Tuesday 11/29/22

Faithfulness Unto Victory

📺️ Joshua 14 🔊

¹And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

 ²By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

 ³For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

 ⁴For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

 ⁵As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

 ⁶Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

 ⁷Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

 ⁸Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

 ⁹And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

 ¹⁰And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

 ¹¹As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

 ¹²Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

 ¹³And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

 ¹⁴Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

 ¹⁵And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Joshua 

Date Penned: (1406-1370 BC)

Overview: A Record of Israel in the Promised Land (c 1-34)

Theme: Dividing the Promised Land (c 13-24)

Message: Assignment of the Land West of the Jordan  (v 1-15)

Joshua 14 Commentary

(14:5) Following the Lord - The land was divided exactly as God had instructed Moses years before. Joshua did not change a thing. He followed God's commands precisely. Often we believe that almost is close enough, and this idea can carry over into our spiritual lives. For example, we may follow God's Word as long as it feels easy but ignore it when we do not want to do what God wants. But God is looking for people who will devote themselves completely to following his Word and his will.

(14:6-12) Caleb is Rewarded - Caleb was faithful from the start. As one of the original spies sent into the Promised Land, he had seen great cities and giants and yet trusted that God would help the people conquer the land (Numbers 13:30-33). Because of Caleb's faith, God promised him a personal inheritance of land (Numbers 14:24; Deuteronomy 1:34-36). Here, 45 years later, the land was given to him. Caleb's faith was still unwavering. Although his inherited land still had giants, Caleb knew the Lord would help him conquer them. Like Caleb, be faithful to God not only at the start of your walk with him but also through your entire life. Be careful not to rest on your past accomplishments or reputation.

(14:6-12) God Keeps His Word - When Joshua gave Caleb his inheritance, it fulfilled a promise God had made to Caleb 45 years earlier. We expect such integrity and reliability from God, but do we expect the same from his followers? Can others expect it from you? Is your word this reliable? Would you honor a 45-year-old promise? God would--and does. Even today he is honoring promises he made thousands of years ago. In fact, some of his greatest promises have yet to be fulfilled. This gives us much to look forward to. Let your faith grow as you experience how God keeps his word.

(14:5) The Anakims - The Anakims were a people marked by extraordinary height and strength who inhabited parts of the land before Joshua's conquest. Because of their height, they were sometimes referred to as giants.

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Joshua with Chapter 14 and we see the Dividing of the Promised land. Today Caleb gets his mountain after 45 years of waiting. What catches my attention is the patience and faithfulness of Caleb and Joshua. They were willing to go into the promise land 40 years ago but due to the unfaithfulness of Israel they suffered from their decision. God is faithful to them and they are rewarded in the end. In making application many people are placed in situations due to the decisions of others. Spouses, Parents, Authorities, Church members, and others sometimes place us in situations that go against the Lord. Consequences of their bad decisions seem to affect us but if we are faithful the Lord, then He will bless us in the end. It reminds me of boss I have had that placed my career in a holding pattern because of his bad judgement. In the end he lost his position and I received a promotion. God was faithful to me as I remained faithful to my authority and the Lord. How about you? Have you been placed in a situation that is beyond your control? Let us learn from todays text and Joshua and Caleb staying faithful for in the end we will receive our reward.