Joshua 19
Pastor Mark Hudson
One of the ways to divide Joshua chapters 14-19 up is as follows:
Caleb, 14:6-15 Positive
Joseph’s tribes 17:14-18 Negative
Seven tribes, 18:1-10 Negative
Joshua, 19:49-50 Positive (Dale R. Davis p. 150)
This is a way to bracket the negative examples of the tribes of Israel with the positive examples of both Caleb and Joshua covering this large section of chapters 14-19. These two remain faithful even though initially (Numbers 13-14) and now many of the other people of Israel did not.
If you look at the tribes and their lots, you will see in chapter 19.
19:1-9 Simeon
19:10-16 Zebulun
19:17-23 Issachar
19:24-31 Asher
19:32-39 Naphtali
19:40-48 Dan
Granted, this is not riveting reading. But this book of Joshua and these verses fulfill what God had promised. He did not just promise to get them out of Egypt, carrying them through the wilderness, bring them into the land and then leave them for people and issues more important to God Himself. He promised they would possess it. Deuteronomy 3:18, “And I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel.” So, the fighting against the Canaanites, the casting of the lots in these chapters are what God intended and part of God’s plan.
In chapter 19, God’s sovereign control over the lots is not mentioned. But we read in 18:4ff, the explicit mention of God overseeing all these events. Notice these phrases in 18:6, “I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.” “I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh” in v. 8. Or v. 10, “Joshua casts lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord.” God is involved in every decision of their and our lives. Prov. 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
We do not cast lots now just as we do not do many things in the Old Testament they once did. But this is not gambling or throwing one’s hands up in the air but, at that time, the God-appointed method for arriving at certain conclusions.
Notice also, that not everyone got the same type of land. All the areas were different. Some on the seashore, some were lush, some with plenty of water, but everything was equitable and fair. So, it is with our lives. We do not all have the same income, homes, cars, or property. Some of us have godly parents or wealthy parents. Some of us get more attention due to our calling or giftedness. But we are all important.
Isn’t this Paul’s emphasis in I Corinthians 12:4ff? God is the giver of Spiritual gifts. We do not all receive the same gifts, but we are all important in the body. We need eyes, fingers, toes, noses, etc. for our physical bodies and we need each other to form our church.
You may not think you are important or even necessary. But God does and to the people who know and love you; they know you are. God does not see fit to give us all the same gifts, opportunities, heartaches or joys. But . . . He does know best.
Dear heavenly Father, You placed Your people in the land of Israel through many miracles working in the lives of godly and ungodly people. You gave to Your people what You wanted, and You give to us what You want us to have. You, and only You, know the many purposes You have for us. Help us to rest in that knowledge. We pray this for the growth and expansion of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Amen.