JOSHUA CHAPTER 14-15,
“Inheritance For Caleb And The Tribe Of
By
Jim Bomkamp
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. In our last study, we looked
at at chapters 12 and 13.
1.1.1. We saw that chapter 12 gives
us a list of the kings and cities conquered by the children of Israel since
leaving Egypt, some under Moses in the wilderness, and the rest under Joshua in
the land of Canaan.
1.1.1.1.
We considered the importance of occasionally looking back in time at
the things that the Lord has done in our lives since we have been saved.
1.1.2. Chapter 13 then gave us a
list of the areas within the
1.1.2.1.
We saw that though the strongholds of the land of Canaan had been
brought down, there was much of the land yet to be conquered, for there were
probably more peoples still living within the land given to the children of
Israel even than the number of those whom they had killed so far in their
battles.
1.1.2.2.
We saw in that study that the
1.1.2.2.1.
We considered the vastness of the love of Christ we can appropriate.
1.1.2.2.2.
We considered the knowledge of God that we can avail ourselves of.
1.1.2.2.3.
We considered how much of the wisdom and discernment that the Lord
promises to give us if we will just ask for it in faith that we can avail
ourselves of.
1.1.2.2.4.
We saw that we have been given the mind of Christ, and we considered
how much of the mind of Christ we can avail ourselves of, how much we could
think His thoughts.
1.1.2.2.5.
We considered how much of the resources of heaven we can avail
ourselves of.
1.1.2.2.6.
We looked at the fact that the scriptures teach us that we are to be
conformed to the very image of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and we considered how much
we have allowed the Lord to conform us into the image of Jesus.
1.1.2.3.
We saw then that just as was the case with the children of
1.1.2.4.
We thought about the fact that our inheritance as Christians is “all”
of Christ, not just part of Him!
1.2. In our study today, we are
going to look at chapters 14 and 15 of Joshua.
1.2.1. In chapter 14, we are going
to see that before any of the tribes on the Canaan side of the Jordan River are
allotted their inheritance that Caleb first comes before Joshua, initially as a
representative of the tribe of Judah, and then he requests the land for himself
that the Lord had promised to him and Joshua while the children of Israel were
still in the wilderness.
1.2.1.1.
The promise of a parcel of land for Caleb and his descendants was given
to Caleb, just in the same way that a parcel was promised to Joshua, because of
the 12 spies who initially were sent into the land of Canaan those two alone
had been faithful to the Lord and walked in faith. It was their reward. Joshua and Caleb alone of all of the men and
women 20 years and older when they left Egypt were promised to live until the
children of Israel entered the promised land, the Lord promised that all of the
rest of the men and women would perish in the wilderness.
1.2.1.2.
We can see from our text that Caleb was chomping at the bit, so to
speak, to receive this inheritance promised to him, and we know that this is
because Caleb had his hopes and his sights all during those 38 years of
wandering in the wilderness set upon his inheritance in the land of
Canaan. He was living for another land
and a grand inheritance, and thus his hopes and dreams were not centered upon
what he might be able to gain or own in this world.
1.2.1.2.1.
We Christians too need to view our lives in this world as being that of
a stranger and an alien, for our true home and hope is reserved in heaven for
us as we await the return of Jesus for us.
1.2.1.2.1.1.
In Hebrews 11:13-16, the author of that book (probably Paul) wrote about
how all of God’s great men and women of faith in history past (the Old
Testament times) were people who knew that their true hope and citizenship was
actually in heaven, “13 All these died in faith, without receiving the
promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and
having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.14 For those
who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their
own.15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they
went out, they would have had opportunity to return.16 But as it is, they
desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”
1.2.1.2.1.2.
We Christians also have the promise of Jesus in John 14:1-2 made to all
of His disciples shortly before He went to the cross of Calvary, of the fact
that now as we are upon this earth and living in this life that He is preparing
a place for us and planning soon to come and to take us to that home He has
been preparing, “1 ”Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe
also in Me.2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so,
I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”
1.2.1.2.1.3.
Concerning this city and this home that is being prepared for us I
remember hearing a story of a man who once was being tempted by another to
steal some gold, and he replied to the man who was tempting him to join him in
a robbery, “Why would I want to steal millions of dollars worth of gold, in
the city that the Lord is preparing for me that stuff is called pavement!”
1.2.1.2.1.3.1. It is not wise for us as
Christians to place our hopes on the riches of this world when doing so will
just cause us to lose out the far greater rewards that will be ours in heaven
and in that mansion that the Lord is preparing for us in the city of our God
whom we are waiting to receive at the end of this life.
1.2.1.2.1.4.
It is so key for us as Christians to fix our hope on the rewards and
blessings of heaven promised to us, that which is our eternal inheritance in
Christ.
1.2.1.2.2.
Every one of the days of those 38 years there as the children of Israel
wandered in the wilderness, Caleb pondered that parcel of land that awaited
him, that land that was flowing with milk and honey, and this great hope of his
sustained him through all of those hot, dry, monotonous, and testing days.
1.2.1.3.
With Caleb asking for his inheritance to be allotted to him, we see the
importance in our walk as Christians of asking the Lord in prayer for our
needs, and even our desires, and of stepping out and seeking to take possession
of this land that we have been given as our inheritance as Christians.
1.2.1.3.1.
In Matt. 7:7-11, Jesus taught His disciples about this principle, and
He taught them to trust in their heavenly Father’s good nature and desire to
give that which is good to all of His children, “7 “Ask, and it shall be
given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.8
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks
it shall be opened.9 “Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask
him for a loaf, will give him a stone?10 “Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will
not give him a snake, will he?11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven
give what is good to those who ask Him!”
1.2.1.3.2.
In our last study, we saw that in James 4:2 that James told us that
much of the time we simply do not heaven’s resources available to us because we
haven’t asked for them, “Ye have not because ye ask not!”
1.2.1.4.
We will see that Caleb’s willingness to be bold enough to ask for his
inheritance inspires his own children, and that next his daughter asks for a
territory to be allotted to her.
1.2.1.5.
We will see that Caleb’s faith and zeal in the Lord is so great that
even though he was 85 years old, the land that he desired for himself was the
very land that would be the hardest to conquer in the entire land of Canaan,
that held by the Anakim (the race of giants), and this was land that was in the
hill country and would thus be the hardest to conquer.
1.2.1.5.1.
Caleb still had the same faith and zeal for the Lord that he had the
very day that he had returned from initially spying out the land of Canaan, and
when he tried to encourage the children of Israel to go up and conquer the land
of Canaan. He believed that if the Lord
were for them there was no way that they were not going to be victorious over
any enemy no matter how big and strong that enemy might be.
1.2.1.5.2.
Caleb was the second oldest person in all of Israel at age 85, second
only to Moses, yet he wanted to have as his inheritance the toughest land to
conquer in the entire land of Canaan.
1.2.1.5.3.
It must have been exciting to be around a guy like Caleb who because of
his faith in the Lord was a risk-taker and always willing to step out in faith
and trust that the Lord would be with him and give him yet another glorious
victory.
1.2.1.5.3.1.
The life that we Christians live is a real adventure, at least it
should be, but that is only the case if we truly are risk-takers and step out
by faith and see if the Lord will also be with us as we are depending upon the
promises of God for our lives. We are
not to be responsible or test the Lord, however we should be willing to be a
risk-taker when we are simply stepping out in faith upon the very promises that
Christ has made to us in Christ, claiming and appropriating those things that
in His word the Lord has promised as our inheritance in Christ.
1.2.1.5.3.2.
A few years ago, a survey was made of elderly people, and they were
asked to list the top 10 things in life that they had regret about having done
during their lifetime. One of the top
five responses on this survey was that elderly people responded that they
regretted that they had not taken more risks.
The Christian life can be so fulfilling and blessed if we are willing
like Caleb to step out and apprehend by faith the things we are promised, and
take risks.
1.2.2. In chapter 15, we are going
to look at the inheritance that is going to go to the tribe of
1.2.2.1.
We will concentrate in this study upon the fact that the Lord had
directed the children of
1.2.2.1.1.
The bigger the numerical size of the tribe the bigger the portion of
land that was to be allotted to the tribe.
1.2.2.1.2.
Though Joshua was going to oversee and administrate the allotment of
lands to the various tribes of Israel, the Lord Himself would determine which
tribes would be allotted each territory for the choosing of the territories was
to be determined by the priests using “the lot.”
1.2.2.2.
These two principles for determining lands allotted to the tribes could
be looked at as being mutually exclusive, however like many other principles
and doctrines from the scriptures, in the wisdom of God we know that it must
make sense, however our minds in this life are just too small to comprehend how
some truths can co-exist.
1.2.2.3.
There is one point which involved how this land was to be allotted to
the various tribes that I want us to concentrate upon for a moment. The Lord was to determine each of the
boundaries of the inheritance for each tribe, and as was mentioned this was
determined most likely by the high priest using the Urim and Thummim kept in
the priest’s breastplate. The Urim and
Thummim were probably two smooth stones of the same size but different colors,
one for a ‘yes’ answer and the other for a ‘no’ answer. When the priest sought the Lord’s answer he
would reach into his breastplate and whichever stone he pulled out would give
him his answer. The scriptures teach
that it is the Lord who determines all of our boundaries and habitations, even
those of the nations, and that everything that we have received has come from
the Lord to us. The answers and choices
came for each tribe from the “lot.”
However, I want to point out that many Christians have a very hard time
accepting their “lot” in life.
1.2.2.3.1.
A few scriptures teach us that the Lord is in control and that it is He
that has separated out peoples and nations and placed them in each place upon
the earth, including:
1.2.2.3.1.1.
Deut. 32:7-8, “7 “Remember the days of old, Consider the years of
all generations. Ask your father, and
he will inform you, Your elders, and they will tell you. 8 “When the Most High gave the nations their
inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the
peoples According to the number of the sons of
1.2.2.3.1.2.
In Acts 17:26, the apostle Paul in his preaching to those on Mars Hill
in Athens spoke of how the Lord determines the very boundaries of all people’s
habitations (including even the house or apartment that we live in), “26 and
He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,
having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.”
1.2.2.3.2.
People tend to be discontent with their “lot” in life.
1.2.2.3.2.1.
I remember when I was a young lad that I was determined that when I
grew up that I would be a professional football player. Growing up in a small town with nothing to do
and having a father who was a sports fanatic, I watched sports almost
exclusively as my form of entertainment.
However, having never grown in size beyond 5’ 7½” I was not able to
excel in football. I wasn’t able to
excel in most sports for that matter. In
high school I eventually realized that music was something that I could excel
at, and then after high school when I asked Christ into my life and was saved,
the Lord led me to be a pastor, something that I could never have imagined for
myself before God called me to this work.
It was hard for me to accept though for quite awhile that I couldn’t be a professional football payer or even excel at most sports. Later on in my high school years, I was always trying to be like someone else because I wasn’t content with being me. At my 10 year high school reunion a bunch of us guys were sitting around a table and we began to talk openly about our high school years, and it came out that during those years that each guy at the table was trying to be like someone else. One guy there said that in high school he had been trying to be like me. I busted out laughing and told him that if he knew how unhappy I was with being me he would never have wanted to be like me.
People grow up and they often are not content with their lives, and they try to achieve this or that goal or trophy in life thinking that doing so will finally bring a sense of contentment to their life. If they do achieve their goal, they suddenly find that they are still not content, and then they set other goals in hopes that these will bring them contentment. If they miss their goals, then they sink further into despair because they can’t even achieve the things for themselves that they desire.
People look for that perfect person to marry that will bring them the greatest contentment, yet no one they meet either meets their criteria or if a person does meet it they wouldn’t be interested in marrying them. Finally, if they get married, then after a few years many start looking around at others of the opposite sex because they still haven’t gotten to a place of contentment.
Couples think that having kids will bring contentment, and so they have 1 or 10 or more, however still their lives are not filled with contentment.
People look for contentment in possessions, money, sex, power, prestige, etc., and yet contentment is a fleeting commodity for people.
It is only when a person comes to know Christ as
Lord usually that they truly can begin to have a sense of contentment, for they
experience the unconditional love of God for them and realize that God accepts
them just as they are in Christ.
1.2.2.3.2.2.
Many of God’s people are not content with their “lot” in life however,
and in the church much of what motivates them to do this and that comes about
as a result of discontent, not the Lord’s leading in their lives. Much ministry comes about as a result of
discontent rather than following God’s leading.
Many pastors are never content with where their church and ministry is
at, and I’ve come to realize that for them there is nothing that they could
have in there church that would cause them to become content with where the
Lord has brought them. Many people throughout
the church are constantly desiring to have the calling and ministry
opportunities of others, and yet neglecting what it is that they have been
called to do, all because they are not content with the “lot” the Lord has
given to them.
1.2.2.3.2.3.
But, how about you? Are you
content with your “lot” in life?
1.2.2.3.2.4.
In 1 Tim. 6:6, Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of
contentment in our lives as Christians, “6 But godliness actually is a means
of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.”
1.2.2.3.2.5.
I am convinced that unless we as God’s people can become content right
where we are, then there is nothing that we could add to or take away from our
life that would bring contentment to our hearts. We must learn to be content today with our
“lot” in live, if we are ever to be content.
1.2.2.3.3.
In the book of Genesis, we read the story of Abraham and Lot and how
that they needed to separate in distance from each other due to their herds and
that when it came to choosing which land that would belong to each that Abraham
let Lot choose his “lot.” Lot chose for
himself the best land, albeit it the land closest to Sodom and the worldliness
that it represented, however in letting Lot choose his land Abraham left his
choice to the Lord for his life.
Whatever God wanted for Abraham would be fine with him, therefore he was
willing to let
2. VS 14:1-5 - “1 Now these are the territories
which the sons of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the
priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the households of the
tribes of the sons of Israel apportioned to them for an inheritance,2 by the
lot of their inheritance, as the Lord commanded through Moses, for the nine
tribes and the half-tribe.3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two
tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give an inheritance
to the Levites among them.4 For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh
and Ephraim, and they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except
cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their
property.5 Thus the sons of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded Moses,
and they divided the land.” - Joshua summarizes for us the
lands which the Lord gave to the children of
2.1. Notice here in verse 2 that
it was by using the means of the “lot” that the inheritance was commanded by the Lord to
be apportioned to each of the tribes.
2.2. In Num. 26:52-56, we
see that the Lord told Moses that when they got to the Promised Land that it
was to be allotted by two principles, according the size of each tribe and by
the use of the “lot” for God to direct their choices, “52 Then the Lord
spoke to Moses, saying,53 “Among these the land shall be divided for an
inheritance according to the number of names.54 “To the larger group you shall
increase their inheritance, and to the smaller group you shall diminish their
inheritance; each shall be given their inheritance according to those who were
numbered of them.55 “But the land shall be divided by lot. They shall receive
their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.56
“According to the selection by lot, their inheritance shall be divided between
the larger and the smaller groups.””
2.2.1. In our minds, we cannot
truly perceive how these two mutually exclusive methods might be employed, however this is no more
confusing than reconciling divine sovereignty verses human responsibility, and
other seemingly contradictory doctrines found in the scriptures. Yet, we know that each of these seemingly
contradict doctrines must be able to coexist because our God cannot contradict
Himself..
2.2.2. Notice from these verses
that when it comes to rewards and the Lord in general giving to each person
that the Lord does not give equal portions to all. Everything is of His grace, and He gives as
He sees fit to give.
3. VS 14:6-14 - “6 Then the sons of Judah drew
near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to
him, “You know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses the man of God concerning
you and me in Kadesh-barnea.7 “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of
the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word
back to him as it was in my heart.8 “Nevertheless my brethren who went up with
me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God
fully.9 “So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your
foot has trodden shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever,
because you have followed the Lord my God fully.’10 “And now behold, the Lord
has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that
the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and
now behold, I am eighty-five years old today.11 “I am still as strong today as
I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now,
for war and for going out and coming in.12 “Now then, give me this hill country
about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim
were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and
I shall drive them out as the Lord has spoken.”
13 So Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh
for an inheritance.14 Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son
of Jephunneh the Kenizzite until this day, because he followed the Lord God of
Israel fully.15 Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba; for Arba was
the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.” - Caleb came before Joshua in behalf of the
tribe of Judah to receive the land apportioned to them, and he requests of
Joshua the land that the Lord had promised to him when he and Joshua were on
the wilderness side of the Jordan River
3.1. We see here that Caleb
came before Joshua and requested his own portion of land for an inheritance,
just as the Lord had promised to him when he returned after spying out
the land of Canaan and tried to encourage the children of Israel to trust the Lord
for the victory and go in and conquer the land of Canaan, even though it was
filled with giants.
3.2. Note here that Caleb’s land
was given to him as a result of his faithfulness in following the Lord
completely
when he and Joshua returned with the positive report after spying out the
3.3. Caleb tells Joshua that at
his current age of 85 that Caleb was still as strong as he was 45 years before
when he entered the land as a spy.
3.4. Again as was pointed out, Caleb
requested the toughest land to conquer, the land occupied by the Anakim
(giants), and it was hill country at that (the toughest of all to conquer).
3.5. Again we notice that Caleb,
because of his faith in the Lord, was a risk-taker and always willing to step
out in faith and just see if the Lord would be with him and give him yet
another glorious victory, just as He had promised to do every place that his
foot would trod in the land of Canaan.
4. VS 15:1-12 - “1 Now the lot for the tribe of
the sons of Judah according to their families reached the border of Edom,
southward to the wilderness of Zin at the extreme south.2 And their south
border was from the lower end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that turns to the
south.3 Then it proceeded southward to the ascent of Akrabbim and continued to
Zin, then went up by the south of Kadesh-barnea and continued to Hezron, and
went up to Addar and turned about to Karka.4 And it continued to Azmon and
proceeded to the brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be
your south border.5 And the east border was the
5. VS 15:13-15 - “13 Now he gave to Caleb the son
of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the
Lord to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is,
Hebron).14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and
Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak.15 Then he went up from there against
the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.” – Joshua tells us about how
Caleb undertook to possess his inheritance once it was allotted
5.1. Yet again we see the faith
and the zeal for the Lord in this man Caleb.
5.2. Notice that the Lord was
with Caleb and that he had victory over those Anakim for
5.3. The city of
5.4. Not only did Caleb conquer
6. VS 15:16-17 - “16 And Caleb said, “The one who
attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a
wife.”17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he
gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.” - Caleb
promises his daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who would conquers the city
of Kiriath-sepher
6.1. Not only did Caleb have
great faith, but he inspired faith in those around him as he gives the
challenge to any man to conquer Kiriath-sepher and thus gain his daughter in
marriage.
6.2. It is important also for us
as Christians to use whatever means that we have also to inspire faith in the
Lord in those around us.
7. VS 15:18-20 - “18 And it came about that when
she came to him, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she
alighted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”19 Then she
said, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the
7.1. The faith and zeal of Caleb
is so contagious that now his daughter asks him for a portion of inheritance,
and he grants it.
7.2. Land would be rather useless
if it did not have water, thus Caleb’s daughter asks for springs of water from her father.
7.3. To reward his daughter’s
faith in coming to him and asking, he gives her not one spring but two, both
the upper and the lower springs.
7.3.1. We see in this that the Lord
would encourage each of us as Christians in our faith and in stepping out and
appropriating those promises which are our inheritance in Christ. The Lord longs to also reward our faith and
zeal for Him.
8. VS 15:21-62 - “21 Now the cities at the
extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah toward the border of Edom in the
south were Kabzeel and Eder and Jagur,22 and Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah,23
and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,24 Ziph and Telem and Bealoth,25 and
Hazor-hadattah and Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),26 Amam and Shema and
Moladah,27 and Hazar-gaddah and Heshmon and Beth-pelet,28 and Hazar-shual and
Beersheba and Biziothiah,29 Baalah and Iim and Ezem,30 and Eltolad and Chesil
and Hormah,31 and Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah,32 and Lebaoth and Shilhim
and Ain and Rimmon; in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages. 33 In the lowland: Eshtaol and Zorah and
Ashnah,34 and Zanoah and En-gannim, Tappuah and Enam,35 Jarmuth and Adullam,
Socoh and Azekah,36 and Shaaraim and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim;
fourteen cities with their villages. 37
Zenan and Hadashah and Migdal-gad,38 and Dilean and Mizpeh and Joktheel,39
8.1. Notice here that the
children of Israel had conquered and were conquering cities and annihilating
the peoples in them, however each city that was conquered now provided various
houses and buildings which were left standing for them to occupy. These houses had been built and maintained
by an enemy nation thinking that they were their own possession, however they
had been doing all of this by God’s design so that these buildings would be
used by God’s people. In a similar way,
the Lord is preparing a special dwelling place for each of us, His people, in
heaven.
9. VS 15:63 - “63 Now as for the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of
10. CONCLUSION:
10.1.
I would encourage you today to follow the example of Caleb and be a man
or woman of faith and take a hold of your inheritance in Christ. Step out and claim that land that you have
been given and be bold and claim those promises from God’s word which belong to
you as a child of God.
10.2.
Let’s be risk-takers like Caleb for the Lord. Life is too short to live it conservatively
and not take risks in serving Christ.
Step out and see if the Lord will back you up just as He backed up Caleb
when he stepped out to apprehend his inheritance in the land.
10.3.
Accept the “lot” that you have been given by the Lord in this
life. Learn to be content in the Lord
today and don’t think for one moment that you need one single thing to be added
to or taken away from your life in order for you to be content.
10.3.1. Remember, if you cannot be
content in the Lord today, there is nothing that could be added to or taken
away from your life that would cause you to be content.