By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Mobile
UNWAVERING DETERMINATION
Joshua 14:1–15
In these verses we learn about the distribution of the land west of the Jordan River. The writer highlights the roles of Moses, Eleazar and Joshua as well as the obedience of the people in allotting the land.
Obedience (1–5)
Readers may wonder about the mention of Eleazar and the family heads of the Israelite tribes since they have not been a part of the narrative to this point. We must remember that Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, Joshua and one leader from each of the 12 tribes to be involved in allotting the land (Num. 34:17–18).
The Transjordanian tribes had already received their land as their inheritance from Moses (v. 3). The remaining tribes would be allotted their land based on casting lots (v. 2), which explains the role Eleazar would play since the priests were commissioned to cast lots.
Lots were used to determine God’s will in a matter. In the Old Testament, high priests used the Urim and Thummim as sacred lots to discern the will of the Lord. In the New Testament, the apostles cast lots to determine the man God wanted to replace Judas. Much mystery surrounds the casting of lots, but the most important emphasis in Scripture is that the outcome was not random (Prov. 16:33). God was in control of determining the land to be allotted to each tribe.
While the Levites were not given any portion of land, they were given cities to live in along with pasturelands for their cattle and livestock. According to Joshua 21, 48 cities were designated for the Levites.
The people carefully obeyed God’s instructions to Moses concerning distribution of the land.
Devotion (6–9)
This section of our lesson focuses on Caleb’s faithfulness and devotion to God. Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent to scout the promised land. Along with Joshua, Caleb had presented the minority report to Moses and the people of Israel.
Ten of the spies presented the majority report, declaring that the people in Canaan were bigger and stronger than they were. According to them, there wasn’t any way they could take the land of Canaan.
Caleb had urged the people of Israel to trust the Lord and go up and possess the land God had promised to give them. With God fighting for them they would certainly conquer the land.
At this stage of the conquest, Caleb came to Joshua and reminded him of what Moses promised him in Numbers 14:24. Because of their faith and devotion to God, Joshua and Caleb, along with their families, were the only ones from that generation allowed to enter the promised land.
Inheritance (10–15)
Caleb made the point that the Lord had kept him alive through the last 45 years from the events at Kadesh-barnea to their current encampment at Gilgal. All the other spies and people of age — except Joshua — had died in the wilderness before the conquest of Canaan.
Caleb also pointed out that he was just as strong as he had been 45 years earlier. The Lord had blessed Caleb mightily in the past, but he needed that strength in the present as he fought to defeat the Anakim who lived in and around the land Joshua would give him.
Because of his unwavering devotion, Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. We too are to follow the Lord wholeheartedly as we possess our promised inheritance in Christ.
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