In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the LORD said unto Joshua … when you are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan”, and in chapter three and verse twelve of the book of Joshua, Joshua says, “take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel” where we read,
Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
The verse reads, “Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “Now therefore” which means “at this time wherefore, then and on this account” “take you twelve men” or “seize, fetch, lay hold of and acquire you, the children of Israel, twelve male human beings” “out of the tribes” which means “from the branches or clans” “of Israel” or “belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Joshua told the “children of Israel” to choose “twelve” male human beings from their “clans” who belong to “Israel”.
The verse continues, “… out of every tribe a man.” Joshua added the words, “out of every tribe” or “from each, every and everyone of the branches or clans” “a man” which means “a male human being”. Joshua repeated the idea of choosing one male human being from each clan belonging to “Israel”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Joshua continued to instruct the “children of Israel” concerning their crossing of the Jordan river. They were to select one male human being from each of the twelve “tribes” or clans belonging to “Israel”, and we shall see how these “men” were to be employed by Joshua. God had a plan, and He involved people who would accomplish His will. God has a plan for us as well, and He often gives us a step by step process to fulfill His desire. God knew we all have sinned and come short of His glory, (See Romans 3:23) and the wages for those sins is death. (See Romans 6:23) For this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He raised Him from the dead after three days so all who put their faith and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and have His Holy Spirit put within them who will lead and guide them step by step to fulfill His will.
Next time Joshua tells what will happen, “as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD … shall rest in the waters of Jordan”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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