There are several places where Joshua is seen as a type of Christ and here, at the end of chapter 19, we see it again. The Promised Land has been successfully invaded, conquered, subdued, occupied, and now has been divided between the tribes of Israel. Every tribe is satisfied that they received the inheritance that was due them. Then they gave an inheritance to Joshua. We know that Caleb asked for his inheritance earlier (Chapter 14) and it was granted because of his great faithfulness in following the Lord. Caleb’s request included this reminder, “You know the word which the LORD spoke to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh-barnea.” It is clear that at that early date the LORD’s promise included an inheritance for Caleb and Joshua.
Yet we do not see Joshua’s inheritance until the end of Chapter 19, after every other tribe had received their allotted lands. I found that fact a little curious considering Joshua was without doubt the oldest and greatest man of all Israel who, one would think, ought to have been at the front of the line choosing the best lands for himself and his family. Verse 49 says, “the sons of Israel gave an inheritance in their midst to Joshua the son of Nun.” Apparently, he not only waited until all his brothers had been given their lands, but he also waited for the other tribes to give him permission to settle, which implies great humility on the part of Joshua. On top of that, the land that they gave him required building a city. Remember that one of the blessings of the occupation was that Israel would displace (in a divine judgment– see Genesis 15:16) the Canaanites and occupy their cities and buildings. Verse 50 says, “So he (Joshua) built the city and settled in it” and this implies that there was work to be done before his inheritance was fit to be occupied.
There are several lessons here to be observed. First, I think we see an attitude of looking after the interests of others before himself. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” In the next several verses, the Apostle Paul says that this attitude was also in Christ Jesus – and so I see a type of Christ in Joshua’s attitude toward his brothers. Even if that is stretching the analogy, we certainly see Joshua living out the law of love re-stated in this New Testament command.
Secondly, I think we can see a peculiar attitude of leadership in Joshua which reflects directly on Jesus’ statement to his disciples some 1400 years later. Luke retells Jesus teaching his disciples that, “… the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant” (Luke 22:26). Of course, that does not mean that those in authority should not speak with authority, but rather that they should consider the interests of others before their own interests. Leaders, whether they lead nations or small families, should have an eye toward serving those whom they lead. And that is certainly what Joshua and Jesus demonstrated in their lives.
A third lesson: Israel moved into homes and cities that were built by the previous occupants, without the need for construction. We know that the Canaanites lived in the land for at least 400 years and can surmise that many of the homes and farms that they built were extensive, beautiful, and were furnished with the best of all possible amenities. In fact, the writer of Deuteronomy states that their inheritance included houses that were filled with, ‘all good things’ and the Promised Land had, ’ … hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant …’ (Deuteronomy 6:11). A Promised Land with ‘great and splendid cities which you did not build’ (Deuteronomy 6:10) was Israel’s new home by the grace of God.
In contrast, Joshua, the old battle weary man of God, inherited a land that required the building of a city. Joshua and his family probably needed to build farms and homes in haste - they were anxious to move out of tents, of course, but there was also the need to quickly build a defensible city for protection against wild animals and marauding Canaanite bandits which may have survived the occupation.
So now, at the very end, Joshua’s family not only were granted a land without homes and cities, but also had to build them in haste. Remember that they had 40 plus years of wilderness experience - they may have been expert campers but during this time the fathers probably had little opportunity to apprentice their sons in the skills necessary for construction – a travelling tent city required few carpenters, plumbers, or roofers – they were skilled brick makers in Egypt, but by the time they got to the Promised Land skilled brick masons were few! Besides that, I expect they had an overriding interest in defense therefore whatever homes they build were of the most rudimentary type. No glorious mansions but rather a collection of shacks which kept the occupants warm and dry but without luxury. Many years may have passed before they were able to re-build substantial dwellings.
Joshua was clearly aware of all these apparent inequities yet he appeared to be a model of contentment. He judged those circumstance that the Lord had placed him and his family as a blessing. He forsook the rest that was due him in order to allow his people to rest. Apparently he was an example to the rest of Israel in his contentment and also in his energetic labors to fulfill God’s command to occupy the land. He was not one to grasp at the best of things nor at the glory that should have been his as the leader of the nation of Israel. But just so, Christ Jesus was also content to leave heaven and come to earth as a humble man; who lived in poverty; who gave of himself; who endured the shame (Hebrews 12:2); who built for his people a better home in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). As Matthew Henry observed in his commentary of this same passage, “Our Lord Jesus thus came and dwelt among us, not in pomp but in poverty, providing rest for us, yet himself not having where to lay his head. Even Christ pleased not himself.” Our Lord had no rest until he provided eternal rest for his people.
Believers ought to imitate the graces of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:21-25). We ought to be content and thankful with what the Lord has given us: our country, our homes, our families, our church. No doubt, we should work hard to make the best of what the Lord has given us but even so, remembering that the Lord has given us all good things for his glory and our good. In our interaction with our neighbors we should look after the interests of others, and with humility regarding others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:1-11).
