Joshua 14
Lots were cast to determine inheritanceverses 1-5
And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the
land of Canaan – which Eleazar the priest
and Joshua the son of Nun
And the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel
distributed for inheritance to them
By lot was their inheritance – as the LORD commanded
by the hand of Moses for the nine tribes
and for the half tribe
FOR Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes
and an half tribe on the other side Jordan
but to the Levites he gave
none inheritance among them
FOR the children of Joseph were two tribes – Manasseh and Ephraim
THEREFORE they gave no part to the Levites in the land
save cities to dwell in – with their suburbs for their cattle
and for their substance
As the LORD commanded Moses – so the children of Israel did
and they divided the land
Calab asks for land he had spied outverses 6-9
Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal
and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite
said to him
You know the thing that the LORD said to Moses
the man of God concerning me and you
in Kadesh-barnea
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD
sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land
and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me
made the heart of the people melt
BUT I wholly followed the LORD my God
And Moses swore on that day
saying
Surely the land whereon your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance
and your children’s for ever – BECAUSE you have
WHOLLY FOLLOWED the LORD my God
Calab at eighty five asks for the land of the giantsverses 10-12
And now – BEHOLD – the LORD has kept me alive
AS HE SAID
These forty and five years – even since the LORD spoke
this word to Moses – while the children of Israel wandered
in the wilderness – and now
LO I am this day fourscore and five years old
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me
as my strength was then – even so is my strength now – for war
both to go out – and to come in
Now therefore give me this MOUNTAIN
whereof the LORD spoke in that day
FOR you heard in that day how the Anakim were there
and that the cities were great and fenced
IF so be the LORD will be with me
THEN I shall be able to drive them out
as the LORD said
Joshua gave Calab the land he asked forverses 13-15
And Joshua blessed him – and gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh
Hebron for an inheritance
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh
the Kenezite to this day – BECAUSE
that he wholly FOLLOWED
the LORD God of Israel
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba
which Arba was a great man among the Anakim
And the land had REST from war
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part to the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. (4054 “suburbs” [migrash] means pastureland, outskirts, a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock, open space, or common-land)
DEVOTION: This is the third time the fact is repeated regarding the children of Levi. They were not to conquer any land but were given towns or cities that were conquered by the armies of Israel.
They were not the fighting men but the men who led the nation in spiritual affairs. They were responsible for the worship of the LORD at the Tabernacle. The priests were to offer the offerings and the rest of the tribe was to help them in their duties.
They were given not only the towns or cities but they were given enough property to raise cattle and crops. They were not a lazy group but an active group who were provided for by the LORD.
So those who are spiritual leaders are to also be those who are willing to work their land for the LORD. They have their spiritual responsibilities but also their personal responsibilities.
Those in the service of the LORD were to set the example for the rest of the people not only in the area of spiritual worship of the LORD bur also in natural service to the LORD.
They had to care for their families. This meant that the rest of the people could look up to what was happening in the homes of those who were spiritual leaders. Are we able to look up to the families of those in leadership in our churches?
CHALLENGE: One of the requirements of leaders in the churches today is that they have a family that honors the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. (4529 “melt” [macah] means consume away, to cause someone to fear so as to lose all courage, dissolve, be liquefied, be very afraid, to intimidate, or drench with liquid)
DEVOTION: There can be at least two reactions to a given circumstance. Here we find the two reactions of the children of Israel when they were going to try to conquer the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses.
Ten spied gave an evil report that the land was full of giants and the people were too strong for the children of Israel to defeat. Two spies gave a good report that the LORD was able to help them defeat all the people of the land.
So which report did they believe? The believed the wrong report and wandered for another forty years until the generation that feared died. This was the consequence of not believing the LORD could do the impossible from a human perspective.
Now we find that Caleb is ready to take the Promised Land portion that others were afraid of. He believed the LORD was able to help him defeat any enemy. He believed that the LORD was on his side. He believed that all he had to do was to go in the right direction and the LORD would lead the way.
We need the courage of Caleb today. We need to not look at all the negatives and be intimidated. We need to step out in faith and conquer our world for the LORD. HE has promised to be with us, just like, HE was with Caleb.
Are we willing to move forward in our neighborhoods and reach our neighbors for the LORD? Is God still able to defeat the real enemy we are fighting? Fear is not the something the LORD has given us. HE has given us the spirit of courage.
Caleb had that courage at eighty-five years of age. We can have the same courage at our present age. It is never too late to defeat our enemy the devil.
CHALLENGE: Are you going to try to be a Caleb or are you going to just say it can’t be done because there are giants in the land?
: 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spoke in that day: for you heard in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. (3423 “I shall be able to drive them out” [yarash] means to take possession of, to be heir, to dispossess, to force to go away or go out, used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings, inherit, or give as an inheritance.)
DEVOTION: Caleb was eighty-five years old when he met with Joshua. He had fought to conquer the Promised Land. He was of retirement age. He had won all his battles. He could have just settled for an easy part of the land to live out his remaining years but he didn’t. He asked for the land he spied when he first came into the Promised Land.
Who lived on this land? The giants! The Anaki, which we have written about before in our commentary section. They were the ones that the other ten spies were afraid of and made the rest of the nation afraid of.
Even at retirement age he was not afraid of the giants. He wanted the mountain that they lived on. Their cities were fenced which meant that they were harder to conquer but that didn’t bother Caleb.
He wanted to show the rest of the nation that he was going to take the land that Moses promised him no matter what. His family was going to fight these giants and win.
What giants are you facing in your life? Do you know that the LORD is still able to give you victory over any giants that seem to be living in your life? Don’t go to the LORD and tell HIM that HE has given you a battle you can’t win with HIS help.
The God of Caleb is still on the throne today. HE has promised to help us. HE has promised to give us victory when we fight the battles HE has set before us.
CHALLENGE: Is it time for you to get up off your couch and start fighting your battle for the LORD?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. (1288 “blessed” [barak] means salute, praised, congratulate, to invoke divine favor, or to cause to prosper.)
DEVOTION: Here are two spies that made it through the forty years wilderness wanderings because they gave a favorable report regarding the Promised Land. They wanted to go right in and conquer the land but the other ten spies made the people afraid of the giants in the land.
These two were the only ones who trusted the LORD to defeat any enemy they had to face. Now they had both faced the enemy and won. They were on the victory side. They were the oldest one coming out of the wilderness because those their age or older died in the forty years of wandering because of unbelief.
Now the children of these men were going to conquer the land that the adults were afraid would be killed. God used the children because the parents didn’t want to be obedient to HIM.
Sometimes this happens even today. The children are more faithful to the LORD than the parents. The children have the vision that the parents didn’t have regarding the power of the LORD.
We need a new generation of believers that believe in a God who is All Powerful to be able to defeat any enemy the church faces. The church faces many enemies today even some from within the church.
God wants to give divine favor on those who are willing to not look at the enemies but look at HIM. If we could have a generation of believers that genuinely were obedient to the LORD, we could still conquer the land we are living in.
No nation can defeat the army of the LORD. This army is fighting in the power of the Holy Spirit against the enemy of all ages the devil. He will not win any battle that the LORD is involved in and we need to remember this like Caleb.
CHALLENGE: Are you willing to be saluted for your faithfulness in your service to the LORD? I don’t mean the praise of men but the genuine praise of the LORD.
: 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Keneizite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. (4390 “wholly” [mala] means be full of, confirm, satisfy, fully, fill the hand or to consecrate.)
DEVOTION: This word is translated “wholly” only in relation to Joshua and Caleb in the King James Version. They filled their hand with the LORD. They consecrated their lives to the LORD. They were willing to fight against the giants when they came with their report.
Caleb reminded Joshua of what Moses had promised him when they entered the Promised Land. He had promised the land that Caleb had spied out before they were to enter the land. He and Joshua were the only ones of the twelve spies to give a good report. He had challenged the others to go in and fight because the LORD had promised victory. They didn’t listen. He had to wander with the children of Israel for forty years before he could receive his inheritance.
The other ten didn’t want to fight so a whole generation died in the wilderness because of their lack of faith. Here is Caleb at the age of 85 who wanted to conquer the mountain with the giants on it.
Joshua blessed him and gave him that mountain. Joshua had confidence in Caleb and his family conquering the land he wanted. The promise of Moses was fulfilled.
The New Testament gives us plenty of promises. Each of us has a responsibility before the LORD. HE has areas assigned to us for us to conquer. HE wants us to go out in HIS strength and witness to those in our world for HIM. HE has promised to never leave us or forsake us. HE will open all the right doors for us to serve HIM. Our age should not make a difference to us because it makes no difference to HIM. If we are willing, HE will help us conquer mountains even today. Are we willing?
Are we full of the LORD and willing to trust HIM against our giants in our land? Caleb won and so can we. Praise HIS name. The numbers are against us but one with the LORD is greater than any number.
CHALLENGE: Have you asked the LORD recently what mountains you are to conquer? Are you afraid of HIS answer? Trust in HIM with all your heart and HE will bring it to pass!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Calab wholly followed the LORDverses 8, 14
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Eleazar the priestverse 1
Levites = none inheritanceverses 3, 4
Save cities to dwell in & suburbs
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant-keeping, Personal)verses 2, 5-10, 12, 14
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 6, 8, 9, 14
LORD my Godverses 8, 9
LORD God of Israelverse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Land of Canaanverse 1
Kadesh-barneaverses 6, 7
Anakimsverses 12, 15
Arba was a great man
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Canannite to tributeverse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Inheritanceverses 1-3, 9, 14
Wholly followed the LORDverses 8, 9
Blessedverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Children of Israelverses 1, 10, 13
Wandered forty five years
Joshua the son of Nunverses 1, 13
Distributed for inheritanceverse 1
Mosesverses 2, 3, 5-7, 9-11
Hand of Moses man of God servant of the LORD
Inheritance to the nine tribes and a halfverse 2
Inheritance to two and a half tribesverse 3
Children of Josephverses 4, 14, 16, 17
Children of Judahverse 6
Caleb verses 6-14
Wholly followed the LORD my God
Give me this mountain
I shall be able
Hebron (Kirjath-arba
Brethren of Caleb (follow spies)verse 8
Land had rest from warverse 15
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org Also if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
This verse records only the second instance in the book of a blessing (brk). The concept of a blessing is a rich one in biblical thought. God’s blessing upon his people bestowed abundant and effective life upon them (e.g., Gen 27:27–29; 49:1–28). It involved bestowing material abundance upon them, such as children (e.g., Gen 1:28; 28:3), land (Gen 26:3; 28:4), or wealth (Gen 28:12–14), as well as upon others (Gen 12:3; 22:18). When people blessed God, they were worshiping him, ascribing worth to him and his great name (e.g., Ps 103:1–2; 104:1). When people blessed each other, it conveyed a desire for God’s best to befall them (e.g., Gen 47:10; Judg 5:24; Neh 11:2; Prov 30:11). Blessing someone was more than wishful thinking, however, since blessing in the name of the Lord tapped into the power and resources of God himself. (Howard, D. M., Jr. (1998). Joshua (Vol. 5, p. 330). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
9 Caleb asserted, “Moses swore to me.” This promise is found in Deuteronomy 1:36, but it is not stated there nor anywhere else in the OT that Moses made an oath to him (cf. Num 20–24). (Madvig, D. H. (1992). Joshua. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 324). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Josh. 14:9. Jehovah swore at that time, that the land upon which his (Caleb’s) foot had trodden should be an inheritance for him and his sons for ever. This oath is not mentioned in Num. 14:20ff., nor yet in Deut. 1:35, 36, where Moses repeats the account of the whole occurrence to the people. For the oath of Jehovah mentioned in Num. 14:21, 24, viz., that none of the murmuring people should see the land of Canaan, but that Caleb alone should come thither and his seed should possess it, cannot be the one referred to, as the promise given to Caleb in this oath does not relate to the possession of Hebron in particular, but to the land of Canaan generally, “the land which Jehovah had sworn to their fathers.” We must assume, therefore, that in addition to what is mentioned in Num. 14:24, God gave a special promise to Caleb, which is passed over there, with reference to the possession of Hebron itself, and that Joshua, who heard it at the time, is here reminded of that promise by Caleb. This particular promise from God was closely related to the words with which Caleb endeavoured to calm the minds of the people when they rose up against Moses (Num. 13:30), viz., by saying to them, “We are well able to overcome it,” notwithstanding the Anakites who dwelt in Hebron and had filled the other spies with such great alarm on account of their gigantic size. With reference to this the Lord had promised that very land to Caleb for his inheritance. Upon this promise Caleb founded his request (vv. 10–12) that Joshua would give him these mountains, of which Joshua had heard at that time that there were Anakites and large fortified cities there, inasmuch as, although forty-five years had elapsed since God had spoken these words, and he was now eighty-five years old, he was quite as strong as he had been then. From the words, “The Lord hath kept me alive these forty-five years,” Theodoret justly infers, that the conquest of Canaan by Joshua was completed in seven years, since God spake these words towards the end of the second year after the exodus from Egypt, and therefore thirty-eight years before the entrance into Canaan. The clause אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ וגו׳ (v. 10) is also dependent upon זֶה אַרְבָּעִים וגו׳: viz., “these forty-five years that Israel has wandered in the desert” (on this use of אֲשֶׁר, see Ewald, § 331, c.). The expression is a general one, and the years occupied in the conquest of Canaan, during which Israel had not yet entered into peaceful possession of the promised land, are reckoned as forming part of the years of wandering in the desert. As another reason for his request, Caleb adds in v. 11: “I am still as strong to-day as at that time; as my strength was then, so is it now for war, and to go out and in” (see Num. 27:17). (Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 108–109). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.)
Caleb is introduced in this passage as the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite. According to Genesis 15:19 the Kenizzites were a tribe of Canaan in Abraham’s day. Caleb’s family then was originally outside the covenant and commonwealth of Israel as were Heber the Kenite (Jud. 4:17), Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 1:1–5), Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 11:3, 6, 24), and others. It is apparent that the Kenizzites in part at least joined the tribe of Judah before the Exodus. So, their faith was not hereditary but was the fruit of conviction. And Caleb displayed that faith throughout his long lifetime.
Standing before General Joshua, his old friend and fellow spy (Num. 14:6), 85-year-old Caleb (Josh. 14:10) told the story of that never-to-be forgotten day, 45 years before (v. 10), when the 2 of them stood alone against the other 10 spies and the cowardly mob. For Moses had sent 12 spies into Canaan (Num. 13:2); 2 of them were Caleb and Joshua (Num. 13:6, 8). When the spies returned 10 of them praised the land itself but fearfully concluded Israel could not conquer it (Num. 13:27–29, 31–33). Caleb, however, dared to disagree (Num. 13:30), and when the fears of the people threatened to bring national rebellion Joshua joined his colleague in urging the people to trust God for victory (Num. 14:6–9). For Caleb’s leadership against the unbelieving spies and people, God singled him out for blessing and promised him a special reward (Num. 14:24; Deut. 1:36).
Caleb’s testimony (Josh. 14:6–12) was simple. He had spoken on that memorable day according to his convictions. He did not minimize the problems—the giants and the fortified cities—but he magnified God. To him, God was greater than the biggest problem. Caleb had faith in the power of God. Not so the other spies. They magnified the problems and thereby minimized God. But Caleb would not follow the crowd. He did not once consider sacrificing his own convictions in order to make the majority report unanimous. Instead, he followed the Lord his God wholeheartedly (cf. v. 14). (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 356–357). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Since Caleb belonged to the tribe of Judah (Num. 13:30) and had been one of the two faithful spies, he received his inheritance first. Joshua, the other faithful spy, was the last to receive his inheritance (Josh. 19:49–51). Caleb reminded his friend Joshua of the promise Moses had made to them forty-five years before (Num. 14:24, 30; Deut. 1:34–36), that they would survive the years of wandering and receive their inheritance in the land. This promise gave Joshua and Caleb joy and courage as they endured years of wandering and waiting. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Strong (p. 124). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
14:6–9 Caleb. This passage reviews what is also recounted in Nu 13, 14. This includes a celebration of God’s faithfulness (vv. 7–11), and Caleb’s specific inheritance (vv. 12–15). Later, he conquered the area (15:13, 14) and conferred blessing on Othniel and his daughter (15:15–19). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Jos 14:6–9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 9. And Moses sware on that day, saying, &c.] Or declared the oath of the Lord, for it was the Lord that sware to what follows; see Deut. 1:34, 35, 36. surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever; not the whole land of Canaan, nor all the parts of it Caleb travelled through, but particularly Hebron; which though not expressly mentioned in the aforesaid oath, yet was understood and known to be the meaning of it, and which Joshua by the following grant owned, and it is elsewhere expressly affirmed, Judg. 1:20 and it is remarked, that it is not said they, but he came to Hebron, Numb. 13:22. that is Caleb, so that it was literally true that his feet had trodden there: now the reason of this oath, and the inheritance assured by it to Caleb, was, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord thy God; in all his ways, and with full purpose of heart, and particularly had acted the upright and faithful part in the report he made of the good land; see the note on Numb. 14:24. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 234). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
5 Beautiful Reasons God Created Grandparents
Have you ever wondered why God created grandparents? For most of us, we couldn’t imagine our lives without them.
I know I can’t! I was lucky enough to have not just a grandmother, but a great-grandmother too. My grandfathers had passed on before my birth, but we do not forget their lives and legacies.
God created everything for a purpose, and that didn’t get lost on grandparents. Let’s explore five reasons God created grandparents.
1. Grandparents Never Stop Being Parents
My parents often remind me that I am their little girl. I even tell my own children, they will always be my babies. It does not matter how big they get or what job they have; we are still their parents. This thought overflows from the generation before us.
My granny had three children and there were countless times I would hear her correcting them or giving instruction. I used to think it was funny to hear my granny speak to her grown children that way, but it makes perfect sense today.
Parenting is not an action you can turn on and off. Grandparents are no longer on the front lines of parenting, but they still have an important role to play. Whenever mom or dad needs advice, support, help, or a shoulder to cry on, they are there. Grandparents also have the unique ability to parent their grandchildren when mom or dad can’t.
2. Grandparents Hold the Family Together
When I became a mother, my views on family became narrower. I often only considered what was happening in my home. My role was to keep my household running, and that often left me in the dark to what was happening in my extended family. Today, I find myself asking my mom or dad about extended family members.
Grandparents no longer have the responsibility of raising their own children. They have entered a season of life that finds them keeping up with the happenings of the extended family. Often, I would hear my granny or grandma talk about aunts, uncles, and cousins that lived miles from me. They would relay the message when a baby was on the way, someone was graduating from high school, or there was a death in the family.
Without my grandparents, I wouldn’t know how my extended family was doing. My grandparents were the glue holding the pieces together. They were the cornerstone of our family.
In the Bible, they refer to Jesus as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20). A cornerstone was the most important part of a structure’s foundation. If the cornerstone failed, the entire building would fall. Without grandparents to keep us together, our families would fall.
Grandparents are the ones that keep up with everyone. They plan the family gatherings and check in with family members. As the cornerstone of the family, grandparents make sure that all family members have what they need, and know we love them.
3. Grandparents Provide a Support System
Having a support system is so important for any season of life. Personally, I found myself needing a support system when my son, Jackson, turned three. At that time, he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and needed speech and occupational therapy. I had no idea what I was going to do with my husband working full time, and we had a two-year-old daughter.
While all this was happening, I learned granny would come to the rescue. She would go with me to therapy appointments and babysit our daughter. Granny always listened when I needed to vent and gave me some of the best advice on earth.
Grandparents provide their children and grandchildren with an irreplaceable support system. They can help watch children when mom and dad are working. They can help get the homework done before mom gets home to cook dinner.
Grandparents can be a sounding board for their grandchildren as well. Often, children will open up to their grandparents when they won’t with their parents. Children feel like grandma and grandpa will understand them and be less judgmental. I always felt like I could say anything to my grandma, and she would keep my secrets.
When grandparents are part of your support system, they greatly reduce the level of family stress. Emotional and behavioral issues in children are reduced and parents can rest easy knowing their children are being cared for when they are at work or handling other daily responsibilities.
4. Grandparents Deliver Wisdom to their Families
Our grandparents know how hard life can be. They also know how much easier we have it now than they did as a child. The lessons they have learned in their lifetime can serve us well if we listen.
My daughter asked me several years ago where I learned to sew. I was working on a cross-stitch project, and she wanted to help. As I began teaching her how to thread a needle and begin making the cross-stitch, I was reminded of summers with granny.
Granny Annie would babysit me during the summer while mom and dad worked. She always brought her sewing projects to work on. One day I asked her the same question my daughter asked me. She handed me a needle and began teaching me to sew.
That wisdom from granny taught me how to mend holes in socks, shirts, and pants. Her lessons and stories made me appreciate the luxuries I had. They also taught me that hard work killed no one.
Grandparents deliver wisdom not only to their grandchildren, but their adult children. Anytime I have a problem, I go to mine or my husband’s parents. I know they have raised children and most likely dealt with whatever I am dealing with before.
Grandparents offer a special place to gain wisdom just as the Lord offers us the Holy Spirit to gain wisdom and knowledge.
5. Grandparents Pass on the Family Legacy
Throughout the Bible, we can find verses that tell us God commanded His people to tell the next generation of His deeds. God knew how easily we forget what He has done for us. We need reminding, so God created grandparents.
Passing on a legacy is about helping those who came after you decide how they want to live their lives. Our grandparents pass on a family legacy by living a certain way and sharing the roots of their family.
My great-grandma was always telling us about her life as a young bride and new mother. She talked about giving birth at home before the midwife got there. She would tell us how she had to wash clothes, get food for the family, and help on the farm. My great-grandma has left a legacy of hard work and dedication to her family.
There is nothing more precious than the legacy grandparents leave with their family. Passing on stories of their childhood and sharing lessons they learned in life strengthens you. My granny Annie was a strong woman. She worked hard and loved everyone.
What I remember the most about her was her ability to forgive. She never held a grudge and let bitterness affect her life. That is the life I want to live.
My grandparents wanted us to always remember where we came from, just as God wants His children to remember what He brought them out of.
(Ashley Hooker, Crosswalk.com)
Revelation 22
Jesus reaffirms His second coming and encourages us to be ready.
INSIGHT
Looking forward to the Messiah, Isaiah writes: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” (55:1-2). Then John, looking back to the Messiah, picks up the same theme: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (v. 17). (Quiet Walk)
Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
One characteristic of the Christian is always this: a profound distrust of self and a realization of the power of God. Listen to David: “Create in me a clean heart…and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). The Revised Version margin puts it this way: “Renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
You see, what he was conscious of was his own unsteadiness. Well might David have felt that. He was a man who had experienced God’s blessing, and he had known the joy of the Lord; and yet he had fallen into terrible sins. So he cries out for this renewal and for this reliable spirit within himself. I make bold to say that every Christian knows what this means.
A Christian is not a man who relies upon himself. It is only the Christian who knows his own weakness. It takes a Christian to see the darkness of his own heart and the frailty of his own nature. There is a type of Christian, I regret to say, who behaves as if he can do everything. He has had an experience of conversion, and now he is ready to face hell and the devil and everything. Poor fellow, he will not go very far before he loses that sense of confidence. “Let him that thinketh he standeth,” said the apostle Paul to such people, “take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). No; the Christian is a man who knows his own weakness, and he is afraid of it. So he prays for a steady spirit, a reliable spirit. He wants to be a sound man.
A Thought to Ponder: The Christian is a man who knows his own weakness, and he is afraid of it. (From Out of the Depths, pp. 105-106, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Loaded with Blessing
“Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalm 68:19)
As we come to this year’s end, it is salutary for the believer to think back over the days of the year and to meditate upon his blessings. He may, indeed, have experienced defeats and losses, disappointments and injuries in great number. If he is honest with himself, however, the Christian will always have to acknowledge that his blessings far outweigh his burdens. God “loadeth us with benefits,” and is even working in and through all the trials and hurtful things together for our good (Romans 8:28)
In our text verse, the words “with benefits” have been supplied by the translators. Some might, therefore, conclude that the verse could mean that God is daily loading us with burdens instead of benefits. The context, however, assures us that the emphasis is really on His blessings. For that matter, even a burden can become a blessing if we take it as a gift from God for our spiritual benefit.
Therefore: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
He has given us “life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). Far more importantly, He is “the God of our salvation.” Whatever else we have, or don’t have, in this life, we have the great gift of eternal life, through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption. We have it every day of the year and are daily ready to meet the Lord, whenever He calls. Each day we have the indwelling presence of His Spirit, the illuminating guidance of His Word, the daily provision of all real needs, and the assurance of His love. He has surely loaded us with benefits! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.