Today’s Reading:
Read Joshua 18:1; Joshua 22:9-29
Have you ever built something? It’s much easier to build something or put something together when we have the instructions, isn’t it?
As the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, they were following the instructions God gave Moses.
Exodus 29:43-46 gave the instructions they needed about building a TENT OF MEETING or a TABERNACLE – a place where God’s presence would rest. In following those directions, the tabernacle was set up at the center of the Promised Land. According to the law that Moses taught the Israelites, the place to worship God was ONLY the tabernacle at the tent of meeting. Remember there were specific guidelines of being in God’s presence because of the sin that the Israelites committed that would have kept them separated from God.
The tabernacle being built in the center of the Promised Land meant it was accessible to all Israelites. And it also showed that God was in the center of what the Israelites were doing.
Application/Prayer:
Draw a circle. In the middle of the circle, draw a heart. What part of the outside of the circle is the closest to the heart? In a true circle, the center of the circle would be the same distance to the outside of the circle – no matter where you measure from.
Keeping God “in the center” of our lives might be a little confusing. What do you think a saying like that means? Why would it be important for the tabernacle to be in the center of the Promised Land?
March Memory Verse:
He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4
Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:
- Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
- Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
- After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
- Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
- There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.
Other Resources:
March memory verse coloring sheet