Thurs.’s Devo - Judah’s Territory

Read: Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 861-17; Proverbs 13:9-10 Judah was given the most southern territory in the promised land. The southern boundary was the Dead Sea. The eastern boundary went along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan. The Northern boundary was full of mountains, valleys, and springs ending at the Mediterranean Sea. The western boundary was the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. *** God told Joshua to give to Caleb the land that He had promised Caleb. Joshua obeyed and Caleb drove out of Hebron the three groups of giants who were descendants of Anak. Other descendants of Anak were living in Kiriath-sepher. Caleb offered his daughter Othniel to whoever attacked the town and captured it. Kenaz won and got Othniel for his reward. She asked her father for the land with the upper and lower springs of water for her marriage gift and Caleb gave it to her. *** Judah ended up with 68 towns in his territory. *** In Luke, a religious leader came to Jesus asking what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to obey the commandments which the man said he did. Since the man was looking for something he could do to merit eternal life, Jesus gave him something he knew he couldn’t do. He told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. The man couldn’t do it. Jesus knew what his response would be. Jesus the said it was hard for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God. What he was saying was, a person who depended on his riches to sustain him doesn’t have a need for God. Having or not having doesn’t determine your eternal salvation. Giving your heart and surrendering all you have to God does. Jesus later says that with him all things are possible, even rich people can be saved. He also assures us that whatever we give up for the Kingdom will be repaid with interest in the world to come. *** Jesus told his disciples again that he was going to be mocked and persecuted and finally killed, but on the third day he would rise again. They didn’t understand anything he said because the meaning of his words was hidden from them. *** As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was told Jesus was passing so he shouted out for mercy. The people tried to get him to stop but he shouted louder. Jesus healed him! *** How interesting, the disciples were blinded because of their lack of understanding, and this blind man was made to see because of his spiritual sight. *** Lord, may we have eyes to see and a heart to understand. Open our ears to hear. May we not miss our visitation from you.