Levite's Inheritance(Joshua 21)

All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands (Joshua 21:41)

    God blessed Levites, Although Levities were separate around tribes, they received the cities and common lands as commanded by the Lord, they received forty-eight cities, Only the tribe of Judah (Joshua 20-62) and the tribe of Manasheh receive more cities than Levites (Joshua 29-30), Levites should be grateful as they did not deserve such grace from the Lord.

    "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. (Numbers 18:21)

    How can Levities receive this much inheritance? This is because Israelites dedicate tithes to Levites. If the people appreciate holy workers, then the Levites will work harder for God. Which will create a positive cycle and will help the people to have more faith in God. God chosen Levites instead of first-born Israelites. Although they were separated between tribes. God will rewarded people who work for Him. They seem to have no inheritance but behind this is countless grace and rich inheritance.

    (Mark 10:29-30) So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

    Due to the gospel, we have to leave things behind that we want to do on Earth, this seems to be a sacrifice but it is a blessing. This is a test from God on our faith. We don't need to broke our relationship with our family because we need to preach the gospel. But if we are willing to put the gospel on our priority list, knowing that nothing is more important than God. God's grace will bless us from our current life to eternal life.

    Sometimes we have to make a decision in our religion. There is a man in the bible called Peter. Before he met God, he was a fisher. One night when he couldn’t catch fish all night, he listened to God's instructions. He moved the boat to a deeper place, put down the net, and fishing. As he believed Jesus, he dropped down the net and fish, what he got was two boats of fish. Knowing that he is like a sinner, if there’s no God then there is no meaning in our life. Jesus call Peter and promised him that he will be a fisher of men so Peter left all things and followed God.

    From a person’s perspective, if they aren't life how could they have time to follow religion? But from God's perspective if they are not religious then they are no life because religion is life. Maybe we can't foreseen eternal life now but if we don't seize the time to know God then we will lose more grace. If we are willing to sacrifice our life and follow God then God will bless us. This is because God is our inheritance.

    (Joshua 13:33) But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as He had said to them.

Translated by Nicole

 

 

 

Set Apart the Cities of Refugee (Joshua20)

The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,  (Joshua 20:1-2) 

    For the establishment of the city of refuge, please refer to Numbers 35:9-28 and Deuteronomy 19:1- 13. 

    Joshua led a new generation of Israelites into the promised land. God told Joshua to follow "what Moses told you". This is the inheritance and succession of faith. 

    He wants to live in that city and stand in front of the congregation to hear the judgment. When the high priest is dead, the murderer can return to his home in the city, which is the city from which he escaped. (Joshua 20:6) 

    The city of refuge is a sanctuary, a place that can be accepted, in the arms of Jesus, and the true church of Jesus. If you have the opportunity to enter the city of refuge, you must leave the city and live a new life. For those who want to enter the city of refuge (church, fellowship), we should accept them, just like the Lord Jesus accepts us. 

    The murderer will flee to one of these cities, stand at the gate, and tell his story to the elders in the city. They took him into the city and gave him a place to live among them. (Joshua 20:4) The description of the city of refuge is different from those recorded in the Book of Numbers and Deuteronomy. It records what "the murderer" has to do-"Tell his affairs to the elders in the city "Listen" and telling our mistakes of "unintentionally killing people" is like kneeling before the mercy seat and acknowledging our weakness. Weakness can also be said to be a turning point in grace and the key to obtaining blessings. When we are weak when we can be strong（2 Corinthians12：10）.  Accept the weakness in life and let God’s grace appear perfect in our weakness（2 Corinthians12：9）. 

    We who have entered the city of refuge may also have a fellowship that makes us feel safe. In such a refuge, have we "told our weakness to the elders in the city" and properly exposed and shared our weaknesses, Let the members of the fellowship "receive us into the city", accept us as members of each other, and face the weakness and inherit the grace of life together. 

    I have heard of brothers and sisters who don’t often participate in fellowship meetings. They flashed after the meeting, and occasionally they had the opportunity to care for a few words at the door of the church, and in private, I heard them say that "the church has no love". Participation and a little more interaction allow us to walk into each other’s lives. Apart from gathering and listening to the sermons, we can have more sharing and reflection. To grow up, learn together the lessons of "being accompanied by faith", "accepting each other", and "life affects life". What a wonderful, joyous and satisfying church life like this! 

    (Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 
    (Philippians 2:1-2) 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Translated by Nicole

(Joshua19)

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. According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked for, Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it.(Joshua 19:49-50)

    In the final division of the west of the Jordan river, Joshua sent people to conduct field surveys and draw maps, so that the remaining seven tribes were able to divide all the land by casting lots at the gate of the tent of meeting in Shiloh before the Lord. What is worth pondering is that Caleb and Joshua were the only two good spies who spied on Canaan, stood alone, and reported the good news. What place did they choose? From the record of Joshua chapters 14 and 19: Caleb was the first choice among the subdivisions to the west of the Jordan; he did not choose an easy-to-capture or superior location, but a dangerous place—the greatest figure of the Anakis. The place where Ba is located-Gilead Abba, is the famous Hebron of later generations (Joshua 14). Joshua was the last chosen in the west of the Jordan River. He chose a city in the Ephraim Mountains called Timnasila. The name of the city was "The Remaining Part". There are strong enemies (Joshua 17: 14-18).

    Caleb, who picked the land first, and Joshua, who chose the land last, chose to attack the place where the most dangerous and terrifying Anakis (giants) were. They were not selfish, pick what others have left, and reclaim the worst areas. From the choices of these two people, we can see that they are really not easy. No wonder it is the only leader among all Israelis who have walked through the Red Sea, spied on Canaan, and stepped into Canaan with faith.

    This is why they have been able to stand unshakably before God and the people for more than four decades. By carefully observing what they have said, the way they have traveled, and the place they have chosen, we can reflect on what kind of leaders in the church today need to have. Traits? What can we learn and imitate from them? Whether it is a person who took care of a class or the head of the Taiwan General Conference, can we be as humble, confident, loyal to God, not greedy, and not selfish like the two of them? Become a good leader and fulfill the duty of feeding and shepherding among the flock, just as Elder Peter said: I, as an elder, a testimony of Christ’s suffering, and sharing the glory that will be revealed later, urge you to be with me. A fellow elder. Shepherd the flock of God among you and take care of them according to God's will; not out of reluctance, but out of willingness; not out of greed, but out of willingness. Nor is it entrusted to you by the rule, but to be an example to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1-3) I hope that we can all learn from Caleb's faith in following Jehovah's perilous faith and Joshua's example of setting a good example, and look after each other in the sheepfold of the church, inspire love, and encourage good deeds! (Hebrews 10:24)

    Follow the example of the "Shepherd" Lord Christ, focus on him, and work hard to run the path of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven!

Translated by Nicole