Joshua's Inheritance

I never realized this before in Joshua but evidently, he asked for and received the inheritance of his choice upon completion of his work leading the people of Israel into the Promised Land and dividing up the territories tribe by tribe.

Joshua 19:49–50 (ESV) When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 By command of the LORD they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.

There is a firm reward for those who would serve God. It may not seem like it at times, but it will come. And I love the little detail about Joshua ASKING for the territory and getting what he wanted by the "command of the Lord."

I also love the name of the city in his possession. The name "Timnath-serah" means, "Portion redundant; abundant portion" Joshua did not get scraps from God for his service. He got abundance.

God watches out for His servants. End of story.

I know there are a lot of us who may struggle with the concept that serving God is just not worth it. After all, look at those who don't serve God, don't they seem so happy and blessed? Look at those who even mock the faith, Christianity or Christ Himself, their lives seem free of pain and they seem to get the big breaks and/or big money. If we are not careful we will quickly forget this one thing... you haven't YET seen the END of the story.

Whoever is on top of the world today will not stay there. That's a fact proven in each generation. And can you ever find yourself asking about that once "hot item" person, "Whatever happened to _______?" That's because notoriety and the fame do not last. It never can. And it's not what you were made for. You were made for God's purposes. You were made for His plan. What you see right now is not the end of the story for you either.

Joshua stayed faithful to his task until the time came for him to ask and receive. Sometimes that's what we have to do. Instead of getting caught up in what others are getting, we need to be focused on what God would have us be doing.

There's a blessing to being occupied with God's work. You don't have time to compare your lot to those around you. I bet the most frequent times you find yourself comparing your life to others is when you have free time on the internet or in your neighborhood or school to examine someone else's life. Idle hands are indeed the devil's playground and his favorite game is the "comparison trap". Watch out for this. 

Learn from Joshua. He's focused on the task God had for him and spent no time worrying about what he was getting. He left that timing to God. He's trusted that obedience is really all that matters in the economy of heaven. God will take care of the rest. 

He's right. And we have scores of text to back up such a sentiment. (To name a few:)

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Matthew 16:27 (ESV) For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Now, of course, we know the true and better Joshua asked for and received His inheritance as well. What is Jesus' inheritance? It is you!

Psalm 2:8 (ESV) Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.