Observation: Under Joshua, Israel has taken as much of the land as they can currently populate. The Lord told Moses - who told the people - they could not take it all at once, but needed to 'grow' into it so that wild animals wouldn't overwhelm them. They are about to rest from war, but the Lord gives Joshua information about the places that need to be taken next, and he begins with ... the Gaza strip.
Application: I have already discussed this several times, but once again it seems to jump off the page ... the decision for Israel to not dispel the Philistines 3,500 years ago remains one of the biggest problems in the world today. This area not only causes war locally in the middle east, but becomes a divisive flashpoint for conversations ranging from terrorism, to war atrocities, to humanitarian needs. It is a place where those who hate Jews point to it and claim Israel is a nation of violent monsters, and those who love Jews point to it and claim it homes violent monsters fanatically devoted to the extermination of Israel.
However, instead of lamenting the situation - either in the day of Joshua or now - I will instead rejoice in the Lord and in the truth of his word. Once again, the bible proves itself. Millenia before there was anyone calling themselves Palestinians, and before the modern nation of Israel existed, God declared in writing that this tiny area was at the heart of future tensions. He very, very obviously told all mankind to pay attention, and that the conflicts that would arise here were important.
Yes, the fact Israel did not address Gaza was and is an issue. However, the fact the Lord prophesized about the importance of Gaza is loud-and-clear proof of the accuracy of scripture. The word of the Lord is true and can be relied upon for instruction.
Prayer: Lord, may I continue every day to read your word with a heart to follow its instructions, open to your powerful truth. Amen.
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