DCLM Daily Manna 7 May 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — When God Tarries
TOPIC: When God Tarries (DCLM Daily Manna 7 May 2023)
KEY VERSE: “Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof” (Joshua 15:47).
TEXT: Joshua 15:21-47 (KJV)
21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
27 And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,
28 And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
34 And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:
37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
41 And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:
42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
46 From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
47 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
MESSAGE:
Modern archaeologists have succeeded in unearthing the remains of several cities of the land of Canaan inherited by the children of Israel as recorded in the Bible. Many, though, are yet to be discovered, leading to needless arguments. We also do not know the exact boundaries of these territories, giving room again for naysayers to have a field day.
Scholars say what we should rather consider is the fact that God was faithful in fulfilling His promise to give the tribes their inheritance in the land of Canaan. Landless after centuries of serfdom in Egypt, the Israelites needed to possess a place of rest, where God would work with them to bring about the coming of the Messiah. Occupying a landed property of their own was also necessary to enjoy tangible prosperity promised them.
When the Lord said in Jeremiah 1:12 that “I will hasten my word to perform it”, He was simply referring us to how after centuries of His promise to give the descendants of Abraham their own land, He would go ahead to fulfil His word. He finally honoured His covenant in the days of Joshua. It should gladden the hearts of the followers of the Lord that we serve a God who is not oblivious of His plans for those who trust Him.
In today’s era of liberal philosophy madly driven by globalisation and the heavy gale of information technology, the true lover of the Bible focused on making heaven is cautioned to stick to the promises of the Lord concerning the Church in the last days. Even if fulfilment of the Lord’s promises seems to linger, His counsel is still, “I will…perform it”.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Often, when God wants to bless us beyond our expectation, He makes us wait.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Judges 14-17
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.