Tues.’s Devo - Taking the Land

Read: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26
For the second time we read that Moses was one hundred and twenty years old. God betrothed Israel to himself on Mt. Sinai which was the first Pentecost (fifty days after their first Passover). Two thousand years later, one hundred and twenty disciples of Jesus were gathered on the day of Pentecost to receive the gift Jesus would give them. On that day the Holy Spirit was given and the Church was betrothed to the Lord. Moses stood for the law. The law had to die so that the Spirit could come and bring life. Three thousand were killed at the giving of the law in the Old Testament and three thousand were saved on the day of Pentecost when Peter stood up and preached.
When Moses died, Joshua took over. He was a type of Jesus who would take the people into the promised land. Only Jesus can take us into heavenly life. Joshua was told that everywhere his feet walked would be his and that God would never leave him or forsake him. We are told the same thing. We are to walk this land and claim our possession. They were to help one another take their possessions just as we are to help one another walk this Christian life.
Joshua sent out two spies to Jericho, the first city, and the ended up at Rahab’s house. Rahab was a prostitute and her name means “proud”. How awesome that she who was proud would humble herself before these men and tell them how afraid her people were of them. She protected and trusted these men to keep their word and save her life and the lives of her family. She put out a scarlet cord which was a picture of her life being saved through the blood of Jesus. She had a new life line. She would go on to marry a man named Salmon and have a boy named Boaz. He would marry Ruth and be named in the lineage of Jesus. What a picture of the Gentile bride being grafted into the vine.
In Luke, Jesus lets us see a picture of the people he chooses. He chooses people the world looks over, like the Rehab’s and the tax collectors - the common people who would be chosen last.
Jesus was told that Herod wanted to kill him. He called Herod a fox then explained that he couldn’t worry about him because he had a goal and that was to get to Jerusalem. He had to die in Jerusalem because that was where they killed all the other prophets.
Lord, help us to see with your eyes and not be afraid of a defeated enemy. You have given us this land and we need to be bold and take it for you.