Let’s get our bearings of where we’re currently at in our study of Joshua.
Up until this point in time, for the most part, the 12 tribes of Israel have worked together as one cohesive unit to wage war against the Canaanites.
In a nutshell, the campaign to drive the Canaanites out of the land was a great success.
BUT…there was still much territory containing pockets of rebellion that still had to be conquered.
A perfect example similar to this situation was the war the United States launched against Iraq.
America had basically conquered the nation but they did NOT take 100% control of it.
One city in a certain area would be the epitome of peace and harmony but then just a few kilometers away, another city would be complete and utter chaos.
We’re talking about the difference between a nice and quiet upper middle class suburb in the United States versus a crime-ridden ghetto with gunshots being heard throughout the night.
Why is this so?
Because man, as I’ve been saying, there are strong and fierce pockets of resistance ruled by evil warlords who will do anything including strapping bombs to their children and sending them out as deadly weapons to keep the US soldiers at bay.
So if you want to understand the situation as it existed in Joshua Chapter 17, think about the US-Iraqi war and that will give you a good idea of what was going down.
The circumstances are pretty darn similar actually.
So at this point in time, the Israelite army had broken up and with that, their sense of team work and solidarity had also dissolved.
Now what I’m going to share next might come as a big surprise to you.
Did you know there were a total of 7 tribes who refused their land inheritance?!
Quite shocking, isn’t it?
Why in the heck would these 7 tribes refuse their territory in the Promised Land?
Because, it’s as I’ve been saying.
They knew darn well if they accepted their land inheritance, that instantly equaled accepting full responsibility to conquer the territory they had been given.
And since that was an ugly, scary process involving risk of life and limb, these tribes wanted no part of it.
And that’s the big takeaway here.
The inheritance of their Promised Land did NOT mean instant peace and stability for Israel.
It was actually just the first step in a long process to fulfill the promises God had planned before them.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not suppose that I have come
to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword.“
-Matthew 10:34
Leave a Reply