Take Two: Joshua 15, Proverbs 7

In Joshua 15 we see one of the most detailed lists of cities and territory boundary descriptions in all of Scripture. This will be a dominant characteristic of the next several chapters. While the reading may seem a bit "dry" to us, it is critical to the audience of the day. The detail shows exactly how God fulfilled a promise made centuries before. While it may have seemed good to us for God to say, "I am giving the land to them...and He did," it was more significant to the original audience for them to see and hear exactly what was their part of the blessing. But the same is true for you and I.

Is it good enough for folks to know that American possess land in Western Florida/East Alabama?

Is it good enough for them to know that "Pensacolans" possessed the land north in Cantonment.

Or...is it best (even in our culture) for them to know that John and Mary Doe took possession of a parcel of land located at_____, in the city of _____, county of ______, state of ______as recorded in the book of deeds in the ______ subdivision on lot number ____ which encompasses all of the land, houses, and outbuildings for the lot...measuring ____ feet by _____ feet and they own the title deed without any encumbrance except that right of way is permitted to utility providers within the 4 foot easements on the left and right border and along the roadway. I promise you...that my mortgage provider wants a description more like this than to know that some American owned some land in Florida.

Find a good Bible map in your Bible and you will see that this land described here makes up the Southern territory...encompassing most all of the land from the northwest corner of the Dead Sea/ Satl Sea (Josh 15:5) westward to the Mediterranean (Josh 15:12) and soutward around the Mediterranean to the wilderness areas (Josh 15:4).

A couple of observations. The conquest of Caleb (Ch 14) is carried out in Josh 15:13-14. The three leaders listed there are the same ones in charge when Caleb spied out the land 45 years before (Num 13:22). Othniel, Caleb's nephew conquered Debir (Josh 15:16-17) and gets as a prize, Caleb's daughter.Yes they were cousins...and people make fun of guys from Alabama :-). Othniel later becomes a prominent leader during the period of Judges (Judg 3:9-11).

Othniel must have been an ugly dude because Caleb's daughter asked for a little bonus for herself when marrying him (Josh 15:18-19).

One other observation: Josh 15:63 tells us that the Jebusites were not utterly defeated and remained in Jerusalem with the sons of Judah. This will continue until the time of King David's conquest around 1000 BC.

A very detailed history to give testimony to the faithfulness of God in fulfilling a promise made many years before. Reminds me of 2 Peter 3:9-10.

Proverbs 7:21-22 is the takeaway today. The allure of sin is a reality for all of us. Whatever the sin...there is a constant reality of enticement that seeks to draw us away from God and toward something that appears to be to our benefit. In the end, if we give in, we pay a price... and dearly so.

Grace,