Daily Morning Watch

August 10, 2022

Finally, the tribes who had chosen land on the other side of the river, but stayed on this side to help all the rest of the tribes gain their inheritance, could go home. The story that happened next is an excellent example of people working through a misunderstanding. What did the eastern tribes do? Why did the western tribes think it was wrong? What was the explanation and the final resolution? It’s nice to see the people acting rightly, even when they have initially misunderstood each other, isn’t it?

August 9, 2022

Remember that God said the Levites were not to get one area of the country for themselves. They were to be God’s ministers, living scattered throughout all the tribes so they could help wherever they were needed. They also each took turns to go to Shiloh where the tabernacle was and do their duty there. At long last, all the tribes had their apportioned new land. God had kept all His promises to them. Would they keep their promises to Him? Would they cast out all idolatry? Or would they settle, live together, and ultimately worship the same idols?

August 8, 2022

It is time to set aside the six cities God has talked about for years, where someone who has accidentally killed someone (or who is accused wrongly) can flee for justice and safety. Isn’t that just like God, to think of the rights of even someone others might think was not worth caring about? Have you made serious mistakes you wish you could find refuge from? There is always refuge in God.

August 7, 2022

This chapter details the division of the land among all the tribes of Israel. It can seem rather boring to read, but it wouldn’t have been boring if you’d been there. Just imagine—their entire lives, these people had been raised to believe that someday they would possess the land God had promised. Now that “someday” was here at last! Verse 9 is interesting—it shows the people working together for the good of all. One tribe had too much, so they shared with another tribe. Bear in mind that although the land is now apportioned, the actual conquest is not yet done.

August 6, 2022

There are still seven tribes who have not taken up their inheritance. For all their lives, these people have lived and traveled together in one huge group. It’s a little scary to take your families and tents and go off into an unknown land and make a new life. But Joshua points out that was the whole purpose of their journey, and it’s God’s will that they settle this land. What are you putting off taking up responsibility for?

August 5, 2022

Among Joseph’s descendants, through his elder son, Manasseh, were five sisters. We’ve read about them before. Like Caleb’s daughter, Achsah, they are not too timid to come forward for something important, and they remind Joshua that Moses promised them land of their own. Really, it was God who made it, if you remember (see Numbers 27:7). Of course, Joshua keeps that promise. Is there anything you need to speak up about?

August 4, 2022

Joseph would have been thrilled to see that his descendants were finally back in their home country after hundreds of years in Egypt and then 40 in the wilderness. But if you compare the last verse of this chapter with the last verse of chapter 15 you’ll notice something. God has strictly instructed that they are to drive out all idolatrous nations. He knows the Israelites are far too ready to start worshiping idols themselves. But they are not finishing the job. And there will be trouble later!

August 3, 2022

Again, the scribes have preserved for us clear records of the boundaries and the cities taken, this time the southern areas. (As we will see in Judges, there is still much territory unconquered.) In the middle of the chapter is a family story. Like her father, Achsah had faith. Her new husband and she were given the arid and semi-arid land of the Negev, so she came to her father and asked for springs, too. He granted her request. How many times do you suppose we don’t have what we hope for because we don’t ask?

August 2, 2022

Caleb was now 85 years old. Forty years earlier, he and Joshua had been the only two spies who had faith that God could help the Israelites take Canaan. At the time, Moses promised him that because of his faith, the land he had visited would be his. Despite his age, Caleb now made a point of asking Joshua for the land where the giant sons of Anak were. What do you think the Israelites thought when they saw an 85-year-old man follow God and drive out giants from his new city, which their parents had been too afraid of, years ago?