What lessons from Joshua 15:36 can we apply to our spiritual inheritance today? Reading the Verse “Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen cities and their villages.” (Joshua 15:36) Why This List Still Matters • God kept His land promise to Judah exactly; He will keep every promise to us (Joshua 21:45; 2 Corinthians 1:20). • Scripture’s careful detail proves its reliability; the same God who counted towns counts every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30). • Tangible boundaries in the Old Covenant foreshadow our spiritual inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:11–14). Names that Preach 1. Shaaraim – “two gates/double gate” 2. Adithaim – “double assembly/cluster” 3. Gederah (Gederothaim) – “wall, enclosure, sheepfold” Shaaraim – Living at the Gate • Gate = access and protection. We have “boldness and access” (Ephesians 3:12) and a guard for our going out and coming in (Psalm 121:8). • Two gates hint at completeness; Jesus is both the Way (John 14:6) and the Door (John 10:7). • The Philistines fled past Shaaraim (1 Samuel 17:52); we fight on ground already promised and won (Colossians 2:15). Adithaim – The Joy of Assembly • “Double assembly” points to fellowship now and the greater gathering in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23). • We inherit together, not alone (Ephesians 2:19). • Two assemblies echo the twin loves—God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). Gederah – Safe Within the Walls • Wall/fold = security. We are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). • God hedges His people about (Job 1:10). • The enclosure is for sheep; true safety is under the Shepherd’s hand (John 10:27-29). Fourteen Cities – Nothing Missing • Fourteen (double seven) signals fullness; Judah lacked nothing, neither do we (2 Peter 1:3). • Villages show God’s care for every corner of life, not just the “big places.” Bringing It Home • Trust the detailed promises—God’s record proves His faithfulness. • Step through the Gate of Christ’s access. • Value the Assembly; inheritance thrives in fellowship. • Stay inside the protective Walls of obedience and Spirit-sealing. • Claim every parcel—victory over sin, intimacy with God, fruitful service. Key Cross-References Gen 15:18; Joshua 21:45; Ephesians 1:11-14; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Colossians 1:12 |
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