Sat.’s Devo - God is the Authority

Read: Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16 The leaders of the tribe of Levi came before Eleazar the priest and Joshua their leader and the leaders of the other tribes and reminded them that Moses had promised them towns to live in out of all of their grants of land. They had already been given 13 towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. So the families of the Kohathites where given 10 towns from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. *** The clan of Gershon was allotted 13 towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. And the clan of Merari was given 12 towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. Many of these towns were designated as cities of refuge. *** Each of the towns were mentioned by name. Now that the land had been distributed and all the Levites were dispersed throughout the land, all that God promised them had come to pass. Joshua then released the warriors from the tribes that settled east of the Jordan to go home. So the men from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh went back to live in their own land. When they got to the Jordan River they stopped at Geliloth and built a large altar. When the rest of Israel heard what they had done they were so upset they sent a delegation of ten leaders of Israel from the ten tribes on the west of the Jordan to talk to them. They were afraid they had already defiled the Lord by setting up an idol. In Luke, the teachers of the law challenged Jesus’ authority. So Jesus asked them by whose authority did John baptize people. They couldn’t give him an answer that wouldn’t incriminate them in front of the people, so he told them he wouldn’t give them an answer either. *** Then he gave them a story to illustrate his answer. The owner of the vineyard was God who owns all the land of the earth. He gave it to us to steward and especially the religious leaders. They were suppose to teach the people God’s laws but instead, they had replaced God’s laws with their own. They had killed all the prophets that came in God’s authority. Then they killed John who came in God’s authority. They would soon kill God’s son who came in God’s authority. Then God would come and kill them and give his authority to others that will obey and honor him. *** When the leaders heard the story and knew he was talking about them, they wanted to arrest him immediately. They had to find a way to get him to offend the Romans so they would arrest him and put him to death. So they asked him if it was legal to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked them for a coin and asked whose inscription was on it. They said it was Caesar’s. So Jesus told them to give to Caesar what was his and to God what was his. *** His answer certainly didn’t incriminate him: instead it amazed those who heard it and silenced his accusers. Who can go against God and win? *** Lord, when you are on our side, who can be against us. Thank you that you are our shield and our refuge. We stand on your authority and none is higher.