NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Clear the Trees”
Joshua 17:14-18
The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly.” “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”
The Lead Pastor of the Remnant Church in New York City, Pastor Joseph Chung, preached on this passage at AMI Revolution 2023 in Boston, and something that God spoke through this message is what I would like to share today.
In this moment of the book of Joshua, Israel has taken over most of the Promised Land and is dividing it. However, the tribe of Joseph are complaining about the size of their allotment. Joshua, God’s appointed leader of Israel, tells them that more land is available if they clear the forests occupied by the Perizzites, Rephaites, and Canaanites, who were already promised to be driven out by LORD through Israel (see Exodus 34:11). Joshua also reminds them that they have already been equipped by the LORD to do this. In response to this, the people of Joseph decry the difficulty of the task.
I think we can all relate to the way the tribe of Joseph is feeling in this passage in one way or another. Although almost none of us has been called or will be called to clear out a forest or drive out a nation, we’ve all seen a problem, but shrank in fear when God is calling us to be used by Him to solve it. Immediately, our minds can go from resolute complaining to excuse making in a matter of seconds, and we can come up with a dozen excuses for why we’re not qualified for the task that God has called us to do.
I’ve been feeling this way for at least the past two years in my own life. For years, I’ve been reading these AMI Quiet Times wondering why the new posts have stopped until one day God told me, “Then you write something.” I’ve come up with many poor excuses to not write, from lack of time or Biblical knowledge to worrying what others will think of my writing style. But God’s command is persistent, so here is my disobedience turned into obedience.
Is there something you see that is bothering you and causing you to think, “Why is nothing being done about this?” Perhaps it’s a sign from God that He is calling you to be the one to be used by Him.
Ryun Chang: Thank you Charmer for obeying the Lord—finally a new post in two years!
Prayer: LORD, please forgive me for my complaining, bystanding heart. When You show me areas of my life, my church, and my community where action needs to be taken, may I see it not as a source to gripe, but as an opportunity to be used by You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: John 17
Lunch Break Study
(by Jennifer Kim, first posted on November 19, 2017)
Read Luke 18:1-8: Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
Questions to Consider
- Why did the widow approach the judge?
- How did the judge respond to the widow?
- In light of this parable, what is God teaching us about prayer?
Notes
- The widow kept coming to the judge seeking justice. She wanted legal protection from her opponent (v. 3).
- The judge was unwilling at first, but he listened to the widow because of her tenacity and her persistence (v. 5).
- God is teaching us to pray at all times and to not lose heart. If even an unjust judge who has no respect for God or man is willing to listen to the widow, then how much more will a just God respond favorably to the appeal of His children? When we ask for the things that align to the purposes of God, He assures us to not give up because He will bring about His justice quickly.
Evening Reflection
We learned today that we ought to be tenacious for the things of the Lord. Take a moment to think about something that you really desire from Him. Don’t be afraid to ask! Pray that ultimately God would give you His perspective and wisdom in your asking.