The Inheritance, Part 1 (Joshua 13-15)

This sermon may, at times, feel like a geography lesson! But that is as it should be – because the central chapters of the book of Joshua are a geography lesson!

For many of us, geography was about memorizing the various states, and the capital cities of each state.

But geography is about so much more!

When I was growing up in California, I learned all about the "water wars" between the various interests – the cities, the central valley, the "salad bowl" – all of which were fighting over a decreasing amount of water!

Many of you have heard my prediction that the Great Lakes area will be the next region to experience an economic boom. Why? Because water always wins!

We learn that in our text tonight! Without water, what is the use of land?

But tonight's geography lesson is not just a matter of "secular" geography. When Joshua lays out the boundaries of the tribes of Israel, he wants us to see the importance of the land – the inheritance – that God is giving to his Son. The boundaries and cities named in our text were familiar to those who lived there. hTey would have walked these paths – they would have known people in these places.

"I had a cousin who lived there!"

It's more remote for us – but it is important for us to remember that – like Rahab – we have been grafted in to Israel, so that this becomes our story as well.

The inheritance of Joshua's day, after all, prefigures the inheritance that we have received in Jesus!