The Rewards of a Man of Faith

As Mary and I read through the passages in Joshua 13 through 19, I couldn't help but wonder why this was all included in inspired Scripture. Do we have a need to know? After all, at first glance it seems to be just a platting description for a subdivision. There were twelve sections of land, one for each of the tribes. But no, there were actually thirteen. And of those thirteen, ten were assigned to specific tribes of Israel. So where are the other three? God made it a point to emphasize several things, and I believe that is why this whole description is included. Each of them have to do with service to God. First, the Levites did not get any plot of land. They were to be spread out among all the tribes for they were to serve the tribes by representing them before the Lord, and leading in their worship. This would take up enough of their time that they would not have time to farm, so they would only get a small lot on which to keep livestock. No farming for them, that was a full time job, and they could not do justice to both the Lord's service and farming. The other eleven tribes were to support them with their offerings of animals and firstfruits of their crops. The Lord emphasized that the Lord would be their inheritance. Second,the portion that one might have considered to be their inheritance was divided up between the two sons of Joseph. So as Americans, we ask ourselves, why this "unfair" division of wealth? Once again, I believe there is a good reason for this. It was a reward, given posthumously to Joseph, for his mistreatment and enslavement at the hands of his brothers and the Egyptians. God gave his tribe a double portion in restitution, and as a reward for having been the instrument in God's hands to save the whole family. Finally, there was an extra special reward for Joshua. He was given a whole city for himself and his family. I believe this ties in with the extra special reward that was given to Caleb. Was this because he was a military man? No, it was not, though he was a genius at military strategy. Was it because he was in touch with God? No, it was not, though he had been the closest to God outside of Moses. I am convinced, comparing 19:49,50 to 14:6-14, that this special inheritance was meant to reward Joshua for having been a man of faith. So he and Caleb both received this kind of reward.

Though I am not a proponent of the health and wealth theology, I believe we can glean from these examples some principles that are applicable to all of us as children of God. These are:

1. God expects His people to take care of His servants.
2. God will bless us and our children for our faithfulness to Him.
3. God will reward faith when we trust Him in a Psalm 37 pattern:
a) Fret not at the prosperity of evildoers.
b) Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
c) Delight yourself in the Lord.
d) Commit your way to the Lord.
e) Rest in the Lord.
f) Cease from anger.
g) Depart from evil.
h) Wait on the Lord.
i) Take note of [and imitate] the mature and upright person.

After each of these verbs there is a description of the effect that will happen in our lives if we live by them. Though we are not a continuation of Israel, the principles apply, and by living this way, God will fulfill His purpose in our lives, as evidenced in Eph. 1:3, where a parallel can be drawn. God blessed Israel with all material blessings in earthly places in the Promised Land. God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. All we need to do is appropriate them.