Joshua 14:1

Joshua 14:1 says, And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.  Joshua wasn't alone in distributing the land to the tribes of Israel.  Eleazar the priest was also involved.  Joshua was the head of the army, but the priest would also represent God.  Verse two states, By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.  The nine and a half tribes chose their land by lot as God had instructed Moses to do.  The leader may have changed, but God's plan had not, nor will it today as one spiritual leader passes away and another arises.  Verse three adds, For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.  This was already discussed.in the last few verses.  Verse four continues, For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.  The two sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephram were two of the tribes that received land on the other side of the Jordan, and the Levites received no land, making the total number of tribes that received land twelve.  Verse five declares, As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.  Though the land was distributed by lot, it was still done in accordance with God's will.  I don't believe that we can us this as a justification for gambling today though, because this really wasn't gambling.  It was following God's instructions to Moses.  Verse six states,Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.  The tribe of Judah came to Joshua and Caleb, the other spy who had said they could take the land, spoke to him.  Caleb reminded Joshua of Moses' promise to them.  Joshua and Caleb were the only two of their generation to enter the promised land.  God will always reward faithfulness.  Verse seven adds, Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.  Caleb said that he was forty when he went to spy on the land for Moses and brought him the good report based on what was in his heart.  I believe we can say that he had faith in God, and we must today no matter what the situation may be.  Verse eight declares, Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.  Caleb said that the majority of his brethren opposed his report, and they won.  In this case, the majority was not right, and we will find ourselves in the minority as followers of Christ today in most cases.  Verse nine states, And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.  Caleb said that Moses had promised him the land that his feet trod on as an inheritance forever, because of his faithfulness to God.  We have an everlasting inheritance today as followers of God, though we will never be able to claim it in this lifetime.  Verse ten continues, And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.  Caleb gave God the credit for keeping him alive for the forty five years since they had first reached the promised land.  We can be certain that God is keeping us alive today if we are doing His will and following His purpose in our life.  Verse eleven declares, As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  Caleb said that he was still as strong as ever.  We may not be physically as strong as we once were, but we need to be spiritually as strong.  Verse twelve adds, Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.  Caleb did not say since he was old and the LORD  had made a promise to him to give him an easy place to settle.  He said give him the mountain where some strong people lived, and that if God was with him, he would drive them out.  I believe that too often we, as Christians, want the easy and prosperous way, instead of asking for a greater challenge to show that we live by faith in God.  Verse thirteen declares, And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.  Joshua granted Caleb's request and gave him Hebron.  Verse fourteen adds, Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.  Caleb's inheritance came, not because of his age, but because he had totally followed the will of God, just as our everlasting inheritance will come today.  Verse fifteen concludes, And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.  Hebron had a different name at one time, before it was defeated by Arba.  Now, it would belong to the tribe of Judah, because of God and Caleb's faith in Him.  No matter how great our enemy may be, if we put our faith in God we will always be victorious spiritually.