 |  |
JOSHUA.
#13. The difference between "the inheritance" (Col. 1: 12) and
"the reward of the inheritance" (Col. 3: 24) illustrated
from Josh. 14: and 15:
pp. 52 - 58
The reader may not have very vividly in mind the fact that the structure of Joshua is
concerned very largely with "the land" and its division and possession, and as we are now
entering upon the third great sub-division of the book. An abbreviated outline of the
whole structure may perhaps be appropriate.
Joshua as a whole.
A | 1: 1. DEATH OF MOSES.
B | 1: 2 - 7: ENTRY INTO THE LAND.
(a) Divided.
(b) Espied.
(c) Entered.
C | 8:-12: CONQUEST OF THE LAND.
B | 13: - 24: 28. POSSESSION OF THE LAND.
(a) To be possessed.
(b) I have divided.
(c) Of the Amorites.
A | 24: 29-33. DEATH OF JOSHUA AND ELEAZAR.
In our last article we drew attention to the difference between "taking" the land, and
"possessing" it. Something of the truth implied in this distinction can be seen by
comparing together the following passages:
"So Joshua took the whole land" (Josh. 11: 23).
"How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your
fathers hath given you?" (Josh. 18: 3).
Here we have a glimpse of an important principle found not only in the Old Testament
but also in the New. Christ has conquered. He is the great Overcomer. Nevertheless
slackness on the part of the believer robs him of much that he might otherwise enjoy.
Immediately following the words quoted above from Josh. 18:, comes the
command to Israel to choose "three men for each tribe", to be sent by Joshua to go
through the land, and describe it upon their return. It is not surprising, when we know
something of the construction of Scripture, to find that between the statements of
Josh. 11: 23 and 18: 3 comes the record of one who had previously spied out the
land--Caleb the Overcomer, whose story is the very antithesis of the "slackness"
condemned by Joshua.