In today's passage, Joshua rebukes and exhorts the seven tribes who have not yet received their inheritance because they neglected to go and possess the land of Canaan. Joshua orders each tribe to send three men to the unpossessed land and bring back a survey of the land. Based on this survey, Joshua will distribute the land to the tribes by casting lots.
These tribes obey Joshua's command and travel throughout the land of Canaan. It is worth noting here that they “wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh" (Joshua 18:9, NKJV). Even though they are very late compared to the preceding five tribes, they survey the land in so much detail that they end up writing a book. Based on this book of map, Joshua distributes inheritance to each tribe by casting lots.
This map of Canaan is not a mere survey of the terrain, the towns, and the conditions of the land. It is a map of “hopes” and “dreams” to be fulfilled in the future.
Maps drawn in faith will eventually become reality. Like the seven tribes, let us draw a detailed map of all that we wish to accomplish this year and present it to our God.
From a sermon of Rev. Abraham Park, the founding pastor of Pyungkang Cheil Church
