Joshua 13:1-33 - There is still land to be taken

13:1-7

In the previous two chapters we have read how Joshua conquered lands in the north and the south, however, there was still much to do. Joshua was now very old. Remember that we first read of Joshua in Ex 17. We then get a list of the lands still to be conquered. While there was still much to do, God declares that “I myself will drive them out before the Israelites”. The work would be completed. God’s work in our own lives is incomplete, there is still much to do, but we can be confident that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6). Moreover, the as yet unconquered land was to be allocated. God bases His plans on the completion of His work.

13:8-33

The rest of the chapter deals with the Transjordanian tribes. I.e. the Reubenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh. There are just two points I would like to draw out. One is that all the land given, not just the Transjordanian lands, was conquered territory. It was land previously occupied by godless peoples. Our lives are occupied by sin, but in Christ God gives these areas of our lives back to us, but that involves us conquering areas of our lives. The second point is that there are two mentions of the tribe of Levi (13:14; 13:33), and the fact that they had no inheritance in the land, for “the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance”. In Christ we are all priests, and our inheritance is in the Lord. Just as God made provision for the Levites, He was their inheritance. So, God provides for our needs, but our inheritance is in Him, not in possessions.