Live the Word Bible Studies

Purpose Study Bible 246: Land Lottery

The objective of this Purpose Study Bible series is to identify places in the Old Testament where the five Goldmine Principles are found, those being purpose, creativity, goal setting, time management, and faith. In this study, we see creativity at work:

Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north. After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the Lord our God (Joshua 18:4-6).

Joshua commanded the people to go view their land inheritance and then come back with a written report. Imagine that. A written report! What's more, until they submitted their reports, they could not come into their final inheritance. Their future depended on them writing what they saw today.

I wonder if the tribes came up with excuses? "I can't write. I'm not sure how long should it be. I haven't had time to write. I need an editor." None of that was important. What was important was that they took a trip, observed their land, and then wrote down what they saw. They did their part and then, through a land lottery, God did His part to give them what He promised. Now it's your turn.

What creativity have you been putting off? What blessing of tomorrow are you missing out on because you can't seem to produce the creativity that's in you today? What do you see that God wants you to record through some creative expression like poetry, writing a screen play, sculpting, composing music, dance, or any number of other creative outlets?

The theme of this study has been consistent where your creativity is concerned: It is not optional or to be treated like a hobby. It's an important part of your life's work because it's part of who God made you to be. So if you want to come into the fullness of what God has for you, learn to treat your creativity with dignity, giving it a prominent place in your life's work. When you do, it will lead to significant progress in your walk with the Lord and make you eligible for your own land lottery of blessings from God!

Purpose Study Bible 245: It's Time

Joshua had an important question for the tribes that had entered the Land:

The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?" (Joshua 18:1-3).

What were they waiting for? The Bible doesn't tell us, but they were probably fearful. Of what? Of moving forward? Of the uncertainty of the future? Or they could have been lazy, slow to act and quick to doubt. Perhaps God is asking you that very question: How long will you wait?

How long will you wait before you take the missions trip? How long before you write the book or play? How long until you initiate your own ministry rather than poaching someone else's? Joshua answered the question before they had a chance to respond: It's been long enough!

And that same answer applies to your situation. No more excuses. It's time for you to live and act out your faith as the Apostle Paul reminded us.

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do (Ephesians 5:15-17, NLT).

What do you need to do to get started taking possession of the Land God has given you? What are you waiting for? What can you do today that will bring you a step closer to the fulfillment of your purpose and express your creativity? This is the day, this is your day; make the most of the gift of God that it is.

Purpose Study Bible 244: Willing and Obedient

Let's revisit the verses we examined last week concerning the two tribes of the sons of Joseph:

Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots" (Joshua 17:16-17).

God had promised the sons of Jacob the land, but if they wanted enough for all their sons and daughters, then they would have to do the work. They would have to invest time and energy to clear the land they wanted and needed. Just like them, you always have a role to play in the promises of God being fulfilled as we read in Isaiah 1:19-20:

"If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

People often ask me how I'm able to write so many books. My answer is always the same: "One page at a time, one day at a time. They're not part of the heavenly Jerusalem that descends from on high." And notice the two elements involved in the verses from Isaiah: willingness and obedience. If you're willing but procrastinate, you won't inherit the land God has for you. If you're unwilling but attempt to be obedient, you'll always find an excuse for why now isn't the right time to take more land in the way of starting your business, writing your book, launching the mission, or getting the degree. God and I partner in the matter. I write because I'm willing and obedient and then God helps me with ideas, time, and energy.

Are you willing to do God's will? Don't answer too quickly, but meditate on the question and ask God to help you see the truth. Are you being obedient? Has something been in your heart to do (you're willing) but your obedience is too connected to the circumstances so your obedience lags? The verse in Isaiah describes either one without the other as rebellion and the fruit from that is not good. It's time to assess your true spiritual condition to make sure you meet the criteria to eat the fruit of the land. God is willing to do His part; are you willing to do yours?

Purpose Study Bible 243: Clear The Trees

Let's go back and look at the two tribes named after Joseph's sons as they entered the Land:

But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out" (Joshua 17:17-18).

In our previous lesson about them, we saw that the blessing of God is cross-generational. What Joseph did had implications for his posterity, and God made sure his children and grandchildren were beneficiaries of Joseph's obedience and suffering. When they came into the Land, however, they were so numerous due to God's blessing that they needed more space than the others. So how did Joshua handle their need?

Joshua granted them more land, but it was forested. Therefore, if they wanted more to meet their needs, they were going to have to clear the land for themselves. In other words, they could be as big as they wanted or needed to be, but they had to do the work. They had to clear the trees; God and the other tribes weren't going to do the work for them.

The same principle is true for you. If you want a bigger business or a ministry that touches more people, you must do the work and clear your land. That means growing your capacity to handle more. That may mean going to school, or learning from others to see how they increased their portion of what God has for them. This is just what the apostle Paul did, for God assigned him a work among the Gentiles and then he worked hard to visit as many places as possible, establish churches, and then nurture them to be healthy, growing members of the worldwide church, functioning long after he was gone.

Where is your "forested land"? What work do you have to do to create more space for God's Kingdom to expand through you? What can you do today to make room for those who will come after you tomorrow? Taking down the trees was hard work, but once it was done, the tribes had room to live and grow. May God show you where you can grow in your own purpose and then may you do the work that will benefit not just you but others now and in the future.

Purpose Study Bible 242: The Daughters of Zelophehad

There's an ongoing controversy in certain churches over the role of women in the Church and ministry. In this lesson, we read about a man who had no sons and what Joshua did for his daughters:

Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command. Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons (Joshua 17:3-6).

It seems that God has less of a problem with women coming in their own than some of the Church does as we see in these verses when an exception was made to the rule for inheritances. We saw this same principle earlier in this Old Testament study:

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. Miriam sang to them (Exodus 15:20-21).

God made, and Israel recognized, Miriam as a prophet. If that was true, then there's no reason to believe God would hesitate to assign women the role of a prophet or any of the other roles in His Church, in which He is free to give gifts as He chooses. If there are no sons with the needed gifts, then the daughters are eligible for the job.

If you are a daughter of God, are you hesitant to embrace and express your purpose or creativity? Will you side with tradition that says you should not do so, or will you accept that God knew you were a woman when He gave you your gifts and ministry? Can you accept that not all will recognize what God has done in your life, but that you will know you're in the right place when people see and accept you for who you are?

The body of Christ has often tried to play with half of its team on the bench. It's time for the sisters to get in the game and play according to who God created them to be instead of who the Church allows them to be.

Purpose Study Bible 241: Cross-Generational Blessings

The story of Genesis Joseph has many spiritual lessons as we have seen in past studies. There's no tribe named after Joseph as there are for his other brothers and that's because Joseph received a double portion. Both his sons had tribes named after them:

So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance (Joshua 16:4).

The blessing of God isn't meant for just one generation, but is cross-generational. That's because God has a perfect memory and never forgets those who serve Him, or their descendants: "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9). That's why it's important for you to sow in faith during your life, for the crop of righteousness may not bear full fruit until the next generation. Because Joseph was true to his purpose, his family reaped the benefits when they entered the Promised Land.

What is God's will for your life where purpose is concerned? Are you walking it out as best you can, or waiting on God to do what He intends for you to do? How about your creativity? Have you started the business, or faithfully expressed your creative gifts? And what about the big goal you've had in mind? Are you taking steps to make it happen or just talking about it?

Your obedience, or lack of it, will impact those who come after you. Be like Joseph and be true to Him in your day. By doing so, the blessing of your obedience will spill over into the lives of the Ephraims and Manassehs who will then benefit from your faith walk and bless you and your memory long after you're gone.

Purpose Study Bible 240: Your Potential

Let's look at one more lesson from the life of Caleb:

In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage (Joshua 15:13-17).

Notice that Joshua gave Caleb the land but then 85-year-old Caleb had to fight for what was his. Not only did he have to wait 45 years for his inheritance but then also had to exert effort to occupy it. And when he encountered one well-fortified area, he had to devise a special strategy to take it, which involved his daughter and her future husband.

Your purpose and creativity are gifts from God. There's nothing you can do to earn or merit them. However, once you know what they are, it's then up to you to make them what they can be, which is called your potential. Your job is then to develop your potential, and you don't really know what your capacity is or how much you can do until you get started and keep going.

Can you describe your gifts, purpose, and creativity? If you know them, what are you doing to come into their fullness? Do you have a strategy to get better and more proficient? Are you willing to fight to come into all that God has for you to do and be? Caleb waited in faith but then he exerted himself in faith to enter into the fullness of his land. God wants you to follow in his footsteps and do the same.

Purpose Study Bible 239: All In

Joshua described the reason Caleb came into the fullness of his inheritance and all God had for him:

So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly (Joshua 14:14).

Caleb was all in on serving the Lord and therefore God was all in on watching over what was his and giving it to him at the proper time. God is no fool and cannot be tricked. He knows the hearts of all, including you, and responds to people in accordance with how they respond to Him: "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). This was the key to Caleb being ready and able to fight for what God had given him even though he was 85 years old.

All people want more of God, especially in times of need or trouble. And God is gracious and often hears and helps. However, God is not a valet or butler who responds to people in need. In other words, if you want more of God, then first you must give Him more of you—more of your time while you express your creativity and pursue your purpose. Giving more of yourself to Him will cause another set of challenges but you won't be trying to find God in your times of trouble.

Is your creativity a hobby or do you pursue it with commitment, striving to improve? Do you know your purpose? If so, do you give as much time to it as possible? If not, what price are you willing to pay to find it? Have you set faith goals for your purpose and creativity that will require God's power and provision to achieve? If your pursuit of God's interests for your life are part time, then your strength will be limited and restricted. If you go all in on God, He promises to go all in for you, just like He did for Caleb.

Purpose Study Bible 238: Your Sustaining Vision

Caleb and Joshua were the two spies who brought back a positive faith report when the others were negative about the people's chances of taking the Land God had promised. Thus, no one from that generation was permitted to enter the Land except those two. Forty-five years later, this is what Caleb stepped forward to say:

"Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said" (Joshua 14:10-12, emphasis added).

What's more, Caleb didn't expect his portion to be handed to him. He declared that once he was given the go ahead, he was willing to fight for the right to live there. Technically and legally the land was his, but he knew he had to pay a price if he and his family were to come into and enjoy it to the fullest.

You too have an inheritance in Christ, a purpose that will produce godly fruit as long as you "work it." But work it you must, for the forces of darkness will not yield what belongs to you unless you're willing to exert the time and effort to see it happen. What are you believing the Lord for in your later years? Have you retired, not just from work, but from a life of faith? Have you lost your zeal to be able to say "I have fought the good fight" (2 Timothy 4:7) as Paul wrote?

And if you're young(er), what is your sustaining vision for life? Caleb moved with the people but had to wait for an entire generation to pass away before he could come into his own. Are you willing to wait, staying ready for the day of promise? As you live and serve Him, keep in mind that your inheritance is not just in this life as we read in Hebrews 11:13, 16:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ... Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Like Caleb, be ready to live a life of faith that is looking forward to the reward and God will welcome you into the heavenly city He has prepared for you.

Purpose Study Bible 237: No Land

Joshua was directing the distribution of land to the tribes, but we see it mentioned twice that one tribe got no land:

But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them. ... But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them (Joshua 13:14, 33).

The Levites did not to receive any land because they were to serve the Lord and the people in His holy place and were to live off the offerings of the people. That is because the Lord and His service were their portion, as Jeremiah declared: "I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'” (Lamentations 3:24, emphasis added). Later we will see that God did give them cities in which to live within the borders of every tribe's territory.

Jesus was also a priest and He told His disciples, “'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work" (John 4:34). Now we are a kingdom of priests and the Lord is also our portion and our "food" is to do His will. And how the Lord chooses to provide for you is His business. You only have to focus on His promise that He will provide so you can, like the Levites, serve Him and the people.

Have you allowed financial concerns to limit your expression of purpose? Has the Lord chosen to provide for you in ways that are not conventional or similar to how He does it for others? Can you focus on the fact that He is your portion and will not allow you to lack, and that goes for your family and you in your latter years? The reality of this promise that God will provide should free you to serve the Lord by doing what you love, knowing you are in God's will and doing what it is that He wants you to do.