How to occupy the futureAfter watching action movies seeing a documentary of land survey is dull. But what if the land is your father’s gift to you and your brothers as inheritance.
Joshua is old ( that is what happens to all men) and there is plenty of land to be conquered. The evergreen warrior king Yahweh never gets old and now has promises again (v.6) he is going to drive them out. But notice his promise resides in the past victories at Og and Shigon ( 10,12, 21,30). As professor Guthrie said let us ask ourselves what are we thankful for what the Lord has done and doing. That is a powerful way to move into redeeming the future lands for us and our children.
The Lord said to Joshua , “I will myself drive them (those who were in the unconquered regions) out before the Israelites” (v. 6). The Lord was considerate with Joshua as he was advancing in years. Also, the Lord was faithful to keep his promises.
From a nomadic life the Israelites are transitioning into a settlement culture. They are dependent on the produce of the land, no more manna, but there is no complaining yet. The Lord is taking care of their other needs too
v. 6 God’s promise regarding the unconquered land was, “I will myself drive them out from before the Israelites.” God fulfilled it during David’s reign.
No matter how good King Yahweh is to keep his promise of giving His people the promised land, it is hard for me to take His ‘wiping out’ people without mercy. As a christian, am i supposed to say ‘Hooray King Yahweh’ ? Yea…Right.
I would be happy to deal with the Son, in Him there is no sin.
மத் 11:17 அநேக தீர்க்கதரிசிகளும் நீதிமான்களும் நீங்கள் காண்கிறவைகளைக் காணவும், நீங்கள் கேட்கிறவைகளைக் கேட்கவும் விரும்பியும், காணாமலும் கேளாமலும் போனார்களென்று, மெய்யாகவே உங்களுக்குச் சொல்லுகிறேன்.- our days are different. I think we need different glasses to look at old & new testaments
Israel is blessed to enjoy their Inheritance.
The Lord fulfills His promise, He says He will fight for them and continue to give them victory.
(v33) But, to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given NO inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He promised them.
-(Deut 10:8) The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name.
-Levites are priests in the temple. Moses is also from the tribe of Levi, though he lead Israelites from Egypt, he did not give any share to his own tribe. Maybe that’s why the high priest, Jesus, though he was rich, for our sake he became poor (2 Cori 8:9).
v. 22 The children of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam the son of Beor , the soothsayer…- Balaam looks like a good prophet but has done something underground.
– there are people who seem to do good, but their intentions are not good
– we need to be more careful with good guys than the bad … as, many act like good.
Joshua’s Holy war/God’s judgement came to an end and now they are sharing the lands. My brain is relating to the modern day
Ethnic Cleansing (LTTE), Terrorism (Taliban) and Bloodthirsty Massacres(ISIS), holy war….
We don’t have a good convincing answer why our Lord allowed bloody war and used Joshua as his tool and it troubles us.
After the resurrection of Christ transforms many things like Law, Holy war and circumcision. Old Testament God and Jesus are one. He is real and loving. He said love your enemies.
V6: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. Interesting leadership lesson here: Even though God was able to drive everyone from their land he is making the people of Israel and Joshua fight. But when Joshua is unable,due to his physical weakness then God himself is stepping in and doing it himself.