“THE THINGS WE’VE HANDED DOWN”
(Joshua 19:1-9; 1 Chronicles 4:24-43; Joshua 19:10-23; 1 Chronicles 7:1-5, Joshua 19:24-31;
1 Chronicles 7:30-40; Joshua 19:32-39; 1 Chronicles 7:13; Joshua 19:40-51)
“These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.”– Joshua 19: 51
“And these things that we have given you
They are not so easily found
But you can thank us later
For the things we’ve handed down.”
– “The Things We’ve Handed Down,” Marc Cohn
The residents of Port Protection, Alaska, featured in a television show we enjoy, live a subsistence lifestyle. They must pass down their knowledge and skills to future generations to ensure the continuation of their way of life, which includes hunting, fishing, growing food, and building with wood from the trees they cut down.
At the surface, today’s readings appear mundane as the nation of Israel continues dividing the land of Canaan for each tribe. But a closer look reveals a bit of intrigue. The fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecies in Genesis 48-49 come to pass in the distribution. Simeon and Levi’s “violence” (Gen. 48:5-7) results in a diminished inheritance: Simeon gets an area with no clear-cut boundaries but rather enclaves within the territory of Judah (19:1). Levi later receives no tribal property, only towns (Joshua 21). Dan was unable to keep their original territory assigned to them in central Israel and had to relocate to the north and possess land there (19:47). Tribal allotments in this chapter are decided by lot, introducing a randomness to the process of dividing the promised land. Some were bound to be disappointed by the outcome.
Our inheritance from our ancestors shapes us in numerous ways. While some inherit material wealth, many receive little. Our inheritance often includes a land, lifestyle, skills, faith (or lack thereof), and even physical traits we may not desire. These factors combine to influence our identity and circumstances, offering advantages or disadvantages in life. This was all true of the tribes of Israel.
In the end, this division of the land was done at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the place God met with them, under his sovereign care. The tribes would have to trust that God had provided their allotments and that the things that were handed down were just what they needed.
Application:
Israel was doing the necessary work to prepare to live as God’s people in the land. Much of the life of faith may appear mundane and lack excitement, but faithfulness in the mundane lays the groundwork for success later on.
Reflections:
Take a moment to consider the things that have been handed down to you. What can you see in your life that you now appreciate that you couldn’t appreciate in the past?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, forgive my complaining and ungratefulness with the mundane. Help me see each day as a gift, and strengthen me to serve You joyfully with all that I am. I want to use my time wisely, work heartily, and give You all the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About our Author
Chris Rainey is a learning technologies manager, bi-vocational Christian minister, writer/poet, corporate trainer, and curriculum developer. Chris is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and is a graduate of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary with an M.Div in Christian Education and a BA in Bible from Evangel University. He is originally from Southern Illinois, but has now lived in Northern New Jersey for over 30 years. He enjoys reading, hiking, biking, swimming, watching Survivor, and the New York Mets. He resides with Marcia, his wife of over 40 years, and has three daughters and a grandson.
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