We are looking at six lessons we can learn from the Joshua
13-21 as we are claiming our inheritance that God has promised us in Christ. So
far, we learned that we don’t want to be like the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and
the half-tribe of Manasseh that chose their inheritance on the border on the
east side of the Jordan River. We don’t want to become borderline believers. The
second lesson is found in Joshua 14:6-14. Like Joshua and Caleb, we should be
encouraged in our pilgrim journey because no matter how long we must wait our
inheritance is still available!
We learned our third lesson from Caleb in Joshua 14:6-14.
We are never too old to fulfill God will and purpose for our lives. Our fourth
lesson is found in Joshua 15:13-19, we also learn from Caleb that we have a
responsibility to provide and pass on our inheritance and our faith to the next
generation. Today, in Joshua chapters 15-17, we will discover our fifth lesson
which is: God wants to give all His people their inheritance.
In Joshua 14:6-13, we saw where Caleb, who was of the tribe
of Judah, claimed his inheritance. Now in Joshua 15:1-12 and verses 21-63, the
inheritance of the rest of the tribe of Judah is described. In verse 63, we
can’t help but notice that at that time the Jews couldn't take Jerusalem from
the Jebusites. They held it temporarily later on in Judges 1:8. It was not
until we get to 2 Samuel 5:6-10 that we learn that David captured it
permanently and made it the capital city of Israel.
In Joshua 16, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh received
their inheritance. You might remember that they were the sons of Joseph, whom
Jacob "adopted" and especially blessed in Genesis 48:15-22. Since the
tribe of Levi wasn't given any territory, these two tribes made up the
difference so that there were still twelve tribes in Israel. It is also
interesting to note that even though the birth order was "Manasseh and
Ephraim" (Josh. 16:4; 17:1), but Jacob reversed it in giving them their
blessing. This teaches us that God rejects our first birth and gives us a
second birth. He accepted Abel and rejected Cain; He rejected Ishmael and
accepted Isaac, Abraham's second-born son; He rejected Esau and accepted Jacob.
We must be born again spiritually into the family of God (John 1:12; John
3:3-8), to qualify for our inheritance.
In the nation of Israel, the sons inherited the property.
But here in Joshua 17:3-6, but the daughters of Zelophehad saw to it that the
daughters weren't discriminated against (Numbers 27:1-11). Like the daughter of
Caleb, these women had the faith and courage to ask for their inheritance; and
they even changed the law!
Yes, God wants to give all His people their inheritance. James
4:2 reminds us, "You do not have because you do not ask" In
Jesus Christ, all believers are one and are heirs of God (Romans 8:14-17). In Galatians
3:26-29, Paul tells us, “For you are all sons of God through
faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put
on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if
you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.”
Today, nothing from your first birth should hinder you from
claiming all that you have in Jesus Christ! “If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is
in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11)
God bless!
