Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

God’s Extravagant Blessings "The people of Joseph spoke to Joshua: ‘Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance, since we are a numerous people and the LORD has blessed us abundantly?’" (Joshua 17:14) The sons of Joseph teach us a powerful lesson about perspective and confidence in God’s blessings. Exposure matters in life. What we see, experience, and understand shapes how we think and what we believe is possible. Manasseh and Ephraim did not grow up like their uncles. They were raised in Egypt in a position of influence because of their father Joseph. They had seen administration, abundance, and authority up close. That upbringing gave them a different mindset. They were not timid about increase; they were conscious of growth. They recognized that God had blessed them extravagantly—and they were bold enough to say so. When they came to Joshua, they asked, “Why have you given us only one share?” They were not being arrogant; they were be...

Challenge the Status Quo  “Because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons, the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the people of Manasseh.” ( Joshua 17:6)  The daughters of Zelophehad occupy a unique place in Israel’s history. They were the first—and for a long time, the only—women to receive an inheritance in a culture where land was passed exclusively through sons. Their distinction was not accidental; it was the product of courage, clarity, and conviction. Before their bold request, no daughter in Israel inherited land. Zelophehad had no sons, only daughters, and by existing custom, his name and lineage would have been erased. But these women refused to accept a tradition that produced injustice. They approached Moses with a simple yet profound question: “Why should our father’s name be lost among his clan because he had no son?” Moses had no immediate answer, so he took their case before God. God’s response was clear—the daughters were ...

Just as God Said “So give me this hill country that the LORD promised me. You yourself heard then that the Anakim were there with their great fortified cities. If the LORD is with me, I will drive them out, just as the LORD said.” (Joshua 14:12) One of the greatest joys of the Christian faith is the assurance that we can take God at His word. Not the word of a pastor, a leader, or even a revered “saint,” but God’s own word. When God speaks, His word stands sure, reliable, and unchanging. The Apostle Paul highlights the power of this truth when he commends the Thessalonian believers. He explains that the Word of God worked effectively in them because they received it for what it truly is—not the word of men, but the very Word of God:  “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”...

Unwavering Faith  "Now behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said. These forty-five years ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.”  (Joshua 14:10) When we speak of unwavering faith, the life of Caleb immediately comes to mind. For forty-five long years, he held tightly to the word God spoke concerning him. That alone says so much about the depth and resilience of his faith. Caleb’s greatest victory was not merely possessing the land, but refusing to let go of God’s promise through seasons of delay, transition, and uncertainty. Many people today would have abandoned what God said simply because time passed or circumstances changed. But not Caleb. Even after the death of Moses—the vessel through whom the promise first came—Caleb did not let the word die. He brought it before Joshua, the new authority, and boldly recounted exactly what God had spoken. This teaches us a powerf...

Follow Through  “ The people of Israel did exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they apportioned the land.”  ( Joshua 14:5)  God is a God of plan, purpose, and design. He never begins what He has not already finished in His mind. Scripture assures us that God declares the end from the beginning—long before the journey unfolds, the destination is already settled.  “From the very beginning I tell you the end. From long ago I reveal what is yet to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” ( Isaiah 46:10)  One beautiful truth in this passage is that God lets us in on His plans. He reveals His intentions not to confuse us, but to involve us. God shares His purpose so that we can follow through —walking in obedience until His will is fully accomplished. Our text tells us that the people of Israel followed through exactly as God commanded. This exactness is crucial. One of the greatest challenges of our time is the inability to...

Delays Are Not Denials   “Because the sons of Joseph had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim—they gave no allotment to the Levites, but gave them cities to live in, with pasture lands for their flocks and herds.” ( Joshua 14:4)  Delays are not denials. God knows how to course-correct our journeys so they align perfectly with His original plan for our lives. What looks like a setback to us is often a setup in God’s hands. We remember the story of Jacob—how he was deceived into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, the woman he truly loved. That single act appeared to delay his destiny by seven years. When he finally married Rachel, there was yet another delay: she could not bear children for a long time. Humanly speaking, everything seemed out of order. Had Jacob married Rachel as planned, Joseph would have been the firstborn and naturally entitled to the double portion. But God does not panic over delays. What He has ordained cannot be canceled by human schemes. Though the pr...