This morning I was reflecting that two small cameos in those half dozen chapters show us two "extremes" when it comes to our attitude and expectations of inheritance. Not extremes in a bad way; just two completely different scenarios. The first concerns the people known as the Levites, and the second concerns a woman named Acsah.
I've often reflected on the fact that the Levites, those who served God full time in the Tabernacle (and later in the Temple), were to receive no allotment of land like the other tribes of Israel did. I read it recently in the book of Exodus, and it came up again today in Joshua chapter 13 verse 14. Everyone else received land of their own, to farm and be fruitful.... but the Levites were never to be landowners. Instead, "the Lord Himself was their inheritance," and they were to be supported by the tithes and offerings of the people who did own land of their own. The Levites knew this and so they had no expectation at all of living out their lives on their own property.
Often throughout my lifetime, I've wondered if being an overseas missionary means that I'm in the same category as the Levites: that I will never have a physical inheritance of my own, but will live my life in rented accommodation, supported by the offerings of other people who do have a salary and perhaps also a long term home of their own.
Of course, the tribal structure of Israelite community meant that the Levites continued to be provided for, even when they stopped full time service and retired at age 50. (See Numbers chapter 8 verses 25-26.) I've wondered sometimes how that will work out in our modern world, where "full time workers" such as missionaries are supported by the gifts of people who believe in the work/ministry they are doing and want to partner with them in that. How does it work when you're 90 years old and no longer as actively involved in ministry and service?
That answer was clear for the Levites, however, and they simply had no expectation at all that they would ever have land of their own.
The other scenario is the situation of Caleb's daughter, Acsah (Joshua chapter 15 verses 18 - 19). After her marriage to a man named Othniel, her father gave her/them some land as an inheritance. However this land was in the Negev. The Hebrew word נֶגֶב actually means "dry land" and, because it referred to that semi-desert territory in the south of the country, the word also came to be used to mean "southern land." Even today, the driest parts of the Negev only get an annual rainfall of around 2 inches, with the least dry parts getting only 10 inches of rain annually.
Acsah knew this. So, while she wasn't ungrateful for the piece of land she'd been given, she dared to ask her father for even more. "My land is in a dry place," she said. "Please can you also give me springs of water." And we read that Caleb generously gave her both "upper and lower springs."
I had to smile when I realised the parallel with my own life. Like Acsah, I live in a southern land, a hot and dry region with little annual rainfall. Right at the moment, I'm trusting God to show me the part that will be my "promised land" for the next season. And there's that word again - springs! I'm daring to ask God to help me find accommodation right here in Alhaurín, a place of upper and lower springs. (Several Spanish rivers have their source in Andalucía and there are some waterfalls to be seen in the region.... while Alhaurín itself was historically famous for its underground springs.)
But which scenario is to be mine? Am I to ask for land like Acsah did or am I to embrace having no physical inheritance, like the Levites did?
Finding rental accommodation has proved to be really difficult over the past five weeks - due to the fact that you need to give proof of salary in order to get a rental contract. And so people have encouraged me to pray about whether it's a sign that I need to step out and buy a home, instead of trying to find one to rent.
Buying a home would be an Acsah inheritance. Renting a home would be a Levite inheritance. Either of them would need a miracle of provision. To be honest, there's no "easy option" in the mix. And so today I'm asking the Lord what kind of faith I need to have as I continue my search this month. Do I need to trust for Levite provision or do I need to trust for Acsah provision? Both are dependent on the generosity of my Father God.
