Joshua
chapters 18 and 19 provide the details of the distribution of the
rest of the land to the remaining tribes. The text begins, “The
whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the
Tent of Meeting there… there were still seven Israelite tribes who
had not yet received their inheritance“.
It is interesting, but there seems to be a reluctance for the people
to go out and dwell in their land. Joshua asks, “How
long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land
the Lord… has given you?”
The nation has won miraculous battle after battle together.
Together there is a certain comfort, but there are many more battles
that must take place in the individual towns and territories. Many
of us are the same way. There is a certain safety and comfort
sitting in our church pews. I believe each of us have a unique
ministry that God wants to work through our individual lives.
Perhaps it is time for you to step out and possess the ministry God
is calling you to? 1 Corinthians chapter 12 explains that just as
our body is made up of many parts, so the church is made up of many
individuals bound together by one Spirit. “But
to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and
to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to
another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by
the one Spirit,
and
to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to
another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to
each one individually just as He wills.”
The
text continues with Joshua explaining the plan. He will send out a
survey team to write a detailed description of the remaining land and
that land will be divided into seven parts. Those parts will be
assigned by drawing lots. Again we are reminded, “The
Levites, however, do not get a portion among you because their
priestly service before the Lord is their inheritance“.
Now, finally the land is assigned. “Joshua
cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there
he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal
divisions“.
The phase “In the presence of the Lord” is repeated several
times throughout the chapter, and note there is no arguing or
disagreement. Whenever there is a unified submission to the
authority of God, there is humility and agreement.
After
all of the land is allotted, “the
Israelites gave Joshua, son of Nun an inheritance among them“.
Imagine that, the great leader of the nation was last to receive his
portion. According to Matthew chapter 20, we might be surprised by
our worth to God. Jesus explains in a parable, “So
the last will be first and the first will be last“.
When we have an attitude of putting others first, we are reflecting
the example of Christ. The chapter ends with a subtle reminder of
God’s place in the process. “Joshua
and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh
in the presence of the Lord at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
And so they finished dividing the land.”
May we all do the next task at hand in the presence of the Lord!