A Greater Portion
– Levitical Tribes Inheritance –
Joshua 21:1-45
Paul J. Bucknell
 
 

'A Special Promise' (Joshua 21:43-45) rightly follows the special call and service of the Levites. Here they are comforted and strengthened to carry out the mission that God has given to them. The Christians likewise must rely on the promises of God to carry out that mission. This is part 4 to a 5 part series on Joshua 21, 'Obtaining a Greater Portion.' See below for an index on Joshau.


So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:43-45, NASB).

The Lord fulfilled His promise. Yes, there were parts that still needed to be conquered. God pointed them out to them. But he land as a whole was given to them. They had rest on every side. Not one of their enemies could stand against them. Every promise that God made to them was important.
I wonder if sometimes we don’t think God has fulfilled His promises to us. Perhaps we are expecting a better life here. Or we are not expecting the troubles that pop up, whether it be health, relationship, job or financial problems. But please do not think because of this that the enemy is stronger. Please do not think another religion is more attractive. If Christianity has its ugly side, let it be stated it is not because God’s promises have not come fulfilled. It is because we have compromised. God’s people have failed to live out their mission to be the salt and light in the earth.
In fact, the opposite is true. At any point, we can prove God’s power. It doesn’t matter where you are or what position you are in school. If you really want to prove the truth of God and His Word, dare to live it out. First of all, become all committed to Christ. You must resolve your purpose in life. Who do you choose to live for. Secondly, start living as salt and light. It will be difficulty at first. We have learned to be politely quiet or aggressively rude. We need to speak when our Lord prompts us. God has work for each one of us. If we would only clean ourselves from our sins, then He would come and fulfill us.
Breakthrough comes when we unreservedly decide to follow and serve Him. But just remember, you need to treasure that calling. You need to be content with what God gives you.
Summary & Review
A special calling. A special service. A special promise. Nothing holds God’s people back from seeing God’s power in this generation. There is no sin, no devil, no culture, no philosophy that has a chance against God’s people when they set His heart on Him. The question is do you set your heart on Him?
Is the Lord calling you to full-time ministry but you waver back and forth from the Lord and the world. Please don’t enter full-time ministry! Pure-hearted servants are more important than gifted ones. Is the Lord prompting you to witness to someone or pray? Do it in faith! God’s promises are all there. You might be a bit afraid about going into that new campus or work place. Don’t. Satan is trying to intimidate you and make you be quiet. Rather be dead than quiet though there is not much difference. But be careful. Wise as serpents and gentle as doves. The issue is not God’s promises but whether we will take Him up on them. Making disciples is just within our grasp. Now if we only reach out and take up God’s promises. Who is to say that the university system you fear doesn’t fall like the wall of Jericho? Who is to say that modern humanism doesn’t run away when His servants stand up to fight?
The reason we have less now is because we can become strategically placed to serve our Lord’s interest. What a shame if we neglect His service to gain what will soon be taken away. Where is your treasure? What is it that you really want? God has given us His best: His calling, His service and His promises. Don’t you want the package deal that pays off wonderfully in the end? He is the best.
 
General Application
             Get now! (Greedy for the world and discontent with God’s ways)
 • Why are you discontent with what you have?
 • Why do you listen to the world’s ways?
• Why do you want these things, really?
• What are you neglecting by pursuing these?
           Receive more later (Content to suffer now, work faithfully and wait for His greater reward).
• What has the Lord called you to do?
• What might you have to sacrifice to serve?
• What special promises has He given to you?


  1. Next > Bible Study Questions on Joshua 21

    Obtaining a Greater Portion (Joshua 21:1-45)

    Index on Joshua

    Reaching Beyond Mediocrity (Joshua 10:1-43)
    – The Day the Sun Stood in the Sky –
    Skepticism and Higher Bible Criticism
    Joshua 10:12-14 Interpretations of the 'Sun stood in the sky.'
    Joshua 10:12-14 Purpose of Recording the Miracle
    Joshua 10:1-11: A. Joshua's Sincere Obedience
    Joshua 10:12-43: B. Joshua's Quest for God's Best
    Joshua 10:1-43: Bible Study Questions
    Mobilizing God's People (Joshua 1:10-18)

    Joshua 1:10-18: Introduction to Moblizing God's People
    Joshua 1:10-11: A. Communicates God’s Will
    Joshua 1:12-15: B. Demands Total Participation
    Joshua 1:16-18: C. Responds With A Clear Commitment
    Joshua 1:10-18: Bible Study Questions
    Finishing the Task (Joshua 13:1-33)

    Joshua 13: Introduction: 3 Unexplainables
    Joshua 13:1 Passes on the Vision
    Joshua 13:2-5 Knows the Need
    Joshua 13:6 Lives by Faith
    Joshua 13:7-33 Distributes the Responsibility
    Joshua 13:1-33 Bible Study Questions
    Victory over Strongholds (Joshua 6:1-27)
    Joshua 6:1-27 The Lesson from Jericho
    Joshua 6:1 Our Need for God's Power
    Joshua 6:2-5 Our Discovery of God's Solutions
    Joshua 6:6-27 Our Participation in God's Victory
    Joshua 6:1-27 Summary: You can win too!
    Joshua 6:1-27_Bible_Study_Questions
    Obtaining a Greater Portion (Joshua 21)

    Joshua 21 Introduction: A Greater Deal
    Joshua 21:1-7 A Special Calling
    Joshua 21:8-42 A Special Service
    Joshua 21:43-45 A Special Promise
    Joshua 21 Bible Study Questions
    Effectively Dealing with Defeat & Despair (Joshua 7:1-15)
    Joshua 7:1-15: Learning about Defeat and Failures
    Joshua 7:1-5: Falling into Failure
    Joshua 7:6-10: Staying in Disgrace
    Joshua 7:11-15: Road to Recovery
    Joshua 7:1-15: Bible Study Questions


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    Biblical Foundations for Freedom


    Rev. Paul J. Bucknell
 
C) A Special Promises (Joshua 21:43-45)