Inheritance in Christ
The first allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. It lay between the territory assigned to the tribes of Judah and Joseph. The northern boundary of Benjamin’s land began at the Jordan River, went north of the slope of Jericho, then west through the hill country and the wilderness of Beth-aven. From there the boundary went south to Luz (that is, Bethel) and proceeded down to Ataroth-addar on the hill that lies south of Lower Beth-horon. The boundary then made a turn and swung south along the western edge of the hill facing Beth-horon, ending at the village of Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a town belonging to the tribe of Judah. This was the western boundary.... These were the towns given to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, Kephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve towns with their surrounding villages. Also Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zela, Haeleph, the Jebusite town (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen towns with their surrounding villages. This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Joshua 18:11-28 NLT
The tribe of Benjamin was prominent among the remaining seven tribes. The determination of the allotment of land was based on casting “sacred lots in the presence of the Lord our God” (v. 6). This act of Joshua showed that the decision will not be his but based on God’s direction. Benjamin is Joseph’s brother and based on the casting of lots, his apportionment was next to Judah on the south and Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh on the north. When Joshua mentioned that the allotment will be based on God’s direction, it points to the fact that the land belongs to God and He is the one assigning apportionment. This means that those who will be occupying the land should always focus on God and submit to Him whether they will be inconvenienced or not. Whatever we have in this world should be acknowledged as belonging to God. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him... They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:1, 5-6). Such recognition of God’s ownership should result to worship. We should also realize that as God’s steward of His blessings, we are to be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). For the Israelites, Canaan was their place of rest. It was Joshua who led them in their place of rest (Hebrews 4:8). Christ’s coming in this world facilitated the inheritance we will receive because we have trusted in Him. “For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them... For only we who believe can enter his rest” (Hebrews 4:2-3). It is in Christ alone that we should trust so we can receive His rest. “He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (John 17:2-3).
Blessings,
