Joshua 14:1-5 – The True Inheritance

Now we move back to considering the land of Canaan – to the West of the Jordan, the main section of territory the LORD gave to His people. These verses mention twice (v3, v4) that the tribe of Levi did not receive an allocation of land like the other tribes. This adds to what we already saw in the previous chapter. 13:14 – “To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the LORD God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to them”. 13:33 – “But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them”. In the middle of all this allocation of land, the people of God are being pointed to their true inheritance.

The Levites had no land for their inheritance because the LORD Himself was their inheritance (see also Deut. 18:1, 2). God did not want them to be concerned about land, but to concentrate on their crucial ministry of being priests for all the people. Their needs would be met from the offerings and sacrifices made to the LORD. As well as this they were given towns to live in and pasture lands for their livestock.

This information should summon all Israelites (and all Christians) to adopt the Levites’ perspective. The work of the LORD was more important than what they actually possessed. If they did His work, He’d take care of their provision. They were also to see that God Himself is the portion or inheritance that we should be keenly anticipating. No Israelite should have despised their land allocation but healthy, grateful faith would have looked beyond the inheritance to the One who granted it. Healthy, grateful faith never prizes the LORD’s gifts more than the LORD Himself. He is our portion – our inheritance – and remains that no matter what we may not have.