17 Joshua divided the land for the Isaelites. Some situations may not be fair. How can you help your children through the unfairness in their situations?
Suggested from Bruce and Mitzie Barton:
1. Don't minimize your child's feelings.
2. Teach the child he remains free to choose his own reaction.
3. Use examples of how others have handled similar unfair treatment.
4. Be their champion, but do so wisely.
5. Where possible, stop the unfair treatment.
6. Allow time for the child to work through to acceptance.
7. Remember that it's what God thinks of us that counts.
Have a great day.
Sandj
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Chapter 17... verse 1... just a reminder that Manasseh was supposed to receive a smaller inheritance than Ephraim, even though Manasseh was the first born (see Genesis 48:13-20)
ReplyDeleteverse 8-9... sounds confusing... was this because they were both technically one tribe (the tribe of Joseph)?
verse 11... wow, that is as confusing a boundary line as the school district boundaries around here where I live :)
verse 12-13... when God gives us a blessing, He somestimes means for us to continue to work for it, not to just have it handed to us on a 'silver platter'... for example, if we want to be blessed with many friends, we may need to work on being friendly; or if we want to be blessed with a God-loving family, we will likely need to take the time and lovingly teach them how to follow God; etc... what is worth having, is worth working for... I do wonder in verse 13, though, why, if they could force them to do labor, why they couldn't force them out (or kill them off)?... do we ever just settle for less than what God really wants for us, simply because we don't want to follow through on it, or give up too easily? What areas in our own lives can we see this is in now? What steps can we take to be fully obedient? How might that full obedience change our lives for the better? will it include any changes for the 'worse'? is the 'worse' temporary or permanent? what does God want for us in our lives with Him?
verse 14... funny how God has blessed them, and they are using that blessing to justify not working hard to get the rest of the blessings God has for them... we always want what is easy and expect that the rest should be that way, too
verse 15... God always is willing to help us with our needs, if we are just willing to accept His help
verse 16... part a (not going to work out because it wont meet all our needs) is the 'front' for the real excuse (part b-because we are chickens)
verse 17-18... if you are so numerous and powerful that you need more land, then surely you can defeat the people in the land in order to take it over... only our fear is what is stopping us from having all the limitless blessings that God is wanting to give us... our fear of sharing Him with others, our fear of failure, our fear of being real, or fear of weakness, etc... the sky's the limit if we are willing to actively put our trust in God
Its all there waiting for us to reach out and take it... the only thing stopping us is us... so, we shouldn't blame God when we are the ones not doing what we need to do.
ReplyDeleteChapter 18: verse 3... God's told you what you need to do... how long are you going to wait before you act? how long before you decide to be obedient to what you know He is saying to you?
verse 4-10... sometimes we need a little push to get going... who can we look to to help us with that? who can we lovingly help in this area?
verse 28... the tribe of Benjamin also had Jerusalem... any New Testament significance in that?
The Study Notes give references as to famous people who came from the tribe of Benjamin: Mordecai (Ester 2:5), Paul (Romans 11:1)... ok, so I shouldn't show favoritism, especially at this early point, but I think I must like the tribe of Benjamin the best, if I were to pick a tribe, because Ester is my favorite woman character from the Bible, and Paul is my favorite writer.
sandJ