PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Joshua 17-18
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Joshua gave the daughters of Zelophehad an inheritance…” (Joshua 17:4).
I was not sure where I saw Jesus in these chapters, but maybe this is a hint.
That Zelophehad’s daughters received land points to God’s dream of all people.
Not just men in that patriarchal society, but women and daughters too.
Everyone is meant to have their place in the family of God.
As Jesus followers, our inheritance in Christ is new life in the Spirit.
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18, Joel 2: 28-29)
Our world has divided people, separating what God joined together.
Jesus comes to reunite the children of Adam and Eve as God’s image-bearers.
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
This applies to men and women, but also to race, age, and sin-caused social classes.
We all together breathe the same Spirit, and share in the gift of life!
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for tearing apart Your body with our sinful, selfish divisions. May we embrace and honour all people as our brothers and sisters!
Here we saw a promised inheritance being claimed by the bold in supplication to the Lord, we see a promised inheritance alotted to the tribes as the Lord commanded, and finally told those that remained (surely they felt a bit left behind) to go and get their inheritance by the work of their hands.
Lord, you haven’t left us many excuses in not claiming what he has promised to us. Thank you.
Joshua says to the remaining tribes who had not received their allotment: it’s a gift – but you have to work for it: you can take it – you are able- it’s part of God’s inheritance for you. I know that when I work for something that I would like to buy – I appreciate it more. God didn’t just hand things over on a ‘silver platter’ – we – all believers- are expected to take our ‘talents’ and bear fruit for the Kingdom.
God is with His people. He gave them their inheritance in the new land. Yet the people needed to take control of their possession. They needed to go forward in what they received. And I in His kingdom also need to go forward in His name. God empowers His people who serve Him, who honour Him, who live for Him. Help me this day Lord as I live for You. Empower me. Make me GodStrong.
We give thee but thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be:
All that we have is thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from thee.
May we thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as thou blessest us,
To thee our firstfruits give.
O hearts are bruised and dead,
And homes are bare and cold,
And lambs for whom the Shepherd bled
Are straying from the fold.
And we believe thy Word,
Though dim our faith may be,
Whate’er for thine we do, O Lord,
We do it unto thee.