Joshua 13:29-30 describes what the half-tribe of Manasseh inherited in the promised land. It reads like this:
(Joshua 13:29-30) This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans: The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan—all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). This was for the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans.
WELCOME
Welcome to the COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY. We continue our studies of the taking of the promises in the Book of Joshua today.
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Today we continue with Joshua Chapter 13.
REMEMBER HOW THIS CAME ABOUT
If you will remember the times we studied before the crossing over of the Jordan, we learned that the tribe of Manasseh was divided in what it wanted to do. Half of them wanted to make claim to the land before the crossing of the Jordan that laid green and fertile before them.
These men, (including half of the tribe of Manesseh) promised to help the rest of Israel fight before coming back to claim their desired inheritance.
Moses agreed to this and Joshua honored it later.
The other half of Manesseh desired to go with the other nine tribes and cross the river before making a claim to any of the land.
Both halves of the tribe of Manesseh, which originated from Jacob’s son named Joseph, were satisfied with their choices. Moses and Joshua agreed to honor both of these halves of the tribe’s wishes.
A long history followed both tribes. One half was assimilated when Assyria conquered the land after the tribes of Israel had split into two nations. This split tribe became part of the ten lost tribes of Israel. Many believe that people from The tribes of Manesseh came to settle much later in the United States of America.
It all started with a choice.
CHOICES MATTER
We all have choices. What we decide to do along the way creates the formations of the pillars of our lives. Every decision in this journey we call life matters. When we make such huge decisions as these half tribes of Manesseh made; it is important to consult God for each and every step.
It seems that God had no problem with the half-tribe staying on the other side of the Jordan and being separate from it’s other half-tribe. There was one stipulation though; they had to clear the land of all other pagan nations; mostly Perizzites and Rephaites. We will hear more about the success of this later in our study. All of the Israelite tribes agreed to these standards. Once you agree with God on a standard; it is always in your best interest to honor that standard.
Have you made any agreements with God lately?
How is that playing out for you?
FIRST-FRUITS OFFERINGS
This is the season in which we prayerfully consider what first-fruits offerings we are planning to bring to God in the coming of the new sacred year. It is a very prayerful decision of great importance. Has this been in your mind, on your hearts and in your prayers?
Pray that God will show you what He desires of you in the new sacred year which starts in the Spring with the month of Nissan just before we celebrate Passover. Just like those two half-tribes of Manesseh; we must decide which direction God is leading us to take in the coming of the near future. We need to make this decision before we come to The Passover.
God requires different things of His people from season-to-season and from year-to-year. Salvation is free; but holiness and sanctification require offerings. What offering will you bring to God’s altar this year?
Each person’s offerings are different and given for their own reasons. This is between you and God, just as the decision of where they would continue to live forever as God’s people was between both halves of the tribes of Manesseh.
BRINGING PROGRESS TO THE KINGDOM
No matter where you are standing now, all of these offerings over the years will add together to bring progress to The Kingdom of Heaven. Of course, we all know that you can’t make your way to God’s Kingdom through works or by doing things. That is what pagans believe. Jesus has done all of the work for us. He provided our Salvation pure, holy and free of charge, just as God’s promises to Abraham were free. There were no conditions of the promises.
Once we have come to the place of realizing those amazing facts and accepting so much grace and mercy though; it is honorable to submit to God’s will and bring forth new offerings that help us to recognize and refine our purposes and places in His Kingdom. How sweet it is to be obedient and honorable to God’s holiness which has cleansed us and has saved us. Our carefully considered offerings express our thankfulness and our willingness to be obedient. God will show us what to do next in order to grow in spirit and truth. Our decisions about our offerings which will be made today will show that we are still seeking His will for all of our days.
What is he requiring of you for this up-coming year?
Have you asked?
Many are fasting right now. They are seeking solid answers and direction from heaven. It is an important time in the history of our nation; just as it was an important time for the half-tribes of Manesseh. Each had a plan to carry out. Their plans were different; but God was directing and leading both of them into their specific purpose for the nation that was being established on the earth.
We are no different than these half-tribes. Direction and guidance from God are what we need to be seeking.
This was how these two tribes became half-tribes living across the river from one another.