Today’s devotion comes from Judges 1:16-26.
“The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the city of palms with the sons of Judah, to the wilderness of Judah which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people. Then Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites living in Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. And Judah took Gaza with its territory and Ashkelon with its territory and Ekron with its territory. Now the LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots. Then they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised; and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak. But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
Likewise the house of Joseph went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them. The house of Joseph spied out Bethel (now the name of the city was formerly Luz). The spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city and we will treat you kindly.” So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go free. The man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city and named it Luz which is its name to this day.” Judges 1:16-26.
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Although there is a similar thread to this Scripture and the following Scripture (Joshua 1:27-36) such that I first intended on combining them into one devotion, there is an important and comforting difference.
The similar thread in both Scriptures is that Israel did not completely drive out the aliens.
The difference between the two Scriptures is that the LORD did not condemn nor punish Israel for Israel not completely driving out the aliens in today’s Scripture. But, the LORD did condemn and punish Israel for Israel not completely driving out the aliens in the following Scripture (Joshua 1:27-36).
The LORD put these two Scripture passages next to each other (and today’s Scripture first) to teach us a lesson that the LORD provides for aliens. See the title for today’s devotion with much Scripture later in this devotion.
In the next devotion, God willing, we will cover the lesson from the following Scripture (Joshua 1:27-36).
Most importantly, on the broadest coverage, concerning what the LORD provides for the aliens, we are reminded of what the LORD did for the Gentiles through Jesus’ work on the cross.
“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:11-16.
But, even before Jesus’ work on the cross, we see hope for the aliens and sojourners.
We see the care that the LORD had for Rachel and her household. “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.” Hebrews 11:31.
In today’s Scripture, we see that the man from Lutz was treated kindly because he showed the spies the entrance to the city. Verses 22-26.
In today’s Scripture, we also see the care given the descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, who went up from the city of palms with the sons of Judah, to the wilderness of Judah and lived with the people. Verse 16.
We see that the Law provided for care for the sojourners and aliens. Here are some examples.
“but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.” Exodus 20:10.
“If an alien sojourns with you, or one who may be among you throughout your generations, and he wishes to make an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the LORD, just as you do so he shall do.” Numbers 11:14.
“These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.” Numbers 35:15.
“‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33.
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’” Leviticus 23:22.
“So all the congregation of the sons of Israel will be forgiven, with the alien who sojourns among them, for it happened to all the people through error.
… You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the sons of Israel and for the alien who sojourns among them.” Numbers 15:26 and 29.
“Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him.” Deuteronomy 1:16.
In summary, here is what God does and what we are exhorted to do. “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:18-19.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 