Conquer and Steward What God Gives You - Joshua 16-20

 Joshua 19:9 (ESV)

The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.

In this section of Joshua’s book, he is recounting the distribution of the land.   The nation of Israel has entered the promise land and conquer the major armies/cities/kings of the land.   Now it was time to divide up the land and for each tribe to go out and conquer the remaining portions.   There is a lesson right there for us.   We might see collective gains by the whole of the Body of Christ, but each individual member of the Body still has their own work to do in their own lives.   Remember, the Old Testament was an example to us and was a shadow of what the reality is once we are IN CHRIST.    This picture of Joshua conquering the promises land is a picture of the people of God in the New Testament conquering, through faith, sin in our own lives.  This is all seen in Hebrews 3-4.   

Another interesting piece about the above passage is that Judah had land left over.   In Joshua 17:14-15 we read that another tribe didn’t have enough:

 Joshua 17:14 (ESV)

Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the LORD has blessed me?”

So, in the one case you have a tribe who doesn’t think they have enough and another tribe who had so much, the people of Simeon could share it with Judah.   The lesson here might be in regard to how God, in His sovereign will, provides for us.   In the New Testament we have the following principle we should understand.  It is the parable of the “talents” that Jesus told His disciples.  Jesus was trying to teach them that God rewards those who steward what He gives them and He holds back His rewards for those who squander what He gives them.   The parable is as follows.  But, the lesson for us from Joshua is that God has given us our portion of the “land” in our Christian walk.  We are to steward it and conquer it.  Simeon didn’t conquer their land, they just lived off Judah’s land.  Judah did not conquer all their land and use it, so the people of Simeon had a place to be, without conquering their own land.  It is not clear who is at fault or if anyone is at fault in that example.  But, it is clear that they were given land and failed to conquer what they were given.  

Matthew 25:20-29 (ESV)

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.