"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors" - Deuteronomy 8:1 (NIV).
Land has always been one of the most precious gifts God has blessed any people with. The covenant God had with Abraham was sealed with land. "And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God" (Gen 17:8).
When the Israelites were exiled to Egypt land was always uppermost on their mind. Jacob willed to be returned and buried in the land of his ancestors (Gen 49:29). His son Joseph passed on the same message. "Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (Gen 50:24).
Moses's life mission was to take back the Israelites to the land God had promised them. Unable to reach the Promised land himself he passed on to that task to Joshua. Immediately after his passing, the Lord revealed to Joshua; "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot as I promised Moses" (Joshua 1: 2-3).
The history of Israelites has been very much about conquering and keeping this land. It is important to recall that one of the consequence of rejecting the living God was dispossion of land. Leveticus 26:33 notes this judgment; "I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins"!
All said as believers we bear a duty, drawing from this inspiration, to keep and make good use of the land God has made each one of us possess, individually and corporate. When we neglect the land God has given us it shows bad stewardship. The Israelites who have long wandered in exile robbed of their land know what it is to become homeless. Unfortunately those of us blessed with so much often treat our rich inheritance with reckless despise, as when we abandon the land for other "green pastures", forsaking developing and conserving ours well for God's eternal purpose.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I am so thankful for the gift of land passed on to me through generations and I pray you bless me to protect and make good use of it, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
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04/05/2024 - 05/05/2024 All day“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your good is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua, 1:9 NKJV)
Self doubt is common to any life. Sometimes it can be a result of a challenge one is about to face. After Moses had passed on, Joshua knew he was succeeding a giant to lead the people of Israel to the Promised land. When someone succeeds a great leader there is bound to be comparison, a bit of which might be unfair and disheartening. As we see in this case, the mission was yet to be completed. If anyone, Joshua wouldn’t mind some encouragement.
Joshua would receive the encouragement he needed from God. He was assured that God Himself had chosen him to succeed Moses and take on the uncompleted task. God assured Joshua through His word that He would be with him. Joshua had had enough experiences to know that God’s promise was unfailing. After Moses sent out the twelve spies to explore the land the Israelis were about to invade, he and Caleb were the only two who believed that because of faith in God they could overcome the giants they saw (Numbers 13).
Today, any of us may be facing a task no less overwhelming from our experience as Joshua faced. Perhaps we have taken on a momentous office. We could be setting on a journey of undetermined length. Maybe there is a challenge that has just risen up from nowhere and we seemed all submerged.
The words God gave Joshua, his servant, should be of encouragement to us. Just as God commanded Joshua not to be afraid or dismayed, may we walk in that confidence.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today whatever task I face, I look up to you, and hold on to the words you gave Joshua, not to be afraid or dismayed, for you are with me, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
