God's Provision

Joshua 21 gives the last details the of inheritance. The Levites did not have a portion in the land to remind them the land is not their ultimate portion. The Lord was to be their portion in the land of the living. Yet this chosen and privileged tribe was not to be neglected. God would supply the temporal needs of the Levites by giving them cities to dwell in. In this passage which teaches us about God's provision, we learn about

1. the prayers of God's servants
   Our prayers are to be scripturally governed. The prayers of God's servants were based on Num 35:2-3. We are to plead promises in our prayers that are governed by the Word of God. Our prayer life must be scripturally governed. 1 John 5:14 instructs us to ask for things in God's revealed Word.

2. the provision for God's servants
   God does not neglect the temporal welfare of his people. We are a kingdom of priests like Levites. The Lord knows we have need of a physical nature (Phil 4:19). We often want more than we need and believe wrongly God is reluctant to bless us. God sometimes withholds that which may harm us. 1 Cor 9:13-14 shows God's provision for the preacher so they have freedom to pursue gospel work for the benefit of the congregation. The children of Israel give out of their inheritance (out of what God had given them). Num 35:8 speaks of giving according to one's means. The preacher needs to guard against greed for filthy lucre.

3. a presence among God's saints
   The Levites lived among the people. They were teachers of the law to teach God's word to his people (Deut 33:8,10). They were types of Christ pointing people to the true Priest they needed.