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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I exalt your name today, for you are the owner of the world (Job 41:11; Ps 24:1). Everything that exists was created by your Son, Jesus Christ (Col 1:16). You, the “Father of lights,” delight to give me good and perfect gifts from above (Jam 1:17). If you “did not spare your own Son but gave him up for me, how will you not also with him graciously give me all things?” (Rom 8:32). Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised! Today in Your Word Today you told me about the instructions you gave for occupying Canaan and the border you set for the nation of Israel. The boundaries of Israel’s inheritance showed that your gift of land was specific and defined. The people were not free to expand into other nations’ territories at their whim (cf. Deut 2:5). This is an important reminder that all land belongs to you, and you give it to whomever you wish (Lev 25:23). You commanded Israel to drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan, to destroy their idols and worship sites, and to “possess” the land. You knew that if they allowed any of the people to remain, Israel would be corrupted by their wickedness. The religious practices of the Canaanites were not to be preserved—they were to be destroyed. This principle should guide me today, and I should avoid becoming involved in any of the false religions of the world. The land was to be apportioned to the tribes by lot taking population into account. You chose a leader from each tribe to be a witness of the distribution process. In this way, the land would be divided fairly and according to your will. You also provided cities for the Levites, who received tithes instead of territory. You spread them out across Israel to make sure each tribe had the benefit of their spiritual leadership and to maintain the religious unity of the nation. You established six cities of refuge to protect a manslayer from the avenger of blood. No one could be executed without the testimony of multiple witnesses (Num 35:30), and a convicted murderer could not pay for his crime except with his own life (Num 35:31). The theological rationale behind this law was that “blood pollutes the land.” No expiation was possible other than the blood of the murderer (Num 35:33). Reflection You told Israel again and again to completely destroy the Canaanites. You did this because you knew that sin, like cancer, will multiply and spread if it is not totally removed. Request Father, “search me and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts” (Ps 139:23). Expose anything in my life that is displeasing to you, and help me to be ruthless in my rejection of sin. Thanksgiving Thank you for the peace that comes from a heart that is totally dedicated to you. I purpose to let that peace be the deciding factor in all my decisions (Col 3:15). In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “We Will Conquer the World for Jesus” by Ada Blenkhorn. Meditation Verse: Numbers 33:55–56. |