The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 289

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5.-The allotment of the tribes. This record of the division of the land among the tribes is suggestive of principles that are ce.pe.ble of a wider and more general e.pplice.tion, and e.lso of one that is narrower and more individual. Note- I. THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE THAT DETERMINES THE SPHERE A.'ID SURROUlIDP-!GS OF ALL BUMAN LIFE. This is indicated in the division being made by lot. ·what- .ever the form of the lot may have been, its meaning was that the destination of each particular tribe should not be a matter of human judgment or caprice, but should be left with God. It was no mere reference of the issue to blind chance. The faith of the age we.s too simple and real for that. J osbue. and the elders ha.cl too deep a sense of the presence e.nd guidance of the living God. We pass from this mere tribal a.lloce.tion to think how the same law holds good for all the nations of the world. St. Pe.ul showed bis freedom of spirit from the limitations of Jewish prejudice when be declared to the Athenians bow God, having ma.de of one blood all nations to dwell on e.ll the face of the earth, " determined for them the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation" (Acts xvii. 26). Christianity reveals e. God who is the Father of e.11 mankind, and not of one particular people. The t111e patriotism is that which e.cknowleges God's interest alike in all the nations, e.nd teaches us to cherish and use the gifts He has conferred specially on our own country for the common good. Again : the Providence that determines the lot of the nations bas the same control over the individual human life. Every man's position in the world is in some sense the fulfilment af. a Divine purpose. It may seem to be the result merely of the fo1·tnitous co=ingling of circumstance, or the capricious drift of ma,n's own choice. But we do well to see through all out- ward appearances the sovereign hand that guides the course of circumstances a,nd determines the issue. It is God, after all, who chooses our inherita.nce fo1· us. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lortl" (Prov. xvi. 33). The recognition of the Divine Providence tha.t is ov~r us bas many beneficial morn! effects. (1) It gives the sanctity of a. higher meanmg to life, (2) provokes to thankfulness, (3) rebukes discontent and <li_strust, (4) restrains inordinate ambition, (5) teaches that respect for the righ~s and mterests of others on which the order and well-being of society depend. II. THE HUMAN AGENCY BY WBICB THE PURPOSE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE IS fULFILLED, The land is divided according to the will of God, but the people must 234 THE ·nooK OF JOSHUA. [cR, XIV, 1-llf,