"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT HELPING ONE ANOTHER RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAS FOR US"
Judges 1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”
Judges 1:2 And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”
Judges 1:3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him.
Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:
This passage explains what happens after Joshua died, and how the children of Israel worked together to accomplish the will of God, and receive what God had willed for them to have and possess. There are several great Biblical principles that apply in our lives today. God has a will for each of us, and, He wants us to walk in it, and we can assist one another in this regard.
1. We start by praying and asking God for wisdom and direction.
Judges 1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”
We see here that the children of Israel prayed, and asked the Lord to show them who would be the first to go in and begin fighting against the enemies of God and of the children of Israel. We can do the same thing, and are promised that God will hear us and answer our prayer for wisdom.
2. We can trust God to answer our prayers and give us wisdom.
Judges 1:2 And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”
As we can see, the LORD spoke to them, and gave them exact answers to their prayers. Along with the answer as to who would go in first, there was given a promise of victory. God was not only telling them who would go in and fight, but that they were going to win the battle, because, God Himself was going to deliver the land into the hands of the tribe of Judah.
Jas 1:5* If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
3. We are called by God to love and serve one another.
And, that is exactly what happened in this case. Judah asked his brother Simeon, if he and his tribe would come and help him in the battle. They would fight the enemy together. Judah then promised that he would then go and fight by Simeon's side when he went into gain his land. We see that Simeon agreed to the request. So, they teamed up, and went in to fight together. God has called us to this kind of teamwork.
Judges 1:3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him.
Ga 5:13* For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
A prayer:
Father, You have adopted us and placed us into Your family as Your children, but then as being members of one another. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. You set the example by coming to earth not to be served, but to serve us. And, He has called us to serve one another. In fact, Jesus told us that the greatest in the kingdom, is the person who takes on the role of serving one another. Help us Lord to follow Your example. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
