The Lord is Present

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

THE LORD IS PRESENT

Josh 18:1-10

18:1 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? 4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. 5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the house of Joseph in its territory on the north. 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God. 7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them." 8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, "Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD." 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.

NIV

There are now seven tribes that have yet to take possession of their inheritance, which means they are all still hanging around together as a great nation. However, they are now a settlement camped around the tent of meeting, by tribe. Joshua told them it was time to move and take possession of their inheritance. There might be a story about the three men from each tribe who were sent to write down a description of each territory so that Joshua would then cast lots and each tribe would have a portion of the land. The story is centered on the casting of lots, for that was done in the presence of the LORD their God. What this tells us is the LORD their God was going to have an influence in Joshua as he cast the lots. There is no record as to how the lots were cast, yet we mind imagine it might be like putting all the names in a hat and drawing them out one by one. Yet, this was not done in the flesh alone, for the presence of the LORD God was there with Joshua as he assigned by lot each of the seven tribes their inheritance. This should give us a clue about how we go about living until we receive our eternal inheritance. We each have a place in the new city of Jerusalem that Jesus went to prepare for us. We each have an assigned aboding place, a room in our Father's house. Of course, the songwriter has given the idea that we all have a mansion just over the hilltop, and perhaps that mansion is our Father’s house, the new city of Jerusalem where we each have a place. However wonderful all that will be when our Jesus we will see, when we look upon his face, the one who saved us by his grace, we still need to live out our physical lives upon this earth. Just as Joshua cast lots in the presence of the LORD God, we live now, in this life, in the presence of our Lord. We have the promise of Jesus telling us that he will not leave us nor forsake us. We are always walking in the presence of our Lord. As the LORD God influenced the lots cast for each tribe, assuring each one received the right inheritance he had determined, he also influences our lives. We are not where we are by chance but by the hand of God at work within us. Now, it is possible that we may want to make our own choices in life, even as one who professes to be a Christian. We do have the ability to choose our own paths, but how do we know we have made the right choice? It would behoove us to always be listening to the still small voice within leading us to that green pasture, that perfect place in life where our Lord has chosen for us, so that we might be where we are supposed to be and doing that which he has called us to do. We do not have to cast lots to know where we are to be, for the Spirit will always lead us into all truth. First and foremost, we are being transformed into his likeness, reflecting his glory in ever-increasing glory. Secondly, we are to be a benefit to the rest of the body of Christ. Of course, some of the responsibility is placed on the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service. This is so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of Jesus. The result will be all of us becoming mature believers who attain the whole measure of the fullness of Jesus. Still, we all have the calling to encourage one another and build each other up. We do all this as we walk in the presence of our Lord, being influenced by the power of the Spirit within us, showing us the way in our lives. Let us always, first, listen for his voice; second, go where he instructs us; and third, do what he has called us to do. No casting lots are needed, only his presence.