March 28, 2021
Our Inheritance is the Lord
The Israelites gathered at Shiloh in Canaan’s heartland and set up the tabernacle there. Israel had conquered the land, but seven tribes needed to lay claim to their own territories.
Joshua assigned the tribes their portions, and the text records their specific territories and cities. The people also assigned Joshua his own inheritance within his tribal territory of Ephraim.
Moses had commanded the Israelites to establish cities of refuge when they entered the land (Deuteronomy 19:1-13). People who killed someone on accident could flee to a city of refuge and remain there until Israel’s high priest died.
Joshua carried out Moses’ command and designated six such cities in the land, three on each side of the Jordan River.
The religious leaders challenged Jesus over Sabbath regulations, causing two controversies. In their eyes, Jesus’ disciples shouldn’t have picked grain to eat on the Sabbath, nor should Jesus have healed a man on the Sabbath.
Jesus assured the religious leaders the Sabbath meant more than observing minute regulations. Furthermore, doing good on the Sabbath was a good thing.
Jesus chose twelve disciples, whom He named apostles. These twelve would form Jesus’ inner circle of followers during his public ministry.
Jesus encountered a large crowd that came to hear Him from Jerusalem and Judea, but also from Tyre and Sidon, where many non-Jews lived. People of all kinds received healing from their diseases and deliverance from demon possession. Afterward, Jesus taught them principles about living as children of God.
Make It Personal
- Are you hesitating to claim the inheritance God has for you? What is holding you back?
- Many of the Pharisees valued rule-keeping more than they valued a relationship with God. What does a closer relationship with God look like for you?