Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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Joshua 9-10/Psalm 125

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READ: Joshua 9-10; Psalm 125

REFLECT:

As Israel took back their ancestral homeland, news of Joshua's victories spread. The remaining kings in Canaan formed an alliance to take out Joshua and Israel (Joshua 9:2). But the Gibeonites refused to participate. Like Rahab, they had heard of what God did in Egypt, as well as to the kings Sihon and Og across the Jordan River (Joshua 9:9-10). Just as Rahab's lie protected the spies and her family, the Gibeonites' lie to save their people and gain a place in God's land (Joshua 9:4). 

They disguised themselves as emissaries from a kingdom far in the north and outside the promised land. They asked Israel to make a covenant with them (Joshua 9:6). They would become their servants if Israel allowed them to live (Joshua 9:11). And Joshua agreed (Joshua 9:15).

But three days later he found out they had been tricked (Joshua 9:16). 

Joshua couldn't break his promise (Joshua 9:19). But his treaty with the Gibeonites threatened Israel's covenant with God. When Joshua demanded an explanation, the Gibeonites explained that they knew Canaan was Israel's ancestral home, and they were confident God would give it to Israel (Joshua 9:24). The Gibeonites feared the true God of Canaan and knew their only hope is to ask for mercy (Joshua 9:25).

RELATE:

Neither Rahab nor the Gibeonites are the first people in the Bible to resort to deception to secure God's blessing. One of Israel's founding fathers, Jacob (whose name literally means "trickster"), disguised himself as his brother and secured the blessing reserved for the firstborn Esau (Gen.27:35). Israel's inclusion in God's covenant began with a trick, and now the Gibeonites, out of fear of the Lord, do the same. But it works. Throughout the rest of Scripture, Gibeon is counted as part of God's people.

God promised Israel the land of Canaan, but it was never meant for just Israel.

God promised Abraham that through his offspring all the nations of the world would be blessed (Gen.22:18). Gibeon is one of those nations. Just as the first father of Israel believed God and was promised to be the father of many nations through his offspring, Gibeon believed God and thus became part of God's promise to Abraham (Gen.15:6).

The Apostle Paul says that when Abraham believed God would give him his promised offspring, he was actually trusting in Jesus, even if he didn't know his name (Gal.3:16). Ultimately that's why Gibeon's deception worked. When Gibeon quoted God's promises to Abraham and pleaded for Joshua's mercy, they were really throwing themselves on the mercy of Jesus (Gal.3:26,29). That's why even a group of lying Cannanites could become God's people.

Like the Canaanites' land, our lives belong to God. One day He will take it back. One day the grave will demand our destruction. God's war path is inevitable. But the good news is that we don't have to trick God into accepting us into His eternal kingdom. We do not have to act like someone we are not or pretend we are better than we are. We don't have to deny our nationality or ethnic heritage (Gal.3:28). We become children of God and citizens of His Kingdom. We can own land in His new world. These promises won't happen by pretending or hiding who we are, but by trusting God's promises are true and that Jesus is powerful to bring them to pass.

REST:


May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see the God who keeps His promises to those who trust in Him! May we see Jesus as the offspring of Abraham who saves all nations from destruction!


TAN TEE KHOON

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