Thursdays with Joshua

Read Joshua 1:12-15 – And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” (NKJV)

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had requested land on the east side of the Jordan. As such, their land had already been conquered when the people now headed west. But they had promised to fight alongside the rest of Israel until every group had their promised land. Now that it’s time to move out, Joshua reminds them of their promise. Promises are easy to make, and in the short term we generally keep them in focus pretty well. But what about promises made some time ago? Do we still live up to them? One set of promises is made on our wedding day. Others are part of the hiring process at work. Do we live those promises like we should or like we used to? For Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh, fulfilling their promise meant God’s blessing would come to their lives. My guess is that our effort to fulfill our promises will bring the same to our lives.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
National Light for the Lost Day . May 6, 2012 . www.men.ag.org