Journey Through Canaan
Come join me, as I go on a journey through the land of Canaan, throughout the next few weeks. No, this will not be a physical journey, instead it will be a journey through God’s Word, and the books of Samuel.
The time is aproximately 1050 B.C. The rule of the Judges is almost over, and the rule of the kings of Israel is near at hand. This will be a big transition for the people of Israel. The most prominent characters are; Samuel, the last judge of Israel, Saul, the first king of Israel, and David, the second king of Israel.
Kingship will make life for the Israelites even more difficult than it was before. The right type of king, walking in all of the ways of the Lord, could lead Israel into great and prosperous times, while the wrong type of king, who refused to walk in the ways of the Lord, could lead Israel into danger, captivity, or death.
Kings may have been rulers over the people, but they still had to remain obedient to God themselves, as a primary example to the people. Any great leader ultimately emphasizes wholehearted devotion to God, as well as loving friendship, and loyalty to others.
Some of the other characters that put their faith into action are; Hannah, the mother of Samuel, Jonathan, Saul’s heir, and Abigail, who would become one of David’s wives.
These are some of the challenges that we will come across:
-Don’t value stuff more than God
-Fight for God in His way, in His time, for Him
-Take responsibility for your own actions without casting blame
-Honor God by teaching and disciplining your children
-Make God your first priority, and do not allow yourself to be conformed to the world
-Leave the revenge to God, He will repay on His schedule
-Be peaceable in all situations
-Be loving, trustworthy, and loyal to those around you
-Determine to obey God no matter what
-Be teachable, accepting the wise counsel of others
Human leaders are not all powerful, or all knowing. God is sovereign, and it is within His ability to remove leaders from their place of power whenever He desires. Remember that God is always in control, even when we are not. When His people are faithful to Him, they will reap the blessing that He chooses to shower upon them, for the fame of His name!
Dave Earley http://www.init-2-winit.org/faithlikeamustardseed http://www.init-2-winit.org/forum
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