Book of Joshua Chapters 1718December 23, 2017 Shabbat 10:00 Service

1 / 17:4 / “They approached El’azar the cohen, Y’hoshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, Adonai ordered Moshe to give us an inheritance together with our kinsmen. Therefore, in keeping with Adonai’s order, he gave them an inheritance together with the kinsmen of their father.” This episode stands against many blasphemous claims that view Adonai as “cruel” or “chauvinist”. These renowned daughters of the Lord who possessed a distinct resolved had to state their case unassumingly, not only before Moshe, but before the whole congregation; fearlessly. (Num 27) Moshe brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord wastes no time in His ruling (v6). These daughters from the tribe of Manasseh received no protest against them and they receive the firstborn share in the land of Isra’el. Adonai is calling all believers not to demandtheir rights, but to transcend this time of antagonism and speak out showing forth the glory of YHVH.
  • Have you neglected to give Adonai a chance to rule on your behalf because of fear of man? (Pr 29:28, Jos. 10:8, Jn. 7:13, Phil 1:14, 1Ti 5:20, 2Tim 1:7)

2 / 17:14-18 / M’nasheh complains to Y’hoshua of not enough territory and demands more of the conquered land, saying “After all, I am a great people, since Adonai has blessed me so”. Their tribe had increased since the encampment in Numbers 1:35 from 32,200 to 52,700 in Numbers 26:34. Y’hoshua answered them, “If you are a great people, go up to the forest, and clear land for yourself there in the territory of the P’rizi and the Rafa’im...You will drive out the Kena’ani, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.” Y’hoshua advised them to take the land, but M’nasheh, insisted that they were unable to defeat them. It was not their growth in numbers that Y’hoshua thought that they would be able to drive them out, but it was because of their reputation of producing mighty men, the Gileadites the son of Machir. Yet, they reasoned for themselves. Because of the iron chariots, the fortified stronghold of the Canaanites coupled with deterioration of faith, this would prevent them for fulfilling Yahweh’s order.They wanted an easy life without challenges, how quickly they forgot. May Adonai give us courage to keep believing when we are faced with life challenges!
  • Do you determine your ability to accomplish Yahweh’s orders bynatural aspect or do you depend altogether on Yahweh?
  • Have you learned not to fall victim to life challenges?

3 / 18:3-5 / “Y’hoshua said to the people of Isra’el, How long will you delay going in to take possession of the land which Adonai the G-d of your ancestors has given you…Appoint three men for each tribe; I will commission them…They are to divide it into seven portions…” At the conference at Shiloh (18:1-10) Y’hoshua fulfills an important function of leadership; choosingthe right moment for imparting the extra drive when enthusiasms is fading, which involves not just exhortation, but defining the next steps. Life circumstances and challenges can sometime deflate our zeal and cause us to become passive couch potatoes or taking a break, resolving to sit on the sidelines and become spectators. We are called to transform this world; set it on fire (Luke 12:49) and dwell in YHVH’s presence; we cannot afford to waste away days or hours even when we feel we have gone a good distance. We are called to listen to the voice of Adonai and be diligent in taking the necessary steps to come to His completed end. (Prov. 19:20, 21)
  • Are you only looking to be excited or thrilled in the moment, not understanding that Adonai gives precise plans for complete victory and transformation in your life?

4 / In between receiving Yeshua as our Messiah and being with Him as our Bridegroom lies great inheritance. Use scripture to describe and identify the many attribute of this inheritance.

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