CHILDEREN SEARCH LESSON 6, DESCRIPTION AND DIVISION OF CANAAN
LESSON 6
Joshua 13:1-33; 14:1-15; 15:1-63; 16:1-10; 17:1-18; 18:1-28; 19:1-51; 20:1-9; 21:1-45
God called Abram to leave his father’s land and go to a place He would show him. He promised that Abram will become a great nation and that his children will be as many as the stars. God also promised that the children (seed) of Abram will inherit Canaan the land flowing with milk and honey. Abraham obeyed God and left his father’s house to the place where God told him to go. God’s promise was fulfilled in his life as He had said. This promise was passed on to Isaac his son, through to Jacob and finally his twelve sons that made up the twelve tribes of Israel.
One important thing we see is that God is faithful. No matter how long it takes, whatever He has promised will surely come to pass. After many centuries, what God promised Abraham in Genesis was finally fulfilled in the book of Joshua (Numbers 23:19). All the promises of God in the Bible are “yea and amen”. Read it, believe it, hold unto it, confess it and it shall come to pass in your life (Habakkuk 2:3).
Today’s teaching focuses on the description and division of Canaan the cherished Promised Land.
- DESCRIPTION OF CANAAN: Joshua 13:1-33; 18:1-10; Deuteronomy 27:3
Canaan was the land God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants. It was originally inhabited by idol worshippers who did not know, fear or honour God. The boundaries of the ancient land of Canaan included territories on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea west of Jordan River. Today it encompasses modern Lebanon, portion of southern Syria and Israel/Palestine.
When the Israelites led by Moses arrived Canaan, they found the inhabitants of the land to be mighty people, giants even with many large, fortified cities. The Canaanites worshipped many idols, and their religion and culture were known to be extremely immoral and wicked. Canaan was also an exceptionally fertile region described in the Bible as “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 13:27)
As Israel was preparing to take possession of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership, many separate nations inhabited the region – Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites and others (Exodus 3:8).
God’s chosen people were commanded to conquer the Canaanite nations, utterly destroy their idols and divide the land as their inheritance. The land of Canaan beautifully signifies the believers’ blessings in Jesus Christ. Conquering Canaan represents living the victorious Christian life which involves fighting the good fight of faith as well as inheriting abundant blessings. Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan also symbolizes our entering God’s rest, which is the victory won for us through faith in Christ Jesus.
As Joshua divided the land for the tribes of Israel so has Jesus granted us our spiritual inheritance (Ephesians 1:1-3). All that is required from us is to continue to follow Jesus in faith till the end.
- DIVISION OF THE PROMISED LAND. Joshua 14:1-5; 15:1; 16:1; 18:1-10; 19:1; 20:1,2; 21:1-3
Joshua eventually brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land. God then commanded him to divide the land as an inheritance among all the tribes of Israel that remained faithful and obedient till the end of the wilderness journey (Joshua 13:1-13).
God gave Joshua instructions to guide him in sharing the inheritance among the children of Israel. Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin). The twelve sons grew and multiplied into tribes. Two and half of them (Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh) got their possession of land on the eastern side of River Jordan and the others on the western side. The whole congregation of Israel gathered together at Shiloh and set up the tabernacle of the Lord there. Joshua with Eliezar the priest and the elders of Israel then shared out the land by casting lots.
Joshua faithfully obeyed the Lord and did everything as God had commanded him. The children of Israel were happy with their portion of inheritance. God was also pleased with Joshua’s service. There are some important lessons to learn from the exercise of the division of the land.
(i) As Joshua divided the inheritance faithfully even in the absence of Moses, so also God wants us as friends of Jesus to always do the right thing at all times even if our parents or leaders in the church are not there.
(ii) God was pleased with what Joshua had done and the children of Israel were happy with their portion in the sharing of inheritance. God expects us to always seek the glory of God in whatever we do and not to please ourselves. (iii) Joshua was fair to all the tribes and did not give preference to himself or favour his tribe. Friends of Jesus are to seek the good of other boys and girls and not favour themselves or their own brothers and sisters when sharing anything.
(iv) The Levites were given inheritance within each tribe. This is to enable them to have teaching priests to lead them to worship and serve God acceptably.
(v) Special allotments were also set aside for cities of refuge. God is our refuge, we must always trust Him.
(vi) Caleb, asked to be given the mountain side as his inheritance even at 85 years of age. He is an example of a faithful soldier of the Lord. Age should not be a barrier to our service for God.
God wants us to be pure and righteous at all times and in every situation. It is good to fear God and serve Him faithfully.
- DAILY PREPARATION FOR A GLORIOUS INHERITANCE:
Joshua 13:7-8; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:9
All that God promised to do for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the children of Israel who were their descendants were all fulfilled (Joshua 21:43-45). In the same vein many promises of a glorious inheritance await all true friends of Jesus Christ who are living a holy and righteous life. The word of God tells us that eyes have not seen nor ears heard what God has reserved for those who love Him. Glorious and eternal inheritance is waiting for every true follower of Jesus. They include:
(i) Salvation and freedom from sin (Titus 2:11-12).
(ii) Divine provision, good health, protection, promotion and all-round victory.
(iii) Freedom from the judgment and punishment in hell fire.
(iv) Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
(v) Eternal life in heaven with Jesus where we shall inherit the mansions prepared for us (John 14:1-3).
For you to enjoy this glorious inheritance, there are some preparations you must make. As a believer, you need to be watchful and prayerful. Examine your life daily, read and obey the word of God and live a holy and pure life all the time. As a sinner, you must realize your sinful state, confess and forsake them, ask God to forgive and wash you with the blood of Jesus. Invite and receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Saviour and Lord. Then thank God for your salvation and never go back to your sins again.
QUESTIONS:
- ________________ led the children of Israel into Canaan.
- Joshua divided the Promised Land by ________________.
- Mention three lessons from the exercise of dividing the land.
- Where is the promised land for all true friends of Jesus?
- What must a child do daily to inherit the promised land?
MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he swear to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.” (Joshua 21:43)
LESSON: Heaven is the inheritance of all true friends of Jesus who love and follow Him till the end.
THOUGHT: I will daily live in obedience to God so as to enjoy eternal inheritance.
ACTIVITY: Write down all the names of the tribes of Israel who received their portions of Canaan the promised land.
HOMEWORK: Write down spiritual inheritances you wish to claim. Pray until you possess them.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 28 – I AM LIVING IN CANAAN
CHORUSES:
(1) On the mountain, in the valley the Lord is my portion
(2) When the saints go marching in
(3) We are able to go up and take the country, to possess the land from Jordan to the sea.
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:
- Inheritance
- Fortified
- Boundary
- Symbolize
- Exceptional.
