Being the Church Instead of Just Going to Church – Part 4

Joshua 15-19

1–God purposefully decides the land he gives

Joshua 15:1-12 Now the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families reached the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin at the extreme south. ² Their south border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea…and ended at the (Mediterranean) Sea...⁵ The east border was the Salt Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan. And the border of the north side was from the bay of the (Salt) sea at the mouth of the Jordan…(26 cities and land formations cited)…and ended at the (Mediterranean) Sea. ¹² The west border was at the (Mediterranean) Great Sea, even its coastline. This is the border around the sons of Judah according to their families.

Genesis 49:8-11 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; … ¹⁰ The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. ¹¹ He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

2–Courageous faith is required to take the land God gives

Caleb’s Faith (Joshua 14:9-12) ⁹ So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’ …¹² Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

Ephraim’s Fear (Joshua 17:14-18) ¹⁴ The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the Lord has blessed us abundantly." ¹⁵ "If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites." ¹⁶ The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel." ¹⁷ But Joshua said to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment ¹⁸ but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

3–God excludes no one in the allotment of land

Joshua 17:3-4 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher…had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. ⁴ They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord's command.

4-God wants us to get moving and take the land

Joshua 18:2-6 But there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. ³ So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you? ⁴ Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me…and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the Lord our God.