June 24, 2021
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Reading along with us in Joshua? Here’s today’s reading:
Joshua 13 (NIV)
Land Still to Be Taken
1When Joshua had grown old, the Lordsaid to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.
2“This is the land that remains: All the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, 3from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites.....Continue Reading
This summary account made me ask … probably again … who are the Midianites?
Midian is a son of Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:2, 6). Moses fled from Pharaoh to Midian and there married the daughter of a priest of Midian (Exodus 2:15-16). It is in Midian that God calls Moses to return and deliver the Israelites from captivity. In Numbers 22, the relationship between Midian and Israel sours and ultimately God tells Moses to treat the Midianites as enemies (Numbers 25:17-19). Joshua 13:21-22 summarizes the conflict with Midian and with Balaam.
In my journey through life, there are times when some relationships sour and go bad. They can even result in bitter conflict. However, through those dark days, God has a purpose and a plan for his children.
Joshua 12 & 13
A summary of what land remains to be taken and then the start of many chapters laying out the division of the lands among the tribes. I like the first verse:
1 When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.
Sort of a “there is still work to be done, but you are finished” perhaps?
Possession of land matters to God and His plans..
God was very specific with the lands to be taken and the inheritance it was to be to each tribe. I notice the tribe of Levi, the priests, still receive no land inheritance but rather the sacrifices brought to God sustain them. I am struck by the amount of land conquered for Israel by God’s hand but He keeps His promises that’s for sure!
The Israelites through Joshua had conquered so much but there was still territory in Palestine that was to be taken. It is reminder that the work of God goes on even as we pass on, but we must be faithful to pass the torch to the next generation to carry on the task. This doesn’t happen well after Joshua and therefore all of the lands were not taken and some of the Canaanite people remained and influenced the Jews to do evil and walk away from God. It’s unfortunate that the tribes got their allotments and then didn’t press on with the work. We can get like this too and get wrapped up in possessions and the blessing of God and not do His work of reaching out to the world.
1When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.
God tells Joshua he is old. The message remains that He will drive out the nations before Israel, so He asks Joshua to allot the land.