Time with Jesus - Monday, 31 December 2012
Hi all,
Today’s meditation is about Joshua, Moses assistant during
the wilderness wanderings. Joshua was an Ephraimite. The other man associated
with the invasion of Canaan was Caleb, from the house of Judah. These men were
the two spies who brought a good report of the land back to Moses. Every adult male except Joshua and Caleb died
in the wilderness. Only these two men entered Canaan some 40 years later. They
believed God. The others didn’t and died in the wilderness. Scripture tells us
nothing of the fate of the respective women!
Blessings,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Monday, 31 December 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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JIMERICKS
– PROMISED LAND
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Joshua, the Son of Nun is perhaps one the greatest heroes of the Old
Testament. So “great” that the fifth book of the Old Testament bears his
name. He descended from the tribe of Ephraim, the youngest son Joseph. As we
know, Jacob had twelve sons and a daughter by his four “wives”. Leah and her
slave Zilpah; as well as Rachel and her slave Bilhah. (All legitimate back
then) Jacob’s favourite wife was Rachel. According to their laws of
inheritance Jacob’s eldest son was the beneficiary. Jacob would have liked to
leave everything to Joseph, his first son by Rachel. But Joseph was eleventh
in the line of succession and could not become head of the family when Jacob
died. That honour should have gone to Reuben followed by Simeon, then Levi
then Judah. But Reuben, Simeon, and Levi had disgraced themselves. So when
Jacob died, Judah became head of the family. Before he died, Jacob adopted Joseph’s
two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. On his death, his two favourites were Judah (Leah)
and Ephraim (Rachel).
This is very important. Judah, the son by Leah was Jacob’s “natural
heir”. Ephraim, the son of Rachel was his “preferred” heir. Thus there was an
unofficial contest between the House of Judah and the house of Ephraim. This
ultimately led to the division of the country into the Kingdom of Judah and
the Kingdom of Ephraim called Israel.
It’s fascinating to understand that Joshua was an Ephraimite and Caleb
was from the tribe of Judah. It adds a further dimension to the wilderness
wanderings and the conquest of Canaan. A careful reading of Scripture
indicates that they were the only two adults who left Egypt and went into Canaan.
It was not a “contest” in the true sense of the word in those days. But one
from each “house” went in!
Joshua’s name means “Yahweh is deliverance” or “opulence”. The name is
spelled Hoshea in some places. Its meaning is much the same as the one we
know as Jesus. In some respects they have similar functions. Jesus came to
save His people from their sins. He brought us His great deliverance. Joshua
delivered Canaan into the hands of God’s people. He may or may not have been
opulent. But His namesake, Jesus Christ certainly was. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty
He could make you rich.2 Cor. 8:9 NLT There
is another comparison which I like to use to describe Joshua. He went in and
captured the Promised Land. Jesus did the same with me. At my request He
“invaded” me. I’m certainly not the promised land. But my name is Strickland.
So I am permitted to say that at my request He invaded and conquered the
:”Strick” land. One day it will be complete and Phyllida and I will then go
home with Him!
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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1 When Joshua was an old man, the LORD said to him, "You are
growing old, and much land remains to be
conquered.
Joshua 13:1 NLT
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The Lord God came to Joshua and spoke to Him one day.
He was told,
You’re getting old.
There’s still a long, long way,
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To go before the Promised land, is conquered and defeated.
Allot the land.
As I have planned.
And see the task completed!
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12 It's not that I've already reached the
goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus
Christ has already won for me.
Philippians 3:12 GW
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It’s not as though I’ve reached the goal. There’s much that
lies before.
But I will run,
Until I’m done;
And can’t run any more.
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The course the Lord has set me, I haven’t yet fulfilled.
Until I do,
I’ll follow through.
The way the Lord has willed.
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48 "Therefore you are to be perfect,
as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 NASB
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Jesus gave His followers a difficult direction.
Your very best,
Won’t pass the test.
It falls short of perfection!
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You must be as perfect, as My Father up on high.
Live like your King,
And I will bring,
The how, the where and why!
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5 For this very reason, make every effort
to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with
steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly
affection with love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV
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Faith is the beginning point, from which we all must grow.
Add quality, (virtue)
To knowing Me.
And self-control you’ll know!
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Add steadfastness and godliness and brotherly affection;
Mixed with the love,
Of God above,
You’re reaching for perfection!
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9 I pray that your love will overflow more
and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
Philippians 1:9 NLT
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Beloved in Christ Jesus, in Philippi I pray.
Your love will grow,
And overflow,
Increasing day by day.
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And that your understanding and knowledge of the Lord,
Will multiply,
And reach the sky.
And Jesus is adored!
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9 That is what the Scriptures mean when
they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by His
Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep
secrets.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT
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Man has no conception, of what God has prepared;
For those who Love;
The Lord above.
It cannot be compared,
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With all we can imagine. They’re hidden and concealed.
His Spirit shows,
What no man knows,
And by Him is revealed
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9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for
the people of God,
Hebrews 4:9 ESV
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If Joshua had given, God’s folk a Sabbath rest;
Why did God say,
There’d come a day,
In which they would be blessed?
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So there remained a God ordained, Sabbath rest for those,
Who rest in Him.
The Servant King.
Whom they as Saviour chose!
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17 People of Judah, you will see the king in
all of his glory and majesty. You will view his kingdom spreading far and
wide.
Isaiah 33:17 NIrV
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Isaiah told the people of Judah they would see
The glory
And the Majesty
Of Jesus come to be
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They’d see the Master’s kingdom, spreading far and wide.
A fortress strong.
Where nothing wrong,
Will ever step inside.
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Jim Strickland –
Written 31st December 2012
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