The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 19:49-50,
"When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the Lord had commanded."
In Genesis 12:7 we read that the Lord promised Abraham, the progenitor of the nation of Israel, that he would give the land of Canaan to his offspring. Four centuries later, Moses, the Lord's appointed man, brought Israel, now a large nation in subjugation, out from Egypt. Following their exodus from Egypt, Moses sent out twelve spies to provide reconnaissance on the land of Canaan, Numbers 13.
When the twelve spies returned to Moses, ten of the spies gave a report that reflected a total lack of faith in God's willingness or ability to provide Israel a victory over the peoples living in Canaan, the land the Lord promised them. However, two brought back a message just the opposite, "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'" Both Joshua and Caleb attempted to encourage the people in what the Lord had promised.
As most are aware, the Israelites displayed a miserable failure to trust the Lord and followed the advice of the ten spies. As a result the Lord sent them on a forty year sojourn in the wilderness - until that generation had passed.
Following that forty year sojourn, two of that generation survived, Joshua and Caleb. Now that Israel had entered Canaan to take it, a distribution of land was made. Earlier, in Joshua 13, the account is given on the distribution of land on the east side of the Jordan river. But the distribution on the west side of the Jordan river in Canaan begins with an allotment for Caleb, Joshua 14:6-15. Following his allotment, the account of the distribution of the land is given in chapters 15:1-19:48. The account of the distribution ends with that which was given to Joshua at the end of chapter 19.
Like bookends, the distribution of the land the Lord promised to Abraham begins and ends with what was given to the two faithful men who served the Lord well. In between is found the distribution given by tribes and clans, not individuals.
I am reminded of the definition of faith the writer of Hebrews provides in Hebrews 11:1-2, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Certainly Joshua and Caleb, although not mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, were commended for their faith as seen in the pattern of the distribution of land on the west side of the Jordan.
"When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the Lord had commanded."
In Genesis 12:7 we read that the Lord promised Abraham, the progenitor of the nation of Israel, that he would give the land of Canaan to his offspring. Four centuries later, Moses, the Lord's appointed man, brought Israel, now a large nation in subjugation, out from Egypt. Following their exodus from Egypt, Moses sent out twelve spies to provide reconnaissance on the land of Canaan, Numbers 13.
When the twelve spies returned to Moses, ten of the spies gave a report that reflected a total lack of faith in God's willingness or ability to provide Israel a victory over the peoples living in Canaan, the land the Lord promised them. However, two brought back a message just the opposite, "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'" Both Joshua and Caleb attempted to encourage the people in what the Lord had promised.
As most are aware, the Israelites displayed a miserable failure to trust the Lord and followed the advice of the ten spies. As a result the Lord sent them on a forty year sojourn in the wilderness - until that generation had passed.
Following that forty year sojourn, two of that generation survived, Joshua and Caleb. Now that Israel had entered Canaan to take it, a distribution of land was made. Earlier, in Joshua 13, the account is given on the distribution of land on the east side of the Jordan river. But the distribution on the west side of the Jordan river in Canaan begins with an allotment for Caleb, Joshua 14:6-15. Following his allotment, the account of the distribution of the land is given in chapters 15:1-19:48. The account of the distribution ends with that which was given to Joshua at the end of chapter 19.
Like bookends, the distribution of the land the Lord promised to Abraham begins and ends with what was given to the two faithful men who served the Lord well. In between is found the distribution given by tribes and clans, not individuals.
I am reminded of the definition of faith the writer of Hebrews provides in Hebrews 11:1-2, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Certainly Joshua and Caleb, although not mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, were commended for their faith as seen in the pattern of the distribution of land on the west side of the Jordan.
May we all emulate the faith of Joshua and Caleb!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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