7-24-20 Today in the Word

COURAGE FOR THE QUEST
Friday, July 24, 2020 | Joshua 14:6–15
 
THE LONG-AWAITED INHERITANCE

Have you ever received an inheritance? Maybe you were left a special memento or a sum of cash from a parent, grandparent, or friend? While the gift itself is important, the most significant part of the inheritance is whom it came from. In chapters 13–19, the author records the various allotments of land given to each of the Israelite tribes. These portions of the land were their inheritance from the Lord. An extraordinary snapshot of God’s promise coming into fruition is in our text today when Caleb finally received his inheritance from God.
You may not have noticed that Joshua’s former spy companion, Caleb, has been missing for a number of chapters. We last saw him when he and Joshua were reporting back to Moses (Numbers 13–14). The two spies insisted that even though the enemies were large, with God, they were confident that they could overtake them and seize the Promised Land. We don’t read any other mention of Caleb—until now. Caleb reminded Joshua of that day when they spied out the land. More importantly, Caleb noted that he had followed the Lord wholeheartedly for 45 years (vv. 8–10). The word “wholeheartedly” is used three times to describe Caleb’s faith. The word literally means “to be full.” Caleb was passionate about fully and completely following the Lord.
Now that he was 85 years old, he requested his long-awaited inheritance. His zeal for the Lord had not faded. He insisted he was still as strong and vigorous as when Moses sent him out 45 years earlier (v. 11). Joshua was probably not surprised by Caleb’s appeal and passion. He granted Caleb his request and gave him the land promised to him.
>> Even if you have never received an inheritance, one is waiting for you in heaven! The apostle Peter reminds us that because of Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection power over the grave, all those who believe will one day share in an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:4).
PRAY WITH US
Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice that opened the way to God for all who believe. Thank you for making us heirs to your kingdom, “an inheritance that never perishes, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4).
This month's devotional is written by Chris Rappazini. Chris Rappazini is the associate professor and program head of the BA and MA in Pastoral Studies at Moody Bible Institute and Moody Theological Seminary. He is the vice president of the Evangelical Homiletics Society and previously served as the associate minister of preaching and teaching at Southside Christian Church in Spokane, Washington. Chris and his wife, Ashley, and their three children reside in Northwest Indiana.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-17-23 Not in a Billion Years

Not In A Million Billion Years :: By Dave Hubley Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles (There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.) Several years ago, I had a conversation with a guy in a waiting room while getting an oil change (in the car, not me). I don’t recall exactly how the conversation originated or how it progressed, but I have never forgotten it. As I recall, it had something to do with evolution and an article that was contained in a “waiting room magazine” that was available there. He made the observation that God was “something that man had made up.” I can’t recall the exact reason he used to justify his opinion, but it had something to do with the usual reasons people give: Weak-willed people needing a crutch, and blah, blah, blah. I engaged him in a “witness,
Read more

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th
Read more