The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 290

go in and possesR it for themselves. God will drive out the Canaanites tl111.t 11re still there, not without them, bnt "f1·om. befo1·e them." (eh. xiii. 6). The decision of the lot seems t.o have l.u1d reference only to the general local situation of the tribes; the acttml extent of the territory in each case was left to be determined by the discretion of ,Toshna and the lea<lers. There was no caprice in this Divine decision. Nothing God does is arbitrary or reasonless. It was, no doubt, determined according 'to the peculmr clmracteristics of each particular tribe, and in such a way 11s that its geog1:a- phical conditions should be best fitted to develop its latent powers. Important practical lessons are suggested. 11) However devoutly we may recognise the Divine Pro,idence that is ornr us, we have to determine for ourselves the path of duty. (2) The circumstances of life place possibilities of good within our reach, which it remains for oursel'\"es to actualise. (3) Every man's life in this world supplies the needful conditions of moral education, if he have but wisilom to discern and skill to impron them. III. THE SEPARATENESS OF THOSE WHO ARE SPECIALLY DEVOTED TO SPIRITUAL WORK n. THE WORLD. This is indicated by the peculiar position of the tribe of Levi. To them was given no inheritance, "save cities to dwell in with their suburbs.' '· The sacrifices of the Lord God m11de by fire'' (as 11lso tithes and first-fruits) '· were their inheritance" (eh, xiii. 14). "The Lord God of Israel Himself was the Jot of their inheritance" (eh. xiii. 33; Nnm. x:viii. 20-24). Their position thus bore witness to the sanctity of the whole nation as "e. kingdom of priests" unto the Lord (Exod. rix. 6). They were the representatives of its faith and the ministers of its worship. And their representative character was made the more effective by the fact of their cities being scattered throughout the tribes (eh. xxi.). This principle of separateness is illustrated-(1) In the various provisions by which the sanctity of the priesthood was maintained under the economy of the law. (2) In the New Testa- ment institution of a certain order of men who should be set apart-not, indeed, as a hierarchy to whom mystic powers belong, but as the ministers of spiritual in- struction and edification to the Church of God (Eph. iv. 11, 12, 13; 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14). (3) In the Apostolic teaching as to the unworldliness of spirit and life ,hat becomes the followers of Christ (Phil. iii. 20; Col. iii. 1, 2, 3 ; Heh. x. 34 ; 1 Peter ii. 9).-W. Yer. 2.-Inheritance by lot. While the trans-Jordanic tribes chose their own inheritance, the nine-and-a-half tribes submitted to the distribution by lot, an~ t,~us signified their desire to have their possession chosen for them by God. Suhllllssion to the lot was a sign of good qWJ,lities which we may well imitate, although altered ci.rcu.mstances and fuller light make it onr duty to show them in other ways. I. BELIEF IN PROVIDENCE. The Jew believed that God superintended the lot (Prov. xn. 33). If there be Providence there can be no chance. The word " chance" describes the app6arance of events to us: it is indicative of our ignorance. A perfect providential care will guide the smallest events (~att. x. 29). . . II. SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GoD. These tribes resigned the choice of their possession to God, and were willing to take whatever He assigned them. We are not free to take our destinies into our own hands. We are God's servants, God's children. Dutiful obedience implies submission to God's will in the shaping of our lives (1 Sa::n. iii. 18). III. TRUST IN THE WISDOM AND GOODNESS OF GoD. The submission was fearless and trustful. "re often shrink from God's will even while we bow to it. We submit sadly as to some painful necessity. We should say, "Thy will be done," not with dread and sorrow, but with confidence and hope; making the utterance not merely a reluctant concession, but an earnest prayer, because God's will is best jc,r us. It is best that He should "choose our inheritance for us,'' because (1) He knows all the character of the inheritance-we only its superficial aspects. (2) He knows future events-we only present apP.earances. (3) }Ie knows our true n~eds -we our foolish desires. (4) He knows our best life's mission-we ou.r selfish 11uns. Lot suffered by choosing hJs own inheritence (1 Gen. xiii. 11). IV. FAIRNESS AND GENEROSITY IN BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS, Those whcr Cli. XIV. 1-15.) THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 235