RPG Adults
THE LORD GAVE CANAAN TO ISRAEL FOR A REASON
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
Joshua 18:11-28
Romans 1:18-23
“…when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful…”
THE LORD GAVE CANAAN TO ISRAEL FOR A REASON
The heritage that God was giving to Israel was inhabited by the Canaanites, who had built cities and cultivated productive land as well as grazing livestock. It was a ready-made home for Israel when God chased the Canaanites away and gave the land to Israel. The nation had to rely on God for protection and direction in deciding the matters of their nation.
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses had made long speeches to prepare the nation for that new habitation. The main focus for their nation was to obey God. Moses wrote for them the book of the Law and they were required to adhere to the commands given in the book for their heritage to be sustained. God spoke to them through Moses and told them why they were thus treated. Moses said, “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (Deut 8:3). The stress was on the Word of God, and not the extent of the boundary of the heritage. The land was a gift to them from God. Apart from casting lots to identify the heritage of each tribe, Joshua also considered the size of each tribe and their needs. He made all these decisions as guided by God.
The allocation of Benjamin was made with their needs in view. It was during the exodus that God delivered the Moral Law to Israel. And these commandments of God were opposed to the ways of the Canaanites who did not know God. Through the Canaanites’ opposition of Israel, we see God’s punitive will. He showed His justice, and He used Israel as His instrument. At the same time, He was punishing the Canaanites for rejecting Him as Lord and God of the universe. Thus, He gave their land to Israel.
THOUGHT: God’s justice is balanced justice based on the truth.
PRAYER: Father, may I understand Thy mode of operation in Thy dealings in my life.