Joshua 18

From the previous chapters, we have read that only some of the tribes had already been allotted lands according to the instructions of God.

Now the tribes that were left to be allotted with their territories were Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Asher, Issachar, Naphtali and Dan.

The Levites did not receive an inheritance of land because of their special role as priests.

Once again, we are reading more records of the allotment in this chapter, but there are also spiritual teachings that we can learn from this chapter.

Bible Passage: Joshua 18

Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,

and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.

Joshua 18:1

Now the central encampment had moved from Gilgal (cf. 10:43) to Shiloh, and the Israelites set up the tabernacle of meeting, which was the most important matter of the people of God.

The tabernacle was a place where God caused His Name to dwell; therefore it is a place where God would meet His people to guide and to provide atonement for them.

It was impossible for the Israelites to come this far without the presence of the Lord. Without the Lord, the land would not have been subdued before them.

Even though we know that God is omnipresent, we must also acknowledge His presence and to make Him as the center of our lives wherever we may be. Always look to Him for guidance and strength as we lead our lives on earth as sojourners.

And also as what appleofHiseye had commented on Joshua 16, “So as a family of God’s chosen people, we need to know that we will always be fighting. Our life is a spiritual war to conquer sin and let others know God.” I do fully agree with this statement, for the moment we come into the household of God, we became a target of the devil, and there will be un-ending battles.

Therefore, if we ponder carefully, I believe we can also realize that we could not have come this far without the Lord’s ever presence in our lives of faith, regardless what age we may be.

Indeed we really need the instructions and power from the Lord, and then can we “subdue the land before us”

The next thing we can learn is from the words of Joshua,

“How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of

your fathers has given you?

Joshua 18:3

This was a wake up call from Joshua the great leader.

As what was suggested in Joshua 14: 15, “… Then the land had rest from the war.” the people could have been enjoying and living peacefully in their comfort zone so much so that they were slacking in their zeal to move forward to possess the land which God had promised and given to them!

There is truly nothing new under the sun, the hearts and attitude of the people that time were not much different from the hearts of our time.

Do we not tend to slack in our zeal for God as we continue to enjoy the comfortable and peaceful life we are leading?

Do we not often take good things for granted, and not seeing the need to treasure the blessings we had received or are receiving from God, and to always give thanks and glory to Him?

Now let’s turn our focus on Joshua.

If he did not question the remaining 7 tribes, would there be any motivation in them to carry out the surveying of the land? I guess not.

What needed to be done had to be done, and so, a push was needed to resume the forward move to accomplish the commands of God, for to dwell in the land according to the allotment was important in the eyes of God!

As Joshua was vigilant in the commands of God, he was quick to act by questioning (sounded more like reprimanding) the state of mind in the people, so that they could redirect their attention back to God and His will.

So, we who are baptized in the Name of Jesus are brothers and sisters in the Lord, we ought to watch each others’ backs. For very often, the person who is straying away from the grace of God cannot really detect the landmines in the path that he/she is treading on.

When we do see any brethren slacking or backsliding in their faith, are we to keep quiet and let it be, or are we to pray earnestly and also encourage and urge him/her to come back to the grace of God?

Whether we are leaders of the church or just lay believers, we ought to be vigilant in the Word of God and also to boost up each others’ faith in the Lord among the brethren, for the battles ahead of us are spiritual warfare that demands our utmost vigilance in following the commands of the Lord!

The following map, I hope, can allow us to have a clearer picture of the distribution and the boundaries of the allotment of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Shalom!