Thurs.’s Devo - Entering In

Read: Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22
The Ruebenites and the Gadites liked the land on the west side of the Jordan and asked if they could have it for their inheritance instead of the land God had prepared for them. Crossing the Red Sea is like John’s baptism - repentence from sin. Crossing the Jordan was like Jesus’ baptism of fire and power. Many people are content to be “saved” from hell but are not interested in going deeper and walking in the Spirit with power and with the gifts.
The children of Rueben and Gad half of the children from the tribe of Manasseh did promise to cross over and fight for the others which seem to suffice Moses. They took the land they had gotten from the king of Sihon and Og and rebuilt their cities and renamed them. That was what we are to do with the things we take back from the devil. We are to rename them. For example we can rename fear - hope or victory.
I wonder if we don’t settle with the first thing we see instead of asking God if it is his best. Being content can be a good thing and a bad thing. We are to be content with earthly things but always wanting more spiritually.
The Israelites started out from Rameses which means “evil is the standard” and ended up in the land of promise where God’s goodness was the standard.
In Luke, Capernaum became Jesus’ home since he had been kicked out of his hometown of Nazareth. He did so many miracles here and gave the people so much truth that Jesus later said that Capernaum would be judged harder than any other city for rejecting him (Luke 10:14-16).
I think it is notable that Jesus always mentions the women he heals and he heals many of them. Women were considered to be inherent liars and evil by the priests and Pharisees. They were not allowed to be taught the Torah or to have any land, or vote, or to divorce a man, or to eat with the men. They were servants and baby makers. Jesus made a point to heal them, teach them and honor them. This flew in the face of the leaders in the synagogue.
Today seems to be Simon’s day. Jesus healed his mother-in-law, then went and preached from his boat. Simon had just come in from a day of catching no fish. He let Jesus use his boat then Jesus blessed him with such a catch, it put the fear of the Lord in Simon. Simon became a follower that day.
Lord, let us not settle for mediocre when you want us to hunger and thirst for more. May we enter into all the promises you have for us.