INTERESTING FACTS : "THE SCRIPTURE IN TIMES OF DISPUTES IS LIKE AN OPEN TOWN IN TIMES OF WAR, WHICH SERVES IN DIFFERENTLY THE OCCASIONS OF BOTH PARTIES." -- ALEXANDER POPE

 

DAILY READING : JOSHUA 13 - 18

 

TEXT : Jos 14:6  Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Jos 14:7  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kad eshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Jos 14:8  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. Jos 14:9  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. Jos 14:10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. Jos 14:11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Jos 14:12  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

 

THEME : FAITH

 

The chapters we are reading now give an account of how the land was divided between the tribes. Once again we come on the use of the lot [dice] to distribute the portions to each tribe. The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge provides us with insight on this method of discerning the Lord's will. The use of the lot also provides evidence of God's inspiration of the Scriptures.

 

Jos 14:2 "By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe. "

 

[The lot] -"Though God had sufficiently pointed out by the predictions of Jacob and Moses what portions he designed for each tribe, yet we readily discern an admirable proof of His wisdom, in the orders he gave to decide them by lot. By this means the false interpretations which might have been given to the words of Jacob and Moses were prevented; and by striking at the root of whatever m ight occasion jealousies and disputes among the tribes, he evidently secured the honesty of those appointed to distribute the conquered lands of Canaan. Besides, the success of this method gave a fresh proof of the divinity of the Jewish religion, and the truth of its oracles. Each tribe finding itself placed by lot exactly in the spot where Jacob and Moses foretold, it was evident that Providence had equally directed both the predictions and that lot; and it would be the greatest folly and presumption not to acknowledge the inspiration of God in the words of Jacob and Moses; the direction of his hand in the lot, and his providence in the event. "[See Num_26:55-56, Num_33:54, Num_34:13; Psa_16:5-6; Pro_16:33, Pro_18:18; Mat_25:34]

 

It is interesting to note the tribe of Levi has no formal inheritance [other than certain cities and lands apportioned to them for use in their ministry and to reside].

 

Jos 13:14 Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of t he LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them. Jos 13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

 

John Wesley wrote of this passage -

 

"He gave - That is, Moses. None inheritance - Namely, in the land beyond Jordan, where yet a considerable part of the Levites were to have their settled abode. This is mentioned as the reason both why Moses gave all that land to the Reubenites and Gadites and Manassites; and why Joshua should divide the land only into nine parts and an half, as was said, Jos_13:7, because Levi was otherwise provided for. Made by fire - Which are here put for all the sacrifices and oblations, including first - fruits and tithes, that were assigned to the Levites; and this passage is repeated, to prevent those calumnies and injuries which God foresaw the Levites were lik ely to meet with, from the malice, envy and covetousness of their brethren."

 

In the ministry of the Levites, the Lord is the inheritance of His servants. Therefore, as Wesley states, they were to be cared for and compensated in the sacred duties they were to perform. If God had not given Israel commands to take care of the Levites, the priests would no doubt have been abused and neglected. Ministry, even in religions outside the Bible, has always been held in esteem and recognized as service to God [or in the case of foreign religions - gods]. This is true of almost every culture in world history. However, there are many who never recognized ministry as "real work." Therefore, God had to stipulate in the Law to hold the Levites in high regard, for they ministered to Him and not to Man. A person's attitude toward a Biblically ordained minister of the Lord is a direct reflection of his or her opinion of the Word of God. It is an indication of their faith or unbelief toward God Himself.

 

Still, there is application for every Christian in the inheritance of the Levite since we, the Church, are now the priests of God.

 

Rev_1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Rev_5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

Rev_20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

1Pe_2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 

1Pe_2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

This is why we are told not to love the world. It is not our home. We, as the priesthood of believers have no inheritance here. Our inheritance is yet to come in the Kingdom of Christ. Therefore, we are strangers and pilgrims in this present world. We have no permanent dwelling place, like the Levites who found their inheritance in the Lord and not the kingdom of Israel.

 

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : TRUE FAITH IS SEEN IN OBEDIENCE!

 

In our text above we see what true faith is. Caleb is not merely a man of words, but of action. He follows the Lord, not in theory, but in the way he lives. Too many people are unaware that faith is not a matter of knowing about God, but of obeying Him. It is not an act of obtaining information about the One True God, but of seeking instruction on how to comply with His principles and laws. Simply put, faith is like a verb. It is an action word. Remember, of the twelve spies that went out from Kadesh-Barnea, only Joshua and Caleb's words and actions fell in line with God's promises and commands. They encouraged the people to follow the Lord. Yet, the other ten spies prevailed as they discouraged the people with their unbelief.

 

Keil and Delitzsch write - 

 

"Before the casting of the lots commenced, Caleb came to Joshua along with the sons of Judah, and asked for the mountains of Hebron for his possession, appealing at the same time to the fact, that forty-five years before Moses had promised it to him on oath, because he had not discouraged the people and stirred them up to rebellion, as the other spies that were sent from Kadesh to Canaan had done, but had faithfully followed the Lord."

 

Caleb is eighty five years old and is as strong as he was forty-five years earlier. He is a soldier, not retired as most soldiers his age would be, but he is on active duty. He will prove his strength and ability to wage war [and win] as Joshua gives permission for him to take Hebron. Caleb is no theoretical believer in the Lord. He is a true believer, who proves he trusts the Lord through obedience.

 

Matthew Henry remarks that -

 

"Caleb's request is, "Give me this mountain," or Hebron, because it was formerly in God's promise to him, and he would let Israel knows how much he valued the promise. Those who live by faith value that which is given by God's promise, far above what is given by his providence only. It was now in the Anakims' possession, and Caleb would let Israel know how little he feared the enemy, and that he would encourage them to push on their conquests. Caleb answered to his name, which signifies "all heart." Hebron was settled on Caleb and his heirs, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. Happy are we if we follow him. Singular piety shall be crowned with singular favour."

 

As we continue to read and study God's Word, let us seek to be men and women of action and obedience and not people whose "Amen" is just a hollow echo in the lifeless valley of role-playing and pretense.