1 00:00:11,330 --> 00:00:14,130 Speaker 1: Hello, and thank you for listening to your daily Bible verse, 2 00:00:14,170 --> 00:00:16,989 Speaker 1: the podcast that examines the Bible each day to help 3 00:00:17,050 --> 00:00:19,180 Speaker 1: us learn more about God and His will for us. 4 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Shaka Hines, and today we're continuing our 5 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:27,770 Speaker 1: Joshua series titled, Trusting God One Step at a Time. 6 00:00:28,110 --> 00:00:30,650 Speaker 1: And after this short word from our sponsor, we'll dive 7 00:00:30,670 --> 00:00:35,310 Speaker 1: into today's Bible verse in Joshua 22, verse 28. Today's 8 00:00:35,370 --> 00:00:45,860 Speaker 1: Bible verse is Joshua 22, 28. It says, And we said, 9 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, 10 00:00:58,020 --> 00:01:00,930 Speaker 1: we will answer, Look at the replica of the Lord's 11 00:01:01,090 --> 00:01:05,590 Speaker 1: altar which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, 12 00:01:05,670 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: but as a witness between us and you. You know, 13 00:01:09,940 --> 00:01:13,100 Speaker 1: when our son, when we lost our son, he went 14 00:01:13,140 --> 00:01:16,839 Speaker 1: forever to be with Jesus. We planted a tree above 15 00:01:16,860 --> 00:01:20,060 Speaker 1: the place where we scattered his ashes. It began as 16 00:01:20,140 --> 00:01:23,170 Speaker 1: this slim, young oak, and over the past eight years, 17 00:01:23,190 --> 00:01:27,290 Speaker 1: it's grown into this tall, stately tree. I can see 18 00:01:27,310 --> 00:01:30,350 Speaker 1: the oak as I prepare this podcast. The oak is 19 00:01:30,510 --> 00:01:34,570 Speaker 1: not a junk tree growing quickly and haphazardly from any 20 00:01:35,270 --> 00:01:39,810 Speaker 1: untended space and easily fell, brought down by a strong wind. 21 00:01:40,330 --> 00:01:44,020 Speaker 1: The oak is strong and straight and even regal. It 22 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,330 Speaker 1: is a fitting reminder of the impact of our son's 23 00:01:47,420 --> 00:01:51,550 Speaker 1: life and the mighty purposes of God as life continues 24 00:01:51,590 --> 00:01:55,530 Speaker 1: to flourish in his hands. Most likely, that oak is 25 00:01:55,550 --> 00:01:59,030 Speaker 1: going to outlive my husband and I and perhaps continue 26 00:01:59,090 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: as a memorial for our children and their children after them. Now, 27 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: after the Israelites' approximately seven-year campaign to conquer the land 28 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:17,490 Speaker 1: of the overarching war for the land ceases. Joshua pulls 29 00:02:17,550 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: aside the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and 30 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: he dismisses them from service to return to the land 31 00:02:24,740 --> 00:02:27,540 Speaker 1: allotted to them on the east side of the Jordan. 32 00:02:27,940 --> 00:02:31,330 Speaker 1: Numbers 32 tells us that because the land east of 33 00:02:31,370 --> 00:02:34,470 Speaker 1: the Jordan was well-suited to their large herds and flocks, 34 00:02:34,669 --> 00:02:39,419 Speaker 1: these two-and-a-half tribes, got permission from Moses to settle there 35 00:02:39,540 --> 00:02:43,299 Speaker 1: as their inheritance. Now, at first, Moses rebuked them, you know, 36 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,930 Speaker 1: for discouraging the rest of the tribes from entering into 37 00:02:46,990 --> 00:02:49,650 Speaker 1: and conquering the land west of the Jordan as the 38 00:02:49,690 --> 00:02:53,230 Speaker 1: Lord commanded. The two and a half tribes, though, reassured 39 00:02:53,290 --> 00:02:57,149 Speaker 1: Moses that they would leave their women, children, and livestock, 40 00:02:57,690 --> 00:03:00,550 Speaker 1: but the fighting men would arm themselves and go to 41 00:03:00,610 --> 00:03:04,090 Speaker 1: war alongside the remaining tribes and that they would not 42 00:03:04,210 --> 00:03:08,179 Speaker 1: return to their homes until until every Israelite had received 43 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: his inheritance. And the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, 44 00:03:12,260 --> 00:03:16,459 Speaker 1: they're faithful to their promise. They fight alongside their Israelite 45 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,850 Speaker 1: brothers until the major coalitions of Canaanite power are broken. 46 00:03:21,310 --> 00:03:25,670 Speaker 1: And finally, Joshua sends them home to their families. But 47 00:03:25,730 --> 00:03:28,989 Speaker 1: something happens in Joshua 22 that riles up the other 48 00:03:29,050 --> 00:03:31,770 Speaker 1: nine and a half tribes and brings them to war 49 00:03:32,010 --> 00:03:35,430 Speaker 1: against the Transjordan tribes. the two and a half tribes 50 00:03:35,470 --> 00:03:40,250 Speaker 1: had built what Joshua calls an imposing altar beside the Jordan. 51 00:03:40,730 --> 00:03:44,910 Speaker 1: Now in Exodus 40, God instructed Moses to set the 52 00:03:45,110 --> 00:03:48,990 Speaker 1: altar of burnt offerings before the tabernacle of the tent 53 00:03:49,050 --> 00:03:53,390 Speaker 1: of meeting, and Moses obeyed God. Now in Leviticus 17 54 00:03:53,390 --> 00:03:57,510 Speaker 1: and Deuteronomy 12, God commands that the burnt offerings can 55 00:03:57,910 --> 00:04:02,910 Speaker 1: only be sacrificed in the place authorized by him. Otherwise, 56 00:04:03,290 --> 00:04:06,890 Speaker 1: any person who disobeys must be cut off from God's people. 57 00:04:07,310 --> 00:04:09,590 Speaker 1: So when the nine and a half tribes learn of 58 00:04:09,650 --> 00:04:13,250 Speaker 1: this altar built by the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manasseh, they 59 00:04:13,350 --> 00:04:18,690 Speaker 1: are prepared to punish their brother's perceived disobedience. Phineas, the priest, 60 00:04:18,770 --> 00:04:21,070 Speaker 1: and ten of the chief men from the gathered tribes 61 00:04:21,130 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: confront the two and a half tribes. How could you 62 00:04:24,180 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: break faith with the God of Israel like this, they ask? 63 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: How could you turn away from the Lord and build 64 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? The Reubenites, Gadites, 65 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,490 Speaker 1: and half-tribe of Manasseh, they straighten out the record. They 66 00:04:37,529 --> 00:04:40,289 Speaker 1: assure their brother tribes that they did not build the 67 00:04:40,470 --> 00:04:44,409 Speaker 1: altar to burn offerings on in disobedience to the Lord. 68 00:04:44,490 --> 00:04:48,940 Speaker 1: But just in case, Any of Israel ever doubts that 69 00:04:48,980 --> 00:04:52,770 Speaker 1: the Transjordan tribes also belong to God and are able 70 00:04:52,810 --> 00:04:56,370 Speaker 1: to worship him along with the rest of the Israelite community? 71 00:04:56,930 --> 00:04:59,790 Speaker 1: They said, if they ever say this to us, the 72 00:04:59,810 --> 00:05:02,830 Speaker 1: scripture says, or to our descendants, we will answer. Look 73 00:05:02,890 --> 00:05:06,250 Speaker 1: at the replica of the Lord's altar, which our ancestors built, 74 00:05:06,710 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness 75 00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:14,290 Speaker 1: between us and you. The memorial altar was to be 76 00:05:14,330 --> 00:05:17,830 Speaker 1: a witness, a reminder that the people of Reuben, Gad, 77 00:05:17,930 --> 00:05:22,610 Speaker 1: and Manasseh were also chosen by God, a part of Israel, 78 00:05:22,870 --> 00:05:26,770 Speaker 1: able to worship in the community. Throughout the Bible and today, 79 00:05:26,850 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: the people of God are in danger of forgetting whose 80 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: they are. In the New Testament, Jesus gives us a 81 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: powerful reminder through communion, that intentional practice of taking the 82 00:05:37,980 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: bread and wine to remember Jesus's body that was broken 83 00:05:42,180 --> 00:05:44,900 Speaker 1: and his blood that was shed for us, which not 84 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,770 Speaker 1: only fulfills the sacrificial requirements of the law, no more 85 00:05:48,810 --> 00:05:52,510 Speaker 1: need for altars, but also it reminds us that Jesus 86 00:05:52,570 --> 00:05:55,170 Speaker 1: gave up his life to give us new life as 87 00:05:55,230 --> 00:05:59,450 Speaker 1: the people of God. The Bible doesn't teach that communion 88 00:05:59,550 --> 00:06:03,930 Speaker 1: must only happen on certain Sunday mornings. Practicing communion can 89 00:06:03,950 --> 00:06:07,429 Speaker 1: become a part of your regular spiritual rhythm that draws 90 00:06:07,470 --> 00:06:11,150 Speaker 1: your focus to Jesus and reminds you of whose you are. 91 00:06:11,450 --> 00:06:15,030 Speaker 1: You know, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh's altar, it stood for 92 00:06:15,070 --> 00:06:18,910 Speaker 1: a time as a reminder that they were God's chosen people. 93 00:06:19,390 --> 00:06:22,830 Speaker 1: And for a time, Landon's oak tree will stand as 94 00:06:22,890 --> 00:06:25,970 Speaker 1: a reminder that our son lived and impacted our lives. 95 00:06:26,630 --> 00:06:30,529 Speaker 1: And communion, though, it exists as this memorial to continually 96 00:06:30,610 --> 00:06:34,250 Speaker 1: remind us of the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made 97 00:06:34,310 --> 00:06:38,050 Speaker 1: on our behalf, giving us new life as God's chosen people, 98 00:06:38,370 --> 00:06:44,010 Speaker 1: invited into God's kingdom forever. You know, ask yourself, how 99 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: might I more regularly partake of communion as a part 100 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,610 Speaker 1: of my spiritual rhythm? And also, what are some other 101 00:06:51,710 --> 00:06:55,890 Speaker 1: disciplines or practices that I might adopt to remind me 102 00:06:56,029 --> 00:07:00,260 Speaker 1: daily of who God is and whose I am? Perhaps 103 00:07:00,339 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: that entails your quiet times before the Lord or Bible 104 00:07:05,180 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: study or meaningful walks with God or fasting, attending church 105 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: regularly or making the decision to join a small group 106 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: at church, like the Transjordan Tribes. Let's employ memorials in 107 00:07:19,980 --> 00:07:24,700 Speaker 1: our lives that place Jesus ever before us and remind 108 00:07:24,820 --> 00:07:30,310 Speaker 1: us of whose we are. Let's pray. Father, thank you 109 00:07:30,380 --> 00:07:37,210 Speaker 1: so much for Jesus Christ and communion that he established 110 00:07:37,230 --> 00:07:41,390 Speaker 1: so that we can continually lift our eyes to our 111 00:07:41,470 --> 00:07:45,510 Speaker 1: Savior who shed his blood for us, who laid down 112 00:07:45,570 --> 00:07:48,910 Speaker 1: his life for us, so that we could have a 113 00:07:48,950 --> 00:07:54,330 Speaker 1: relationship with you. Abba, would you open the minds, the 114 00:07:54,410 --> 00:07:59,310 Speaker 1: hearts of anyone listening? How might we remember you better 115 00:07:59,690 --> 00:08:03,750 Speaker 1: on a daily basis? How can we continually turn our 116 00:08:03,830 --> 00:08:08,460 Speaker 1: faces to remind ourselves or to be reminded of whose 117 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: we are? I know that we are prone to forget. 118 00:08:13,260 --> 00:08:16,340 Speaker 1: As the song says, prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 119 00:08:17,390 --> 00:08:20,770 Speaker 1: prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, Lord, 120 00:08:20,830 --> 00:08:24,869 Speaker 1: take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above. God, 121 00:08:24,910 --> 00:08:30,350 Speaker 1: would you give us practical ways in our daily rhythms 122 00:08:30,410 --> 00:08:34,380 Speaker 1: of life, in our Bible study, in prayer time, however 123 00:08:34,410 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: it is that people who are listening to me walk 124 00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: with you, would you give us practical steps, Father, to 125 00:08:41,740 --> 00:08:46,510 Speaker 1: remember you daily? We love you, God. You are worthy 126 00:08:46,630 --> 00:08:50,660 Speaker 1: of remembrance. You are worthy of every praise. It's in Jesus' 127 00:08:50,750 --> 00:08:53,010 Speaker 1: name we pray. Amen.