Living with Enemies (Part A)

What will we take verse 2814 cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their family.

What Davis is mentioned here in 20 verse 28 third city mentioned and originally what Davis will become Jerusalem and of course when David severed the big head of Goliath takes the head to JBoss which those inhabitants were giving that territory up and he was saying I'll be back to this to the giant I'm going to do this to you very prophetic moment.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message here. More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 7.

Now here's Pastor Rick in Joshua chapter 18 is he begins a brand-new message called living with the enemy's will turn right to verse one title is living with the enemy. Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting their the lamb was subdued before them well. He is going to rebuke them just mildly but it's there and it is because the tribes are slow to take possession of that which is been given to them. But before he goes forward with this. He is made sure that the place of worship is in place and now it's not Gill gal it is Shiloh, where the tabernacle is the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting their the place where they would come to speak to God and God would be with them.

So everything going forward now from Shiloh was we been told by the spirit that Joshua was very careful to make sure worship came first of 14 miles from Gill gal didn't seem to doesn't seem like that was really much for them for us who traffic 14 class can be brutal and he puts I think because were not told in and Shiloh.

He puts the place of worship is essential to the country and so there there place of meeting is established, it is believed that the name Shiloh means peaceful. Of course it is speaks of Messiah we get that from Genesis chapter 49 where he says, in the land was subdued before them tamed but not purged control not eradicated over her enemies. They were there, still in forest not enough to be a direct military threat, but enough to be a spiritual threat and a very big one. Subdued, just all over the place ominous. I've had problems with that word ominous before my life.

Somehow it got to be on the bus and I hope I've corrupted you Sukkoth you could say ominous open on the Obama anyway. They did not drive them out as we told in chapter 16 possession of the land. Yes entire possession. No, the destructive part of God's will was initiated with constructive part, especially for these seven tribes that were going to cover 18 and 19 of Joshua that had not gone forward, so here they are living with the enemy that's living with pain to live with the enemy is to live with the constant threat that things can get ugly at any moment very quickly. It is the Christian life leaves us with an uneasy feeling Romans chapter 7 verse 18 for I know that in me that is my flesh.

Nothing good dwells for to will is present with me.

But how to perform what is good. I do not find not according to the flesh get no cooperation from the fall of nature. Peter said 11, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lust with war against the soul. Galatians 517 for the flesh, lust against the spirit and spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. So it was seeing this and for picture forest in the book of Joshua. These Canaanites the various people will will just refer to them as Canaanites.

Technically they were not all Canaanites, but there still they are not put out, and a constant threat. As I mentioned, and now now the threat of getting used to living with the enemy begins to increase. When you get used to living with the enemy. You lower your guard, and when you lower your guard your inviting seduction or full out attack that is exactly what happens to the people to the nation Israel all the way up to the end to the time the Romans finally push them all out. God warned that this would happen, that they would be an irritant in their eyes. God wanted all of them out.

I think they tried most of the tribes their best, but that's how life is, and so in the midst of all of this you take the victories and Israel had many victories. That's why we have so many heroes. We have also my children named after Old Testament characters because there were those still living with the enemy Rick Gallant. Nonetheless, yet the Philistines were always to the east Mediterranean's Department West get that right and David.

Saul did battle with them as often as they could never could get them out in verse two we read but there remain among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received there and have inheritance so the remainder of the land remained to be divided going to look at verse three then Joshua said to the children of Israel. How long will you neglect to go possess the land which Yahweh God of your fathers has given you.

So there is the rebuke the place of worship came first and on the strength of getting everything in order spiritually now turns his attention to the land now where he says, how long will you neglect to go possess the land is not limited to, failure to militarily engage the enemy but also to survey it and map out what winter there were other things they had to do in order to settle the land. God never encourages laziness or weakness yet never disowns us for it ever meet a week in lazy Christian, still Christian, God still loved them, and often times they still love the Lord may not be able to put them in certain position to do certain things, but they are not disowned by God. I think God often leaves such people around us to make sure we do not become beheaded proud. Make sure that we remember what love is all about, because, compared to God. We are weak in lazy.

He never sleeps.

He never slumbers up all the time. Jesus said my father works until now and I do to. But it is good to know that it is good to know that God is looking for us to be workers and to be strong, strong workers, you could say that this does not mean there are not consequences to being weak into being lazy. There are consequences.

But there are also opportunities always would God this is the downside this is the upside, always with the Lord with his people and the opportunities they abound what you do in the midst of so many just struggles first Kings chapter 19 but when he saw that he arose and ran for his life.

Who is this what he see this is the great prophet Elijah who called fire down from heaven, who showed no mercy to the prophets of bough when he saw that his life was in danger for warping the false gods on Mount Carmel.

He ran for his life and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah and left to serve in their full agent can fail. I can fail and, of course, would God if I can use it this way, God catches up to the prophet what you doing here what you doing in a cave not eating moping lies was disappointed with God.

Lord wasn't disappointed with Elijah my many gave him mild rebukes he fed him and told him to go anoint Elisha and has some other business. He had to do also.

God did not give up on his man. There were still opportunities, even though he failed. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 33. Speaking of believers, the writer says, who through faith subdued kingdoms worked righteousness of terror obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Daniel how mad you get better than Daniel.

The closest character in Scripture to Daniel among men is Joseph of course, the Lord just because everybody out of the way with Doug about righteous man. I mean the only hiccup. Joseph may have had when he said no father, bless the old earth before the younger instead of just shutting his mouth and let dad do what he was going to do I daddy Daniel.

Daniel had two problems in Babylon ran out the starting gate. That whole unit thing which is not his first choice and then the menu is like what they were serving. That's why I love him. The only reason why love, Daniel knows not.

But I humiliated it took that as a spiritual attack. I can eat this, there was opportunity there and he took it and he did things with it now again preaching about these mighty men and women of the Bible is not so hard for preacher may be hard for non-preacher before preachers, it becomes skill.

Hopefully to go to it because of joy. You would think you would think that as time went by, we would be at so skilled at subduing the flesh that it would not dare raise its ugly face, but it does in God requires that we persevere. I God wants that so much from his people that we persevere. We just continue. He says yes I see it, let me deal with that part you deal with this part you stay on your feet, you keep going for what's right because I can do nothing with you once that stops verse four pick out from among you. Three men for each tribe and I will send them they shall rise and go through the land survey. According to their inheritance and come back to me now begin the land is subdued with the enemies are still there. I'm thinking as I read this the living amongst their enemies. They want to go survey the land I am taking a few platoons with me but we don't read it that way, I die.

But I think they would have any 36 minutes. That's about a platoon that's not an off the handle, a company of of the enemy.

I just like that kind of stuff really does nothing benefit for you. I like that knowing.

I think it does actually I think that we want to make sure we don't lose sight that there that the enemy is out there. We cannot get careless and sloppy. It's so easy so he see the let to just rest I can think of days sometimes when I'm preparing in the summer or just a nice day and I just want to go outside run with the Robbins just go outside and when I got 20 verses ahead of me and the clock is going to pick and I know what it's like to be behind schedule is worth my choice and I'm not complaining, I just notice verse five and they shall divided into seven parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the South in the house of Joseph to remain in their territory. On the north, so Joshua orders 36 man appointed servant man appointed survey teams.

In other words God that you pick the men you handpick the men. But I want you to send them out. So these 36 men are handpicked by men to make this geographical record of the features of the land so that God will then assign who gets what, what tribe gets what territory and it is done so that God can decide this at the casting of the lots there in front of the house of God, the tabernacle is where they will all come back and they will gather at God's house and get this done. Judah and Ephraim they receive their lot to chapters 15 and 16 Manasseh in chapter 17. As we read about it, at least Joseph his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh on the.

Of course the west side of the Jordan.

They receive the double portion.

You could say double inheritance that goes back to Genesis 49 verse 22 Joseph is a fruitful bowel fruitful bowel by a well is branches run over the wall he goes. He goes beyond the boundaries he goes over the wall and you know if you've ever seen fruit go over the wall and is loaded with food. The branches are hanging down. It's it's easy picking and it's a picture of the blessing how bountiful Joseph is in it. Seen here in Ephraim and Manasseh, his sons, because if you look on a map at the territories given to them. They have almost all the land they have the largest pieces on both sides of of the Jordan River.

Each of his sons became a father to a Jewish tribe. Ephraim and Manasseh received separate tribal territories that really comes out.

The three tribes because Manasseh has territory on the west side of Jordan and Transjordan on the east side and then of course Ephraim has her territory. However, Judah was given the right to rule Judah was given the right to birth kings. Eventually, the King of Kings Messiah comes from Judah, of course, and that is in accordance with the prophecy also by Jacob the father there. In Genesis 49 verses eight through 12, the scepter shall not depart from Judah, till Shiloh comes to Lord of peace comes is one interpretation of that passage and I think it's an accurate reputation. Verse six now you shall therefore survey the land and seven parts and bring the survey here. To me, that I may cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God. Of course this is how the tribal lots were measured and then assigned before the presence of the Lord. Verse seven but the Levites have no part among you for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance and dad, Ruben and half tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them. Remember, they came to Moses, they were happy with the promised section of the Landon Moses goes to the Lord and God's is okay in the sea there territories under Moses leadership long before well before Joshua became leader verse seven there, the Levites have no part among you will be getting that in chapters 20 and 21 verse eight of Joshua 18 then the man arose to go away and Joshua charge those went to survey the land saying go walk through the land survey. It can come back to me that I may cast lots for you there before Yahweh and Shiloh. Verse nine, so the men went pass through the land and wrote the survey in a book 7 parts by cities and they came to Joshua at the camp and Shiloh.

Kind of reminds us of the Lewis and Clark expedition up the Mississippi to get to the Pacific Ocean. If you don't know the story is a very good story and you have to admire the leadership of Lewis and Clark, a tragic ending. Once they came back about a very human story York with a slave.

One of the slaves of the belief Clark and from wrong, that's fine.

I'll look at myself but anyway York was a slave and they treated him as one of the men I don't remember there were 30 some manner 39. I don't remember, but that the in the all came back, the automated bag is one shootout with with some Indians, but York English promises freedom, but it would. There is reluctance to let him go and finally he's given his freedom, but the mindset was what you my slave would you call your mom again with with this kindred spirit here in the master here. The slave and is just a very human part and and date they were Druid. This world throw so much that people that we learn from these true stories will back to verse 10. Now the Joshua cast lots for them and Shiloh before Yahweh and their Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel, according to their division and remember everyplace at the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you. God said to Joshua at the beginning of this and he said, as I said to Moses I'm saying to you and so the land they have the right to take it all. If they had gone to Damascus to take that they would've presently been out of bounds is where they were supposed to be. Verse 11. Or maybe we should push it farther than Damascus because of if you look at the territory that they were to really get it goes up to the Euphrates. Verse 11. Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families in the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph not Scott autumn standing here reading this and at the thought crossed my mind. If you forgot how to read all of the site when ice working steel like I walk the beam and that part with what would what if you just forgot how did and I chased it out of my head of the devil trying to kill me or just sometimes you couldn't feed like that and in these things get in our head at CNB it out in the military looking at the ocean and I can tell you I heard a voice saying China job. I could look down the ocean just was calling me there if you I just walk away. I don't have suicidal thoughts. So am I the only one. Maybe you've not done enough dangerous things in your life. Anyway, this that would be bad right. What if you just put it well I'll tell you one. I know you people probably get new people and fighting words summary probably dream you went to work nude scarf that wake up it's even the people in the dreamer screaming at you anyway.

Verse 11. Not a lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families and their territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and children of Joseph now has so this is Benjamin, a ravenous wolf. Physical is a home for clues that method to blessing your kids. Benjamin is a ravenous wolf and is not a badge of honor. Well, verses 12 through 16.

Your homework assignment is to see who can read the book we go to verse 17 and it went around from the north extended toward Delia Gilley means districts and I just pause there because it's kind of interesting this to so much territory little twist and turns it adjusted in those districts and is probably a lot of that going on. It's not meant to be, you know, a legal document, but it is meant to record the boundaries roughly that people would take we go now to verse 25 where Rama is mentioned in close proximity to where Rachel Jacobs wife was buried and of memorials in that region. But Deborah also judge the tribes there in Rama now verse 28. What will we take from verse 2814 cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families. What Davis is mentioned here in 20 verse 28 third city mentioned and originally what Davis will become Jerusalem and of course when David severed the big head of Goliath. He takes the head to JBoss which those inhabitants were giving that territory and that he was forcing.

I'll be back to this to the giant I'm going to do this to you very prophetic moment. We don't know how much David was thinking that way but we do know what happened and we then deduce the Holy Spirit. Of course, was making the statement for us to read and understand just how sovereign he is so JBoss was assigned to Benjamin not Judah Davis from the tribe of Judah, but the Benjamin not Benjamite did not displace the Jebusites. They did not conquer them when David becomes king of course he conquers he has Joab ruthless Joab radio entities enters the city's whoever conquers it will be the general of my forces. Joab goes in times of the well and sort of you know horizontally a hand in feet of wall works his way up gets into the city opens the gate and the guys come in and they take Davis and it becomes the city of David, so Davis is Jerusalem it's there in parentheses and that alerts us to the fact that there were. This was compiled and published long after the days of Joshua. Over 400 years later, because that's how long it before David comes once about 400 years little over and again no corruption in that it's just giving us to the final document is the Holy Spirit wanted verse 19 chapter 19 on Joshua chapter 19 the second lot came out for Simeon for the tribe of the children of Simeon, according to their families and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah were going to come back to that. Just remember Simeon's territory is encircled by Judas territory.

In verse five. It's a sick lag is mentioned, and that is where David will end up roving with his men in the days that Saul was pursuing David and he is sick. Lag becomes his base of operations, some 400 years after this survey was taken now. Verse 19 the inheritance of the children of Simeon was included in the share of the children of Judah for the share of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of that people will Simeon really doesn't get his own territory if they do and they don't deal.

This clearly marked out of northern tribes have has the situation with the exception of Levi connection. Thanks for tuning into cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio in iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

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