Thoughts on the readings for May 29th (Joshua 15, Isaiah 20, 21, Philemon)

Joshua 15 describes the first allotment of land on the western side of the river Jordan. Why was the first allocation of the Promised Land on that side of the river? Possibly because from this tribe was to come the Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ - Genesis 49:8-12. The word 'Jew' as a descriptor of the 'Jewish' people is a contraction of the Hebrew word for Judah. The name Judah means "praise to Yahweh" (Israel's God). The Apostle Paul comments on this in his letter: Romans 2:28-29. The fifteenth chapter of Joshua tells us of this tribe's inheritance and includes the city of Jerusalem, which was to be the capital city of the divided kingdom at the time of king David's grandson. Joshua 15:13-17 tell of faithful Caleb's declaration about whoever conquers Debir, meaning 'the fortress' (and remember that this is a fortress of giants) will be given Caleb's daughter as a wife. What man in his right mind would want to attack and get inside the walls of a town of giants? Such was the faith and trust of Caleb and those who were encouraged by him. However the last verse tells us that Jebus ie Jerusalem remained unconquered. The conquest was to come only in the days of king David. Isaiah 20 speaks of the prophet living out a sign, or parable that relates to Egypt and Cush. Isaiah was to walk barefooted and stripped of his outer garments for THREE YEARS as a sign to those kingdoms indicating that Yahweh was to bring these two nations into captivity at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. What faith and endurance the prophet shows in enacting this parable for THREE YEARS. Isaiah 21 speaks of the fall of Babylon. Verse 2 tells of two of the principal nations that fought together for the overthrow of the oppressive golden city of Babylon. Verses 5-6 describe the drunken feast of Belshazzar told of in Daniel 4 on the night in which the city fell to the Medes and Persians. Verses 6-8 describe men trying to whisk away Babylonian nobles in chariots pulled by men in the panic and confusion as the enemy enter the city. Verse 9 is a prophetic utterance that is picked up at the end of Jeremiah and also in Revelation 18:2-3. Verses 11-12 give a prophecy relating to an Arabian nation of Dumah. Verses 13-15 tell of nomadic southern Arabs giving water to thirsty Israelites fleeing the Russian invasion at the time of Armageddon. Verses 16-17 tell of imminent judgment being brought by the LORD upon an Arabic nation known as Kedar. In the final segment In the final segment of our Bible readings we are introduced a picture of ourself - Onesimus, a profligate runaway slave, who in Rome is liberated from his wasteful state to become a brother in Christ. The key words in this letter are related to BOWELS. Paul is demonstrating his love for God, His Son, His Word, His truth, and for Philemon and his family and the ecclesia, as well as for Onesimus. The Apostle is demonstrating to Philemon that, we must not only know and live the truth, we must love it, and God and His Son and His Word, His truth, His ecclesia, His family: we must be emotionally involved and committed. Paul sends Onesimus back to his master, as a fellow believer in Christ carrying this letter and the epistle to the Colossians. Onesimus is formerly described as being "unprofitable", which is our condition before we believed the gospel and received forgiveness. But now he has learnt to abound in his grateful realisation of his elevated status see Ephesians 2:1-12. The Apostle Paul had taught Philemon the truth of the gospel. He speaks of Philemon's debt to God in the forgiveness which he has been given. Therefore Philemon ought to show the same forgiveness to his fellow believer - even though Onesimus was his slave. The Apostle Paul is confident that Philemon will comply with the Apostle's request. Final greetings are conveyed through Epaphras, who carries the letter to Philemon. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-may-29th-joshua-15-isaiah-20-21-philemon/?feed_id=92951&_unique_id=6836b63bdcb52