Prayer: Father, I pray for insight into Your Master plan for Israel. May I see and draw conclusions which are honoring to You. Amen.
Reading: Joshua 18 key: vs. 11
“Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up, for their clans. The territory of their allotment lay between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.” TLV
Attention: My wife and I have discovered the enjoyment of putting puzzles together. Little by little, the entire 1000-piece puzzle comes together. You experience together struggles with certain parts of the puzzle, but as you near the finish line, less pieces mean less options for placement and the pace picks up. I hope you are beginning to put together the pieces of the puzzle of the book of Joshua. The more you know about the primary characters, the more significant the storyline.
If you participated in the study of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the scriptures, you were introduced to a man named Jacob whose name later was changed to Israel. He had 12 sons by four women, two wives (who were sisters) and two handmaidens. I listed their names in order of birth a couple of journals earlier. The last two children of Israel were by Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. Benjamin was the only full brother of Joseph. Interesting in today’s passage, Benjamin’s allotment was between Judah and the “children of Joseph,” Ephraim and Manasseh.
What do real estate agents say about their product? Location, location, location. Benjamin appears to be Joseph’s favorite brother as Benjamin was the brother he inquired about when his brothers came to Egypt to get grain. Joseph tests his brothers to see if his youngest brother lives and requests that they return with him so that he knows if they are truthful or not (Genesis 42:32-34).
When they return to their father Jacob, who should speak up and give his life as a pledge to his father, but Judah (Genesis 43). Then when they return, it is Judah once again who pleads with Joseph for Benjamin.
The story of Joseph is a story of God’s providential nature and again in the allotment of land, God shows His provident nature. Benjamin’s allotment is neighbored between Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh.
Action: I choose today to thank God for His provident care over my life, wife, and family.
Yield: I choose today to yield to God’s plan for my life!
Engage: I choose today to engage with Adonai in the process of becoming more like Him.
Relationship: I choose today to sit in my Father’s lap of loving care and providence.
Prayer: Father, I love how You cared over Joseph’s life and his brother Benjamin. If anyone had a right to hold his anger and hostility towards his brothers, it was Joseph. And yet, he chose to forgive them and understand that God had a bigger plan to care and provide for his family. Help me to see the bigger picture. Amen.
Memory Verse: Genesis 45:7-8
“But God sent me ahead of you to ensure a remnant in the land and to keep you alive for a great escape. So now, it wasn’t you, you didn’t send me here, but God! And He made me as a father to Pharaoh, lord over his whole house and ruler over the entire land of Egypt.” TLV
Music Video: Cody Carnes—Run To The Father https://youtu.be/B1lUgE6BY6s
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”