RPG Adults
THE HERITAGE OF THE LAST THREE TRIBES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
Joshua 19:24-51
Proverbs 22:1-5
“By humility and the fear
of the LORD are
riches, and honour, and life.”
THE HERITAGE OF THE LAST THREE TRIBES
The heritage of the tribe of Asher was the fifth lot that the leaders of Israel cast. Their heritage is described in Joshua 19:24-31. Anna, the old woman featured at the birth of Christ in Luke 2:36-38, came from this tribe. Asher was the eighth son of Jacob. His mother was Zilpah, the maidservant of Leah. These were Jacob’s word concerning Asher: “Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties” (Gen 49:20). This is a positive prophetic blessing which came to pass.
The heritage of the tribe of Naphtali is also described in Joshua 19:32-39. It was the sixth lot out of seven last allocations to the tribes of Israel. The total number of cities assigned to Naphtali was nineteen. All families in the tribe received their inheritance. They followed the same pattern as all the other tribes. This was Jacob’s description of Naphtali: “Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words” (Gen 49:21). It was brief, but this positive remark from God was great.
The lot of the heritage of the tribe of Dan was the seventh and last lot. The heritage of Dan is described in Joshua 19:40-48. The tribe was assigned eighteen cities. The tribe of Dan fought the Canaanites and captured the city of Leshem, and called it Dan, after their father.
All tribes were thus settled. The narrative ended, “These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country” (Josh 19:51).
This marked the end of the final race to capture Canaan. Joshua completed dividing the land and he was given Timnathserah in Ephraim as his family’s heritage. Joshua and Eleazar were thus used by God to fulfil His long-term promise.
THOUGHT: Leadership requires a fatherly spirit as that of Joshua.
PRAYER: Father, give us leaders today who are endued with humility.