Sat.’s Devo - Possessing the Land

Read: Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psaom 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22 The children of Israel had just fought and conquered the Midianites. Their land was fertile pastureland and since the people of Reuben and Gad were shepherds, they went to Moses to ask to possess their land instead of land on the other side of the Jordan. *** Moses was not for it at first, until he learned their plan. They promised to set up cities for their families, then send their men of fighting age over the Jordan to help all the tribes conquer their land. They would not come home till every tribe possessed their land. When Moses and Eleazar and Joshua and the other leaders of the tribes heard this, they agreed. Half of the tribe of Manasseh also joined Gad and Reuben. *** Chapter 33 is a summary of the travels of the children of Israel from when they left Egypt the night of the first Passover to the day Aaron climbed Mt. Hor and died. *** In Luke, Jesus went to Capernaum, a city of Galilee and taught on the Sabbath. An unclean demon manifested in a man who was there. He began crying out that Jesus was the Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the demon and told him to come out of the man. The demon threw him down to the ground and then left him. The people were amazed at the authority Jesus had in his preaching and over evil spirits. Word spread about Jesus. *** Jesus was staying at the house of Simon Peter whose mother-in-law was ill with a fever. He rebuked the fever and she got up immediately and began to serve them. *** Many brought their sick and diseased to him for him to lay his hands on them. Jesus healed them all and would not allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was. *** One day, when Jesus was by the lake of Gennesaret he saw some fishermen in their boats washing them nets. One of the boat belonged to Simon. He asked them to let him preach from their boat. They put him on the boat and pushed their boat away from the shore so he could speak to the crowd. When he was finished preaching, he rewarded them by telling them to cast their nets. Simon complained that they had fished all night and it was useless but he obeyed and let down his net. Their net instantly filled with so many fish they had to get the other boat to help them. They filled both boats full with fish until they were both about to sink. Simon Peter saw the miracle and fell on his knees before Jesus. Jesus told him not to be afraid because from now on he would be catching men, not fish. From that moment on, Peter, James, John and Andrew left fishing and followed Jesus. *** Lord, may we be like those disciples who quickly responded to Jesus’ word. Thank you that you have revealed to us who you are. Everything in heaven and on earth is under your control. You are our Creator and Sustainer.