Which is on page 228.
228, thank you.
Joshua 13
When Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
the Lord said to him,
You are very old and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.
This is the land that remains all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites
from the Shehor River on the east of Egypt
to the territory of Ekron on the north.
All of it counted as Canaanite,
the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza,
Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron,
that of the Avites.
From the south, all the land of the Canaanites,
from Ara of the Sidonians as far as Aphek,
the region of the Amorites,
the area of the Gabalites and all Lebanon to the east,
from Baal, Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo, Hamath.
As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrafoth,
Maim, that is all the Sidonians,
I myself will drive them out before the Israelites.
Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance,
as I have instructed you,
and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes
and half of the tribe of Manasseh.
The other half of Manasseh,
the Reubenites and the Gadites,
had received the inheritance
that Moses had given them east of the Jordan,
as he, the servant of the Lord,
had assigned it to them.
We have Joshua chapter 14, verses 6 through 15.
Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,
and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, said to him,
You know what the Lord said to Moses,
the man of God at Kadesh Barnea, about you and me?
I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord,
sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land,
and I brought him back a report according to my convictions.
But my brothers, who went up with me,
made the hearts of the people melt with fear.
I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.
So on that day Moses swore to me,
The land on which your feet have walked
will be with your inheritance,
and that of your children forever,
because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.
Now then, just as the Lord promised,
he has kept me alive for forty-five years
since the time he said this to Moses,
while Israel moved about in the desert.
So here I am today, eighty-five years old.
I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out.
I am just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.
Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.
You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there,
and their cities were large and fortified,
but the Lord, helping me,
I will drive them out just as he said.
Then Joshua blessed Caleb, son of Jephunneh,
and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.
So Hebron has belonged to Caleb, son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, ever since,
because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.
Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba,
who was the greatest man among the Anakites.
Then the land had rest from war.
Thanks very much.
I think they deserve a prize for getting through half of those names anyway.
Nightmare.
Well, what are all those names all about?
That's what we're going to find out.
So let's talk to God and pray,
and ask for His help as we get stuck into this.
Let's pray together.
Our Father God, we thank You again for Your Word.
We thank You that it is trustworthy and true.
We thank You that these words are not just words written by humans,
but they originate with You.
They are Your words that You have caused people to write.
And so as we read and as we listen,
we are hearing God's story,
His message to us today.
And so we pray that You would make Your Word applicable to us.
Make it relevant.
Speak it deep into our lives so that it changes us
and helps us to see the wonderful inheritance that is ours.
We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, I want to start this morning by asking us all two questions.
The first question is this.
What would you like to be doing in five years' time?
Or to put it another way,
what are your dreams for the future?
Just think about that for a minute.
What would you like to be doing in five years' time?
Well, if you are of school or college age,
you will most likely be finished your studies.
And so maybe you see yourself settled into a good, well-paid job,
possibly living in a different country.
Perhaps you'll even be married,
have a beautiful home,
and have a couple of children.
Who knows in five years' time?
Well, if you're in the midlife range,
you might see yourself as living comfortably.
Kids have kind of grown up a little bit,
so you have a little bit more time.
Maybe you see yourself in a bigger home,
finally enjoying some of life's little treats.
If you're in the next stage,
perhaps you will be retired,
or you're nearing retirement.
Your health is good,
and so you plan to travel a bit,
see the world,
visit family,
spend time with the grandchildren,
spend all your hard-earned savings.
What is it that you dream about?
What would you like to be doing in five years' time
or ten years' time?
Now, with those thoughts in mind,
here's the second question.
How certain are you
that those things are going to happen?
How confident are you
that your dreams and plans
will actually become a reality?
You see, we live in a world of uncertainty,
where dreams of healthy retirement
are interrupted by the news of a terminal illness,
where dreams of enjoying life with kids
are broken by redundancy or debt,
where dreams of getting married
and having a good job
remain dreams
because of spectacular personal failure.
The world that we live in today
is broken,
and we're broken,
and because of that,
there is nothing certain.
One comedian quipped
that the only thing that we are certain of
is paying taxes and dying.
In fact, the rise of the insurance industry
proves that we can't be certain.
It's so bad now
that we take out insurance
on top of insurance
because we live each day
with the reality
that something is going to go wrong,
and we need to be sure of that,
to be covered.
Nothing is certain.
Nothing is guaranteed in this world.
However, in Joshua,
all of that is reversed
because here we're introduced
to a God who speaks certainty
into an uncertain world,
a God who gives promises
and completes the promises.
In Joshua,
we've been meeting a God
who gives confidence
that He will do for His people
everything He said He will do,
no matter what or who
they come up against.
So whether it's a flooded River Jordan,
not a problem.
Whether it's the fierce armies of Jericho,
no hindrance,
whether it's the failure
of Joshua's people,
nothing can stop
what God has said He will do.
There's a confidence
and a certainty
with the promises of God.
And in Joshua chapters 13 and 14,
it's all about our future inheritance
and how we can be confidently certain
we will receive it.
So first,
our inheritance that's been promised.
Let's get into these chapters 13 and 14.
Geographically speaking,
Israel have crossed over the Jordan River.
They had defeated the Amorites.
They had destroyed Jericho.
They've broken through the main line of defense.
And in many ways,
the hard work has been done.
The big battles have been fought.
But they're not yet settled in the promised land.
A lot has been done,
but there's a lot more to do.
So chapter 13, verse 1.
When Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
the Lord said to him,
Joshua, you are very old
and there are still very large areas of land
to be taken over.
This is the land that remains.
And then he starts listing it all out.
In fact, you can see it there on the map.
The little blue arrows there
show that Israel have crossed over the Jordan River.
And then as they move west,
south and in the central lands
and up north,
these are all the lands to be taken.
So in the south, verse 2,
we read about the Philistines who are there
and the five big cities
where their rulers are in Gaza,
Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gath and Ekron.
Way down in the south,
the land still to be taken.
And then as they move up
into the center lands in verse 4,
there's the Canaanites.
And then as they move up from there
up into the north,
all the way up as far as Mount Hermon,
all those lands still to be taken.
You see, there's a lot of land there,
but with it,
there are still a lot of enemies.
Each region and each city
is fortified with their own armies.
Every town and place poses a threat
to Israel, to God's people.
Each one is strong enough to defeat them.
And it seems an insurmountable task.
They've only crossed the little river.
They've only overtaken Jericho.
But it's like there's a hundred other
Jerichos still to take.
And added to that,
look back at verse 1.
Joshua, we told,
was very old and well advanced in years.
He's got a zimmer frame out.
And in case poor Joshua has forgotten
and he thinks he's still a bit lively,
God reminds him,
Joshua, you're very old.
You need to put your slippers on, mate.
It's quite clear Joshua is past the age of fighting
and leading his people into battle.
So we're left wondering,
will they ever get to settle
in the land that God has promised them?
Well, as we work through this,
we must remember that it is God
who made the promise
and therefore it is His responsibility
to make sure that the promise is kept.
So look at verse 6.
He says,
as for all the inhabitants
of these mountainous regions,
from Lebanon to Mithra,
from Maim,
that is all the Sidonians,
I myself will drive them out
before the Israelites.
So God is saying to Joshua and his people,
I promised you an inheritance,
so it is my responsibility
to make sure that you get it
and to make sure that you will get it.
Look at the end of verse 6.
I myself will drive them out before you.
I'm going to fight for you.
In fact,
rehearsing this list of lands
in 2 to 5
is not meant to strike fear
into the heart of the people,
but to build confidence,
reminding them of actually
what is theirs,
what God has already promised them.
So look at the end of verse 6.
He's so sure,
so certain,
that he says,
be sure to allocate this land
to Israel for an inheritance
as I have instructed you,
and divide it out as an inheritance
among the nine tribes
and a half of the tribe of Manasseh.
The lands that lay before you
are not dreams
and wishful thinking
that you hope to someday get.
This is your inheritance.
You see,
it seems like that
in the face of challenges
and obstacles
and opposition,
God's people
constantly need to be reminded
of what God has promised
and what God has promised
he will always do.
It's so easy to look at
what's before us
and begin to shake and quiver
in our own boots
and seem,
this is insurmountable.
How are we going to get there?
How are we going to do it?
But God would have us
listen to his promise.
In fact,
this side of the cross
where we stand
in the whole redemptive story
of God,
he would have us look to,
not to Joshua
and all the battles
they would fight,
but he would have us look
to the ultimate warrior,
Jesus Christ,
the ultimate battle
that Christ has fought for us.
The battle he fought for us
on the cross
where he drove back
the greatest enemy,
Satan,
where he has defeated him,
where on the cross
he destroyed his plan,
he disarmed him
by his victory
on the cross.
And because he has defeated him,
he would have us look
at the ultimate inheritance,
not the physical lands,
that's all gone.
But the promised rest,
the eternal rest,
the land of the new creation,
paradise itself.
And he says,
that is guaranteed for you,
that is yours
because I have gone ahead of you
and fought the battle for you.
I have defeated your enemies
so that you can go
and receive that promised inheritance
because of what Christ has done.
That inheritance
promised
to his people.
But then,
inheritance
assured.
For the rest of chapter 13,
all the way through
to chapter 21,
we have this very detailed description
of what tribe of Israel
is going to get
what piece of land
and region.
We're told that
two of the tribes,
the Reubenites
and the Gadites,
they were going to settle
east of the Jordan
along with
half of a tribe
of Manasseh.
Then the other
nine and a half tribes
would settle
west of the Jordan,
making up 12 altogether.
Now this intricate detail,
it seems quite of a bore to us,
all these lists of names.
Look at verse 16,
for example,
as he starts listing out
what's going to happen.
He talks about
the territory
from Eror
of the rim
of the Arnon Gorge
and from the town
in the middle of the gorge
and the whole plateau
past Miba.
And then verse 25,
there's the territory
speaking to the Gadites.
You've got the territory
of Jazar
and all the towns
of Gilead
and the half
of the Ammonite country
as far as Eror
and Rabba.
And then speaking
to the half tribe
of Manasseh,
verse 30,
he says,
your territory
will extend
from Manahem
and including
all of Bashan,
the entire realm
of Og,
king of Bashan.
And that's just
chapter 13.
On and on it goes
for eight chapters.
Endless list of names
that I can't even pronounce.
That's why I'm not
reading it all.
Boundaries and borders
one after the other.
And it only seems
that the county
planner officer
understands what's
going on here.
It's a hard old read
and it's more like
an endurance exercise
to try and get through it.
But we must remember
that as we begin
to read
and flick over
the pages
one by one,
it's like reading
your own name
in the family inheritance.
So it's to be read
with excitement
and anticipation.
Every region named,
every city
that's mentioned,
every border
that's described
is like another item
of the family inheritance
that has been
personally given to you.
It's God's guarantee
to each people
that he says,
this is what you will get
because it's what
I have promised you.
In fact,
if we take a closer look
at some of these names
and places,
we will come away
confidently assured
that we will have
everything that God
has promised.
Look at verse 10.
He talks there
about all the towns
of Sion,
king of the Amorites,
who ruled in Heshbon.
And then down
at verse 12,
he talks about
the whole kingdom
of Og in Bashan,
who had reigned
at Ashtore.
Now when they begin
dividing up these lands,
we see that these places
begin to be mentioned
again.
In fact,
all the way through
we keep seeing them
being mentioned.
So look at verse 21.
He talks about
all the towns
and the plateau
and the entire realm
of Sion,
king of the Amorites,
who ruled in Heshbon.
He's mentioned it again,
verse 27.
The end of verse 27,
the realm of Sion,
king of Heshbon.
And then down
at verse 30,
he starts talking
about Og,
king of Bashan.
They just keep
being repeated
all the time.
And you were asking
the question,
what's so special
about these kings
and these regions
that they're being
repeated?
Well,
keep your finger
in chapter 13
and go back
to chapter 2.
Because
the kings of Sion
at Nog
were situated
on the east side
of the Jordan.
They were the first kings
that they came up against
before they even
crossed the Jordan.
And they defeated them.
And people began
to hear about it.
In fact,
the people of Jericho
heard about it.
So chapter 2,
verse 10.
We have heard
how the Lord
dried up the water
of the Red Sea
for you
when you came up
out of Egypt.
And what you did
to Zion and Og,
the two kings
of the Emirates
east of the Jordan,
whom you completely
destroyed.
When we heard of it,
our hearts sank
and everyone's courage
failed because of you.
For the Lord your God
is God in heaven
above
and on the earth
below.
You see,
it's a reminder
to the tribes
that if God
has dealt
with the likes
of Zion and Og,
these two great
big kingdoms
with their vast armies,
do you think
that there's anybody
else that could
stand in your way?
A few weeks ago,
Munster were playing
Leinster
in the Magners League
final.
Leinster were the
team of the season.
A week before,
they had been crowned
European champions,
Heineken Cup champions.
They were a formidable
force,
not a weak spot
in the side.
And a week later,
they were to play
Munster.
After a bad season
and everything,
the odds were
against them.
But we could imagine
McGahan,
Munster's coach,
talking to them
in the changing rooms.
Listen guys,
the last time
we played them,
we won.
The last time
they were down here
in Thoman Park,
we beat them.
Now if we've done
that in the past,
what's to stop
you doing it again?
And that's exactly
what's going on here.
God is saying,
if I defeated
the likes of Zion and Og,
the greatest enemies,
the strongest forces,
is there anybody else
that could stand
in your way?
And this is what
gives us assurance
and confidence,
rehearsing and remembering
past victories.
If this is what God
has done,
then what can He not do?
And there's a sense
in which our future
assurance
is all grounded
in past events.
The certainty of heaven
is grounded
in the past events
of what Christ has done.
not future things
that He's going to do.
And it's only as we
stand back
and we look back
and gaze through history
and see what God
has done
that we have confidence
and assurance
to move forward.
If Christ has taken
on our greatest enemy,
if Christ has disarmed
him of all His weapons,
if Christ has destroyed
the power over of death
through His resurrection,
if He is raised on high
and rules over all,
is there any reason
to think
that our conquered enemy
will be able
to stop us
reaching our inheritance?
Nothing
and no one
can stand
in the way
of God
and His people
and His promises.
Nothing.
So that's inheritance
assured.
But what about
actually receiving
their inheritance?
inheritance?
Well, in the same way
as the land
was divided
east of the Jordan,
so it was divided
west of the Jordan.
The division
of the east
between those
two and a half tribes
is chapter 13
and then we move
into chapter 14
and on
and it's the division
of the rest
of the land.
Look at 14 verse 1.
Now these are the areas
the Israelites
received
as an inheritance
in the land of Canaan,
which Eliezer,
the priest,
Joshua,
son of Nun
and the heads
of the tribal clans
of Israel
allotted to them.
Their inheritances
were assigned
by lot
to the nine
and a half tribes
as the Lord
had commanded
through Moses.
So here they are.
But let's remember
that 45 years ago
they were on the verge
of receiving
this exact
same inheritance.
45 years ago
do you remember
the stories?
12 spies
were sent out
one from each tribe
to go and explore
the land
and see what it was like.
45 years ago
and 12 of them
went out.
Do you remember
your Sunday school song?
How many were good?
Two were good
and
you didn't sing it
obviously.
10 were bad
and 2 were good.
Wasn't that it?
Anyway.
We'll have to ask Sandra
to sing it.
She knows it.
Well look back
at chapter 13.
Numbers chapter 13.
Because that gives us
a report
of what they found
when they went out
to explore this land
45 years previously.
remember God
had promised the land
and then he says
go out and have a look.
And this is the report
that comes back
chapter 13 of Numbers
verse 28.
But the people
who lived there
are powerful
and the cities
are fortified
and very large.
We even saw
descendants of Anak
there.
The Amalekites
live in the Negev.
The Hittites
the Jebusites
and the Amorites
live in the hill country
and the Canaanites
live near the sea
and along the Jordan.
Then Caleb
he was one of the good spies
silenced the people
before Moses
and said
we should go up
and take possession
of the land
for we can
certainly do it.
But the men
who had gone up
with him said
we can't attack
these people.
They are stronger
than we are.
And they spread
among the Israelites
a bad report
about the land
they had explored.
They said
the land we explored
devours
those living in it.
All the people
we saw there
are of great size.
We saw the Nephilim
there.
The descendants of Anak
come from Nephilim.
They were giants.
Huge people.
We seemed like
grasshoppers
in our own eyes
and we looked
the same to them.
Now we know
from the rest
of the story
that after that
40 years
after spying out
the land
they wandered
the desert
for 40 years.
A whole generation
died.
They failed
to get into
the promised land
because they failed
to trust
in what God
had promised them.
He said
this land is for you
but they didn't
trust them
to go ahead
except for two spies
one of whom
is mentioned here
in our story
in Joshua chapter 14.
Let's read about
what Joshua says
in verse 6
of chapter 14
in Joshua.
Now the men
of Judah
approached Joshua
at Gilgal
and they said
to Joshua
you know
what the Lord
said to Moses
the man of God
at Kadesh Barnea
about you and me.
That's where they
gave the report.
I was 40 years old
when Moses
the servant
of the Lord
sent me from
Kadesh Barnea
to explore the land
and I brought him
back a report
according to my convictions.
I knew we could
do it he was saying.
I knew God
had given to us.
I knew we could
go in and take the land.
Verse 8
But my brothers
who went up with me
made the hearts
of the people sink.
I however
followed the Lord
my God
wholeheartedly.
So on that day
Moses swore to me
the land on which
your feet have walked
will be your inheritance
and that of your children
forever
because you have
followed the Lord
my God
wholeheartedly.
Now this is not
an arrogant demand
on the part of Caleb
as if to say
stand back guys
and watch me
as I march in
and take the land.
Not at all.
This was an expression
of faith.
His confidence
hadn't changed
in the 40 years.
He was ready
to take the land
then
and he was ready
to take the land
now
not because of
who he was
but because of
what God
had promised him.
Verse 12
So he says
now give me
this hill country
that the Lord
promised me
that day.
You yourself
heard that the
Anakites were there
and that cities
were large and fortified
but
is that going to
stand in our way?
No, the Lord
helping me
we will drive
them out
just as he said.
You see
Caleb was a man
of faith.
He was stepping
out in faith
and the only way
that the people
were going to
receive their
inheritance
is faith
in what God
said he will do.
In fact
there's no room
for arrogance
or self-dependence.
It all rests
on God's power
on his plan
and on his promise.
One writer
put it helpfully
like this
it's not
great faith
in God
but it's our
little faith
in a great
big God.
Faith
in a great
big God
in what God
said he would do.
This is what
guarantees
receiving our
inheritance.
Faith in what
God can do
not what we
can do.
And nothing
has changed
throughout time.
Whatever place
we stand in
history
the way to
receive our
inheritance
is always
by faith.
Jump forward
in your Bible
to 1 Peter.
I haven't got a
page number.
If somebody's got it
they can shout it out.
1 Peter chapter 1.
1-2-1-7
if you're using a
church Bible.
1-2-1-7
1 Peter
chapter 1.
Let's pick it up
in verse 3.
We're remembering
here Caleb
he would go
into the land
by faith
trusting in
what God
said he would
do.
Now listen to
how this all
applies to us.
Verse 3
He says
Praise be
to the God
and Father
of our Lord
Jesus Christ
in his great
mercy
he has given
us new birth
into a living
hope
through the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ
from the dead.
This is the
past events
the past victories
something that
Christ has done
he's died
he's risen again
and because of
that verse 4
we go into
an inheritance
that can never
perish
spoil or fade
heaven itself
which is kept
in heaven
for you
and here's the
key verse
verse 5
who through
faith
are shielded
by God's
power
until the
coming of
salvation
that is ready
to be revealed
in the last
time.
Now you tell
me from
reading that
what guarantees
our inheritance
it's faith
in what Christ
has done
in the past
his death
and resurrection
for us
and his promise
to shield
us
or to protect
us
until we
get there.
Our inheritance
is guaranteed
our destination
is 100%
secure.
we thought
at the beginning
about our
dreams
well you know
what you can
lose your
job
you can
lose
your health
you can
lose your
spouse
or a
friend
you could
lose your
home
you could
lose your
possessions
you could
lose all
your savings
and the
loss of
any one
of those
things would
be terribly
difficult
but listen
to this
you cannot
lose
what God
has promised
you
you cannot
lose his
gift of
forgiveness
you cannot
lose his
love and
grace
and you
cannot
lose
what he
has reserved
for you
in heaven
in fact
all the
things that
are truly
worth living
for can
never be
taken away
from you
and as we
live through
this life
as we look
forward to
what's to
come
if we keep
our eyes
on what
is certain
it means
we can live
securely in
this world
today where
nothing seems
guaranteed
it means that
our decisions
and our choices
that we make
today will not
be made on
the basis of
fears and
worries about
the future
and what
happens if
this happens
and what
happens if
that happens
instead there
will be a
freedom
we will be
set free
to give
ourselves
completely
and entirely
to that which
is guaranteed
our promised
inheritance
and if you
are a Christian
then that's
where you're
heading
but there's
plenty of
people who
are not
heading to
their promised
inheritance
but Christians
are changed
that means we
can give
ourselves
completely to
our promised
inheritance
we can do
everything
we can take
risks in
life to see
that other
people get
there because
our future
is certain
we can give
of our money
to make sure
that people
that the gospel
goes out
because our
future is
certain
we can give
of our lives
we can go
moving places
we can go
different places
because our
future is
certain
and God
is with us
we don't need
to be building
for the here
and now
and building
our lives
full of material
things and
making sure
that everything
is okay
today
because all
of that
will one
day be
gone
but our
future
is certain
and it's
guaranteed
therefore we
are free
to make
decisions
and take
choices
and actions
that will
see other
people
also receive
their promised
inheritance
we have a
great promise
a great God
who has gone
before us
and nothing
and no one
will ever
stand
in his way
let's pray
together
our father
god
we are
truly
amazed
that it
is not
dependent
on us
in what
we can
do
but it's
all about
what god
has done
for us
in christ
he has
won the
greatest
battle
he has
secured
a victory
for us
he has
guaranteed
our future
inheritance
therefore
father
change us
so that
we will
live with
eternity
in mind
that we
wouldn't be
building up
storing up
for the
here and
now
but we
would live
for eternity
give us
as our
inheritance
the lost
may people
we know
in our
families
and our
friends
come to
love you
and follow
you
may we
give of
our
resources
give of
our
money
give of
our
time
give of
our
energies
because we
know that
the victory
is sure
so please
father do a
work in us
do a work
in our
community
do a work
in our
land
we pray
this in
jesus name
amen
we're going
to sing
together
how many
people know
this song
one
ralph
knows
it
sandra
knows
it
a couple
others
i think
you kind
of have
to
you either
have to
have been
brought up
in church
or kind
of be a
little bit
older
it's kind
of an
oldie
hymn
but it's a
good one
and it
reminds us
that
yeah we
don't rest
in ourselves
we rest
in the
one who
has gone
before us
the lord
jesus christ
we trust
in him
and in
his name
we go
let's stand
together
just follow
along
if you don't
know it
and join
in
we're going
to play it
at a reasonable
pace as well
because it can
drag out
otherwise
so we'll see
how it goes
we rest
on thee
a shield
and a defender
we go
not for
alone
against
the
strong
in thy
strength
praise
in thy
team