Joshua Series – Week 12; A Faithful God of Unfaithful People
Today, we are taking a “bird’s-eye view” of chapters 13-19 of Joshua. Despite God’s continual faithfulness, the Israelites struggled with disobedience and complacency, much like we do today. These chapters offer critical lessons about trusting in God’s promises and not resting on past victories.
- There is Land Still to be Conquered
Joshua 13:1 NLT1 “When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.”Joshua 13:6b-7 NLT
“6b …I myself will drive these people out of the land ahead of the Israelites. So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession, just as I have commanded you. 7 Include all this territory as Israel’s possession when you divide this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
- Failure to Defeat the Enemy
Joshua 13:8 NLT“8 But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.” - The Tribe of Levi’s Inheritance
Joshua 13:14 NLT“14 Moses did not assign any allotment of land to the tribe of Levi. Instead, as the Lord had promised them, their allotment came from the offerings burned on the altar to the Lord, the God of Israel.”Joshua 13:33 NLT
“33 But Moses gave no allotment of land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment.”
Joshua 14-3b-4 NLT
“3b…but he had given the Levites no such allotment. 4 The descendants of Joseph had become two separate tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim. And the Levites were given no land at all, only towns to live in with surrounding pasturelands for their livestock and all their possessions.”
Joshua 18:7a NLT
“7a The Levites, however, will not receive any allotment of land. Their role as priests of the Lord is their allotment.”
- Grace & Equality for All
Joshua 17:3-4, 6 NLT“3 However, Zelophehad, a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons. He had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe.” So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the Lord had commanded.”“6 because the female descendants of Manasseh received a grant of land along with the male descendants. (The land of Gilead was given to the rest of the male descendants of Manasseh.)”
Numbers 27:3-8 NLT
“3 Our father died in the wilderness,” they said. “He was not among Korah’s followers, who rebelled against the Lord; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”
5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord replied to Moses, 7 “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father.
“8 And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters.”
- Discontented & Ungrateful
Joshua 17:14-18 NLT“14 The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?”
15 Joshua replied, “If there are so many of you, and if the hill country of Ephraim is not large enough for you, clear out land for yourselves in the forest where the Perizzites and Rephaites live.”
16 The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.
17 Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. 18 The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.”
- A Faithful God of Unfaithful People