IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Eastern Tribes Return Home

Date: Nov. 6, 2023

Passage

Joshua 22:1-9

The Eastern Tribes Return Home

22:1 At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. 3 You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. 4 And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, 8 he said to them, “Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.” 9 So the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had possessed themselves by command of the LORD through Moses.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Joshua 22:5

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

The conquest of Canaan had ended, and the land was divided into twelve tribes. Then Joshua dismissed the two and a half tribes of those in the Transjordan with honor. They had kept their promise to Moses and helped the other tribes in the conquest faithfully. As he sent them to their families, Joshua reminded them to remain faithful to the Lord—loving Him, walking in obedience to Him, keeping His commands, holding fast to Him, and serving him. God’s people need to be both encouraged and challenged to remain faithful to the Lord in their lives of faith. We are not to rest on our laurels but keep on living by faith (Phil 3:13-14).

Joshua didn’t send them away empty handed but gave them blessing and bounty. They received the fruit of faithful living. Obedience to God and faithfulness to Christ bring God’s great blessings. Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33).

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a mission to spread the gospel. Help me to complete it. Remind me of living by faith to the end.

One Word: One Word: Keep on running the race of faith

Daily Bread

Praise the Lord

Psalm 103:1-22

Key Verse: 103:1

Of David.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!

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