I’d like to tell you in advance that tomorrow’s lesson will again concern Joshua chapter 20. It’s just too important to rush through so many truths!

But at least the first two verses get us started.

“The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying; speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you CITIES OF REFUGE, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses ….” Joshua 20:1-2

These cities (six of them) are to be specifically named places of “refuge” for a reason. So that a man guilty of what we would call “involuntary manslaughter” might run to any one of them, and be safe from any avenger! Like a relative of the dead person! Who might be out for “blood!”

The Hebrew noun “refuge” tells us a lot, as well. “Miqlat” (masculine singular) means “asylum.” It is translated (King James Version) “refuge” all 20 times it occurs in the Bible.

But … interestingly … it is derived from a verbal root (“qalat”) meaning “to be stunted, handicapped, deformed,” as of an animal lacking a leg or eye or ear, whatever.

Wow!

A place for deformed people.

I realize this chapter is speaking of social or moral deformity, a man having committed (and accidently at that) some crime against society.

Nevertheless God’s Law (given via Moses) allows for the appointment of these cities as a means of grace, refuge, safety for the erring man or (surely) woman.

Let me stop for today and observe something.

We were all sinners, spiritually deformed!

At the mercy of an enemy (the devil) who wanted us dead. And yes, we had committed crimes guilty of such a terrible end!

But God in His Grace, these cities no doubt being pictures of the Safety available in Jesus Christ our Lord, devised these abodes for the protection of the fleeing sinner!

Yes, Jesus is our City of Refuge.

It’s a little bit like Noah being “in the ark!”

Or Paul telling us again and again that we are “in” Christ Jesus, once we have been born-again!

Lots more information is available, from Joshua 20 (or its Biblical counterpart, Numbers 35) … and we shall glean there again tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Meanwhile … rejoice, delight in your “security” in Jesus!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

I noticed an interesting fact as I read Joshua chapter 19 earlier this morning. Two facts really, but they harmonize beautifully.

Joshua is (carefully following God’s Will) allotting to the Tribes of Israel their land grants, geographical territories promised them by God long ago.

And so we read: “Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: FOR THE PART OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH WAS TOO MUCH FOR THEM: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.” Joshua 19:9

Judah had too much land!

And, even though he numerically was the largest tribe, part of his holdings were given away! To his brother Simeon, that tribe! And, far as we can tell, Judah never said a word in complaint.

I am suggesting this is an excellent example of “brotherly kindness,” to use Peter’s term employed later in the Bible.

Sharing with the brethren!

Then I came across verse 47 in today’s chapter, Joshua 19. Sort of a “reversal” of the Judah situation. “AND THE COAST OF THE CHILDREN OF DAN WENT OUT TOO LITTLE FOR THEM: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.”

Wow!

Now a tribe has insufficient land!

So … the Danites did not grumble either! They merely went to battle and conquered more heathen territory, Leshem by name. They wisely did not try to take any land from their brethren, but sought it elsewhere … yet still in the area God had bequeathed to Israel, her “Promised Land!”

Two examples today …

First, “too much” so I’ll share.

And then “not enough” so I’ll claim more … but in the right way.

Had that kind of sweetness persisted in Israel … the “divided kingdom” could have never occurred!

Oh, that we might learn to “love one another!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Now I’m wondering if the good example first set by Judah might have had a great influence on Dan his Brother, that tribe!

Maybe so.

 

 

I had always thought that Jerusalem was located in the tribal area belonging to Judah. But alas, I am wrong! Judah being the royal tribe, the men and women from which would spring Jesus Christ, the Virgin Born Son of God … and our Saviour. And Jerusalem (eventually) being the Capital City of that people, that Nation, Israel.

But I have learned today that Jebusi (the ancient name for the City of Jerusalem) actually rested in the land given to Benjamin!

Of course it is also true that Judah and Benjamin were “close” to each other, spiritually and geographically! They constituted the “two tribes” of the (once the civil war occurred) Southern Kingdom of the Jews, headquartered at Jerusalem of course.

Joshua 17:21-28 tells the story in microcosm. “Now the cities of the tribe of the children of BENJAMIN according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, and Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, and Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, and Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, and Zelah, Eleph, and JEBUSI, WHICH IS JERUSALEM, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.”

Wow!

Yes, the Benjamites “owned” Jerusalem, a gift from God!

Along with this fact, this promise: “And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will WITHOUT FAIL drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the JEBUSITES.” Joshua 3:10, positively!

Yet for some reason … “The children of Benjamin DID NOT DRIVE OUT the JEBUSITES that inhabited JERUSALEM; but the JEBUSITES dwell with the children of Benjamin in JERUSALEM unto this day.” Judges 1:21, amazing!

In fact, not until the time of David (hundreds of years later) did the Israelites ever fully conquer the city of Jebus! Here’s the history: “And David and all Israel went to JERUSALEM, which is JEBUS; where the JEBUSITES were, the inhabitants of the land. And the inhabitants of JEBUS said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the JEBUSITES first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it THE CITY OF DAVID.” 1st Chronicles 11:4-7

The point of today’s lesson?

Looks like the Devil had contested the City of Jerusalem for a long, long time!

Unwilling to give it to the Jews, as God’s Will dictated, lost mankind has fought and bickered over Jerusalem for centuries, millennia really!

Truly, the battle still rages today, doesn’t it?

By the way … has God given YOU something, victory in an area of your life, that Satan is also fighting?

Not wanting to yield an inch?

If so … be like David of old.

Take what is yours!

Rename it, too.

No longer “Jebus” (threshing place) … but your “Jersusalem” (city of Peace)!

What a difference!

Christian friend reading here today … live up to you inheritance in Christ Jesus!

Be an overcomer.

Not a  slave.

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

The verse tells of a dangerous trend!

Especially since God had promised total victory to the Israelites.

“Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but DID NOT utterly drive them out.” Joshua 17:13

To “drive out” means “to dispossess, to seize, to occupy.”

To “put to tribute” means (literally) “to give to forced labor.”

And the “Canaanites” are ungodly people, filthy in their sinful ways.

In fact, God had promised Israel HELP in driving out such ungodliness! “And I (the Lord) will send hornets before thee, which SHALL DRIVE OUT the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.” Exodus 23:28

And God had carefully warned Israel of the consequences of NOT driving our the heathen. “But IF ye will NOT DRIVE OUT the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.” Numbers 33:55

Still … today’s verse reports: “When the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.”

Wow!

Spiritual laziness!

They, the Jews, were “strong.”

They “could have” done it, claimed their land exclusively.

But they chose to “live near” all that sin and degradation!

Besides, these people could be turned into “assets!”

Free labor!

Heavy taxation!

What’s not to like?

“Cash in” on the opportunity!

But before we know it … Israel has begun to adopt the ways of her non-believing “neighbors!”

And it all began … by not obeying God in living a “separated” life!

Paul adds: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

What an admonition!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Anyone reading here today? Text me with a comment, 770-844-7627.

 

 

 

The Book of Joshua largely concerns the people of Israel being given the Land, the Real Estate which God had promised them long ago. So tribe by tribe the geographical limits of their respective allotments are described, in some detail. Therefore, Joshua is in many ways a “technical” Book.

But earlier today I found what I believe is a little “nugget” in Joshua 16:4. “So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.”

What tribe is this?

Clearly, Joseph.

So, why are his “children” listed?

“Manasseh and Ephraim?”

These young men being the “Grandchildren” of Israel, of Jacob!

Oh, do I have wonderful news today.

There are blessings for even the young, for the Grandchildren, in God’s Family, in God’s Economy!

The Book of Proverbs particularly delights in Grandchildren!

“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.” This well may be a “spiritual” inheritance more than a “financial” or “physical” one … but real nonetheless. I’ve used Proverbs 13:22 for an example. See … God cares for the young!

And Proverbs 17:6 agrees, apparently. “Children’s children are the crown of old men.” Wow, “reward” in other words!

Yes, Jacob’s Grandchildren received Land!

Lots of it!

A “double portion” indeed!

I have an idea.

PRAY today for your little Manasseh and Ephraim!

Your Grandchildren!

And if you have none, your children.

And if you have none of them … spiritually “adopt” a few and pray for them.

Let’s try to guide the younger folks toward the things of God.

Claim some “land” for them today.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, “Manasseh” means “forgetfulness.” And “Ephraim” means “fruitfulness!” Some of the young ones may forget. Some may bear fruit. But all have a place in God’s Promised Land, if they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour! If they are born again! Don’t give up on your little “forgetful” Grandson or Granddaughter! God hasn’t!