January 15- Joshua 16:1-10

January 15- Joshua 16:1-10

16 The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel. ² Then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites. ³ Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.

⁴ The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.

⁵ The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon, ⁶ and the boundary goes from there to the sea. On the north is Michmethath. Then on the east the boundary turns around toward Taanath-shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah, ⁷ then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan. ⁸ From Tappuah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah and ends at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Ephraim by their clans, ⁹ together with the towns that were set apart for the people of Ephraim within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages. ¹⁰ However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.

Once again we see the Israelites not driving out the inhabitants of the Promised Land. We know, as we continue to study the Bible, that problems will arise as a result. I look ar our world today and I see so many examples of the hurt that exists in peoples’ lives because they are not obedient to God. Perhaps they do not know God and how he has set forth rules to protect us. May you and I today bear witness for God to others so that they may find joy in Him and in their life as they abide with Him.

 

Heavenly Father, obedience is one of those things that we all struggle with.  I know I do much more than I would like to admit.  I had a conversation recently with someone about how many people don’t believe some of the commands in the Bible are for us today.  They said many feel that having sex before marriage is a sin.  I’m sure there are many other sins we would like to excuse ourselves for and say You have somehow changed Your mind that it is wrong, but You know what we need and You know what we were created for.  How good the enemy is at twisting things to try to help us step into sin without us realizing it is sin.  One of the biggest things I have seen is that sin creates a wall between You and me.  I don’t like it when that wall is there.  I want to fellowship with You and feel You shower Your love on me.  That is worth more than anything to me.  Why do we try to excuse our sin by saying they are now “socially acceptable”?  Who cares what society says is okay?  It is about what You say is acceptable, not the world.  Why can we not see how Your commands are for our benefit?  Father, help me see truth.  Help the world see truth.  Truth is something the enemy doesn’t want us to know, share and especially not live.  Your truth will set us free.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!