Isaiah 1:19-20 ‘If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.’

DAILY READING; • Matthew 11:1-19; Leviticus 11-12; Proverbs 24

Today, as war rages between Israel and Hamas in Palestine, it is good to understand the Biblical background of the region.
The present region of Palestine belonged to the ancient tribe of the Philistines. The word “Palestine” actually comes from the word “Philistine.”
In the Bible, the Philistines constantly warred against Israel. Interestingly, these conflicts resulted from the disobedience of the tribe of Dan to God’s instruction.
When Joshua was dividing the promised land to the 12 tribes of Israel, the land allocated to Dan included the land of Philistia, which was an area on the Eastern Mediterranean Sea extending from Gaza going north to Joppa.
However, the tribe of Dan failed to obey God and did not fully conquer their territory. Rather they chose to fight another town south of present-day Lebanon, whom they displaced and took over their land,
Dan’s failure to obey God, meant the Philistines were not removed and they ended up becoming a constant harassment to Israel.
In Judges 13-15, they trapped and captured Samson, the strongman of Israel. During the days of Samuel they stole the ark of the covenant for seven months (1 Sam 4-6). The apex of Philistine hostility is poignantly illustrated in the famous battle between David, and Goliath, the ten-foot tall Philistine champion.
With God’s help, David effectively defeated the Philistines until they stopped being a serious menace to Israel. Afterwards the Philistines were wiped out from world history and became an extinct people.
However, their land came to be occupied by people from different sections of the Arab world whom we know today as Palestinians. And just like in ancient times, the region seems to know no peace as constant wars erupt between Israel and the Palestinians.

The story of Dan is an instructive lesson in the consequences of disobedience.
When God allocates to us a place in destiny, we need to trust Him and abide where He has placed us rather than choosing own ways.
We are not to lean on our understanding, but rather to trust in the Lord with all our heart. He alone knows the end from the beginning and His instructions deliver us from destructions. What today appears as a simple divine instruction could be aimed at saving you from years of pain and affliction.
It can be dangerous to make our own choices without divine guidance because we are very limited in knowing what tomorrow holds.
In Genesis 13, Lot made his own choice to dwell in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom because the land initially appeared very lucrative. By the time he left Sodom, he had lost everything, and his wife had turned to a pillar of salt.
But Abraham who stayed in Canaan, where God had planned for him, eventually flourished and became great.
Obedience is always the story behind the glory. Every act of obedience is passing the test that results in our change of level. Obedience never brings you down, rather it takes you up and leads you to good success.
Joshua 1:8 says ” This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Through meditation in God’s Word, our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit to obey divine instructions so that our way becomes prosperous and we enjoy open doors.
Today, as we become willing and obedient, to God’s instructions surely we shall eat the good of the land and dwell in peace and safety.

PRAYER: Lord, I ask for the grace to always choose to follow Your instructions above my own thinking. In this season, please help me to locate and abide where You have ordained for me so i can flourish and enjoy open doors in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
There is something that God has placed within you that the world is eagerly awaiting to see.– WORDBITE 222.

Shalom!

@GOODHEART- EKWUEME .

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