A Simple Solution for Complex Problems

A Simple Solution to Complex Problems

This is not a math class, though when I was in high school, I would have enjoyed someone teaching me a simple solution to complex mathematic equations/problems. I have seen Brent Friend do some amazing math work, during youth group, so if you ever need help, don’t ask Brent, ask Julie Stowell, who is a math teacher.

This morning we are continuing in our study of the book of Joshua. Last week we were looking at , which is where we will begin this morning as well. Last week we looked particularly at , which told us that Joshua was to begin distributing the Promised Land, among the tribes. He was supposed to give each remaining tribe their portion of the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and we pulled some application from that verse and the context of the entire word of God, which helped us to see the blessing of our inheritance in Christ, and our responsibility of being good stewards of that inheritance.

2.5 Moses Allotted +1 Levi (no land) +9.5 (Joshua alloted= ?

(2.5) tribes on the East, plus (1) the tribe of Levi (given no land according to (except cities scattered throughout the land, the reason for which we will discuss in greater detail next week) plus (9.5) tribes, given land on the West side of the Jordan

plus (9.5) tribes, given land on the West side of the Jordan

Equals how many tribes? 13 This is due to the tribe of Joseph being divided into two (Ephraim and Manasseh)

Joshua 13:32–14:5 ESV

32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them. 1 These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel gave them to inherit. 2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes. 3 For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. 4 For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their substance. 5 The people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses; they allotted the land.

Joshua 13:32

Side Note: speaking of math problems,

2.5 tribes to whom Moses allotted land +

1.0 Levi a tribe that recieved no land +

9.5 tribes to whom Joshua alloted land

=??

(2.5) tribes on the East, plus (1) the tribe of Levi (given no land according to (except cities scattered throughout the land, the reason for which we will discuss in greater detail next week) plus (9.5) tribes, given land on the West side of the Jordan

Equals how many tribes? 13 This is due to the tribe of Joseph being divided into two (Ephraim and Manasseh) according to Josh 14:4

A simple solution for complex problems

I believe this passage illustrates a very simple solution for a very complex problem and I believe that the solution, the method or the operation that was utilized in solving this complex problem is one which we can apply to our own complex problems.

How many of you have ever experienced complex problems? What I mean by problems is making a difficult decision, making a choice between a myriad of possible answers or often complex problems arise during a conflict or a potential conflict wherein other people are involved.

Would you consider with me for a moment what Joshua and Eleazar were being asked to do in this passage?

To distribute portions of the Promised Land to the remaining tribes. 9.5 tribes, which could easily be estimated to consist of 500,000 people over the age of 22, so that doesn’t include infants, children and teenagers. Add those figures in and you may have 1 to 2 million people, they were dealing with.

Joshua, Eliezar the priest and the heads of the tribes were tasked with allocating the land to the people. (A blessed inheritance, of cities they did not build and houses they did not fill and cisterns they did not dig) Just imagine the tangled web of opinions and solutions that these leaders would have been faced with. We are a small church and we get along very nicely, but I am sure there are times when we don’t always agree with one another, right?

So what is the simple solution to their complex problem?

Simple Solution = Cast Lots

Joshua 14:2 ESV

2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.

Casting lots was a common means of making decisions and settling uncertain scenarios.

Joshua 14:5 ESV

5 The people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses; they allotted the land.

They allotted the land.

By casting Lots!

A Simple solution to a complex problem.

In conclusion, I am going to teach you how to cast lots, ok??? Not really! Maybe I have your attention though. God actually commanded that the distribution of the land, that these tribes, clans & families would live off of for generations and generations, was to be decided by something as simple as casting lots.

Does that not seem a little strange to you?

How many of you make important life decisions by casting lots? A flip of a coin? A roll of the dice?

This is where some explanation needs to take place before I have to begin counseling for all the people whose family members gamble away their possessions, because I said casting lots was a simple solution to handling complex problems.

Here is the reality, what often seems complex to us, really isn’t that complex. We often tend to complicate things, far beyond how God intends for them to be.

What is God’s will?

The will of God is something that is not always easy to define, in fact, it is somewhat complicated to define because even God’s Word uses that terminology to describe several different things. So lets see if we can make some sense of what God’s will is.

The Bible speaks of God’s will in two different ways.

God’s will of decree

This is what God has determined will happen. As humans we can only know this aspect of God’s will in the past tense. We can only recognize this after it has taken place.

He controls it all from the biggest events to the most intricate details and sub-atomic particles of our bodies.

We

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Verse?????

God’s will of desire

God’s will of desire

This is what God has commanded, what he wants to happen, what He wants for His creation.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Verse???

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Both God’s will of decree (sovereignty) and HIs will of desire (Man’s freedom of choice) are taught within Scripture. It is difficult for us to reconcile how these work together.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Verse???

Both God’s will of decree (sovereignty) and HIs will of desire (Man’s freedom of choice) are taught within Scripture. It is difficult for us to reconcile how these work together.

God’s will of direction

This is the aspect we often wrestle with. We are looking for the perfect path, that God wants us to walk down and we assume if we walk through life without veering from this path, then life will work out perfectly. We will be blessed and nothing will go wrong. That is not the example we learn from Scripture.

(ie: Job, ie: David who was a murdering adulterer)

What do we need to do?

Trust God’s Decree= Faith in His Sovereignty

Seek to find God’s desire= Listen to His commands & principles (apply wisdom)

Walk in God’s direction= Obey with confidence, not anxiety/worry.

A Simple Solution for Complex problems

Joshua wasn’t just rolling the dice with these people’s future. He was obeying the command of God and Moses. He was trusting in God’s sovereignty over decisions as great as telling people where to settle for generations to come, and as small as where and when and how a tiny stone would land on the ground.

If you are operating within God’s desired will and applying His wisdom and principles in your life, then don’t be afraid to roll the dice. Trust in His ability to direct your paths. We aren’t talking about careless, haphazard living. We aren’t talking about gambling foolishly, ignorantly and sinfully. The simple solution for complex problems is to trust and obey our Creator God.