Joshua 14:1-15 - Rest from War

Joshua 14:1-15

The Land Divided West of the Jordan

1 These are the areas which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel distributed as an inheritance to them. 2 Their inheritance was by lot, as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe on the other side of the Jordan; but to the Levites he had given no inheritance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim. And they gave no part to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for their livestock and their property. 5 As the LORD had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did; and they divided the land.

Caleb Inherits Hebron

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim).

Then the land had rest from war.

The inheritance was divided by a selection of lots cast so the outcome was by God’s hand and not the reasoning or determination of man who would only allow selfish ambition or greed to determine who would receive the better piece of land.  God in His wisdom established this process that seemed random but actually put it squarely in His sovereign control for the good and best (Romans 8:28) of His people.  The promise to faithful Caleb was an exception since he and Joshua alone had trusted God forty-five years ago, ever since the LORD spoke this word of promise to him through Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness.  The mountain promised was then given to the man who trusted God and truthfully told of the wonderful promised land and how they could easily defeat the mighty men there since he trusted that the LORD was mot than able (Romans 4:21) to conquer them as He made the way for the promise.  Joshua remembered his faithful brother who stood on the side of Gods with him to Moses long before and joy granted the fulfillment of that promise.  Hebron was given to Caleb and his descendants “because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.”  This is our example to follow the greater one leading us to the promised heavenly land, Jesus Christ our Lord, with a trusting wholehearted faith put into action as we look (Hebrews 11:26, 13:13-15) to the reward as we venture from this place of worship to the very presence of our God and Father set before us in the Celestial City whose Builder and Maker (Hebrews 11:10, Revelation 21:10) is God Himself.  We war against the temporary heavenly evil powers reigning (John 12:31, Revelation 12:9-10) on earth (Ephesians 2:2, 3:10-12, 6:12) now until that day when the good fight is finally finished and we rest at last from spiritual warfare and the eternal victory of faith is rewarded to those who trust that Jesus the Son of God will lead us into this glory of the heavenly land with Him forever as promised.  Amen!