Joshua 13:8-33 – Receiving our Inheritance

This passage contains a dangerous sign of Israel’s fading watchfulness. V8-13 describe the boundaries of the land possessed by the ‘East of Jordan’ tribes. V13 is the first in a series of similar statements that we’ll see throughout the rest of Joshua and even into Judges 1 – accusations of tribal failure to fully follow up the initial conquest.

It was one thing to invade and conquer a territory; it was another thing to persevere over a period of time to occupy the entire territory they’d been allocated. V13 seems matter-of-fact. Incomplete obedience usually is. It brings no immediate crisis. Incomplete obedience seldom does. But this is a warning to all God’s people: often we can be faithful in the greatest crisis of faith; we can remain steadfast in the heaviest storms; we may even thrive in the excitement of the heaviest battles; yet do we lack the dogged endurance and patient plodding that are often required in the ordinary activities of daily Christian living? Often we are slow to be faithful in what we consider to be little.

However, there is a note of repeated encouragement to be detected throughout these verses too. V15-23 go on to outline in detail the inheritance of the ‘East of Jordan’ tribes. Our old friends Sihon and Og keep reappearing, along with another opponent of Israel called Balaam! Throughout all the cities, villages and valleys of this chapter we’re being reminded of the victories the LORD had previously given Israel.

These references jog Israel’s memory and strengthen their faith in the face of their enemies. In remembering how God handled the fearsome Sihon and Og, God’s people find assurance of His continuing protection and empowering of His people. We still sing about them in the Psalms today (Ps. 135:10-14; 136:17-22)! Faith finds steadfastness and expectation by remembering and rejoicing in the LORD’s past acts of faithfulness.