September 10, 2011
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The Victorious Life of Joshua Part 34
Manna was a visible reminder to the Hebrews of God’s providential care for His people. This care was conditional, just as it still is today, but the process of lining oneself up to receive was a little different in Old Testament times than it is now. In the next sets of scriptures on this matter, I will underline or make bold, the sections that involve a condition (or something that stands out to me, such as language, or a description), so as to make it plain as to the reason why I’m delving into these scriptures. I know it will seem like I’m going way outside of the book of Joshua, but there is a point, and it will draw you back into the verses in Joshua.
First I’m going to touch upon a point I heard from Creflo Dollar. He was discussing the process of receiving.
1Sa 9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
Let’s see the background of Saul.
Benjamin = "son of the right hand"
Kish = "bent"
Abiel = "El (God) is (my) father"
Zeror = 1) bundle, parcel, pouch, bag (as packed) 2) pebble
Bechorath = "first-born"
Aphiah = "I will make to breathe"
Saul or Shaul = "desired"
1Sa 9:2 And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.
It seems that Saul, at that time, lived up to his name. He’s described here, not just as a “choice young man, and a goodly,” but also as there not being a “goodlier person than he;” and apparently, he stood out being that he was taller than everyone else as well.
1Sa 9:3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
1Sa 9:4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found [them] not.
1Sa 9:5 [And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us.
Saul and his servant passed through the following places.
Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"
Shalisha = "thirds"
Shalim = "foxes"
Benjamite - "a son of the right hand"
Zuph or Zophai = "honeycomb"
At this point, Saul says, “Let’s go back before my dad starts to worry about us.”
1Sa 9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
According to Creflo Dollar, the reference to “honourable man” was a reference to an anointing. They wanted a bit of that anointing to direct them.
1Sa 9:7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
This was the part that Creflo pointed out that was really important. The fact of the matter is, many people ask of God, and just basically come before him with nothing to offer, as if just their presence is enough. Remember, He is the King of Kings. If you would go before an earthly king with a petition and a gift, why would you expect to do any less for the King of All?
