under new management

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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under new management

Joshua 13:24-32 (JDV)

Joshua 13:24 To the tribe of the Gadites by their clans, Moses gave
Joshua 13:25 this as their territory: Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites to Aroer, near Rabbah;
Joshua 13:26 from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
Joshua 13:27 in the valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon– the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. Their land also included the Jordan and its territory as far as the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth on the east side of the Jordan.
Joshua 13:28 This was the inheritance of the Gadites by their clans, with the cities and their settlements.
Joshua 13:29 And to half the tribe of Manasseh (that is, to half the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants by their clans) Moses gave
Joshua 13:30 this as their territory: From Mahanaim through all Bashan – all the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, including all of Jair’s Villages that are in Bashan – sixty cities.
Joshua 13:31 But half of Gilead, and Og’s royal cities in Bashan – Ashtaroth and Edrei – are for the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh (that is, half the descendants of Machir by their clans).
Joshua 13:32 These were the portions Moses gave them on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan east of Jericho.

under new management

I couldn’t help but think as I read about “all the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, including all of Jair’s Villages that are in Bashan – sixty cities” — that phrase “under new management.” No matter how great Og’s kingdom was, it was now lost entirely.

God is not against our doing great things and building monuments and creating a heritage. But those personal kingdoms will not last. The only permanent kingdom will come down from the sky, and Christ is its king.

Lord, may your kingdom come, and grant by your grace that we are a part of it.

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time’s up for Balaam

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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time’s up for Balaam

Joshua 13:15-23 (JDV)

Joshua 13:15 To the tribe of Reuben’s descendants by their clans, Moses gave
Joshua 13:16 this as their territory: From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau as far as Medeba,
Joshua 13:17 with Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau– Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,
Joshua 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
Joshua 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley,
Joshua 13:20 Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth –
Joshua 13:21 all the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses had killed him and the chiefs of Midian – Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba – the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.
Joshua 13:22 Along with those the Israelites put to death, they also killed the diviner, Balaam son of Beor, with the sword.
Joshua 13:23 The border of the Reubenites was the Jordan and its plain. This was the inheritance of the Reubenites by their clans, with the cities and their settlements.

time’s up for Balaam

The Geneva Study Bible comments on verse 22: “So that both they who obeyed wicked counsel and the wicked counsellor perished by the just judgment of God.”

We have to remember when we study the conquest of Israel that everyone who died as a result of the Israelite invasions were already judged and condemned by God. It was not just that Balaam and the Midianites were unlucky to be in the land at the wrong time. Their time had been given to them by God’s grace, and now their time was up.

Lord, teach us to use our time wisely, and always to seek your counsel.

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sweet benefits

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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sweet benefits

Joshua 13:14 (JDV)

Joshua 13:14 He did not, however, give any inheritance to the tribe of Levi. This was their inheritance, just like he had promised: the offerings made by fire to Yahveh, the God of Israel.

sweet benefits

As Joshua later explains, the Levites do not get land “because their inheritance is the priesthood of Yahveh” (18:7).

Serving God and leading worship in his name comes with its own sweet benefits, even today.

Lord, thank you for the benefits of serving you.

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unfinished victory

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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unfinished victory

Joshua 13:8-13 (JDV)

Joshua 13:8 With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and Gadites had received the inheritance Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just like Moses Yahveh’s servant had given them:
Joshua 13:9 From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, all the Medeba plateau as far as Dibon,
Joshua 13:10 and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the Ammonites;
Joshua 13:11 also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah –
Joshua 13:12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei; he was one of the remaining Rephaim. Moses struck them down and pushed them out,
Joshua 13:13 but the Israelites did not push out the Geshurites and Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath still live in Israel today.

unfinished victory

There are a number of accounts like this in Joshua, indicating that in some respects, the Israelites failed to completely eliminate their enemies.

I think the reason behind these reminders is that the people of Israel could have accomplished their mission, but didn’t. They had God’s power behind them, but failed to follow him completely. Thus there was victory, but it was not complete victory.

Such passages should motivate us to be wholeheartedly committed to God and his plan, but also to realize that final and complete victory will be at his hands, not ours.

God of our victory, we trust you to finish what you started.
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faith allots a future

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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faith allots a future

Joshua 13:1-7 (JDV)

Joshua 13:1 Joshua had become old, advanced in age, and Yahveh said to him, “You have become old, advanced in age, but a lot of land remains to be possessed.
Joshua 13:2 This is the land that remains: All the districts of the Philistines and the Geshurites:
Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory) – the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites
Joshua 13:4 in the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians to Aphek and as far as the border of the Amorites;
Joshua 13:5 the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon east from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath –
Joshua 13:6 all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, all the Sidonians. I will drive them out in front of the Israelites, only distribute the land as an inheritance for Israel, as I have commanded you.
Joshua 13:7 Therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

faith allots a future

Like their ancestor Abraham, the Israelites had to trust God’s promise to give them the land. Even though they had won many battles and had already possessed much land, there was still much of the land that could be allotted, but was not yet possessed.

Believers in Christ are in a similar condition today. Our king has come, and has drawn us to himself. He has given us many promises, but he calls on us to take those promises by faith. We have yet to inherit our inheritance. Faith allots a future inheritance.

God of our inheritance, we claim the nations for you.
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31 kings

Posted on September 19, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

31 kings

Joshua 12:9-24 (JDV)

Joshua 12:9 the king of Jericho one the king of Ai, which is next to Bethel one
Joshua 12:10 the king of Jerusalem one the king of Hebron one
Joshua 12:11 the king of Jarmuth one the king of Lachish one
Joshua 12:12 the king of Eglon one the king of Gezer one
Joshua 12:13 the king of Debir one the king of Geder one
Joshua 12:14 the king of Hormah one the king of Arad one
Joshua 12:15 the king of Libnah one the king of Adullam one
Joshua 12:16 the king of Makkedah one the king of Bethel one
Joshua 12:17 the king of Tappuah one the king of Hepher one
Joshua 12:18 the king of Aphek one the king of Lasharon one
Joshua 12:19 the king of Madon one the king of Hazor one
Joshua 12:20 the king of Shimron-meron one the king of Achshaph one
Joshua 12:21 the king of Taanach one the king of Megiddo one
Joshua 12:22 the king of Kedesh one the king of Jokneam in Carmel one
Joshua 12:23 the king of Dor in Naphath-dor one the king of Goiim in Gilgal one
Joshua 12:24 the king of Tirzah one. The total number of all kings: thirty-one.

31 kings

Joshua summarizes the long war for conquest by listing all the pagan kings eliminated. Each of these names represented a formidable opposition to God’s plan for his people. Each of them were defeated so that God’s will could be accomplished.

Coffman comments on this text: “These great victories under Joshua are a pledge that God will always fight upon the side of, and in the interests of those who truly love him. “And we know that to them that love God, all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)” (James Burton Coffman Commentaries).

The end of our age will also be a time of warfare, not peace. Such should lead us to think soberly about what kind of world we are living in. We should certainly seek victory over God’s enemies now. But the number of kings fighting against him indicated that the battle will probably be a long one. Although we are assured final victory, it might not come in our lifetime.

Lord, give us the confidence in you to keep fighting the good fight.

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taking the land

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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taking the land

Joshua 12:7-8 (JDV)

Joshua 12:7 Joshua and the Israelites struck down these kings of the land beyond the Jordan to the west, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which ascends toward Seir (Joshua gave their land as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their allotments:
Joshua 12:8 the hill country, the Judean foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev – the lands of the Hethites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):

taking the land

Irving L. Jensen writes: “Faith and obedience to instructions from God will see the fortress of the enemy of the soul crumble under the mighty hand of the Lord. For this purpose the ‘Son of God [was] manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil’ (1 John 3:8)” (Joshua: Rest-land Won, 63).

God keeps his promises to us, and Jesus is going to destroy all his enemies and give us an eternal land of rest. But right now, we have to do warfare for each piece of land. Our warfare is different than that of the Israelites under Joshua because we battle for the minds and hearts of the lost. But we have enemies that must be defeated as well.

Lord, may we be busy and diligent in taking the land that belongs to you.

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what land belongs

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua - 1

what land belongs

Joshua 12:1-6 (JDV)

Joshua 12:1 The Israelites struck down these kings of the land and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan to the east and from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward:
Joshua 12:2 King Sihon of the Amorites lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon River, along the middle of the valley, and half of Gilead up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites),
Joshua 12:3 the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.
Joshua 12:4 King Og of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
Joshua 12:5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all Bashan up to the Geshurite and Maacathite border, and half of Gilead to the border of King Sihon of Heshbon.
Joshua 12:6 Moses Yahveh’s servant and the Israelites struck them down. And Moses Yahveh’s servant gave their land as an inheritance to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

what land belongs

Commenting on this passage, David Guzik writes “This list only seems tedious to us because we do not live in the land. For those who received their inheritance there, these were essential matters that touched everyday life, answering the question: “What land belongs to Israel?””(https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/joshua-12/)

All the kings and all the land of this planet belongs to our King, Jesus, whose kingdom is going to come down from the sky. He is the rightful ruler of the nations, and he has sent us ahead as his ambassadors to prepare the nations for his coming.

Coming King, instill in us a perpetual awareness that the nations belong to you.

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a symbol of the future life

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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a symbol of the future life

Joshua 11:21-23 (JDV)

Joshua 11:21 At that time Joshua proceeded to exterminate the Anakim from the hill country – Hebron, Debir, Anab – all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them with their cities.
Joshua 11:22 No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites, except for some remaining in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that Yahveh had told Moses. Joshua then gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. After this, the land had rest from war.

a symbol of the future life

The events described in the book of Joshua really happened. This is not a myth, contrived to make a theological statement or to produce an emotional or psychological frame of mind. This is history.

As such, today’s text gives its original audience a confidence that the land in which they live was promised by God, and the battles securing that land were fought and won.

But as I have been suggesting in this study, it also speaks to the theological issue of the future state of the righteous. The promised land was a symbol of the future life of believers in Christ.

Like the future life of the believer, the promised land was to be won in battle.
Like the future life of the believer, the promised land was to be free from opposition.
Like the future life of the believer, the promised land was to be a place and time for renewal.

Lord, we are seeking a land of blessing and freedom from sin.

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no neutral territories

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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no neutral territories

Joshua 11:16-20 (JDV)

Joshua 11:16 So Joshua took all this land – the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the foothills, the Arabah, and the hill country of Israel with its foothills –
Joshua 11:17 from Mount Halak, which ascends to Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to death.
Joshua 11:18 Joshua waged war with all these kings for a long time.
Joshua 11:19 No city made a peace treaty with the Israelites except the Hivites who inhabited Gibeon; all of them were taken in battle.
Joshua 11:20 You see, it was Yahveh’s intention to harden their hearts, so that they would engage Israel in battle, be completely destroyed without mercy, and be annihilated, just like Yahveh had commanded Moses.

no neutral territories

Just like Pharaoh, God hardened the hearts of kings of these peoples, so that they would not choose peace. Thus we have an example of the principle that those who will not fear God, will choose to hate him instead. There is no neutral ground. Either you join with God and his plan, or you will become an example of what happens to those who reject him.

Lord, show us how to bring people to you to be reconciled. Help us to make it clear that there are no neutral territories in your kingdom.
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