Bible Study 8 Summery.

Now, the purpose of Study 8 is to explore why Christians often experience so little when we have bee promised so much.

Question 3. Forty years before Joshua entered the Promise Land, Moses had tried to lead the people into Canaan. However, due to a pessimistic report by an exploration team, the people rebelled and refused to enter. Only two of those original explorers believed that God could give the people the land. They were Caleb and Joshua (Num. 13). At age eighty-five, Caleb still believes that God can strengthen him to do the task, which seem impossible.

Question 4. I didn’t ask you to read every verse in these chapters, since most of them merely described how the land was divided among the various tribes. You may have explored several possible answers to this question. For example, Exodus and Deuteronomy tell us that God had said the conquest of Canaan would not happen all at once. Yet, this does not fully explain Israel’s difficulty. We know that the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim disobeyed God by not destroying the Canaanites as God had commanded (Deut. 20:16-18) but instead allowed then to do forced labor (Josh. 16:10;

17:12-13). Caleb’s outstanding example also raises the question of whether the other tribes had faith in God’s promises. In the remainder of the study we will consider other possible reasons for Israel’s difficulty.

Questions 8-9. The seven tribes were evidently concerned about whether there would be a fair distribution of the land. Not all of the land was of equal size or value, so they wondered which tribes would get the best and which would get the worst areas. Because they didn’t know what to do, they did nothing at all! Joshua’s solution of casting lots assured them that the final decisions would be impartial.

I will post Study 9 in a couple of days, to give all a chance to catch up...God Bless All. Love Sister Betty

I believe one reason we experience so little is like I stated above, our priorities are not as they should be.   Also, we allow to much doubt of what God can do.<o:p></o:p>

When we want a victory in something, we have to Claim it.  We have to put our stake out there.  To claim something we must also see the victory.  In Habakkuk, it says to “write the vision down and make it plain.�?SPAN>  So in other words, claim that victory In Jesus Name!  Put a mental picture of it in your mind. 

Just as Joshua was old and stricken in age, often times we grow tired in weary in our walk and start stumbling when we think God isn’t working fast enough.  The scripture in Habakkuk concludes that,  “although it may tarry, it will surely come.�?SPAN>    We must stay focused on our victory.  If we stay focused on our victory, we will not only win the battle, but we win the war.  And when we have done all that the Lord has required of us, The Lord God of Israel will be our inheritance just as it was Levi Mosses, it was for Joshua, and so it will be for all of us .<o:p></o:p>

I think I fit into all these categories at times: (b) the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim (disobedience)  (c) the people of Joseph (complaints, lack of faith)   (d) The seven tribes (procrastination).  <o:p></o:p>

To become more like Caleb, we need to be in prayer continually.  We need to study the word, continually.  We should not let a day go by that we don’t read the word.  We need to keep our focus on God and do the work of the Lord.  What a Blessing I received last night to help with Vacation Bible School.  The look on those children's faces was worth all the work.  There are so many things whether it be witnessing, helping with charity, helping a neighbor, etc.  Just know that we must remain faithful to the Lord, He will command our Blessings, He will command our Victory.   If we do not remain faithful to God our blessing or victory can be inherited by someone else.  God gives us all the key elements for battle and for victory.  If we do not use all the weapons that God gives us how can we expect a victory!  How can we expect an inheritance!