Heralds Digest

"The children of Reuben and the children of Gad[d] called the altar, Witness, “For it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”" (Joshua 22:34 NKJV) The construction of an altar in the western province of the land of Canada, which is shared among the children of Reuben, children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, represents a reasonable commitment to the service of the Lord. The only problem seem to be that there is no reference to God's commission ahead of the project. References to God's services are commendable, especially when God's presence is not excluded. Otherwise, all non-commissioned commitments often lead to the worship of idols. No reference is reasonable in the absence of God's presence.

"Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass." (Joshua 1:45 NKJV) Within the period of waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises, there are several words from people of influence, resulting in myriad of voices with their twist and turns. Israel, at one point or the other, had faced people like Pharaoh, Balaam, Moses, Joshua, etc. Not a word failed, out of the sample of good pronouncements on the people, no matter how long it takes to manifest. And although there were many occurrences of wasted people, time and material possessions during the waiting period, God's word endures to the end. It is better to endure and get passed, than to pass ahead of God's enduring word.

"These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation." (Joshua 20:9 NKJV) Six cities that were evenly spaced across the land of Israel were designated to provide refuge to whoever killed a person accidentally from the avenger of blood. It was an evidence that Judiac judicial system recognizes the possible incidence of murder without evil intention. In most legal systems, the best conviction under any of this type of accident would be man's slaughter. No matter the level of clemency accorded though, there would be a sticky sense of guilt that polices the conscience of whoever killed his fellow man. Likewise, every presumptuous, but character-assassinating, word uttered against fellow man, albeit for self-gratification, attracts guilty conscience. However, only those who are...

"When they had made an end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun." (Joshua 19:49 NKJV) The consideration of self in all service to humanity represents the major roadblock in commitments to wholesome reform for improvement in general standard of living. Until one demonstrates selfless excellence when privileged to be in position of leadership, professing total control of the demon of self-serving is easy. However, Joshua represents an epitome of selfless service. Even when his former colleague - Caleb - claimed the special promise they both shared for bringing back good report, he waited until the end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders. Only a leader on selfless service grace can wait to be served, after all members under his leadership are completely satisfied. Nevertheless, the tribute to selfless service exceeds all possible treasure o...

"And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”" (Joshua 17:17-18 NKJV) Like many developing nations with large population challenges, the house of Joseph saw liabilities in its great people within the single lot allocation. It is not a news that these challenges often promotes indiscipline, stealing, cheating, fraud, and corruption as the burden of leadership. In the exchange of the attending dirty politics, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh had prepared not to take responsibility for their lot; but to shift the blame on Joshua's allocation strategy. However, Joshua's assessment reveals asset - great power - instead of liabilities. This implies that g...

"She answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs." (Joshua 15:19 NKJV) The prayer statement of Achsah the daughter of Caleb is common to many, especially when the assistance of God or the support of fellow men is desired. However, the uniqueness of this prayer is that the source of the requested blessing was Caleb, who had earlier preferred to ask for the mountain of Hebron, instead of being satisfied with the general allocation of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. Being a recipient of the Promised Land would have been sufficient to make Caleb a channel of blessing to Achsah and others within his sphere of influence; but he refused to limit the possibility of grace upon his life. When we give up on God's promise because it appears an insurmountable mountain, we apparently forfeit the privilege of becoming a spring of blessing.

"Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” (Joshua 14:12 NKJV) Following the promises of God amidst convincing strength of the opposition sometimes requires the denial of cogent realities of nature. Only Caleb can safely defend the basis of his un-depreciated physical strength after 45 years of receiving the promise of possessing Hebron. Obviously, his focus wasn't on the might of the mountain; his confidence rested securely on the statement of the promise from the Lord and His abiding presence. God and the promises of restoration for His wandering children are inseparable. If we give up on His promises, we actually give up on following God.