The Lord is Our Inheritance

GETTING STARTED

Chapters 13 through 19 of Joshua provide details of how the land was divided between the twelve Israelite tribes.* We will cover these chapters in a way that is slightly different from the usual Time With God format. As you read the text, pay special attention to God’s promises that are fulfilled and aspects of God’s character that are revealed.

READ THE WORD: JOSHUA 14:1-5 (ESV)

14:1 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.

 English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What promises of God are in this passage?
  2. What aspects of God’s character are evident?
  3. Which characteristic of God do you need right now in your life?
  4. Where are you seeing one of these aspects of God’s character present in your life right now?

RESPOND TO GOD

God promised the land to the Israelites (Gen. 12:7, 15:18-21), he provided the land for the Israelites (Josh. 1-12), and he specified how it was to be divided among the Israelites (Num. 13). In today’s verses, the phrase, “Israel did as the Lord commanded,” shows that the Israelites were obedient to follow God’s instructions on how to divide the Promised Land that he had provided for them.

The Levites were not given a specific land—God was their inheritance; however, God still provided cities for them to live in and land for their cattle. God is also our inheritance—we receive his Holy Spirit. And, like the Israelites, we can trust that God will keep his promises, will provide for us, and that he desires to be intimately involved in our lives.

  • Thank God that he is your inheritance. Thank him also for his faithfulness to you, and ask him to help you to be obedient to follow him today.

*Map of the division of land by Joshua and the Israelite tribes: https://bible.org/assets/netbible/ot4.jpg.