Mon.’s Devo - God is Faithful to His Promises

Read: Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16 The cities given to the Levites from the different land of the 11 tribes were listed by name. All the cities given to the Levites included the pastureland. There were 48 cities in all. *** Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to them had failed to come true. Joshua called the men from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh that would live east of the Jordan. He told them that they had kept their promise to help secure the land and now they were free to go home to their families. On their way home, they set up a huge altar beside the Jordan. When the other tribes heard of it they sent troops to fight them, thinking they were setting up an altar to a false god. They sent Phinehas the priest along with a chief from head of the tribes of Israel to rebuke them and investigate their crime. *** In Luke, we read yesterday that the priests and scribes were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus for good. Today, we read where they came to Jesus to ask him who gave him the authority to do the miracles he was doing. He answers their question with a question. He asked them if they believed John’s baptism was from God or man. They couldn’t answer him without exposing their hearts and upsetting the people who loved John. So, they said they didn’t know, so Jesus told him that he wouldn’t answer their question. *** He then answered their question in a parable. The parable was about a man who planted a vineyard and leased it out to tenants. He went out of town for a long time. After a set time, he sent a servant to collect on the revenue of his vineyard. The tenants beat him and refused to give him any money. The owner sent another, and another and they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his beloved son thinking perhaps they would honor him. Instead, they filled him to get the inheritance. Jesus asked his audience what the owner would do to the tenants. They answered that he would come and kill the tenants and give the vineyard to others. The people were upset and said, “Surely not!” *** Jesus looked at them and quoted Psalm 118:22 that the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. He explained that everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him. In other words it is futile to try to fight against God. *** The tribes and chief priests wanted to kill him because they perceived that he was telling this parable against them. But, for the sake of the people, they didn’t do anything then. They sent spies to follow him and try to trap him in his doctrine. *** They asked Jesus a question about taxes to get the Romans on their side, but it didn’t work. Nothing they did gave them a legal right to kill Jesus. *** Lord, I thank you that you will never let one of your good promises that you have given us fail to happen. We trust in your faithfulness and truth. Just like you did for Jesus, you will give us an answer from every hard question we are asked by God’s enemies.