Courageous Promise
Notes
Transcript
July 9/12, 2020
Dominant Thought: God promises Himself as the best gift.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to realize that God is enough to meet our needs.
I want my listeners to trust the words of God now and forever.
I want my listeners to prioritize relationships over possessions.
On March 8, 2017, my friend Philip, my son , Walker and I went to see the World Series trophy for the Chicago Cubs. The trophy was on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. We waited in line for 7 hours to see that trophy. I thought, “Hey, we’ve waited 108 years, what’s 7 hours.” As we played our card games and read our books, we heard rumors that the Cubs were sending Hall of Famer, Ryne Sandburg to accompany the trophy. I was not convinced. Then, when we got within sight, sure enough Ryno came into the building (show picture). As we got closer to see and take our pictures, I had nearly forgot about the trophy. I wanted my son to shake Ryne Sandberg’s hand. Seven hours of waiting and what captured my attention was not that hunk of shining metal. It was a real live person.
In our text today from Joshua 13, we see the value of relationship over the stuff of this world. Beginning in Joshua 13, we leave the excitement of the drama crossing the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho and slow down to a geography lesson of each tribe receiving their inheritance. Joshua 13 closes with Joshua 13.33 where we read:
But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Today, I want to take this verse phrase by phrase to see how we can God and His gifts now and forever.
“But to the tribe of Levi...” Levi was one of the 12 sons of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel.
The first time we meet Levi, he is introduced in a very human light. In Genesis 34, Levi and his brother, Simeon take revenge on the people of Shechem for dishonoring their sister. Simeon and Levi, attacked the people of Shechem and killed every male. Their father, Jacob, confronted his sons, “You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to our neighbors” (Gen 34.30). On one hand, I think I’d like to have Levi as my brother because I know he’d stand up for me. But, let’s be honest. His judgment was flawed. That is how the story of Levi and the Levites begins, but God in His grace gave them a second chance and they were called to serve God.
They were called priests. They served in the tabernacle at the center of the worship of God. They were called to set up the big tent called the tabernacle (Numbers 1.51). They set it up and took it down every time the children of Israel moved. If you ever go camping, you’d want a Levite to go with you because they were experts on setting up tents. We could use some Levites on our camping trips to NYR.
Not only could they set up tents, They must have been good butchers as they sliced up the meat for the offerings. They must have been good grill masters, too.
They were called to be holy and clean to present the sacrifices to God. They wore special clothes that showed they were holy. They represented God to the people to God. The Levites were people of prayer offering incense to God that represented the prayers of the people to God.
The Levites are front and center of the major events in Joshua: crossing Jordan, marching around Jericho, and at the reading of the law. In each event, they are carrying the ark of the Lord--the presence of God.
Today, Christians are called to serve as priests. Our activities differ from the Levites, but we are still called to serve the living God. Listen to how 1 Peter 2.9 describes followers of Christ.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Remember who you are. You are a chosen, royal, and holy with a mission to declare God’s praises.
“Moses had given no inheritance...”
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the refrain, Moses gave the Levites no inheritance of land. On first glace, this seems like a bad deal to the Levites. I can imagine seeing all your cousins get parcels of new land to farm and raise livestock. Then, your name is called and you get nothing. To be fair they receive 48 cities in which to live that is mentioned in Joshua 21.
But, how come they don’t get any land. Earlier in Joshua 13.14, we read the answer.
But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.
You have no need to raise crops or livestock if all your food is provided for you. Throughout the Old Testament, the Levites are instructed to receive a share from the Lord’s altar. Their needs were provided by worship of the Lord and the generosity of God’s people.
And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,
so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
In God’s economy, His people take care His people. The Levites are cared for like the immigrant, the orphan and the widow.
Our verse in Joshua continues with something better for them.
Remember God cares for your needs.
“the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance...” “LORD” is the special name for God that wants to have a relationship with His people. It is his name that describes His loyalty to His people. “God” is His name that describes his power and creative acts. This God who is strong also wants to have a relationship with people, specifically the people He has chosen, Israel. Israel means, “God prevails.”
So, the strong God who prevails and wants to have a relationship with you. He is the one who is the inheritance for the Levites. Notice God is “their” inheritance. He is not for one person alone, but for the group. God so loved the world.
This phrase is a game changer for the Levites. They don’t get land, they get the land giver. They don’t get creation, they get the creator.
C.S. Lewis writes in The Weight of Glory, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
God invites us to value people over possessions. In this single verse tucked at the end of Joshua 13, God is saying, “I’m all you need.” What’s distracting you now? What is weighing you down? Is it the stress of Covid? Is it a stack of bills or the loss of income? Are you waiting for the phone call from your doctor? God told the Levites and He is telling us now, “I’m all you need.” God is our inheritance.
“as he promised them.” Some translations say, “just as He said to them.”
Dominant Thought: God promises Himself as the best gift.
God promises himself as the best gift. That is sacrifice. It is unconditional love and faithfulness. Faithfulness to himself by keeping His word and faithfulness to His people. Tucked away at the end of Joshua 13, we see outline of John 3.16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God gave Himself when He sent Jesus to restore a broken relationship. My friends, for those who are in Christ, we have an inheritance. Christ has died and we benefit to receive the inheritance of life with God, forgiveness of sins, and mission in this life. We are members of a kingdom that no virus can destroy. We are members of His church and the gates of the grave cannot prevail.
The cool thing is that we can enjoy the benefits of our inheritance now and for eternity. God promises a new land, a new heaven and a new earth. For those who are victorious we get the best of both. We get a new land, and we continue our relationship with our Father in heaven, the land-giver.
My grandpa Brosi died in 1996 (show picture). After the funeral, we were going through his things and we came across his Silver Star award that he earned in Korea when he was in the army. This is the only thing I have from my grandpa along with a picture of him in uniform. But let’s be honest. If given the choice between the silver star and my grandpa, I choose my grandpa every time.
Revelation 21 gives us a picture of our inheritance of both the gifts for God and His presence forever. Listen to Revelation 21.3-7.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
5 Day Devotional Guide on God’s care for the Levites
God promises Himself as the best gift.
You may want to refer to the sermon notes for further discussion. Take a moment to read the assigned Scripture and then reflect or discuss the questions. Customize this outline to your situation. Here are some questions to ask from the Discovery Bible Method:
What are you thankful for today or this week?
What challenges are you facing?
Have 2 or 3 people read the scripture out loud.
Can you summarize this passage in your own words?
What did you discover about God from this passage?
What have you learned about people from this passage?
How are you going to obey this passage? (What is your “I will” statement?)
With whom are you going to share what you have learned?
Based on this passage, what can we pray about?
Day 1: Numbers 18.20
Day 2: Deuteronomy 14.27-29
Day 3: Deuteronomy 18.1-5
Day 4: Joshua 13.14, 32-33
Day 5: 1 Peter 2.9-12