Joshua 19
Joshua 19:49-51
49 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. 50 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. 51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
There is no explicit direction recorded for Joshua's land inheritance as there was for Caleb. It is probable God did indeed give a specified place for Joshua as well since he and Caleb were the only two of the 12 spies allowed to live in the Promised Land, and Joshua was named Moses' successor in Deuteronomy by "the LORD." The land given to Joshua was in the center or the heart of the land. The name Timnath-serah means an abundant portion or a place in the sun- think Joshua chapter 9. Compared to Death Valley, California, in one commentary, it was a barren place and would require hard work to manage the land and make it prosper. God knew Joshua was the right person to inherit this portion, just as Abraham's portion versus Lot's.
(The ESV translation in today's reading is "By the command of the LORD," which uses the specific name YWHW or as we translate this today, Jehovah, meaning the self-existent, eternal God", the same name God revealed to Moses.)
The name Joshua in Hebrew is Yeshua which when translated to Greek becomes lēsous, which in English translates Jesus. There are resemblances of Joshua and Jesus in addition to their names: they brought/bring deliverance to the people of God; they were both obedient to the One who sent them; they both led/lead the people of God to the Promised Land; they both began life in a very humble manner and rose/have risen to a place of high/highest honor. God saved the best spot in the promised land for last. The first miracle of Jesus was turning the water into wine- the best wine being served last and not first as was the custom.
Prayer: Jesus, forgive us when we are impatient and do not wait to see what your best is for us. You take broken people and barren places and breathe life into them. You bring living water to dry ground, and the land produces plants and trees. You take thirsty souls and quench our spirits for eternity. And you are saving the best wine for us at your banquet table in heaven. Thank you for loving us with a love that is without end. We offer our humble prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.