Wednesday: Humble Hero
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 19th of November 2025
The long lists of place names, which constituted landmarks on the borders of the territories assigned to the tribes of Israel, are bookended by the report of land allocation to the two heroes, Caleb and Joshua, of the first reconnoiter. Caleb received his inheritance first, while Joshua received his last. Up to this point, Joshua allocated the land to the tribes of Israel; now it is time for the people of Israel to give Joshua his inheritance.
Read Joshua 19:49-51. What are the implications of the fact that the great leader of Israel who apportioned the land receives his inheritance last?
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The city that Joshua receives is Timnath-serah, a name composed of two words. The first, Timnath, derives from a verb (manah) whose meaning is to count or to assign, and it means portion or territory. The second word can be derived from a Hebrew verb (seracḥ), and it means excess or leftover (compare with Exodus 26:12). The name of Joshua’s city can be translated as the leftover portion or the remaining territory.
The name of the city that Joshua has chosen from what was left testifies to the noble character of Israel’s second leader. First of all, he waited until all the people received their portion. Then, Joshua did not choose one of the densely populated territories of the land or the most impressive cities as his inheritance but a modest city, or perhaps the ruins of it, in order to rebuild it with arduous work (compare with Joshua 19:50).
Moreover, Timnath-serah was located near Shiloh, in the vicinity of the sanctuary, which shows where Joshua’s priorities lay and where his heart was bound. Certainly, after the newly born nation of Israel had been led into the Promised Land, and, with God’s help, secured the inheritance of each tribe and family, it would not have objected to Joshua’s demand for a more impressive inheritance. Yet, Joshua was content to live a simple life with a focus on what is most important, thus embodying the prayer expressed later by David: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (Psalms 27:4, NKJV).
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What lessons can you draw for yourself regarding Joshua’s attitude? How might you apply it to yourself now? |
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The land allotted to Joshua and his family was hill country, somewhat similar to the land chosen by Caleb. I can empathise with their choice. I grew up on a dairy farm in New Zealand, that can only be described as hill country. We used to say that the farm was so steep that the legs of our cows were shorter on one side than the other. Something that I learned growing in that environment was the importance of working together as a family and a community. Everyone pitched in and helped to the work. We didn’t get paid – we just did it because that was how families worked. At haymaking time the neighbours came and helped with the haymaking. They did not get paid either because when their hay was ready we went to their farm and helped out too. That was the way farming communities worked.
After the battles of possession both Joshua and Calab had to build communities and both chose hill environments, where working together as a family/community provided an opportunity for spiritual bonding as they supported one another.
In our modern church, it is easy to lose our sense of community in our endeavour to proselytise the world. Sometimes I think we spend too much time proclaiming how bad the world is becoming, to the detriment of our own community building. The best advertisement for heaven is to build a little example of it here on earth.
"By this shall all men know..."
The very first mention of Joshua (Exodus 17:9) shows Moses entrusting him to lead the young army of Israel in their first battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim, with Moses lifting the rod as Aaron and Hur supported his hands - just 43 days after crossing the Red Sea, leaving Egypt. From here, Joshua becomes a trusted aide to Moses, and God allows him to be close by (Exodus 24:13). Joshua is part of the 70 elders in Exodus 24, accompanying Moses up the mountain, and is with him when he descends with the stone tablets of God's laws. When the tent meetings are separated from Israel and moved to the wilderness, Joshua stands at the entrance of the tent (Exodus 33:11).
It seems Joshua received favor from Moses and God from his youth, due to his faith and loyalty to God. His service to God was prominent, and even during the distribution of land, he settled all the people before settling himself (Joshua 19:49-50). Joshua was next to the tent, close to God's presence at Sinai; and as he settles in Timnah-Serah, he remains close to the Ark of God and the Tabernacle of Meeting in Shiloh (Joshua 19:49, 18:1). His loyalty to God was unconditional, and his humility is what brought him closer to God. We need this loyalty that fosters humility, today, as we approach God's presence.
Most of Joshua’s life was spent in the wilderness beside Moses and a stubborn, wandering people, yet those years shaped him into a humble and faithful servant of God. While others sought position or fell into fear, Joshua served quietly as Moses’ assistant (Exodus 24:13), learning obedience long before leadership was ever placed on his shoulders. His courage stood out when he and Caleb refused to join the fearful report of the other spies, choosing instead to trust God’s promise (Numbers 14:6–9). What truly set him apart, however, was the presence of God’s Spirit within him, for the Lord said, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him” (Numbers 27:18). His humility, faith, and Spirit-filled life prepared him to lead Israel into the Promised Land with strength and devotion.
Even after becoming Israel’s leader, Joshua continued to walk in remarkable humility. While the land was divided among the tribes and leaders received their inheritances, Joshua waited until the very end before he accepted his own choosing last instead of claiming privilege (Joshua 19:49–51). This simple act revealed the same character he had shown throughout his life: a man who put God’s people before himself and trusted the Lord to provide in His time. Joshua’s leadership was never about power or position; it was about faithfulness. And in receiving his inheritance last, he demonstrated once more that true greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility, obedience, and a heart fully devoted to the Lord.
Joshua is a content man! He is not bent on taking the best or biggest portion as the leader , he is satisfied to have the remaining portion! how often we yearn for the best and most down here as if our inheritance is down here !Our true portion is not to be gained in this world
Joshua was an example of a leader, one who was willing to fulfill God’s mission first and then modestly and wisely take what he knew His Master had set aside for him. He trusted the Lord! Joshua knew that by doing God's work, God would protect and bestow blessings upon him.
Joshua’s choice of Timnath-serah—near Shiloh and the sanctuary—reveals a leader whose heart was more interested in God’s presence than in personal reward. After all his years of faithful service, no one would have objected if he had requested a more impressive portion. Yet Joshua chose simplicity and nearness to worship, echoing the longing expressed later in Psalm 27:4.
Lessons for me:
• Proximity to God matters more than prominence before people. Joshua reminds me that true success is staying close to God, not accumulating recognition.
• Humility over status. He chose what was spiritually beneficial rather than what looked impressive.
• Priorities reveal the heart. Where I invest my time and attention shows what matters most to me.
• Seek God’s presence first. Joshua’s example encourages a deeper, daily pursuit of prayer, study, and worship.
Application: I’m challenged to simplify where needed, stay close to the “sanctuary” through regular spiritual practices, serve without seeking applause, and let my greatest desire be to dwell in God’s presence.
Joshua’s attitude calls me to a life marked by contentment, humility, and a God-centered focus.
Zechariah 4:6 - ”So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by Me Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.”
This is the focus of the diligent, faithful believer reminding him-/herself of that it is the Lord that is giving and taking away – Job 1:21.
For the believer in the Supreme God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, holding all powers governing life, it is the state of being content whiles building/forming the relationship with God first – everything else will be added to him. Matt.6:32-34.
The diligence in living according to the 'Way of Life' – Righteousness -, so being a citizen of the Kingdom of God, was the most important choice to make then as it is now. It is God, when delighting ourselves in Him, that He will give us the desires of our heart – Psalm 37:4.
Good practice