Study 31: Joshua 19: 1-51

This study focuses on the importance of God's promises and His guidance as seen in the book of Joshua. It highlights how the Israelites received their promised inheritance after following God’s instructions, showing that true fulfillment of His promises comes through obedience and trust in Him. The passage encourages believers to study how God leads His people, using examples like the distribution of land to the tribes and Joshua's role in ensuring God's will was carried out. It emphasizes the need to build up and sometimes rebuild the gifts and blessings God gives, often requiring perseverance and trust. Through studying the Word, believers can better understand God's purpose for their lives, even in challenging circumstances.

Sermon Outline

• 1. Introduction: The Charge to Israel

  • Timestamp: 00:00 - 01:14

  • Key Point: Joshua calls the people of Israel to move forward and receive the inheritance promised by God.

  • Scripture: Joshua 18:1-3 – Israelites move from Gilgal to Shiloh, but despite control, they haven't fully received the promise.

  2. The Importance of God's Control

  • Timestamp: 01:15 - 02:14

  • Key Point: True fulfillment of God's promises is only possible when we allow Him to control the outcome.

  • Application: Reflect on areas where control needs to be surrendered to God.

  3. Responsibility for Receiving God's Promises

  • Timestamp: 02:15 - 03:17

  • Key Point: Joshua questions why the tribes delayed in claiming their inheritance, placing the responsibility on them.

  • Scripture: Joshua 18:3 – Joshua urges the remaining tribes to take action.

  4. The Allotment of Land to the Tribes

  • Timestamp: 03:18 - 07:45

  • Key Point: The land was divided among the seven remaining tribes, including significant cities like Jerusalem being given to Benjamin.

  • Scripture: Joshua 18:11-19 – The allotments to the tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan.

  5. The Role of Leadership: Spirit-Led and God-Chosen

  • Timestamp: 13:45 - 16:40

  • Key Point: Joshua's leadership is not from personal merit but from the Spirit of God. Leaders should rely on God's Spirit, not their own strength.

  • Scripture: Numbers 27:15-23 – Moses appoints Joshua as leader by God's command.

  6. Leadership Through Servanthood

  • Timestamp: 19:46 - 20:24

  • Key Point: Joshua prioritized the needs of Israel before his own, demonstrating the servant leadership model.

  • Application: Reflect on how we can prioritize God's work and others over personal gain.

  7. The Challenge of God's Gifts

  • Timestamp: 25:23 - 26:46

  • Key Point: God’s gifts often come with challenges and opposition, requiring effort and perseverance to fully appreciate them.

  • Application: Consider how difficult circumstances might be God's gifts, cloaked in opposition.

  8. The Call to Build and Rebuild

  • Timestamp: 36:09 - 38:38

  • Key Point: Joshua built up the land he was given, illustrating that God's gifts sometimes require us to build or rebuild.

  • Scripture: Joshua 19:49-50 – Joshua receives Timnath Serah, a land that required clearing and rebuilding.

  9. Staying Rooted in God's Gifts

  • Timestamp: 42:04 - 44:16

  • Key Point: Joshua not only built up the land but chose to remain there. The importance of settling into God’s gifts and staying faithful.

  • Scripture: John 15:5-6 – Remain in Christ to bear fruit; apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal value.

  10. Application: Finish Well in God's Kingdom

  • Timestamp: 47:52 - End

  • Key Point: The Israelites finished dividing the land, but the real question is how each of us will finish the work God has assigned.

  • Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition; consider others above yourselves as part of Kingdom work.

  
  

Scripture References

1. Joshua 18:1-3

   • Timestamp: 01:14 - 02:14

   • Context: This passage describes the Israelites moving from Gilgal to Shiloh and receiving a charge from Joshua to take possession of the promised land. The reference is used to emphasize that God's promises are only realized when His people take action and move forward in obedience.

   • Usage: It highlights that even when something is under control (like the Israelites having control of the land), fulfillment comes only through God’s guidance and action.

   2. Joshua 18:11-19

   • Timestamp: 03:18 - 07:45

   • Context: This section details the allotment of land to the remaining seven tribes of Israel. Joshua oversees the division of the promised land.

   • Usage: Used to illustrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel by ensuring each tribe received their inheritance.

   3. Numbers 27:15-23

   • Timestamp: 13:45 - 14:54

   • Context: Moses appoints Joshua as his successor to lead the Israelites into the promised land. This scripture is referenced to show that Joshua’s leadership was divinely appointed, not earned by human merit.

   • Usage: Emphasizes that God chooses leaders and equips them with His Spirit to fulfill His purposes.

   4. Philippians 2:3-4

   • Timestamp: 21:32 - 22:07

   • Context: Paul instructs believers to act with humility, valuing others above themselves. This reference aligns with Joshua’s leadership, where he prioritizes the needs of Israel before his own inheritance.

   • Usage: Illustrates the selfless leadership of Joshua and encourages believers to follow that example in their own lives.

   5. Psalm 84:11

   • Timestamp: 31:29 - 32:14

   • Context: The verse states that God does not withhold good things from those who walk uprightly. It is used to remind believers that even when gifts from God seem challenging, they are ultimately for our good.

   • Usage: Encourages listeners to trust in God’s provision, even when His gifts are cloaked in difficulty, as was Joshua’s case with the land he inherited.

   6. Romans 8:28

   • Timestamp: 33:30 - 34:15

   • Context: This well-known verse explains that God works all things for the good of those who love Him. It is referenced to explain how even opposition and hardship can be part of God’s good plan for us.

   • Usage: Highlights how God used the challenges Joshua faced (e.g., opposition in the promised land) for Israel’s ultimate good, drawing parallels for believers’ lives today.

   7. Romans 5:3-4

   • Timestamp: 34:17 - 34:48

   • Context: Paul discusses how suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. This passage is referenced to explain the role of trials in developing spiritual maturity and hope in God’s promises.

   • Usage: Used to show how Joshua’s perseverance through challenges strengthened his leadership and faith, providing a model for believers.

   8. John 15:5-6

   • Timestamp: 42:04 - 44:16

   • Context: Jesus teaches that remaining in Him is essential for bearing fruit, and without Him, nothing of eternal value can be accomplished.

   • Usage: Used to emphasize Joshua’s commitment to remain in the land God had given him, illustrating the importance of staying faithful and rooted in God’s promises.

   9. Philippians 2:3-4

   • Timestamp: 21:32 - 22:07

   • Context: The scripture highlights humility, urging believers to consider others before themselves. This ties into Joshua’s servant leadership, where he sought the good of Israel first before receiving his own reward.

   • Usage: Provides a model for selfless leadership, encouraging believers to act with humility in service to others, much like Joshua did.

   10. Genesis 12:1-3

   • Implied Reference

   • Timestamp: 01:14 - 02:14

   • Context: Although not explicitly mentioned, the promise God made to Abraham about giving his descendants the land of Canaan underpins the entire narrative of Joshua’s leadership in leading Israel to possess that land.

   • Usage: Used to show the continuity of God’s promises, from Abraham’s covenant to Joshua’s leadership, in guiding Israel into their inheritance.

   
   

Word Study

1. Shiloh (שִׁילֹה)

   • Scripture Reference: Joshua 18:1

   • Meaning: "Place of rest" or "peace."

   • Context in the Study: Shiloh is the place where the Israelites set up the Tabernacle after entering the Promised Land, representing a moment of peace and rest after their long journey. It is also where Joshua calls the people to take possession of the land, signifying that God’s promises are connected to His peace and rest.

   • Word Study: The Hebrew word Shiloh derives from the root shalah (שָׁלָה), meaning "to be quiet or at ease." This word emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises as a place of peace, where His people dwell in safety.

2. Yashab (יָשַׁב)

   • Scripture Reference: Joshua 19:50

   • Meaning: "To dwell" or "to remain."

   • Context in the Study: When Joshua receives his inheritance, he "settled" in the land, rebuilding and dwelling in it. This word emphasizes the importance of remaining in God’s promises and faithfully living in the place God has given.

   • Word Study: Yashab speaks to the act of dwelling or sitting with a sense of permanence. It implies more than just occupying a place; it suggests staying rooted and abiding in the land or situation God has provided, echoing John 15’s call to remain in Christ.

3. Nachalah (נַחֲלָה)

   • Scripture Reference: Joshua 18:7

   • Meaning: "Inheritance" or "possession."

   • Context in the Study: The concept of inheritance is central to Joshua's leadership, as he oversees the division of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel. This word reflects both the physical land given to the Israelites and the spiritual inheritance promised by God to His people.

   • Word Study: Nachalah carries the connotation of a lasting possession, something granted by divine right. It’s tied to covenantal promises, reminding Israel that their inheritance (both land and spiritual blessings) comes directly from God as a fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.