Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Avenger of Blood “So that anyone who kills a person accidentally—that is, unintentionally—may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.” ( Joshua 20:3 ) God is a God of justice as much as He is a God of mercy. Even in moments marked by tragedy and loss, His grace shines through. He is always mindful of human frailty and continually works to protect life and restore order. In our text, we are introduced to the concept of the avenger of blood —a relative who felt justified to take another life in retaliation for the death of a loved one. While such emotions are understandable, God, in His wisdom, made provision to prevent injustice and the escalation of violence. For anyone who killed another person unintentionally—what we would today call manslaughter—God instructed Israel to establish cities of refuge. These cities provided safety, preventing the avenger of blood from taking a life that God had not judged guilty of murder. Justice was preserved, but mercy was also ...

Honour...  “They completed the division of the land and set its boundaries as an inheritance. Then the people of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua son of Nun. In obedience to the word of the LORD, they gave him the city he had requested—Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. Joshua rebuilt the city and settled there.” (Joshua 19:49–50) Honour, like respect, is earned—not demanded. Joshua, together with the high priest and the leaders of Israel, faithfully carried out God’s assignment: conquering the land and fairly dividing it among the tribes. When the work was done, the people expressed their gratitude by honouring Joshua with a city of his choice. This act was not forced; it flowed naturally from appreciation for faithful leadership and obedience to God. Scripture consistently teaches the value God places on honour. Through the prophet Malachi, God rebuked His people for failing to honour Him, reminding them that honour begins with how we treat authority—especially ...

Redirection  “But the people of Dan could not hold on to their territory, so they went up and attacked Leshem. They captured it, struck it down with the sword, and settled there. They renamed it Dan, after their ancestor.” (Joshua 19:47) God has already made provision for us to live fully and fruitfully at the center of His will. Yet, many times, we settle for less—not because God withheld His promise, but because we lacked the discipline, courage, or persistence to do what was required of us. The story of the people of Dan illustrates this clearly. They were allotted a territory, with a clear mandate to drive out the Amorites occupying the land. However, Scripture records that they failed to complete that task. Pressured and restricted, they were pushed into the hills and eventually chose another direction altogether. They attacked Leshem, conquered it, and settled there. Was this God’s perfect plan for them? Perhaps not. But it may have been God’s redirection . Sometimes, Go...

More Than Enough Blessings “The inheritance of Simeon came out of the share of Judah, because Judah’s portion turned out to be more than they needed.” (Joshua. 19:9 ) God’s blessings are never meant to terminate on us; they are designed to flow through us. When God prospers a person, a family, or a people, it is not merely for display, indulgence, or self-glory, but so that others may benefit through them. This has always been God’s pattern. He said to Abraham: “I’ll bless those who bless you… All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis. 12:3 ) Later, God reaffirmed this promise, extending it through Abraham’s descendants: “All nations on earth will be blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.” ( Genesis 22:18 ) In our text, Judah’s inheritance was more than sufficient, so Simeon received his portion from within Judah’s land. Judah had more than enough , and that overflow became a blessing to a brother tribe. This is significant, because...

No Slacking  “ And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?”  ( Josh.  18:3 (KJV) Provision had already been made, yet the people delayed. The land was secured by God’s promise, but it still required their obedience and action. Joshua’s question exposes a painful truth: it is possible to have access to God’s gifts and still live as though we do not believe they are ours. This pattern repeats in our lives today. God asks us the same searching question: How long will you delay? Healing has been provided, yet some endure sickness without stepping out in faith. Freedom has been announced, yet many remain bound by fear, ignorance, or complacency. Jesus echoed this truth when He spoke about the woman bent over for eighteen years— “ought not this daughter of Abraham be loosed?” (see Luke 13). She belonged to the covenant, yet bondage persisted until faith met divine power. Th...

Power of Foresight "You also get the hill country. It's nothing but trees now, but you will clear the land and make it your own from one end to the other. The powerful Canaanites, even with their iron chariots, won't stand a chance against you."  Joshua 17:18)  Foresight is the ability to see beyond what is physically present. It is the capacity to perceive possibilities where others see limitations. It is vision inspired by faith — seeing from God’s perspective rather than from human fear. In this passage, Joshua speaks to the children of Joseph who felt their allotted land was insufficient. Instead of simply agreeing with their complaint, he redirected their vision. He acknowledged their need for more space but pointed them to the hill country — a land covered with thick forests and occupied by strong enemies with iron chariots. To the natural eye, it looked unusable and intimidating. But to the eye of foresight, it was potential waiting to be developed. Joshua ...