Mon.’s Devo - Atonement

Read: Josua 22:21-23:16; Luke 20:27-47; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 13:17-19
The tribes of Levi were dispersed throughout the tribes as cities of refuge where people could go for atonement. The cities had to be well marked with signs, making it easy for a person to find. The road to the city had to be 32 els wide. An “el” was the length of a man’s fingertips to his elbow which would be more than a foot. So the road was twice as wide as the standard road and free of stumbling stones.
Joshua called the leaders of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh which were the tribes who had land on the eastern side of the Jordan. He commended them for doing everything he had required of them. Since they had helped the other tribes gain their inheritance and now they were released to go home to their families. When they came to the Jordan, they built an altar to commemorate all that God had done for them. The other tribes misread their motives and thought they had set up a pagan altar. They came out to fight them but sent their delegates to talk to them first. This was the right way to settle an argument. The tribes who built the altar would be able to defend themselves before blood was unnecessarily spilt.
What a great example of how to settle matters. I have found that most of the things I get easily offended about, are just misunderstandings on my part and if I would just let the other party explain, it could wipe the suspicion away.
The devil is the accuser of the brethren and he loves to put his accusations in our heads and make us believe a lie. Let’s not let him win.
In Luke, Jesus was in his last few days. He had entered Jerusalem where the “lamb” would be examined to find if it was spotless. While the priests were examining the Pascal lamb to see if it was spotless, the Pharisees were looking for a “spot” on Jesus. He was being examined up and down, as they tried to find something to accuse him of - some sin. Instead, Jesus turned the mirror on them and exposed their sin.
They questioned Jesus’ authority, his political views and his views on taxes but were blown away by his answers. He was not giving them any reason for fault.
Lord, help us to overlook offenses and examine our own hearts. You are the only spotless lamb that was slain to take our sin to the cross so that we might live in your righteousness. Thank you for your precious blood!