In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age. And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that has fought for you. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse five of Joshua said, “the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you”, where we read,
And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God has promised unto you.
The verse reads, “And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the LORD your God” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “he shall expel them” or “he, Jehovah God, will thrust, push and cast away them, the Gentile nations” “from before you” which means “separate and apart from the front and presence of you, the people of Israel”, “and drive them from out of your sight” or “and seize, dispossess, disinherit and occupy them, the territories of the Gentile nations”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” said Jehovah God would trust out and dispossess the Gentile nations from their presence within the promise land.
The verse goes on to say, “and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God has promised unto you. ” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and you shall possess their land” which means “and you, the people of Israel, will seize, dispossess, disinherit and occupy their, the Gentile nations', territory, region, district and countries”, “as the LORD your God” or “even and indeed in likeness to the way Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God your, the people of Israel's, Supreme Deity” “has promised unto you” which means “has spoken, declared, commanded and taken an oath toward you, the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” told the people of Israel they would seize the Gentile territories just like Jehovah God said and took an other toward them.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how “Joshua” encourage the people of “Israel” to continue seizing the Gentile nations that had not been dispossessed within the promise land. Although “Joshua” was very successful at his conquests, there was still more territory to obtain. The key for his success was Jehovah God driving out the foes of Israel, and because He was in charge, they would be successful in the future. God wants us to know this same victory in our salvation. Because He loves us and wants to live with us forever, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal “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 to have the ability to live according to that truth so we possess all that He intends for us to have. (See John 3:16; Colossians 1:12)
Next time Joshua says, “Be you therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law ”, 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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