The Remaining Seven Tribes Allot Their Inheritance(Joshua18)

Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?(Joshua 18:3) 

This chapter and the next chapter are the processes of the second division of land. Over time, relying on the power of God, the three tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh among the twelve tribes of Israel have all allocated their land east of the river.  The other two and a half tribes who live on the west side of the river are about to return to their land. The tribe of Levi did not divide the land and the remaining seven tribes were slow to move, indifferent to the land they deserved.

Joshua inherited Moses' desire to serve God exclusively-to move the Tabernacle from Gilgal to Shiloh (in the territory of Ephraim), the center of Canaan. Because God's tabernacle is among the elect, the elect can be blessed by it.

While the entire congregation was gathered in Shiloh, he rebuked the seven tribes and ordered them to quickly form a "21-person task force." This team must travel all over those places without fear of difficulty; The distribution and other information are drawn into a map. Divide the land into seven so that Joshua can draw lots for them before God.

The idleness and inaction of these seven tribes are like when we lose our watchful heart after receiving the truth and think that we are still spiritually rich, but in fact, we no longer follow the Lord exclusively and humbly. On the surface, I believe in the Lord. But I still love the world in my heart. I have the mark of the Holy Spirit on my body, but I don’t want to make progress. If you still harden your heart and insist on going your way, the Holy Spirit will treat us as lukewarm water and will eventually spit out by the Lord Jesus.

(Romans 12：11-12)

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

There is a sister who lives overseas. After believing in the Lord, she did not read the Bible and pray for a while as she need to study, work, and take care of her family. She even joked to God: "Lord Jesus! You know I haven’t read the Bible for a long time?”. Until one day she had a dream in which she was one of five foolish virgins. Knowing in her heart that the lamp in her hand is out of oil, she still waits for the Lord Jesus with everyone. Suddenly someone knocked on the door and shouted: "The Lord Jesus is coming soon!" At this time, she noticed her lamp. Not only was there no oil in it, but there was also a thick layer of ash. After waking up, she was ashamed and kept asking God for forgiveness. If it were not for the mercy of the Lord Jesus, she might have already been punished for offending God. This was the Lord Jesus’ warning to her and also reminded us that the Lord’s Day is at the door. His delay is still waiting for us who are lost, hurry us back to the right path.

(Matthew 25:13) Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Translated by Niclole

The Land of Judah (Joshua15)

 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of according to their families:(Joshua,15:20)  

    The inheritance of the tribe of Judah of the children of Judah can be separate to 29 cities in the south, as well as villages belonged to the cities. (Joshua,15:21-32) There are 39 cities in the plateau, and there are villages belonged to the cities (Verse 3-44). Cities and regions that were originally belonged to the Philistines (Verse 45-47). There are 38 villages in the mountain, and there are also villages that belonged to the cities. There are six cities in the wilderness and villages belonging to cities (Verse 61-62) There are more than 116 cities in total. With a total of more than 116 cities, it can be described as a huge inheritance because of its large population. (Numbers,26:22) 

    (Genesis,49:8) "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you. (Genesis,49:9) Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? 

    The People of Israel’s ancestor Jacob predicted and expected that the descendants of Judah would be strong and God did give many cities but they need to have faith to attack the cities, Caleb belong to the Judah tribe and Othniel was the son in law of Caleb. Othniel was also the first judge of Israelites. His daughter also boldly seek the water spring. From the above point we can see that Judah tribe have a firmly faith toward the land promise by God. According to God’s word, they seek by the way God instructed therefore the land of Judah can be said won because of faith. 

    (Genesis,49,10) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people 

    (1 Chronicles,5:2) yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's 

    King were from Judah, which prove Jacob’s prophecy. David, the descendent of Judah, who were a righteous king who follow God’s instruction. David’s descendent inherent the position of king from David. When Jesus was on Earth by flesh, God was descendent of David, which fully prove Jacob’s prophecy and demonstrates the righteous king by Judah tribes. 

    (Genesis, 44:33) Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 

    Judah’s blessing was started from his witness to sacrifice for his brother, this is from the love that Judah have that makes him want to make his family peaceful. This helped him to received high review and blessing from his father Jacob. Judah was weak in faith before but God uses Jacob’s blessing to prove that these blessings are on Judah. Which demonstrates that, God bless those who are willing to change. Maybe we don’t love our family enough and may lose faith to God’s promise. If we are willing to change, seek for the happiness, faith given by God then God will bless our descendants. Spiritual leader will come out as our descendent. May all of us can truly believe God’s hope on us, boldly pray to God and believe that God will fulfil us according to our faith. 

    (Hebrews, 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Translated by Nicole

摩西之死(申卅四)

耶和華將他埋葬在摩押地、伯‧毘珥對面的谷中，只是到今日沒有人知道他的墳墓。摩西死的時候年一百二十歲；眼目沒有昏花，精神沒有衰敗。(申卅四6-7)

    按著定命，人人都有一死，死後且有審判(來九27)。今天不論是誰，在這個世界上多麼富有，多麼有權勢，終將面臨一死，神的僕人摩西也不例外。神安排摩西的人生，從一出生可以躲過法老的追殺，從水裡被救上來成為埃及法老女兒之子，但他長大了，明白自己的身分，寧可和神的百姓同受苦害，也不願暫時享受罪中之樂，因為他看基督受的凌辱比埃及的財物更寶貴，因他想望所要得的賞賜(來十一24-26)。

   猶 1:9CUV 1:9 天使長米迦勒，為摩西的屍首與魔鬼爭辯的時候，尚且不敢用毀謗的話罪責他，只說，主責備你罷。

    到了申命記的最後一章，記載這偉大的工人摩西離世了，但是沒有人知道他的墳墓，這就是神的智慧，以世人的觀念，偉大的人離世總是要風光大葬，壽終正寢，甚至將他的墳墓當作拜神的地方，也就是將人偶像化，倘若神的選民也陷入這種軟弱，很快地摩西的墳墓就會變成偶像廟，轉去不拜獨一的真神了。

    魔鬼也知道這件事情，所以在猶大書記載魔鬼與天使長米迦勒在爭奪摩西的屍首，為的就是要使神的選民心偏於邪，神也知道人的軟弱，因此將摩西的屍首藏了起來。因此可以看到，將神的工人偶像化，這也是魔鬼的作為。

    每個人都會面臨死亡，但重點是死亡時是否能真正安息，倘若我們相信獨一真神就是主耶穌，接受洗禮洗去了罪，並且一生遵守神的道，甚至一生為主而活，死亡就不再是這麼的恐懼，因為這是主叫我們安息了。摩西在離世前，眼目沒有昏花，精神沒有衰敗，相信這是許多人羨慕的，有些工人屬靈的眼睛一開始是明亮的，但到了後面走偏了，神的道路看不清楚了，這是令人惋惜的，盼望我們每個人也可以像摩西一樣，屬靈的眼睛到人生的最後依然看得清，一生向著我們的天國盼望直奔。

    太 6:22-23CUV 6:22 眼睛就是身上的燈；你的眼睛若瞭亮，全身就光明。CUV 6:23 你的眼睛若昏花，全身就黑暗；你裏頭的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大呢。

    申命記讀完了，我們看到了神興起了他的工人，走過了他的一生，也看到神又興起新一代的工人起來，繼續完成他的救贖之工，告訴我們信仰要繼續往前行，不要因為進入迦南地，得了恩典就忘了造我們的神，更要提醒下一代要愛神，也就是遵守神的道，世世代代地傳下去，當一生愛主我們的神。

    感謝神，石牌與天母教會許多同靈被主恩所感，願意一起來撰寫每日的讀經心得，之後會以下方石牌、天母共同的部落格來張貼文章，這個部落格小弟以後若有感動也會在這邊撰寫，願主耶穌激勵我們所有愛主的人，牧養空中主的羊。

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