Some of the Land Still to be Conquered (Josh. 13:1-6)

10/19/2009 9:03 PM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time           Focus:  Some of the land still to be conquered

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Joshua 13:1-6

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  When Joshua was an old man, the LORD said to him, "You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered. 2  The people still need to occupy the land of the Philistines and the Geshurites— 3  territory that belongs to the Canaanites. This land extends from the stream of Shihor, which is on the boundary of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, 4  and includes the five Philistine cities of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The land of the Avvites in the south also remains to be conquered. In the north, this area has not yet been conquered: all the land of the Canaanites, including Mearah (which belongs to the Sidonians), stretching northward to Aphek on the border of the Amorites; 5  the land of the Gebalites and all of the Lebanon mountain area to the east, from Baal-gad beneath Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath; 6  and all the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, including all the land of the Sidonians. "I will drive these people out of the land for the Israelites. So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession, just as I have commanded you.”

            After taking so many verses in the SD from yesterday I choose today not to take as many as were in Dr. Wiersbe’s book for this section.  He has taken the entire thirteenth chapter of Joshua.  These first six verses did not seem to me to be under the theme that he had and that is why I wanted to do these verses by themselves.

            The age of Joshua at this time could be right around 100 years old as he lived to 110 years old before he died, which is recorded at the end of the book of Joshua.  He must have been a bit younger than Caleb who was around eighty-five years old at this time.  It must have taken about seven years to conquer the amount of land that had already been conquered and so it probably will take another ten years in order to give Israel their inheritance.  God is the owner of the land and Israel is only leasing it from the Lord.  Lev. 25:23 “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.”  (NIV)

            In these six verses the Lord gives to Joshua a list of what still needs to be conquered over the Promised Land and then in verse 6b He tells Joshua “I will drive these people out of the land for the Israelites. So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession, just as I have commanded you.’”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I truly love reading the promises that the Lord gives to people in the Scriptures and then see Him fulfil those promises.  God has given to me many precious promises in His Word, and the promises concerning the gift of Salvation and being with the Lord forever are some of my favorites in all of the Scriptures.  I think of being in heaven serving the Lord and not having to deal with sin or a sin nature are ranked up high on my list of promises from the Lord that I am looking forward to the most.    10/19/2009 9:46 PM