Slaves? - Joshua 17

So picture this, as far back as these particular sons of Israel can remember, they have been wandering in the wilderness, foraging here and there, never really settling down. For the last few years they have fought against the native Canaanites, moving from place to place throughout the land of Canaan. They had not plowed nor planted but they have eaten the grain remaining in the fields and food from the storehouses of their defeated enemies. As Joshua started to allocate land to each tribe it started to dawn on them that life was about to change. They had dreamed of a land of their own, but they may not have thought through the process of settling down to the routine rhythms of domestic life. Yes, there were still enemies that needed to be subdued, but the dream was in the process of becoming reality.

We see that Joshua reports (chapter 17, verse 12-13) the sons of Manasseh, ‘could not take possession of these cities’ because the Canaanites ‘persisted’ in staying in the land. Remember that the initial battles were not against Canaanite peasants but against their armies and against powerful city leaders and kings. Those battles were mostly won and the occupied land was now possessed by the Tribes of Abraham. Those remaining Canaanites were tradesmen, merchants, the poor, and perhaps a few subsistence farmers who were barely making a living on small parcels of land. So, if you were one of these remaining Canaanites, why would you leave unless you were forced to leave? Historically, remaining populations were grafted into conquering nations and simply remained wherever they were before the political climate was altered. It is reasonable to assume that their expectation was that they would now simply change allegiance from their Canaanite masters to their Israelite masters.

Remember that there were two purposes for the occupation of Canaan: first was that the Lord had promised this land to Abraham and his descendants, secondly, this was a judgment upon the wicked people of Canaan. This was not an arbitrary command by Yahweh. Rather this was His specifically defined directive to occupy and purify this promised land. Granted, there was grace to be found for all who would acknowledge Yahweh. We know at least one example of grace, Rahab and her family, who were spared due to their faith in Yahweh. To those who would trust in the Lord there was salvation, but to all who refused there was to be judgment.

So, in verse 13 we read this, “Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.” Do we see a possible motive for their disobedience? I see a certain laziness involved since they did not obey the Lord’s command to ‘drive them out.’ Joshua then reports that they put them to forced labor (slavery). What a peculiar thing, that the sons of Israel, having been slaves for 400 years, might enslave others when they had the chance! 

I think the kinder thing to do would have been to ‘drive them out’ as the Lord had commanded, rather than to enslave them. Is telling them that they do not have a part in Yahweh’s kingdom and that they need to leave the land a better thing than to enslave them? I think so! Driving unbelievers out of the Promised land was saying to them that this land is now Yahweh’s possession intended for God’s people; all who remain here are expected to trust and worship Him alone; all who remain shall worship Him in the manner that He has prescribed; in the Old Testament covenant with Israel all God’s people were to bear the outward mark of the covenant (circumcision). They were proclaiming the gospel to the indigenous peoples.

The church of the New Testament is commanded to do something similar but in a spiritual sense. Believers possess a special place as God’s covenant people today. We are commanded to join together in churches where we worship and fellowship together. As far as possible we restrict church membership to believers only. Keeping unbelievers from church membership is the spiritual equivalent of the nation of Israel ‘driving’ people out of the land. They are not a part of the fellowship of the redeemed. We certainly want unbelievers to attend worship. Obviously, they need to hear the preaching of the Word and the gospel. Unbelievers also need to observe the godly lives of the redeemed. But those who do not trust the Lord Jesus Christ do not enjoy the privileges and promises granted to believers. If we were to allow unbelievers membership in the church body we would be giving them a false feeling of citizenship. Unbelievers are as we once were—alienated from God and subject to His wrath and we should do nothing to obscure that reality.

In similar manner, church discipline is the biblical way that we keep the church pure. What is the outward mark that has replaced the Jewish circumcision? Circumcision of the heart! - the Lord grants us a new heart and a sincere desire to live in obedience to Christ. Yes, we exhort and admonish the unruly member but eventually the church must deal with a member who demonstrates a consistent disregard for obedience to Christ. This is not cruel, but rather another means to hopefully awaken unbelievers to their alienation from the righteous Judge. We can be lazy like the sons of Manasseh, and oppress the unruly brother by pushing them to bondage under the Law even though they may be unconverted and therefore have no interest in righteousness. But that is cruelty. We are not called to berate the drunkard, the thief, or the sexually immoral person into moral slavery. The Law of freedom accompanied by the gospel of freedom is what is required.

But that is the sad truth of our fallen human nature, that often those who were oppressed, when they gain power, become the oppressors. That is another reason believers need the gospel - as a balance to a self-righteous attitude that puts us before others. We have been given much, and what we have received we obtained by grace, yet we tend to look down on others who may live in a world with less light.

What I am saying it that we live in a world of unbelievers and we have been commanded to spread the gospel to all nations, including our neighbors. Should we obey the directives of our Lord or shall we enslave them to rules and expectations of righteous living?

Real Estate - Joshua 15

In 2 Corinthian 5, the Apostle Paul describes our inheritance as a "heavenly dwelling."  Modern Christianity has sometimes taken this as some sort of disembodied "spiritual" life. As I read Joshua chapter 15 I am struck by the focus on land, or property. I think we have another example of how the Old Testament can inform our New Testament understanding. This whole chapter reminds us that the Lord deals in physical things that can be seen and handled with our hands. This chapter describes real estate, with an emphasis on a specific land where God’s people live, work, and worship. The Bible seldom communicates in abstractions or theories but often in visible and tangible things.

We should not be surprised since the Lord created a whole physical universe that can be seen and touched. And the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, also came as a man who was seen and touched (John 1:14; 1 John 1:1). When we get to heaven and join that great heavenly congregation, we will not be floating around on some cloud as a vapor or mist. I believe we shall be walking around with a resurrection body in a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65-66; Revelation 21-22).

I quote Dale Ralph Davis here, 

“So perhaps we can say that Israel’s concrete and tangible inheritance in Canaan is a foreshadowing of our own. Our full possession is in new heavens and a new earth, not in some earth-less, fleshless, void. Our full expectation ought not to be in dying and going to heaven, as the usual cliché has it. The New Testament language is that believers, when they die, are “with the Lord” (1 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Luke 23:43). But the New Testament always lifts our eyes and fixes our minds upon the fullness of our hope, the redemption of our bodies on resurrection day at the return of our Lord (Rom. 8:23; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15).”

Davis, Dale Ralph. No Falling Words. Baker Book House 1988

Manasseh & Ephraim - Joshua 16

Remember that over four hundred years earlier, Joseph, the son of Jacob, was sold into slavery and delivered into the royal household of Egypt, rising to become Pharaoh’s right hand man. The Lord purposed Joseph’s rise in order to accomplish His promise to Abraham and his descendants. Knowing that in all likelihood there were no kinsman relatives to whom Joseph might marry, his children were most likely half Egyptian.

After reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers was accomplished, father Jacob was reunited with Joseph and his starving family moved to Egypt. The word of the Lord came to Jacob indicating that the sons of Joseph, half-breed Manasseh and Ephraim, were to be adopted into the house of Israel (Genesis 48:3-6) with all the same Promise Land inheritance of  full-blooded members of Abraham’s family. In Genesis 47 we see that when it came time for the patriarchal blessing, Joseph assumed that the older child (Manasseh) would gain his rightful blessing. Matthew Henry observes that Jacob, “in blessing (the sons of Joseph), he crossed hands. Joseph placed them so as that Jacob’s right hand should be put on the head of Manasseh the elder, v. 12, 13. But Jacob would put it on the head of Ephraim the younger, v. 14. This displeased Joseph, who was willing to support the reputation of his first-born, and would therefore have removed his father’s hands, v. 17, 18. But Jacob gave him to understand that he (knew) what he did, and that he did it not by mistake, nor in a humour, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other, but from a spirit of prophecy, and in compliance with the divine counsels. Manasseh should be great, but truly Ephraim should be greater.”

This was Jacob’s decision in spite of Joseph’s direction. Joseph, like so many others, expected God to work in a certain way, but found that Yahweh is often pleased to work differently and sometimes even unconventionally.

The writer of the book of Joshua knows the proper birth order (Joshua 16:4) but in Joshua 16:5-10 and Joshua 17:1-13 we see the order of the blessing retained – Ephraim first and Manasseh second. Chapter 16 records Ephraim’s land allotment first, then the land allotment given to Manasseh.

The Bible is full of these sorts of reversals. Where our expectations and what we think of as right and proper are surprisingly turned by the Lord God into something unexpected. Just when we think that we can predict how God will act, He surprises us! And we would not have it any other way – indeed, without this hope who would hope to be saved? We are the most unlikely persons to earn God’s favor! We are not the best examples of human virtue, nor do we hold much political power. We are not the most influential persons, nor are we the most eloquent (1 Cor. 1:26-29). I like the way that Dale Ralph Davis puts it, “How often the divine way reverses the conventions of men, overthrows the human canon of what ought to be. That’s why the God of the Bible is so stimulating and refreshing. He is never the prisoner of what fallen man regards as normal. Again and again he turns human standards on their heads, causing us to wonder and cheer. Without this God who ignores our proprieties, most of us would have no hope.”

Indeed, though we may be members of a collection of the ‘unlikely to be saved’, faith recognizes that God’s ways are not man’s ways. The grace of God is not a thing to be bought, earned, or inherited; it is not some matter of ethnicity, or national affiliation; but is wonderfully granted according to the riches of our God and the Author of our salvation. Praise be to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I have a friend who is fond of saying that not so long ago, his ancestors ran around in the woods naked, painting their faces and worshiping trees and rocks. He remarks that but for the grace of God, through the means of the preaching of the gospel, and the work of the Holy Spirit, he would still be worshipping trees and rocks. This national holiday that we call Thanksgiving ought to be a special time for believers to remember that we were utterly lost and without hope, and as John Newton put it, “…but now am found ...”.

Remember Caleb

Chapters 14 through 19 describe the tribal allotments in the land of Canaan. Chapter 14 starts with an inheritance for Caleb and chapter 19 ends this section with Joshua’s allotment (Joshua19:49-50). The first five verses are a summarization of chapter 13. Verses 1-5 give a brief explanation of why only nine and a half tribes received portions in Canaan, and why two and a half tribes received their inheritance east of the Jordan. The patriarch, Joseph, had two sons, Manasseh (who inherited land west of the Jordan) and Ephraim (who inherited land east of the Jordan) who were counted as half-tribes. Notice that nine and a half plus two and a half equals twelve tribes. Verse 3 reminds us that the tribe of Levi was not counted as they were not given land except for two cities to live in. This may appear to be minor details to our eyes but this introduction paragraph in chapter 14 through 19 clearly describe the division of the land in great detail. Dale Ralph Davis says, “Such a matter probably doesn’t interest us much– it’s only a note about obedience. But perhaps it suggests a useful correction—that obedience in the more prosaic duties is just as important to Yahweh as in the more explosive, dynamic events. No command of Yahweh is ever trivial, and, therefore, all obedience is both necessary and significant.”

When the time was right Caleb approached the issue of his inheritance by recalling the Word spoken by God. He said to Joshua, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me.” I do not think this was a statement of pride or entitlement, but rather a simple statement recalling the promise of God. We recall the event where he received this promise—Caleb and Joshua were the two ‘spies’ who stood alone against the majority report. Ten spies said that the land of Canaan could not be conquered. Caleb (Numbers 13:30) gave the favorable report: “Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” We recognize how difficult it must have been to stand up and oppose the majority. And he did not face ridicule only, but also a threat to his life (Numbers 14:6-10—“Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones”).  Where did Caleb get this assurance? He believed Yahweh was strong enough to accomplish all that was promised. By quoting God’s Word he demonstrates that he trusted God’s promises. He believed that the Lord was faithful, trustworthy, and intended to do Caleb good. Caleb was courageous because he was trusting in One who is greater, One who is a Redeemer-King who will never leave or forsake His people. Even so, Caleb needed courage to stand and in this chapter, Caleb, by his appeal to for his inheritance, was standing on the promise of God.

All men and women who stand for the Lord and for His promises will need courage. Believers will need courage, and a willingness to go against the world’s opinions. In this, like Caleb, they will face isolation of faith. Young Christian girls and boys know what is it like to follow Christ in a school system that laughs at Christianity and a biblical desire for purity. Any man or woman knows what it is like to work in an atmosphere of corruption and mocking of moral absolutes. Even in church there is pressure to conform for the sake of unity or ’growth’. Are school children prepared to work harder at school assignments since they refuse to cheat? Will the Christian believer be willing to tell their superior they will not be a part of some sort of corrupt deal knowing that they will lose an opportunity for advancement? Will the pastor have the guts to discipline a disorderly member knowing that his ability to support his family is related to the number of folks who attend? God’s people must be prepared, for devoted faith frequently means lonely faith. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “ ... all deserted me. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…” (2 Timothy 4:16-17). As and encouragement to this ‘loneliness’ we are trusting in Christ alone—as closest companion, all-wise leader, mighty God, everlasting Father who give us peace in the struggle.

But back to Caleb and his inheritance, notice that he requests the ‘Hill Country … with great fortified cities…” (verse 12), where he and Joshua first encountered the fearful Anakim. Remember that, back in the wilderness, the ten spies said, “we saw the descendants of Anak there … we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:28-33). Though Caleb was an old man, he asked and received a section of Canaan that scared the wits out of the other ‘spies.’ And Caleb then says, “It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them (the Anakim) out just as the LORD said.” Talk about faith! He had a sure foundation for his faith in God’s excellent Word! The Promise Land was just that to Caleb; a land which was given to him by the promise. Caleb’s assurance was bolstered by his remembering the specifics of God’s past dealings—God’s leading them out of slavery in Egypt; God leading them through the wilderness; God bringing them across the Jordan River; God giving them victory over the wicked Canaanites.

The application here is obvious – our assurance is strengthened by remembering what the Lord has done for us and recalling to our minds what the Lord has promised. We remember what the Lord has done when we take the opportunity to receive the means of grace given to us by the Good Shepherd. That is, weekly attendance at worship, the preaching of the Word, and the Lord’s Supper. 

Joshua Chapter 13

The book of Joshua divides into three chapters; 1 through 4 is a record of entering the land promised to Abraham. Chapters 5 through 12 describes how the nation liberated the land from the Canaanites. Joshua chapters 13 through 21 describes how the people took possession of the land.

Chapter 13 is essentially a list of how the land was divided between the individual tribes of Israel. To us, thousands of years later, it seems merely tedious history, easily skipped or skimmed through – no drama, no action, and no application to us today. Or so it would seem. But when we read this like an Israelite we see a remembrance of something very significant. It is dull to us because the Lord has not given us the inheritance of a specific ‘land’.  The Lord promised to these people, “to your seed I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7) and now Abraham’s grandchildren could walk into valleys and hill tops and count the villages that were promised.

Verses 1-7: “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites (from the Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is counted as Canaanite; there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of the Avvim, in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the boundary of the Amorites, and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath, all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephothmaim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

If we forget all that came before we may take verse 1 as a negative: ‘there remains yet very much land to possess.’ But when we look at a map we see that they had already conquered most of the land! What remained was a strip of Philistine land in the southwest of Canaan and in the north a section of territory approximately 50 miles wide extending from Lebo-hamath to 50 miles north of Damascus. In other words, this land was on the edges of Israel’s land. The first seven verses of Chapter 13 indicate that Israel had achieved a significant dominance in the main part of Canaan. It was not total dominance, but it was substantial. Joshua was ‘old,’ there remained no organized Canaanite resistance movement—it was time to allot the land to the individual tribes who would follow up and extend the conquest from town to town. Even then, the Lord was not leaving them to accomplish all this under their own power but in verse 6 says, “I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel.”

Verses 8-13: “With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon; and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites; and Gilead, and the region of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah; all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); these Moses had struck and driven out. Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.”

This section is very relevant to Christians today. We see the start of Israel’s failure to follow up the Lord’s command to them: to conquer the land that was assigned to them. “Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites …” We read much more of their failure in Joshua chapters 15-17 and Judges chapter 1. I am saying that this is the same struggle that we have in our prosperous ‘Western’ culture. Comfortable Christians tend toward boredom and a subsequent lack of attention to our ‘first love.” (Rev. 2:4). It seems that when Christians are not under some great crisis of faith; enduring great storms; fighting great battles, we tend to get distracted from the simple faith that characterized our early walk with Christ. Granted, it is not easy to patiently plod along with what seems to us to be no big quest or battle. But we should never see things a small when the Lord see them as ‘big.’ Living a simple life of obedience, loving our Lord Jesus Christ and His church, loving our families, loving our neighbors as ourselves, being good workers and citizens wherever the Lord places us … these are not small things!

In the remainder of this chapter (verses 8-33) we see repeated reminders of past battles. Brother Dale Ralph Davis says it best: “All which seem to us as so many lakes, rivers, valleys, plains, and towns all jumbled together. However we must not miss the repeated allusions to Israel’s victories over our old friends Sihon and Og (vv. 10,12,21.27,30-31), not to mention Balaam (v. 22; see Num. 22-25; 31:8). What does this mean? It means that throughout all this geography and topography there are constant allusions to the victories Yahweh had previously given to Israel under Moses. The allusions jog Israel’s memory and fortify their faith in the face of any contemporary enemies; for it is in remembering how Yahweh handled Sihon and Og (Ps. 135:10-12; Ps 136:17-22) that Israel finds assurance that Yahweh will still have compassion on his servants and that his covenant love persists into present prime time as well (Ps. 135:14; Ps 136:19-20). This is the biblical prescription for faith; faith finds both steadfastness and expectancy by rehearsing and reveling in Yahweh’s past acts of faithfulness.” (brother Dale’s quote taken from Davis, D.R. No Falling Words, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1988)

Do not forget the power and faithfulness of Yahweh!

Joshua Chapter 12 contains a list of the kings defeated by Israel. As we read through it we may be excused for skimming and wondering, what is the point? Granted, all scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, etc. (2 Timothy 3:16), but some parts may cause us to wonder. One value of this particular chapter is found again in the thought that Joshua was writing this whole account for his grand-children - to remind them of God’s rich blessings, both as an all powerful Lord and a faithful, covenant keeping Sovereign. Many prophets, including Joshua, have told God's people, do not forget the power and faithfulness of Yahweh! After all, how do you suppose the people of God learn of His faithfulness and His power? The scripture is full of history written for the purpose of reviewing God’s manner of dealing with His people; and this leads God's people to thankfulness and increases their faith. We read Psalms 105, 135, 136 to remind us of God’s faithfulness; the psalm writer follows a pattern of looking back at what the Lord has done. I think John Calvin makes a great point by writing,

“But though each of those (kings) now summarily mentioned was previously given more in detail, there is very good reason for here placing before our eyes as it were a living picture of the goodness of God, proving that there had been a complete ratification and performance of the covenant made with Abraham as given in the words, “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” (Gen. xii.7;xiii.15;xx18.) John Calvin, Commentaries on the Book of Joshua, trans. Henry Beveridge, in vol. 4 of Calvin’s Commentaries, 22 vols. (reprinted ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 178.

The list of defeated kings in Chapter 12 is a direct challenge to us - saying, ‘thanks for all your blessings,’ is often used as a prayer of thanksgiving, but it would be better for us to use specific words! Biblical prayers of thanksgiving and praise do not consist of vague generalizations but rather contains specific examples of what the Lord has done. The purpose of remembering the past is to renew our hope and faith for the future. We may say, God works all things for the good of His people, but our faith that He is able and willing to do so is strengthened by remembering what He has accomplished in the past.

As we proceed into chapter 13 we are presented with a problem. Back in chapter 11 verse 23 we are informed that “Thus the land had rest from war.” How can we understand the first verse in chapter 13?

"Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed."

Do we have a real discrepancy in the historical record? To believers and skeptics this is a question that requires an answer. The basic argument for the accuracy and consistency of scripture in this example is based on the definition of ‘war.’ First, we need to remember that wars between nations need instigators and leaders and in the ancient world they were called ‘Kings.’ Prior to the God–ordained invasion of the Israelites the vast majority of inhabitants of Canaan were peasant workers. The land was owned by those very same kings that were listed in Chapter 12. Numerous historical examples prove that motivating the masses to war requires propaganda and direct efforts to demonize the enemy. In one sense, the peasant natives of Canaan were pawns of corrupt kings. But  I am not saying that the peasant natives were innocent pawns of corrupt kings. The Lord is just and his judgment of the Canaanites apparently included all who were disobedient and unrepentant. With the notable exception of Rahab, both kings and peasants were depraved and unrepentant; they were liable to the wrath of God, as are all who "do not honor Him as God or give thanks" (Romans 2:21). Rahab and her family repented and were spared; if there were others who were repentant, I suppose they might also have been spared- the Bible does not comment on that possibility therefore we ought to go no further. The Bible gives us all the information we need to know but not everything we might want to know! It is none of our business.

So back to the apparent discrepancy, I am saying that in a very real way, the defeat of the kings marked the end of organized warfare. The kings were defeated and were no longer instigating and organizing war against the sons of Israel. The land had rest from this kind of warfare. We use the term 'war' to mean anything from warring between nations to 'war' between families about a property dispute. It is clear from the Lord's catalogue of un-conquered territories contained in chapter 13, verses 3 through 6, that much of the land remained to be possessed and the task of possessing the land would take struggles and, to be sure, further fighting. The continuing battles fought would not be wars between nations, neither were they simply disputes about property rights. The battles remaining would be serious fights requiring cooperation between the Israelite tribes. They would be regional battles to displace stubborn occupiers of the Land that the Lord had granted to Abraham and his descendants.

The phrase, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed." (v. 1) implies that there was some danger that, at this very point in history, the people might have become weary of these many years of battles. The Lord's command to Joshua, "apportion this land for an inheritance ..." (v. 7) was perfectly timed to match the peoples war-weariness with an appropriate measure of encouragement. We must remember that they had been wanderers their whole lives - their fathers had left their homes in Egypt. Due to their lack of faith they had perished in the wilderness. Their children, these very people who had fought so long to posses the land, had never known a home to call their own. Living in tents, and not having any experience maintaining a homestead or farming the land, we can imagine they could easily revert back to their nomadic ways, continuing to live their lives 'on the road.'

We ought to consider that for these people, living in a home and farming the land may have been as foreign to them as it would be for us to consider living in a tent under an interstate highway overpass. Owning a home and land was a dream that their fathers had! After a lifetime of wandering the wilderness in tents, depending on the grace of God to provide for their necessities, we may excuse them for the fleeting thought that their former life on the road may appear preferable to this Promise Land with a future filled with what seems like endless battles.

But the Lord would have none of that! It is as if Yahweh is simply telling His people to consider the whole land theirs, and to go forward, in faith of that promise and in obedience to His command. This is an encouragement and a command! The land is yours, obey the Lord's command to occupy! Here is another example of godly realism - a realism that informs the people that they will have further battles but the Lord has already granted success because of that promise to Abraham so many years ago.

Our spiritual war has been won by our King, the Lord Jesus Christ. By His atoning sacrifice on the cross, King Jesus set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gained for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life. But our personal battles to displace remaining sin will continue till we die or Christ returns. We are realists but we also need the same encouragement that this generation of the sons of Israel required - the land is ours, simply obey the Lord's commands, and go forward!

As believers we are also are in danger of forgetting or forsaking our true inheritance. There may be times when we ponder that false peace we experienced during our former lives of pleasure seeking and worldliness. No struggle with our sin, no struggle with our old friends who approved of our ungodly behavior. We need this same encouragement - we do have an inheritance! This inheritance may be dimly seen, an inheritance which we are only faintly aware and with which we have no prior experience. This passage in the book of Joshua ought to remind us that the Lord has already granted us a "future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). Yahweh is telling us to consider the whole of our inheritance, and to go forward, in faith of that promise and in obedience to His commands.