Week of Monday April 20 – April 26
Inheritance – Man as Provider
When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. By command of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it. Joshua 19:49-50 ESV
America’s founding generation was heavily influenced by the Bible when developing their understanding of government and human rights, more than any other source. But another key influence was British political philosopher John Locke. Locke was a Christian, and his writings on government contain many allusions to Scripture, particularly the Old Testament. He argued that humans have a right to life, liberty, and property and that they are entitled to defend these rights:
Man being born, as has been proved, with a title to perfect freedom, and an uncontrouled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature, equally with any other man, or number of men in the world, hath by nature a power, not only to preserve his property, that is, his life, liberty and estate, against the injuries and attempts of other men; but to judge of, and punish the breaches of that law in others[.] (Second Treatise of Government, chapter 7, section 87)
Initially, property might sound less spiritual than life and liberty, but in the book of Joshua, land is a big deal. It represents the fulfillment of God’s promise, His provision, and the establishment of a future. God had pledged this land to His people generations earlier, and now, He was keeping that promise.
In our passage, the mission was nearly complete. The battles had been fought and the land had been distributed. Only after every tribe had received its inheritance did Joshua finally receive his piece of the Promised Land. This is an important detail. Despite being God’s general, Joshua did not put himself at the front of the line. He waited patiently until everyone else had been provided for. Then, and only then, did he receive Timnath-serah. And what did he do next? He rebuilt the city, settled there, and left it behind as an inheritance.
What will we leave to those who follow in our footsteps? I’m not just talking about houses or land; I’m asking you, as a man of God, what spiritual “property” you will leave behind when your life one day comes to an end.
Whether we realize it or not, we are daily building a legacy that we will leave behind. We are shaping how our family views God, modeling what faithfulness looks like under pressure, and demonstrating what we think matters most. While your children and grandchildren may inherit your physical possessions, they will live off your example.
May God guide us to live intentionally, creating a meaningful impact on the next generation for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of God!
Inheritance – Man as Provider
When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. By command of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it. Joshua 19:49-50 ESV
America’s founding generation was heavily influenced by the Bible when developing their understanding of government and human rights, more than any other source. But another key influence was British political philosopher John Locke. Locke was a Christian, and his writings on government contain many allusions to Scripture, particularly the Old Testament. He argued that humans have a right to life, liberty, and property and that they are entitled to defend these rights:
Man being born, as has been proved, with a title to perfect freedom, and an uncontrouled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature, equally with any other man, or number of men in the world, hath by nature a power, not only to preserve his property, that is, his life, liberty and estate, against the injuries and attempts of other men; but to judge of, and punish the breaches of that law in others[.] (Second Treatise of Government, chapter 7, section 87)
Initially, property might sound less spiritual than life and liberty, but in the book of Joshua, land is a big deal. It represents the fulfillment of God’s promise, His provision, and the establishment of a future. God had pledged this land to His people generations earlier, and now, He was keeping that promise.
In our passage, the mission was nearly complete. The battles had been fought and the land had been distributed. Only after every tribe had received its inheritance did Joshua finally receive his piece of the Promised Land. This is an important detail. Despite being God’s general, Joshua did not put himself at the front of the line. He waited patiently until everyone else had been provided for. Then, and only then, did he receive Timnath-serah. And what did he do next? He rebuilt the city, settled there, and left it behind as an inheritance.
What will we leave to those who follow in our footsteps? I’m not just talking about houses or land; I’m asking you, as a man of God, what spiritual “property” you will leave behind when your life one day comes to an end.
Whether we realize it or not, we are daily building a legacy that we will leave behind. We are shaping how our family views God, modeling what faithfulness looks like under pressure, and demonstrating what we think matters most. While your children and grandchildren may inherit your physical possessions, they will live off your example.
May God guide us to live intentionally, creating a meaningful impact on the next generation for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of God!
- Considering Joshua’s example, how are you prioritizing those you lead? Are they getting your best or your leftovers?
- What kind of spiritual inheritance are you preparing to leave behind? If you were to die today, would your legacy guide others toward Christ, or would it leave them confused about what truly matters?
- Ask God to help you be more intentional about providing an example that points those you love and lead to Jesus.