This chapter details the many nations and people groups that remain in Canaan (including the Philistines, Sidonians and Amorites), as well as the lands that had already been distributed as an inheritance.
“Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.’ …Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the people of Reuben according to their clans. Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of Gad, to the people of Gad, according to their clans. And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.” (v1,6b-7,15,24,29a,33)
The Bible says a great deal about inheritance and it’s various kinds, which include:
– physical (eg. property or money [see verses above])
– an occupation (eg. multi-generational farmers or fishermen [Mk 1:19-21 states James and John fished with their father])
– people (eg. kids can be adopted if they no longer have a caregiver [Es 2:7 informs us Mordecai cared for his cousin Esther as his own daughter when her parents died])
– spiritual (eg. choosing to follow or disobey God as your parents did [2 Chr 20:32 tells us King Jehoshaphat followed God as his father did])
There are so many more examples both for and against people inheriting what is promised/due them, especially when we’re talking about the intangible (non-physical) types of inheritance. It also seems that God favors intangible inheritance and places a greater importance on it, since the physical things of this world will all pass away (see 1 Jn 2:15-17).
The greatest inheritance we can receive is this: “According to [God’s] great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” (1 Pt 1:3b-4)
When we accept Jesus’ death and resurrection and God’s mercy/forgiveness, we are adopted as coheirs with Christ, receiving a share of His inheritance. Did you know that as that happens, God Himself will also receive an inheritance? “When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance… he fixed the borders of the peoples… But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.” (Deu 32:8-9 abr) God’s followers are His inheritance, His heritage. Our inheritance is an eternal relationship with God, and God’s inheritance is us – our service here on earth and our eternal companionship in heaven.
My challenge for today is to fully become God’s inheritance, submitting ourselves to His will here on earth, out of response to receiving our eternal inheritance. It’s so easy for the world to distract us and keep us from doing God’s work (have you heard the saying “if the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy”?), so let’s do what we can to remain obedient to God and fulfill our part of the covenant.
Father God, our Lord and Savior, holy is Your name. We worship and adore You, for Your steadfast love endures forever. Father You have blessed us so greatly, both in this world and in the promise of eternal life. Please help us to be Your inheritance here on earth, just as the Levites were Your portion and You were theirs. Please help us to be Your obedient servants, fulfilling Your will on earth as Your Holy Spirit leads us. In the name of Jesus our Sacrificial Lamb we ask this, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training