March 23, 2016: SOAP #2302:  

Scripture: Joshua (NIV) 15:1 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south. 2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea, 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary.

Observation: The Land God promised to Abraham was now in the control of the Israelites. It remained for it to be divided among the tribes and assigned to each family. This was not communism in which each family worked the common fields for the common good of all the families in the nation. Each family was given ownership of property with boundaries that identified what was theirs and what was their neighbors.

Application: Boundaries are good for me. They identify what is mine and what are my responsibilities. Everything has not been given to me. I am not responsible for everything. On the other hand, I need to protect and guard what God has placed within my boundaries. For that I will be held accountable.

It was “We the people…” of the United States of America that established this nation. By our constitution we set boundaries on what the government can and cannot do. As citizens we need to know those boundaries and hold our government accountable.

Prayer:   Lord, help me to know the boundaries you have set for me. You have clearly set them in Your Word. I want to live joyfully within those boundaries. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!