A delightful inheritance

In these chapters, as well as the ones before and a few after them, it's like we're reading someone else's will, and we have no part in the inheritance. It's easy to mentally check out. In fact, if I hadn't had to write this post today, I might have. I'm glad I didn't. I hope you don't. Because the reality is, we ARE included in this inheritance. The good, the bad, the ugly and the awesome.

"What do you mean, Natalie? We don't live in Israel?"

Oh, I'm so glad you asked.

Let's get the bad news out of the way first, shall we? At the end of Chapter 17, we see the tribes of Ephriam and Mannaseh whining about the work ahead of them. "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." We certainly fall into this inheritance of thinking we deserve more than we've been given, and not wanting to work for it. Drink in this exchange. Act it out or something.

Joshua: "If you are so numerous, 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."

Ephriam/Mannaseh: "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 it's settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

Joshua: "You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and the farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

Are you laughing yet? Can you hear the whining in the Israelites voices and Joshua's bemused correction to them? I laughed because I see myself in these people so much. They SAW and participated in the fall of Jericho, as well as the 31 other amazing victories God helped them win. Now they are fussing about having to clear land and fight people with chariots. God gives us a few victories and then we want to say "haven't I done enough already Lord? Where is MY blessing?"

The result was that, even though these people agreed to fight like Joshua told them to, they never held up their end of the deal. So many other tribes left remnants behind. God specifically told them to drive out everyone, and leave nothing behind. They got complacent. Maybe it was convenient. Some of the tribes kept other peoples as slave labor. What sin do you keep around because you are too lazy to drive it out? Is some sin convenient for you? The lesson we can learn from these people- our "inheritance" - is that while sin may seem innocuous and perhaps even convenient at first, it soon leads to all kinds of other trouble.

Notice that God already had the boundary lines laid out for each tribe. Joshua assigned each one based on what God told him, and it lined up with the prophecies of both Jacob and Moses years before. God has given us boundary lines as well. We are assigned places of ministry, sphere's of influence and areas of service. God has work for us to do there.

"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:12

The good news? We can overcome. We can be like Caleb was and aggressively pursue what God has promised us. We can fight confidently because we know what our God is capable of. The end of the story isn't up for grabs. God wins. To be able to be fighting on that side is a beautiful inheritance. We will get to claim our own promised land one day. God already has our boundary lines drawn. So get on with clearing your land! Set about claiming your inheritance!

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Psalm 16:5-6