Sun.’s Devo - Eyes to See

Read: Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86; 1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10 Today we read of the boundaries and inheritance of Judah’s land. His territory was the most southern land in Canaan. In his land there were 113 towns mentioned that he took. Caleb was in that tribe and asked for the land of the Anakites. He drove out three groups of them and when he came to the town of Debir, he promised the warrior who led the attack and captured it would get his daughter, Acsah in marriage. His nephew, Othniel took the challenge and won the prize. Acsah means “anklet”. These Anakites were the ones who wore neck chains so their necks would be long. Joshua had made his officers put their foot on the necks of the kings of Canaan as a prophetic sign they would overpower the demonic forces in the land. Acsah wore a chain around her ankle and they wore chains on their necks. Her people put their feet on the enemies’ neck and won. Othniel means “the force of God.” He led the attack which gave them the victory. He got the land he conquered which had upper springs. Acsah also asked for the land that had the springs below it so they would have water all year long. In Luke, a religious leader asked Jesus what he must DO to inherit eternal life. The religious believed it was all in their power - their own self-righteousness. When Jesus took him beyond the law into acts of self-sacrifices he was not interested. Jesus told him to sell all he had because he knew that riches was his stumbling block. The religious leaders taught that God showed who he favored by what they had. If he sold everything then everyone would think he was not one of God’s favorite. He loved the praises of man more than the praises of God. Jesus was trying to show him that true riches don’t come from earth. They are heavenly. When Jesus told his disciples that it was very hard for a rich man to enter heaven, Peter was quick to point out the sacrifices they had made to follow Jesus. But, they had no idea what sacrifices Jesus was about to give in a very short time. He tried to warn them, but they didn’t understand. They couldn’t “see”. Jesus then healed a blind man that could “see” spiritually. He believed before he could see and was given natural sight as well. Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand and believe.