Mixed Blessings Part 1

The first twelve chapters of the Book of Joshua record the Israelites' conquest of the land of Canaan. The land God promised to give them was conquered, and all the kings and major cities were defeated. This was not the end, but only a new beginning. The land still needed to be divided amongst the Tribes of Israel. There would continue to be difficulties and battles to fight as many Canaanites were still scattered throughout the land. 

Joshua 15-19 gives an account as the remaining land was divided and inherited by the final 7 tribes. The land was the fulfillment of God's promise to the nation and a sign of God's blessings upon His people. All the tribes received an inheritance full of blessings that they received from God as a gift. Unfortunately, not all tribes enjoyed -- nor received -- the gift equally.

This section of Joshua gives an incredible amount of detail regarding the geographical boundaries and specifics about the tribes that were to gain the land. Matthew Henry once said of this part of Joshua, “We are not to skip over these chapters of hard names as useless and not to be regarded; for where God has a mouth to speak and a hand to write we should find an ear to hear and an eye to read; and God will give us a heart to profit.”

Within this section of Joshua, we find a story of mixed blessings. The details, boundaries, landscape, and circumstances of each tribe's inheritance were not identical--nor was the way each tribe received and enjoyed the land they inherited. There are many lessons to learn as we consider the challenge of walking in victory as Christians while continuing to fight battles and face new challenges. In Christ, we have been delivered from slavery to sin and saved from the penalty of our sin. Yet, we continue to battle with our flesh, the world, and the devil.

How can we walk in victory when there are still battles to fight?