In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said to the people of Israel, “you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with your sword, nor with your bow”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse thirteen of Joshua, Jehovah God said, “I have given you a land for which you did not labor”, where we read,
And I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you built not, and you dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which you planted not do you eat.
The verse reads, “And I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you built not, and you dwell in them;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and I have given you a land” which means “and I, Jehovah God, have granted, bestowed and assigned to you, the people of Israel, a country, territory, district and region” “for which you did not labor” or “for which you did not toil, grow weary or become exhausted”, “and cities” which means “and dwelling places, habitations and abodes” “which you built not” or “that you, the people of Israel, in no way or manner erected or constructed”, “and you dwell in them” which means “and you, the people of Israel, live, abide and inhabit them, the cities”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God told the people of Israel that he gave them territories for which they did not have to work and labor, and He provided them dwelling places in which to live that they did not construct.
The verse goes on to say, “of the vineyards and olive yards which you planted not do you eat.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “of the vineyards” which means “pertaining to the cultivated gardens or fields with plants of nobler quality” “and olive yards” or “and olive groves” “which you planted not” which means “that you, the people of Israel, did not fix, fashion or establish” “do you eat” or “you, the people of Israel, consume and devour from the olive trees and fruit of the vines”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God referred to the cultivated gardens of fruit and the olive groves that were not established by the people of Israel, but they were given to them to consume.
When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God was responsible to provide the territories, dwelling places, gardens and groves to the people of Israel. Although the people of Israel did not construct or establish any of these locations and gardens, they were to enjoy them in the presence of God. God provided for His people Israel because He desired to have a personal relationship with them. God provides for us as well, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He proved His eternal provision for us. When we submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and equip us to live in His provision in a manner that is pleasing to Him all the days of our lives. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 17:28)
Next time Joshua says, “fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment