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March 27
Today’s Bible reading is in Joshua chapters 16,17,18.
In the middle of the process to divide the land, Joshua must find a more permanent place for the Tabernacle.
For forty years the tent of meeting was set up and torn down and moved over and over...in the direction of the cloud of God...as the priests and Levites served in that occupation.
For all of those years, the Tabernacle was staked down right in the middle of the Israeli camp...denoting: Community and Covenant, Worship, Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, Atonement, Cleansing, Purification, Prayer, Sinfulness, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Scapegoat, Fellowship with God.
The Tabernacle and its positioning in the camp was a constant reminder to the nation, as well as a clear declaration to all of the sojourners in the wilderness, that Israel was a “God-centered” community.
But now, Judah, Ephraim, and Rueben...3 of the 4 squadron/tribe protectors of the Tabernacle while in the wilderness...they were leaving to possess their parts of the promised land.
So Joshua chose a place for her permanent location...and called it Shiloh...the name Jacob used to refer to the coming Messiah in his Genesis 49 prophetic record shortly before he died.
Inside the lot of Ephraim just next to the lot of Benjamin....closer to the “heart” of the country than Jerusalem was...that tent which sanctified the whole of the camp, would now be the glory of Israel at the center of her new land...to stay here for the next 300 years.
And according to Deuteronomy 12:11, ...” it was God who would choose this place for the dwelling of His name...there to bring one’s burnt offerings and sacrifices...tithes and special gifts and all the choice possessions that have been devoted to the Lord.”
So most assuredly God made known His choice of Shiloh to Joshua.
“Oh Lord...may we come “to expect” to hear from You on matters most important to us as this was to Israel.
Now one more revelation from our text for this podcast.
Joshua and the seven tribes who were still encamped at Jericho, made some haste to move the Tabernacle Shiloh. It would be a special occasion for all...a reunion and a celebration at the same time for all 12 tribes.
But once the Tabernacle was set, Joshua spoke most sternly to the 7 tribes who had not yet moved from the great camp to the lands that had been apportioned by God unto them.
They apparently did not share God’s primary conviction for actually possessing the land. It had been promised to Israel for more than just a space for a new nation. That new nation would cradle the hopes and anticipation of the Messiah to come...JESUS!
Therefore the beginning of the life and work of that new nation must include pushing back the darkness of false gods and any number of evil practices...including child molestation, child slavery, and firey child sacrifices to the little “g” gods of Canaan.
Joshua spoke some hard words to the seven irresponsible tribes...words like slothful, sluggards, selfish, disobedient, and dilatory...as close to calling them cowards without saying. All of which were meant to stir them to repentance and new resolve to go “on in” to the land to possess it as God delivered it.
And did they? Well, that’s the rest of the story...Enjoy!
Have a great day.
