The Most Boring Chapter in the Bible…

• Joshua 21:41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands.

If I was forced to cast a vote on which was the most boring chapter in the bible Joshua chapter 21 would make my top 10 list.  It is really, really tough reading.  However, with my commitment to faithfully read God’s second greatest gift to me – the Bible (Jesus being the first), I’ve read Joshua 21 dozens of times over the years.  

And once again just yesterday I was laboring through Joshua 21 yet again; and this time it happened: like a thunderbolt from Heaven I was hit with an inspiring thought that truly ministered to me.

The chapter details the fact that the Levites were not allotted land like the other tribes because they were God’s priests.  Instead they were given cities to dwell among the people.  Furthermore they were assigned cities among the tribes on land the tribes hope to obtain (large portions had not been conquered yet).  In other words, the Levites would not get their inheritance unless the other tribes got theirs.

Being a pastor (sort of like being a modern-day Levite) it hit me: My inheritance will only come to me as the people I serve prosper.  My fate is tied to them.  It made the chapter and several more like it come alive to me.

Now here’s the point: never underestimate the importance of reading the Bible.  Christians are people of the Word.  Our lives revolve around “thus says the Lord.”  We get our values, direction and inspiration from the Holy Bible – not the world around us.

I encourage you to read, read, read the Bible – even the boring parts…one day a thunderbolt will hit you from Heaven and you will say, “Oh, now I understand.”