Joshua 16:1-4 (ESV)
The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel. Then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites. Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
Have you ever had to divide a pie into equal pieces to make sure everyone gets the same size? One of the classic ways to divide a candy bar between two kids is that one child gets to cut it and the other child gets to pick which of the now two halves, they want. Under that scenario, you can imagine how the one cutting the candy bar wants it exactly even. Fairness seems to be an internal human condition.
In the above passage and throughout this section of Joshua, we have the dividing of the promise land to the twelve tribes. If you read through the entire section, you will note that the division seemed to be based upon:
1. The natural boundaries of the land’s terrain
2. The size of the tribe.
3. It was following God’s divine plan as spoken by Joshua, His designated leader.
4. It was done to fulfill all covenant promises.
5. It was done in an orderly fashion.
6. They were to help each other secure the land.
7. It was done by the casting of lots, which is like rolling the dice. It was completely based upon God’s sovereignty. Here is what Solomon would say about this later:
Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
People were to trust that God was cutting the candy bar fairly. They were not to argue and fight about who gets the plain, or who gets the hill s, or who gets the mountains. They were to accept that God was doing what He wants in the land.
This is very similar to how God puts the Body of Christ together with its varied gifts. He gifts us based upon His desires, not ours. We are to trust God cutting the candy bar.
No comments:
Post a Comment