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I am using readings from the 49 Week Bible Challenge as the basis for these devotions. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are Acts 13:19; Joshua 16-19.
Joshua 19:51
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.
It is a fairly safe bet to assume that I will never be an NBA basketball player. There are many reasons that I say this – many of which are obvious. It is also safe to assume that someone born in a communist block country will not assume the role of a Wall Street broker. We take this all for granted.
But we also live under the illusion that our child or grandchild can grow up to be whatever he wants to be. We see a young girl and will tell her that she can grow up to be an astronaut walk on the moon. While that may be true. It may also not be true. When and where we are born places us in contexts that either limit or open up opportunities for our live’s vocations.
As we read about the various land allotments given to the twelve tribes of Israel in Joshua 16–19, we ss how Joshua was tasked by God to distribute parcels of land to each tribe. Two and a half tribes had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan by Moses, and Joshua now oversaw the allotments for the rest.
What if your land and residence was allocated in this manner? Many of us would revolt at this idea. We’d think it unfair. We would bristle at the idea that we couldn’t choose our own house, property, living location, or neighbors. We believe we are entitled to set our own living arrangements.
While that is mostly true, it is actually no more true for us than the people in Joshua’s day. The places allocated for the various tribes are the places where their children were born. So, too, the places where our parents lived are where we each were born. Even if someone is born in a place far from home, there is a home to which they return.
All this reminds us that God’s providence shapes our lives in ways we don’t always choose—much like the tribes of Israel received their inheritance by divine appointment. Paul will use this reality to give witness to Jesus’ resurrection to the philosophers on Mars Hill when he reaches Athens. We can trust the Holy Spirit to work through our unique places and roles to grow his Kingdom. We can embrace our God-given contexts, knowing that in every location and vocation, His grace equips us to live out His purpose with faith and love.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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