Delayed Obedience is Disobedience
August 16, 2021
Commentary
The tabernacle was moved from Gilgal to Shiloh in this chapter (vv. 1-2). Some commentators say this move was probably a mistake as Gilgal was the original place of God’s choosing and there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that the move was pleasing to Him. There were some obvious logistical benefits to the move. Shiloh was a more central location among the twelve tribes, and it was closer to where Joshua lived. The tabernacle remained in Shiloh through the period of the judges which was about 300 years. This city never really lived up to the reputation of Israel’s religious center, for later references in the Bible point to its wickedness (Psa. 78:56-60).
Seven of the tribes had not yet been assigned their land (v. 2). Joshua asks them how long they are going to procrastinatein taking the land (v. 3) What should our first focus in warfare be? It is to possess that which has been promised to us, to take possession of our inheritance. They gathered at Shiloh where Joshua cast lots to determine which area would be given to each tribe (v. 6). Little is known about the method used of casting lots, but it was a common practice among the Hebrews in making important decisions. No matter how it was done, the process removed human choice from the decision-making process and allowed God to match tribes and lands as He saw fit (v. 10). Moses or Joshua didn’t give the children of Israel their inheritance. God did. Moses and Joshua were only instruments God used.
Application
Joshua asked why some of the tribes were putting off the job of possessing the land. Often, I tend to procrastinate doing jobs that seem large and difficult, boring, or disagreeable. Lord, help me to not be slow in possessing the land of opportunities you have given to me.
Joshua 18:1– 28 (NET)
1 The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and there they set up the tent of meeting. Though they had subdued the land, 2 seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long do you intend to put off occupying the land the Lord God of your ancestors has given you? 4 Pick three men from each tribe. I will send them out to walk through the land and make a map of it for me. 5 Divide it into seven regions. Judah will stay in its territory in the south, and the family of Joseph in its territory in the north. 6 But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 But the Levites will not have an allotted portion among you, for their inheritance is to serve the Lord. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land east of the Jordan, which Moses the Lord’s servant assigned them.”
8 When the men started out, Joshua told those going to map out the land, “Go, walk through the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you before the Lord here in Shiloh.” 9 The men journeyed through the land and mapped it and its cities out into seven regions on a scroll. Then they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 10 Joshua drew lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord and divided the land among the Israelites according to their allotted portions.
11 The first lot belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph. 12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho on the north, ascended westward to the hill country, and extended to the wilderness of Beth Aven. 13 It then crossed from there to Luz, to the slope of Luz to the south (that is, Bethel), and descended to Ataroth Addar located on the hill that is south of lower Beth Horon. 14 It then turned on the west side southward from the hill near Beth Horon on the south and extended to Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. This is the western border. 15 The southern side started on the edge of Kiriath Jearim and extended westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 The border then descended to the edge of the hill country near the Valley of Ben Hinnom located in the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. It descended through the Valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites to the south and then down to En Rogel. 17 It went northward, extending to En Shemesh and Geliloth opposite the Pass of Adummim, and descended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18 It crossed to the slope in front of the rift valley to the north and descended into the rift valley. 19 It then crossed to the slope of Beth Hoglah to the north and ended at the northern tip of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan River. This was the southern border. 20 The Jordan River bordered it on the east. These were the borders of the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.
21 These cities belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—a total of twelve cities and their towns.
25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath—a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.
Illustration: Warning Signs Are Given by Lights Sirens Etc
At an intersection, the green light changes to yellow; At a railroad crossing the lights begin to flash; In a small Midwestern town the tornado siren screams; On the football field the two minute warning sounds; In the cargo bay of a C-140 a red-light comes on; In the Desert of Judea, a voice of one calling in the wilderness is heard declaring, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” What do each of these have in common? They are signs or warnings that we need to prepare ourselves for what is about to happen. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).