JOSHUA - Chapters 15-19 - THE INHERITANCE OF JUDAH
THE INHERITANCE OF JUDAH
And Their Thorn
Joshua – Chapters 15-20
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
September 27, 2016, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Chapters 15-19 contain a geographical detailed description of the different portions of Canaan which were allotted unto Israel’s tribes. They consist largely of a list of places, many of which are never referred to again in the Scriptures, and which cannot now be identified. Even though Israel has yet to occupy all of this land, the LORD GOD who gave it knows the boundaries.
Just as the LORD gave me a dream last week that many Christians are coming into their season of reward and victory over their life battles; the inheritance of Judah is also their reward.
Israel failed to possess all the land because of “slackness.” ((18:2-3). the “ites” were left unconquered in each tribe’s land. One commentary describes these as their “thorn.” I was quickened by this because it became apparent to me on Monday that I had a persistent “thorn-in-my-flesh” which has harassed me since I have been in full time public ministry.
You have all known about it because the LORD has consistently warned me in dreams, visions, etc., through the many years and incessant attacks. I have always been puzzled as to “why?” As you know, this has been a long line of take-over devils. In hind-sight, like the tribes of Israel, I have not taken out and totally dealt with this as a demon spirit of harassment using people’s weaknesses of selfish ambition, vain-glory, covetness, etc.
I received a “light bulb” last night from Darrell McManus’ book, “12 Spirits Seducing the Church” in the chapter on Ananias and Sapphira.
“When God told the apostle Paul (concerning the thorn in his flesh) that His grace was sufficient, He was speaking of His operational power. Paul had God’s favor to release His power in the situation. He just needed to be reminded of that.” (Page 75-“12 Spirits Seducing the Church”) (2 Cor. 12:9)
This past month the LORD has again shown me two “take-over” alliances.
I have presumed this was my “thorn in the flesh” and I would have to press through and bear up each time there was a manifestation. “Keep-on, keeping-on”
Last night the Lord gave me another dream about another take-over devil.
When I began to talk to the Lord about it, He reminded me of this study we did Sunday night.
Just as the Holy Spirit in Peter (Grace in operational power) was present to bring judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, Paul had the same power of grace to rebuke and resist his “thorn-in-the-flesh.”
Acts 4:33 is the scripture just prior to the death of Ananias and Sapphira. This verse tells us of the apostles’ powerful witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. “And with great power gave apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.”
The word here for power is “dynamis.” Also one of the meanings of grace (charis) is “the exercise of Christian virtues.” “Virtue” also means “dynamis” –G-1411): “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; power for performing miracles; moral power and excellence of soul. Power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts.”
“Light-bulb” --- I have the “dynamis” through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to release the operational power of God to permanently end these incessant attacks of “take-over” devils. “His grace is sufficient.”
I have certainly rested in the fact that if the LORD was revealing this to me, He was also dealing with it. Now I have a new peace that through the operational power of the “dynamis” of the Holy Spirit these attacks will be ended forever. I no longer have to bear-up.
The greater the dangers menacing God’s people, the greater the support we may expect from the Holy Spirit. There is danger to partial victory. We must by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit (“dynamis”) drive out all evil and wickedness. Like the Israelites, I can say every time the LORD revealed an attack to me I was ever complaining and grumbling. I wasn’t complaining and grumbling at the LORD, I was complaining and grumbling at the demonic harassment. That does no good at all.
The Israelites were quick to speak of their greatness, but never did anything about it. Prove your greatness. Go kill some giants. In prayer, I loosed the “dynamis” grace, power and virtue of the Holy Spirit against all harassing “take-over devils” past, present and future. Hallelujah! It is done!!! Get behind me Satan.
In Joshua Chapter 15:13- we have another story of Caleb and his family driving out these “ites.” Caleb is one of my heroes.
Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak (giants) and went up to Debir ---This was a city of engravings, of scribes, books, writing, and instructions of learning. Caleb made an offer that whoever destroyed Kirjathsepher (Debir) that he would give his daughter, Achsah, as their wife.
Caleb’s family was honorable, wealthy and religious. Kirjathsepher was bravely taken by Othniel, a nephew of Caleb. Achsah received a portion of land from her father. The land he gave her was the south land and apt to be desert land.
When her father brought her home to the house of her husband, she lighted off her donkey in token of respect and reverence to her father. She asks only for water, without which the ground she had would be of little use either for tillage or pasture, but she means the field in which the springs of water were. Her father gave her what she asked and more. “He gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.”
She asks as the bride of a conqueror. Othniel is a type of our conqueror, Jesus Christ. We are His Bride and we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
(of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues)
We do not have to live in a dry and parched land. She obtained more than she asked for.
Chapter 15 continues with the division of Judah’s towns and cities with a total of 110 cites (one for each year of Joshua’s life).
However, 15:63: “As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.”
In Joshua 16, the sons of Joseph receive their portion. The Ephraimites did not drive out the Canaanites that dwell in Gezer. They made them serve under tribute. They consider themselves strong enough to keep the indwelling problem under control (dangerous presumption).
Just sayin’ we can never control, persuade, negotiate, counsel with the devil. He has to be drive out. We don’t drive the people out. We drive out the devil who is using them.
In chapter 17: 3-6, we see the principle of female inheritance---the case of a male dying and having no male heirs (only daughters). This became the occasion to add to the laws of inheritance. Daughters were to receive the right inheritance, but were to marry only within their own tribe. These women were of the tribe of Manasseh and great, great, great, granddaughters of Manasseh.
“They came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.”
Under the grace and power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)
The Lord spoke to me when I started the church in Katy that He wanted all church activities to be inclusive of male and female.
However, 17:12: Like the Ephraimites, the tribe of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites continued to dwell in that land.
Joshua 18:1: after the distribution of the land, the tabernacle is set up at Shiloh. (“whole, sound, integral, safe, rest, peace, quiet, security, tranquility, health, abundance, prosperity, place of rest, pacificator, harmonizer, tranquilizer, Savior, Messiah, Prince of Peace”). Jesus is our Shiloh.
“The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. “
Gen. 49:10: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
Shiloh continued to be one of the leading places of worship in Israel until shortly before David’s elevation of Jerusalem. The tent sanctuary remained at Shiloh for 369 years until the Ark of the Covenant was taken into the battle camp at Eben-Ezer and captured by the Philistines. It was at Shiloh that Eli and Samuel ministered. At some point the Tent of Meeting was moved to Gibeon, which became an Israelite holy site under David and Solomon.
Under the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah (7:12-15; 26:5-9) over three hundred years later, Shiloh had been reduced to ruins. Jeremiah used the example of Shiloh to warn the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem what Yahweh Elohim will do to the “place where I caused my name to dwell,” warning them that their holy city, Jerusalem, like Shiloh, could fall under divine judgment.
18:2-3: “There remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. Joshua said to the children of Israel, how long are you slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”
Joshua sent out 21 men, three from each of the 7 tribes yet to inherit. There were Rephaim giants in Benjamin’s portion.
In chapter 19, Joshua received His inheritance after the tribes receive theirs.
19:49-51: “When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua, the son of Nun among them. According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath Serah in mount Ephraim; and he built the city; and dwelled therein. These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.”
(Timnath-Serah = “portion of the sun” or “abundant portion.”)
After the distribution of the land by lot, six cities were set apart for places of refuge for unintentional manslayers, in accordance with the instruction of Moses. These cities were for “a killer smiting a soul,” the “Avenger of the Blood’ is the Law.
This is the principle of atonement of the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ:
Rom. 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received atonement.”
Rom 7:4: “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
This safe harbor was valid until the death of the high priest.
Jesus is a stronghold for the helpless. He is exalted for the humble. He is separated for the tempted. He is the holy place for the unclean. He is a shoulder for the weary. He is fellowship for the homeless. We are safe forever, for our High priest will never die.
Heb. 7:23-25: “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; but this man because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that came unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.”
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Darrell McManus – 12 Spirits Seducing the Church; Matthew Henry’s Commentary and Principles of Present Truth by Rev. Kelly Varner (1949-2009).