Very Useful Words

Joshua 13-17
 
Joshua 15:20 This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Judah.
 
THIS verse begins a long list over 44 verses of the 100-plus towns and villages Judah inherited. The tribes of Judah and Ephraim, and the remaining half-tribe of Manasseh, were given a preferential portion of the land. And there is a special grant for Caleb, the faithful spy, who is also of Judah. These four special favors or blessings from God could be for both past reward and future expectation.
   Remember, Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s sons. Their grandfather Jacob gave them a special blessing in Genesis 48:19 “Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” And Jacob also blessed Judah: Genesis 49:8-10 “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you…10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.” A promise to Caleb was also fulfilled.
   About 700 years after this, Israel’s structure will dramatically change after Solomon’s reign. Judah with Benjamin will become the Southern Kingdom. Ephraim with the other nine tribes will become the Northern Kingdom, more commonly called Israel. Then Ephraim and the nine tribes will one day be dispersed from the land. Judah will survive through the exile to bear the Savior. The scepter of God’s eternal rule would not depart from Judah.
   Notice that within the conquests and the land dispersion, Israel did not fully complete its mission to rid the land of all pagan influence. An example is this unsettling verse: Joshua 15:63 But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.
   Where was Jerusalem? It ws on a mountain fortress, an imposing city against attack. How could Judah not drive out the Jebusites until David did so 600 years later? Was this another failure to trust God’s leading, power and command?
   The Promised Land was divided among the conquering tribes of Israel, but Israel did not remove people groups whose detestable idols and sins had defiled the land. It would not be possible for Israel to fully enjoy the Promise because they did not completely live into God’s purpose.
   Let’s remember the power of God’s Word. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
   Israel’s Scriptures were the Law of Moses and God’s direct commands. They needed to know and do what was right.
   Our Scripture from Joshua is very, very useful to our Christian life. Know that all words from God teach and correct us. Listen, learn and leave no room for those things that oppose God.