13/05/2023
*THIS WEEK BIBLE STUDY OF U.B.C JAVIE, BADAGRY LAGOS.*
_10 - 05 - 2023_
Topic:- _*THE REWARD OF CORRECT PURSUIT OF GOD.*_
Text:- _Joshua 21._
It is another week of blessings and great privilege to come together to study at His (CHRIST) feet through this medium. What a Grace to witness another week in the month of May year 2023, all glory to His name forever and ever in Jesus Christ name, Amen.
Last week in our study we saw and established that Jesus Christ is our only Refuge in this dangerous time. Also, it is important to note that even in the season when all things look good to us, God expect us to see Christ Jesus as our refuge in whom we must live, move and have our being at all times. This is because God expects us to dwell in this refuge permanently, it is then our life will be totally secure from the reach of avengers that runs after our lives. May the Lord open our hearts to comprehend this deep revelation of His word into our lives in Jesus Christ Name, Amen.
In furtherance to the above assertions about our study last week, we are moving straightaway to Chapter 21 of the book of Joshua. I am trusting the Lord for help us as we look at this chapter which is full of spiritual lessons for our lives and ministry.
1._Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel._
2. _And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The Lord commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock.”_
3. _So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord , these cities and their common-lands_
(Joshua 21: 1- 3 NKJV).
You will recall from our previous studies that we noted that all the 11 tribes of Israel had received their inheritance without any tribe left behind expect the Levites. The reason is because the Lord commanded that they should not have any inheritance because He is their inheritance. Based on this, the Levites trust and believed Him whom they have pledge allegiance to serve for the rest of their lives according to Exodus 32.
The first issue the Lord raised in my heart was the way the Levites felt when their brothers were receiving their inheritance in the land of Canaan. It seems as if there is nothing for them because, when they saw how excited their brothers (each tribes) were when receiving their portion of inheritance, I begin to imagine how this could raised a silent Prayer and questions in their that:
- _Oh Lord what about us and if you are indeed our portion and inheritance, demonstrate it to us now for our brothers to believe also that you have became our inheritance._
This was a silent question in their hearts when nothing was coming to show that they have choose to serve and follow the Lord wholeheartedly, the questions keeps coming more and more....
- _Is it a crime to choose to be on the Lord side to serve Him..?_
- _ls this not a punishment for us just because we choose to obey and follow God..?_
What was happening around them at this particular time is enough to raise all these kinds of thought and questions in their heart, but they never knew what God was planning behind them. It is so great and it is not yet fully known to them.
Beloved are you also in this situation that looks as if God has abandoned you..? It looks as if your decision to serve and follow Him Correctly is the greatest mistake you have ever made in your life, kindly wait patiently to look into the life of the Levites in this chapter of our study this week, then you will know that He(God) never forget where He dropped His anointed and anyone who choose to follow Him wholeheartedly.
Through all the years that the divisions of land and inheritance took place in Canaan, that all tribes received their inheritance in great excitement, we never read in the scripture that this raise a prayer point in the heart or in the midst of the Levites either to asked for their inheritance or embarked on serious prayer and fasting to fast track what God has in store for them. We saw their patience in waiting until the appointed time that it pleases the Lord to fulfil His purpose and promise to them, they are not carried away by the excitement of their brothers, they did not abandoned their calling and their service in the tabernacle even though at that time their is nothing for them to proof that indeed the Lord is their inheritance. Yet, they endure and waited patiently for Him till the appointed time. Are you already losing your heart of patience..?, be strengthen beloved, because God has not forgotten you.
The second issue in our study this week was what they asked for... they came to Joshua and Eleazer to asked for that which the Lord has spoken concerning them not what they feel like it is good for them. This is also a lesson for us to know what God has in store for our lives before we embark on asking blindly, that is, not just that we pray and ask God for all such of things that we feel like having or what we sighted from someone else. The Levities came to Joshua and Eleazer demanding for that which the Lord desire to give to them as inheritance, may I asked at this juncture...
- _Is all what you are asking of the Lord was what He has spoken concerning you or What you felt like it's good for you or what you want..?_
Ability to know what God desire for us at each junctions of our lives must be our goal and our desire as we walk with Him in this journey of faith. Is all your requests from the Lord for now corresponded to this..?
The third issue is the inheritance itself, which the Lord had arranged for the tribe of Levi. Joshua 21:4-40 describes their possessions, which is for the three families of Levi: The Kohethites, The Gershon and The Merari.
What surprised me about their inheritance was how a tribe possess inheritance across all the inheritance of their brothers, indeed the Lord was their inheritance.
Another issue like a question that run through my heart was.., where was the Levites when each tribes were fighting to possess their inheritance..? Did the Levites really joined them to fight all these battles..?, to the best of my little understanding I do not think they join them to fight all those battles because they are on a special assignment for the Lord in the temple, but after all their brothers had finished labouring to possess all the land, then God commanded all of them to submit a portion of their inheritance to a tribe that never follow them to labour in the battle field just because they choose to follow God. What a deep mystery about how God blesses and take care of those who follow Him genuinely and wholeheartedly.
When the Lord was saying initially that the Levites should not be given any inheritance, that He(God) is their inheritance, it look as if they will never possess anything that human can touch or see. But what God later did for them proof to me that this God is so awesome that one just needed to follow Him by faith and nobody can ever understand Him.
The Levites took that step of faith many years ago not knowing what will become of them following Him all the way. But today, we saw how God Reward their pursuit of Him and I begin to hear the silent regret of some of their brothers that “ _*I thy know*_” that this was what God was planning to do for those who yields to His call that faithful day, they also might have come out to take that step of following Him, but now the did has been done.
Beloved of God as I draw the curtain for this week study, may I ask again, are you ready to pursue God as an inheritance the way the Levites did..? Are you ready to surrender all to Him the same way the Levites did..?
God is still looking for more Levites today who will yield their lives to Him and to His yolk in pure dedication to His name and for His purpose alone and I believed, God in return will never waste their lives. Rather, their is a great reward that await them at the appointed time.
Till we meet again next week, you can visit many books but stay, live and dwell in the Holy Book(Bible) for there you can find rest for your soul in this wicked world.
Your Brother
_*G.O Olabode.*_
