Joshua 19:24-31: a reflection

24The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 25Their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26Allammelech, Amad, Mishal. It reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath. 27It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand, 28and Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon. 29The border turned to Ramah, to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah. It ended at the sea by the region of Achzib; 30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages. 31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

In the dividing of the land, the tribe of Asher, one of the less prominent tribes, receives its own inheritance, carefully marked out and given, a reminder that God overlooks none of his people in giving each their portion. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher, the account concludes, after listing its border towns; these cities with their villages. Asher was not among the most prominent tribes; yet it was not overlooked or forgotten in the dividing of the land. It received its own inheritance, its own portion, its own cities and villages, carefully described and given, just as the greater tribes did. God saw to it that each of his people received their portion, none overlooked. This shows that God overlooks none of his people in giving each their portion. God overlooks none of his people in giving each their portion. Even the less prominent receive their own inheritance from God. You are not overlooked in God's care and provision. God sees to it that each of his own receives their portion.

Notice that even Asher, not among the most prominent tribes, received its own inheritance. When the land was divided, it was not only the great and prominent tribes that received their portion; each tribe, including the less prominent like Asher, received its own inheritance, carefully marked out, its own cities and villages named and given. Asher was not overlooked, not forgotten, not passed by in favor of the greater tribes; God saw to it that Asher, too, received its portion. This holds a quiet encouragement. We can feel that we are among the less prominent, the less noticed, the ones easily overlooked; that in the dividing of God's blessings and provisions, the great and prominent are remembered while we are passed by. But God overlooks none of his people. As he saw to it that even less prominent Asher received its own inheritance, so he sees to it that each of his own receives their portion, their place, their provision; none is forgotten or passed by in his care. We are not overlooked in God's provision, however unnoticed we may feel; God gives each of his people their portion. We do well to trust that God overlooks none of his own, but gives each their portion, so that we need not fear being forgotten or passed by. God overlooks none of his people; each receives their portion from him. Even the less prominent and unnoticed are given their inheritance. You are not forgotten or passed by in God's provision. Trust that God sees to it that each of his own receives their portion.

That is worth resting in, for God overlooks none of his people, giving each their portion, even the less prominent like Asher, and we need not fear being forgotten or passed by. We can feel among the less noticed, easily overlooked in the dividing of God's blessings; but even less prominent Asher received its own inheritance, carefully marked out and given. None is overlooked. When you feel unnoticed or passed by, remember that God overlooks none of his own, but gives each their portion, as he gave Asher its inheritance. Trust that God overlooks none of his people but gives each their portion, even the less prominent and unnoticed, so that you need not fear being forgotten or passed by, as in the dividing of the land the tribe of Asher, one of the less prominent tribes, received its own inheritance carefully marked out and given, a reminder that God overlooks none of his people; for Asher was not among the most prominent tribes, yet it was not overlooked or forgotten in the dividing of the land but received its own inheritance, its own portion, its own cities and villages carefully described and given just as the greater tribes did, since God saw to it that each of his people received their portion, which holds a quiet encouragement, since we can feel that we are among the less prominent and easily overlooked, and that in the dividing of God's blessings the great and prominent are remembered while we are passed by, but God overlooks none of his people, and as he saw to it that even less prominent Asher received its own inheritance so he sees to it that each of his own receives their portion, place, and provision, none forgotten or passed by in his care, so that we are not overlooked in God's provision however unnoticed we may feel, and we do well to trust that God overlooks none of his own but gives each their portion.

Lord, in the dividing of the land, the tribe of Asher, one of the less prominent tribes, receives its own inheritance, carefully marked out and given, a reminder that you overlook none of your people in giving each their portion. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher, the account concludes, after listing its border towns. Asher was not among the most prominent tribes; yet it was not overlooked or forgotten in the dividing of the land. It received its own inheritance, its own portion, its own cities and villages, carefully described and given, just as the greater tribes did. You saw to it that each of your people received their portion, none overlooked. Show me that even Asher, not among the most prominent tribes, received its own inheritance. When the land was divided, it was not only the great and prominent tribes that received their portion; each tribe, including the less prominent like Asher, received its own inheritance, carefully marked out. Asher was not overlooked, not forgotten, not passed by in favor of the greater tribes; you saw to it that Asher, too, received its portion. This holds a quiet encouragement. I can feel that I am among the less prominent, the less noticed, the ones easily overlooked; that in the dividing of your blessings and provisions, the great and prominent are remembered while I am passed by. But you overlook none of your people. As you saw to it that even less prominent Asher received its own inheritance, so you see to it that each of your own receives their portion, their place, their provision; none is forgotten or passed by in your care. I am not overlooked in your provision, however unnoticed I may feel. Take that to my heart. When I feel unnoticed or passed by, help me trust, Lord, that you overlook none of your own but give each their portion, as you gave Asher its inheritance, so that I need not fear being forgotten or passed by in your care and provision.