Distribution of the land

 Christ in all the scriptures

Inheritance   Joshua 13-21

Following the subjugation of the land, the tribes of Israel were given possession of their inheritance.  The word inheritance occurs over 50 times in these chapters, and is the prevalent issue throughout.  It is interesting that this word is used to describe Israel's right to the land.  This is not the spoils of war, nor is it "stolen land", as some uninformed prominent people today have said.  It is their inheritance, they have an inherent right to call it theirs.  It is their land by inherent right and will remain so for ever by Divine decree.

"Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh..."-Joshua 13v7.

The other two tribes (Reuben and Gad, plus the half tribe of Manasseh) had already settled in the east of Jordan, preferring to reside there because of the rich pasture land.  This arrangement Moses accepted, and God, graciously allowed it, but it did bring challenges in their future.

Inheritance is patrimony, the passing of possessions to rightful heirs by reason of birth.  The biblical perspective is that all lands belong to the Lord, as it says in many portions "The land is mine", and He distributes it as He will-refer Leviticus 25v23; Psalm 24v1, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof".  He had allocated this land to Israel many centuries before and now it was theirs by right (Genesis 15v18, "Unto thy seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river Euphrates; also Genesis 50v24").  Now it was theirs by divine covenant, it was not earned or fought for, it was given as a divine gift to a chosen people  This land, given to Israel over 3500 years ago, is described in Ezekiel as "the glory of all lands"-refer Ezekiel 20v6 and v15.  God gave to His chosen people the best real estate on earth.  It is known as "The Fertile Crescent", and the bible calls it "A good land and a large, a land flowing with milk and honey"-Exodus 3v8 and others.  Those who oppose this are on the wrong side of truth, and all efforts to the contrary are doomed to failure.

Paul speaks of the inheritance of the saints in the letter to Ephesians.  That beautiful epistle answers to the book of Joshua in the Old Testament.  The epistle could be considered as follows; The land is before you (Ephesians 1-3); Go in and possess it (Ephesians 4-6).

Ephesians 1v11-14, "In whom also (Christ) we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will...in whom also after that ye believed (literally at the point of believing), ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory".

Each tribe of Israel was given an inheritance with delineated borders.  God emancipates His people, He also enriches them.  What is true for Israel is also the blessing of the Church.  Language like, "Heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ"-Romans 8v17-, reveal what riches are ours both now and in the future.  "Blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ" is stated in Ephesians 1v3.  Together we share "the unsearchable riches of Christ".  In Ephesians 1v14, Paul says the Holy Spirit within us, which came to us at the point of new birth, is a down payment of an inheritance reserved for us.  Peter describes this inheritance as "incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you..."-1st Peter 1v4.  The commentators have all had their say on what this means, and it is a treasure the world does not have and cannot give.  We should be revelling in this: the three Greek words to describe it are: Aphthartos for incorruptible; Amiantos for undefiled; Amarantos for not fading away.  This is truly awesome!.  In essence Aphthartos means unable to be harmed by hostile forces; Amiantos means untarnished by sin and defilement; Amarantos means does not lose its beauty or appeal.  It is everything in contrast to the benefits of this world.  It is untouchable, untarnishable and unchangeable.

The inheritance we now have, by reason of new birth in Christ, is vastly superior to anything in this world.  We have it as a gift, and it is ours to enjoy in the present and in the future.  The question is, what will we do with it, how will we respond to such grace from above? There are forces around and within that would rob us now of this blessing.  Next we shall consider from the chapters lessons from the past to possess what is rightfully ours.