Joshua 17, Proverbs 1, 2 Thessalonians 3

I can just hear the whine in the voices of Manasseh's escendants as they complain to Joshua about the size of the land apportioned to them.
     "We're girls. We get some, too!"
     "We want more!"
     "We don't like that land, why can't we have something different?"
Joshua, like a patient, but firm, father, says, "Take it or leave it. But I believe you can do what it takes to make it yours."
But Machir wasn't whining with the others. And so, he was rewarded for being a man of war.

We are people of war. We must be willing to fight like Machir. Instead of physical enemies, we face intimidating spiritual enemies.

Wisdom comes from fear of the Lord. And a wise person, like the bird, sees the net cast to trap her. Recognizing and staying away from sin is part of the battle we fight. Reconnasance is essential in any war.

It takes discipline to be a good soldier. And wisdom. We need to recognize and stay away from sin not only in the world around us, but in the household of faith. This is where it gets difficult to see the net. We must have radar antennae like Martians. The only way we can sense danger is through prayer.

Joshua 16, Psalm 150, 2 Thessalonians 2

Ephraim and Manassah, the tribes named for the sons of Joseph, had overlapping territory since the cities for Ephraim were in the land of Manasseh. Ephraim included Bethel and Luz, the sites famous for their significance in Jacob's life. Do your children know the landmarks of your spiritual heritage? Do you tell stories to be handed down of what God has done? Jacob told his stories, and so when these tribes inherited the cities, they could gain courage for their own battles from him.

When we praise the Lord for His mighty acts, it inspires praise for everything else. And praise tells our stories.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians of a truth he had already taught them. (See verse 5.) They were nervous and shaken by what someone else said. Hearing the truth over and over is reassuring when we are frightened or unsure. Paul tells them to "stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." (v. 15)

Just as it was important then, it is important now to not only "stand fast and hold on" ourselves, but to hand down to our children and grandchildren the faith stories they can hold on to.