They arrived back in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

 As an immigrant myself I read this story with compassion for this family.  It is not an easy thing to pack up and move and leave all that you have loved and known behind.   I felt her heartache and desolation at loosing all that she loved.  I am amazed at how the Lord chose to graft Ruth into the lineage of Jesus and how the story unfolds.
I begin to realise that when all seems lost He is quietly working His good plan for us.
Blessings
Chareen

Available to purchase from: Amazon, Koorong, Word and Fishpond.

88 - Benjaminites defeated by the sword.

Amazon, Koorong, Word and Fishpond.

Kathleen's thoughts

Judges 20,21

Ruth 1,

Judges 20... And so the Benjaminites are defeated by the sword as the Lord had promised to the Israelites but not until the 3rd day and the loss of 40,000 Israelites. But the Israelites came before the Lord and asked for guidance and the Lord said he would deliver them and this happened. Gods word is true and just.

All the Benjaminities that died that day were 25,000 and 600 men escaped into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They killed everything that remained and burnt the city down.

Judges 21 is the mourning for the Menjaminites and trying to find wives for the 600 men but at the same time also the Israelites swore not to allow their woman to be their wives .

Judges 4: 1-3 Again the Israelites fell into sin after Ehud had died and the Israelites cried out to the Lord because Jabin harshly oppressed them for 20 years.

Ruth 1. There was a great famine in the land and so Elimelech and his wife Naomi with their 2 sons who were Ephrathites left Bethlehem in Judah. The names of the 2 sons were Mahlon and Chilion and settled in the land of Moab. When the sons were older they took to each of them Moabite women as their wives Orpah and Ruth. They lived there for about 10 years then Naomi's husband and 2 sons died. Naomi decided to return back to Bethlehem and her 2 daughter-in-laws with her and half way she told them to return to their mothers Orpah went back and Ruth remained with her mother-in-law. and these are her words

Ruth 1:16-17 Do not persuade me to leave you or go back and not follow you. For wherever you go,I will go and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die and there I Will be buried. May the Lord do this to me, and even more, if anything but death separates you and me.

And so Ruth goes with Naomi and they arrive to a warm welcome in Bethlehem and it's here that Naomi changes her name from Naomi to Mara She answered For the Almighty has made me very bitter. I left full but the Lord has brought me back empty.

They arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest.

One of my favourite chapters in the Bible what a virtuous woman. Her inner beauty and kindness towards her mother-in-law has touched my life. She became the G Grandmother King David The book of Ruth one can see how God has cared for this one woman because of her faithfulness towards Naomi.

A wonderful verse to remember from this book is this "Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" Ruth 1:16

Blessings

Kathleen.

87 - Cival war and Sin

The Levite Carries the Womans body away.

Chareen's Thoughts

•  All was not a bed of roses in Israel.  As they settled the land in Israel missunderstandings arose and the general unhappiness that causes cival war. So todays reading begins with the war in Israel between the Danites and Micah. all of this because of idol worship!!
• Next I read the sad sad story of a Levite man and his concubine.  
• The wickedness and brutality and sin of the men of Gibeah was rather confronting.
• Israel was shocked when they heard what had happened to the Levites concubine and gathered for cival war against the offending men of Gibeah.
• When Israel asked for the wicked men of Gibeah to be handed over the tribe of Benjamin protected the men of Gibeah so Israel went to war against Banjamin.

Such a sad reading today.

Blessings
Chareen

87 - The heart is more deceitful

Kathleen's thoughts

A Levite finds a womans corpse.

Judges 18,19,20

Judges 18...The disobedience of the Danites. They rob Micah of his priest who took the Household idols carved images and ephod with him when he went with the Danite men. From here they went to Laish. They killed the people there and burnt their city. They then rebuilt the city and named it Dan.

The Danites set up carved images for themselves. I find this very sad today when I read that Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses and his sons were priests for the Danite tribe and they too set for themselves Micah's carved images. after all what Moses did for the Israelites they betray Gods covenant with them.

Judges 19... Up until now there has been no king in Israel.

A Levite man acquired a woman from Bethlehem in Judah as his concubine. She was unfaithful to him and left for her fathers house and was there 4 months.

The husband went to her fathers house and there he stayed after being persuaded many nights to stay and finally he left with his concubine and on his way home he stopped for the night at Gibeah where no one took them into their home until a old man came from his work in the field. He was from the hill country of Ephraim and lived in Gilbeah. He took him and his concubine in when there was a knock on the door. It was men with evil intent and wanted this man to conduct sexual acts with him and the man of the house said rather take his daughter but they took the concubine and raped her repeatedly and when they had finished threw her at the front door and the husband of this woman found her lying there.

He left there and when he returned home he cut her into 12 pieces and distributed her throughout the territory of Israel. The Israelites finding out the reason from this man the people then stood united and said, "None of us will go to his tent or return to his house. Now this is what we will do to Gilbeah; we will go against it by lot and this they did. So all the people united against the city of Gibeah in Benjamin and so the war began until the Lord handed it over to them.

Jer. 17:9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick - who can understand it.

Imagine saying to someone take my daughter instead of my guest. Reminds me of Abraham and Isaac. How God supplies our needs when needed. Sounds terrible when you think about it that poor woman must have suffered beyond measure.

Blessings

Kathleen.

86 - Judges the 7th book in the Bible and the second book of history.

Kathleen's thoughts

Judges 1,2,3,17,18

Israel starts to backslide. One of the reasons for this is that the whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors the the generation that rose up who did not know the Lord or the works He had done for Israel. This I find most difficult to understand with the older generation before going home how come they did not engrain in their children the truth about the covenant of the Lord and what would happen if they disobeyed the Lord.

Judges 2:20 The Lord's anger burned against Israel, and He declared, "Because this nation has violated My covenant that I made with their fathers and disobeyed Me...21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died...22I did this to test Israel and to see whether they would keep the Lord's way by walking in it, as their fathers had"

Judges 3:11 Then the land was peaceful 40 years and Othniel son of Kenaz died. I find interesting here is again it's 40 years.

Once again Israel rebels and The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.

Joshua 24:33 Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah.

Second judge Ehud son of Gera, a left handed Benjaminite delivers Israel. 3:15-30 I find this interesting as they make note of him being left handed.

Ehud made a 18" sword placed it in a strap to his leg and went to the Eglon King of Moab who was fat and told him he had a private message from the Lord he stood up and his servants left him and Ehud stabbed him into his belly leaving the sword enveloped into his fat and then Ethud escaped going back to his people sounding the ram's horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hill country and he became their leader. they followed him because the Lord handed over to them their enemies The Moabites.

Moab became subject to Israel that day and the land was peaceful 80 years.

Judges 1: 1-6 A story of Micah and his mother who had 1,100 pieces of silver taken and Micah's mother had uttered a curse over these silver pieces. Micah's mother said" I personally consecrate the silve to the Lord for my son's benefit to make a carved image overlaid with silver. so Micah returned the silver to his mother and she took five pounds of silver and had a carved image overlaid with silver made and was placed in Micah's house...6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what ever he wanted.

Micah fooled a Levite who was wondering looking for another place to live and he invited him to be his priest which this Levite excepted.

The Danites seek to enlarge their inheritance. Judges 18: 1-15 In this chapter they discover Micah's silver images of gods in his home and they did a detour to the house of the Levite who was asked by Micah to be his personal priest.

John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, For He will not speak on HIs own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.

Blessings

Kathleen.

86 - No other gods before ME

No other gods before ME

Chareen's Thoughts

• Even though the Israelites had taken possession of the land they failed to drive out all the inhabitants in the land.
• After the initial generation who crossed the Jordan died the new generation arose who did not know the Lord and what he had done.  They chose to worship foreign gods and as a result the Lord handed them over to other nations.
• I from now on will also not drive out from before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not. So the Lord left those nations, without driving them out at once, nor had He delivered them into Joshua's power. Judges 2:21-23 it was a test.
• NOW THESE are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not previously experienced war in Canaan; It was only that the generations of the Israelites might know and be taught war, at least those who previously knew nothing of it. Judges 3:1-2
• There was 40 years of peace after Othniel led the people back to the Lord. Then he died.
• Eleazar the high priest died and Phinehas took over.
• The Israelites turned away from the Lord again and after their captivity they cried out and were then given Ehud as a new judge to deliver them.
• Micah makes an image and a place in his house to worship idols with a priest etc. He employed a levite to be a priest in his idol temple
• The tribe of Dan seek a place to make their own territory and discover Micah, his levite priest and his idols.

I was a little shocked to read this story !  Wow he makes an idol from the money his mother consecrates to God and then because a Levite knocks at his door he thinks this is a sign of God's approval.  Yet scripture clearly states no idol worship!  I now realise he is interpreting rather than obeying.

Blessings
Chareen

85 - Appointed by the Lord

Joshua's Tomb at Kifi Hares
Palestinian town in the northern West Bank

Chareen's Thoughts

• Joshua was getting older and summoned the people for a meeting where he encouraged the people to be strong and continue to obey all that is written in the book of the law.
• He warned the people to diligent to love the LORD for their own well being. He warned them of the consequences of not doing so.
• He reminded them of the benefits of worshiping and loving the Lord and encourages them to renew their covenant with the LORD.
• And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He did for Israel. Judges 2:7
• Joshua died at the age of 110. 
• Joseph's bones were laid to rest at Shechem.
• The tribes of Judah and Simeon battle the inhabitants of the land and drove them out.
• The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel and kept their word and spared the man who showed them where Bethel was.  This man built the town of Luz.
• But the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the hands of those who robbed them.
• When the Judge was alive they followed the Lord but when he died they followed the gods of the land. 
• The Israelites did not drive out the foreigners but married their daughters and turned their hearts to worship foreign gods so the Lord sold them to the king of Aram and they were slaves there for eight years.
• Othniel was the first Judge appointed by the Lord and he saved Israel.

I was amazed at the influence of Joshua and Moses over Israel after they had died. Their legacy was so strong that Israel did not waiver from following the Lord after they died while the elders lived.  Amazing the influence our eldership has over the lives of people.

Blessings
Chareen

85 - As for me and my house we will serve the Lord

Kathleen's thoughts

Joshua 23,24

Judges 1,2,3

We come to the end of the book of Joshua where he calls the Israelites and renews the covenant with them and warns them what will happen if they walk away from the teachings of the Law. After he had told them and blessed them in 24: 22 Joshua then told the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen to worship the Lord: "We are witnesses," they said.

Joshua 24: 14 Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt and worship the Lord.

Joshua 24: 15 (amplified KJ) And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. This is a beautiful verse to have around your home as a reminder. We serve a awesome God and His promises are true and just!

Joshua lived to be 110 years of age and was buried in his allotted territory at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash.

Israel worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua's lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua.

We now start with the book of Judges and the first judge of Israel is Othniel son of Kenaz who is Caleb's; youngest brother as a deliver to save the Israelites. The spirit of the Lord was on him.

Blessings

Kathleen.

84 - The Lords promises fulfilled.

Kathleen's thoughts

Joshua 21,22,

Joshua 21: 43-45 (KJ) And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein...And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers; and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand...There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

22: 1-9 Reuben and Gad sent back to their homes.

When the Reubenites Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh were settled on their lot they decided to build a Altar to the Lord but a misunderstanding by the Israelites prevailed but in the end it was all sorted out when they were told that it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.

And so God's people were finally in the promised land, a land of milk and honey. God also told them not to worry for the Lord their God will protect them.

BLessings
Kathleen.

84 - Trust Him He keeps His word

Chareen's Thoughts

• All the Lord's promises to His people are now fulfilled and they are living in the Promised Land.
• The Reubenites, Gadites and half the tribe of Reuben have fulfilled their promise to stand with the house of Israel until all the land had been taken.  Joshua blesses them and releases them to go home with an admonition to keep the statutes of the Lord.
• When they returned home they built an altar for themselves to the Lord on their side of the river.
• When the rest of Israel heard this they gathered together to go to war against their brothers because they were offended with the altar. They went over and challenged them.
• The Reubenites explain that the altar is not for burnt offerings but as a symbol to remind themselves and their brothers across the river that they are a part of the covenant. It is merely a replica to remind everyone they are a part of the nation of Israel.
• The name of the altar is: Ed [witness], saying, It shall be: A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.
• The priests reported all this back to the house of Israel who were satisfied with the report and went home.

 It is so important to keep each other accountable on our walks with he Lord to make sure that we do not twist His word or break His commands.  More importantly however it is that we approach one another for clarification for perceived misconduct and hear what and why something is going on.  I think many minor family wars could be avoided if we just took the time to ask and listen.

⁴³And the Lord gave to Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and dwelt in it.

    ⁴⁴The Lord gave them rest round about, just as He had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies withstood them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands.

    ⁴⁵There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass. Joshua 21:43-45

I can trust Him He keeps His word.

Blessings
Chareen

83 - Refuge

Kathleen's thoughts

Joshua 13,19,20,21

1 Chronicles 6: 54-81

The allotments of land distributed for the rest of the tribes

The cities of refuge well placed for all to get to within a day for those who seeked refuge for causing accidental death. One can see from this reading that Gods plan is always perfect and just. He protects us in all our ways.

Psalm 46:11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Within the Israelite possession there were 48 cities in all with their pasture lands for the Levites.

Remember in previous scriptures that the Lord , the God of Israel, was their inheritance and that the 12 tribes had to give portion of their land to the Levites.

Blessings

Kathleen.

83 - GOD IS our Refuge

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's reading continues with the distribution and allotment of land to the tribes of Israel
  Zebulun
  Issachar
  Asher
  Naphtali
  Dan
  and Joshua's portion
• All the land was divided and portioned by lot in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting in Shiloh.
• The Lord reminds the Israelites to designate cities of refuge and says Any of the Israelites or any alien living among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly. Joshua 20:9
• You can find a visual map with the tribal lands over at Daily Bible.
• The tribe of Levi did not inherit any thing because The Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He told them. Joshua 13:33 They were allotted cities out of the other Israelites inheritance.
•  The Kohathites were also allotted settlements.

 Did you know that the word REFUGE appears 120 times in the bible and only ONCE in the New Testament ?

This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]. Hebrews 6:18 (Amplified Bible) GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (Amplified Bible)

Blessings
Chareen

82 - Into an Inheritance

Emblem of Israel

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's reading is about the division of land and cities among the tribes of Israel.
• The land and cities divided by lot before the Lord:
Judah
Josheph's sons: Ephraim & Manasseh (extra land allotted)
Levites no land but cities
Gad
Reuben
Benjamin
Simeon 
• The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh

I was feeling a little bored today reading all the land distribution records but the more I thought about the records the more I realised that these words are the fulfillment of the Lords promises.  They are the record of His faithfulness.

Did you know that the word inheritance appears 190 times in the Amplified bible ?

1 Peter 1:3-5

³Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

    ⁴[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

    ⁵Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that ^[a]final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

Blessings
Chareen

82 - Division of the land of the 12 tribes

Kathleen's thoughts

Joshua 15,16,1718,19

1 Chronicles 4:28-33


And so the 12 tribes take ownership of their lands that were allotted to them. It's a interesting read and following on the map. It must have been quite a journey walking to their land but I could also seem them being excited in knowing that their journey out of the land of Egypt to the promised land of milk and honey is finally over and they could now rejoice and be glad in it.


Joshua 15:63. But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah to this day. Also found in Judges 1:21 Th the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.


The Jebusites are the descendnats of Noah's son Ham.(This is an interesting read!)






The cities of Judah Joshua 15: 48-63


Then the portion of Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manesseh


Joshua 17: 14-18 Josephs family want a larger portion and spoke to Joshua and he told them to the forest and clear an area for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.

Joshua 18:1 The tabernacle is set up in Shiloh.

Joshua 18: 2-10 The remainder of the land is given.


At the end of this reading a very interesting thought was given. Many of us when reading the scriptures of the division and allotment of land we sort of skip through it without thought and then they give this scripture from 2 Timothy 3: 16.(KJ) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness...17 That the man of god may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.


Food for thought!

Blessings for a beautiful day

Kathleen.

81 - Conquered !

Chareen's Thoughts

• There were many kings defeated by Joshua.
• There was still a lot of land to conquer and Joshua was growing old.  The Lord told him to divide the land of Canaan.
• Caleb was 85 years old when he was given Hebron as an inheritance.
• Judah was alloted their inheritance.
• 1415 BC was the first sabbaticla year for Israel.

Blessings
Chareen

81 - Kings defeated and Caleb is granted his portion

Kathleen's thoughts

Joshua 12,13,14,15

Judges 1:20

1 Chronicles 6:56

Judges Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised. Then Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak who lived there. This is also found in Joshua 15: 13-19

Caleb also promised this "I will give my daughter Aschsah as a wife to the one who strikes down and captures Kiriath-sepher" So Othniel son of Caleb's brother Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter to Ashsah to him as a wife.

Judges 1:16 The descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father in-law had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad.

They went to live among the people.

Joshua 14: 4 The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manesseh and Ephraim.

Judah's portion. 15: 1-12 The allotment for this tribe and by their clans was in the southernmost region, south of the wilderness of Zin to the border of Edom.

1415BC ISRAEL'S FIRST SABBATICAL YEAR.

Bible Dictionary

Sabbatical year definition

Every seventh year, during which the land, according to the law of Moses, had to remain uncultivated (Lev. 25:2-7; comp. Ex.23:10, 11, 12; Lev. 26:34, 35). Whatever grew of itself during that year was not for the owner of the land, but for the poor and the stranger and the beasts of the field. All debts, except thoseof foreigners, were to be remitted (Deut. 15:1-11). There is little notice of the observance of this year in Biblical history. It appears to have been much neglected (2 Chr. 36:20, 21).

Joshua 15: 20-47 Is all about the cities of Judah

Joshua 1:8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do"

Blessings

Kathleen.