Read
Joshua Ch 15: 1-4
The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.
Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea, crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their southern boundary….
Think
Here is one of those passages which are sort of tough to pay attention to – as the people come into possess their new home, the land has to be divided up fairly, and we get a detailed explanation of the boundaries of each tribe’s territory.
It’s hard enough to read about boundary lines in any case, and even harder to pay attention when most of the place names are unfamiliar, and you can’t really imagine what it looks like. It’s like when the Bible starts listing someone’s ancestry across several chapters. Do you just skip ahead to the next part of the story.
Well, first, it can help to use maps and illustrations to help us understand. As an example, the ESV study bible is full of good maps to help get your head around what the passage is saying – here’s a link to their map on how the land was divided up.
But it’s important too that as we read these lists, we see that details matter to God. It’s important that we see that Jesus’ family line goes all the way back through King David, through Judah, through Jacob and Abraham to Adam, so that we can see how the prophecies spoken over each of those men are totally and faithfully answered in Christ.
It’s important we see that God knows the number of his people. He cares about fairness, and seeing to it that all his people have sufficient space to live and grow and work in the land that he gives them. He knows that people will argue over the slightest uncertainty, so he gives clear instructions on how to divide the land up.
It’s important that you understand that God is good with details. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows your credit card balance. He knows every worry, every uncertainty, every hope and dream you have, no corner of your life is hidden from him, or forgotten by him. That means that he can truly care for you, truly work all things together for your good, truly mean it when he tells you that you don’t need to worry about tomorrow.
Keep reading the word, keep talking to God – thanking him, asking for his help, handing over your worries and cares – and keep trusting that he has all the details figured out.
Pray
Father, thank you that details matter to you. Thank you that you’re able to understand everything, to make perfect plans without forgetting a single thing. Thank you that you never make mistakes, and that every single person in your kingdom – me included – matters to you.
Please help us to trust you, to believe that you haven’t forgotten about us, or forgotten your plans for your church here in Great Yarmouth. We believe that you have good plans for us as your people, to see people come to life as they turn to you, and to see your name made famous here in Norfolk and to the ends of the Earth. You know all the details, you can’t be taken by surprise, you know and you care and you will do all you’ve set out to do.
Amen!
