Obedience in Hard Times

The Call to Obedience

This was not necessarily an accusation, but is probably simply a reminder that the land still needs to be conquered.

The New American Commentary: Joshua (1) Introduction (18:1–10)

Joshua reminded the people that it was the God of their fathers who had given them the land. “Your fathers” refers to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the expression “the God of your fathers” was an important one: God used it with Moses at the burning bush (Exod 3:13, 15–16), and Moses used it several times in Deuteronomy as he exhorted the people (1:11, 21; 4:1; 6:3; 21:1: 27:3). This is its first use in Joshua, and it is a subtle reminder of the promises God had made to the patriarchs about the land (e.g., Gen 12:7; 15:18–21 [Abraham]; 26:3–4 [Isaac]; 28:4, 13; 35:12 [Jacob]).

Am I waiting to obey God?

The Process of Obedience

Discovering the Land

18:8–10 The special commissioning is repeated by Joshua. Then, obediently, these men “cross over”10 the land, commit to writing a settlement-by-settlement description, and return to Shiloh... There Joshua flings the lots and makes final assignments. The presence of the tent of meeting at Shiloh and the use of lots “before Yahweh” underline the divine role in the process. Theologically, Yahweh goes before the reunited congregation, offering direction, assistance, and focus.

Discerning God’s Will

Do I earnestly seek God’s Will or simply rely on my own thinking?

Lot Casting

We are not sure exactly what this meant - but apparently the Israelites knew what this meant:

However, it did not involve magic or superstition - it was a valid way for God to reveal His will to His people:

Joshua 18:8 KJV 1900

And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh.

Proverbs 16:33 KJV 1900

The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

One of the best examples of this use of lots is in Acts. Matthias was chosen to be Judas’s successor by lot (). The apostles’ prayer immediately before shows the belief that God would express His will through this method. In the OT Saul was chosen as Israel’s first king through the use of lots ().

In a similar fashion God communicated knowledge unknown to human beings through lots. Saul called for the casting of lots to determine who sinned during his daylong battle with the Philistines. Specifically, he called for the use of the Urim and Thummim (). When Joshua brought people near to the Lord to find the guilty party after the defeat at Ai, he may have used lots although the word is not found in the text ().

Lots helped God’s people make a fair decision in complicated situations. God commanded that the promised land be divided by lots (). Later, lots established the temple priests’ order of service (). This practice continued into Jesus’ day. Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, was burning incense in the holy place when the angel spoke to him. Zechariah was there because the lot fell to him (). The awful picture of soldiers casting lots for Jesus’ garments was this kind of “fair play” use of lots (). Proverbs teaches that the use of lots is one way to put an end to a dispute when decisions are difficult ().

Lots are memorialized in the Jewish Feast of Purim. Purim, the Akkadian word for “lots,” celebrates the frustration of Haman’s plan to destroy the Jews in Persia. Haman had used lots to find the best day for the destruction ().

Finally, the word “lot” came to refer to one’s portion or circumstance of life. The righteous could confess that God was their lot (). The lot of those who violated the people of God was terror and annihilation ().

Albert F. Bean, “Lots,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1053.

Albert F. Bean, “Lots,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1053.

Interestingly, beyond the selection of Matthias in , the practice of lot-casting does not appear again in the pages of the New Testament.9 Of course many more decisions would be required of the early church, but these would be carefully weighed on the basis of Scripture, prayer, and common sense. As John Stott observes, these three “constitute a wholesome combination through which God may be trusted to guide us today.”10

Dividing the Land

Benjamin -

The New American Commentary: Joshua (2) Benjamin’s Inheritance (18:11–28)

Benjamin’s northern boundary was the same as the Joseph tribes’ southern boundary, described in 16:1–4, or Ephraim’s, described briefly in 16:5. Every place mentioned here is found already in 16:1–5, except for the desert of Beth Aven

Interestingly, beyond the selection of Matthias in Acts 1:26, the practice of lot-casting does not appear again in the pages of the New Testament.9 Of course many more decisions would be required of the early church, but these would be carefully weighed on the basis of Scripture, prayer, and common sense. As John Stott observes, these three “constitute a wholesome combination through which God may be trusted to guide us today.”10

The New American Commentary: Joshua (2) Benjamin’s Inheritance (18:11–28)

Benjamin’s western boundary was short; the tribal territory was wide in an east-to-west direction, but very short north to south

The New American Commentary: Joshua (2) Benjamin’s Inheritance (18:11–28)

Benjamin’s southern boundary is given in the most detail; that may be because it was the border with Judah, the most important tribe. As with its northern boundary, this one corresponds closely with the corresponding boundary description elsewhere, in this case, Judah’s in 15:5–11. Indeed, the degree of correspondence is remarkable: every place named here is found in its corresponding place in chap. 15. The directions for the two are opposite, however: Benjamin’s southern boundary description runs from west to east whereas Judah’s runs east to west.

Eastern boundary is the Jordan River

Then there is a list of cities within the boundaries. (12 cities in the east and 14 cities in the west).

Simeon - Josh 19:1-9

The New American Commentary: Joshua (3) Simeon’s Inheritance (19:1–9)

Simeon was not given an independent allotment, but rather, it inherited scattered cities (and their surrounding villages) within Judah’s allotment. The stated reason for this was that “Judah’s portion was more than they needed” (v. 9

within the territory of Judah. This [also] fulfills the prophetic utterance of Jacob who predicted in the case of both Simeon and Levi that, because of their killing spree at Shechem (), they would be dispersed in Israel ().

Zebulun - Josh 19:10-16

North of Jezreel in northern Palestine.

bounded by Asher on the west, Issachar to the South, Naphtali in the North - does not touch either the Jordan or the Sea

Issachar -

Issachar’s allotment is somewhat of a square with Jezreel in its southwest corner and Chesulloth in the northwest. Northern border ran from Tabor to the Jordan just south of the Sea of Gallilee. Southern border ran from Jezreel east to the Jordan.

Asher -

Naphtali - Josh 19:32-39

Dan - Josh 19:40-48

Following this discourse the narrator states that the border (or territory) allotted to the tribe of Dan “fled from them,” or more figuratively, “escaped them.” Irony may be recognized here on two counts. First, the statement is ironic due to placement: as soon as the last word of the allotment to Dan drops, notice of failure begins (was the effort of giving this description an exercise in vanity?).

Second, irony grows from the narrator’s choice of words. Time and time again, borders have been described as writhing or living things; they “go out” and “twist” from this place to that. Here again, the border “goes out,” only this time instead of leaving a particular landmark, it wiggles away from the hands of a people. Like the elusive snake in the flowerbed, it flees and defies capture.

The Rewards of Obedience

Joshua’s City

This frames the allotment by including the inheritance of Joshua - just like the inheritance of Caleb began this process.

Many times in a meal, the cook will be the last person to receive food. It is the cook who has done the hard work and earned the right to have that food; yet, by placing themselves last in line, the cook extends the service of preparation to the selfless sharing of enjoyment. In the same way Joshua waited until the end to receive his portion. We also must seek to serve others rather than ourselves and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Joshua’s Rest

When the rapture occurs, will I be ready?

When the Judgment Seat arrives, will I be ashamed or receive a crown of righteousness?

2 Timothy 4:7–8 KJV 1900

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

II Tim 4: