20251216 [새벽묵상] 약속을 지키시는 하나님께 어떻게 반응할 것인가? | How Shall We Respond to a Faithful God? (수/Josh 19:24~51)

19:24 다섯째로 아셀 자손의 지파를 위하여 그 가족대로 제비를 뽑았으니

19:25 그들의 지역은 헬갓과 할리와 베덴과 악삽과

19:26 알람멜렉과 아맛과 미살이며 그 경계의 서쪽은 갈멜을 만나 시홀 림낫에 이르고

19:27 해 뜨는 쪽으로 돌아 벧 다곤에 이르며 스불론을 만나고 북쪽으로 입다 엘 골짜기를 만나 벧에멕과 느이엘에 이르고 가불 왼쪽으로 나아가서

19:28 에브론과 르흡과 함몬과 가나를 지나 큰 시돈까지 이르고

19:29 돌아서 라마와 견고한 성읍 두로에 이르고 돌아서 호사에 이르고 악십 지방 곁 바다가 끝이 되며

19:30 또 움마와 아벡과 르흠이니 모두 스물두 성읍과 그 마을들이라

Allotment for Asher

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its clans. 25 Their territory included:

Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph, 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul on the left. 28 It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Akzib, 30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

19:31 아셀 자손이 지파가 그 가족대로 받은 기업은 이 성읍들과 그 마음들이었더라

31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, according to its clans.

19:32 여섯째로 납달리 자손을 위하여 납달리 자손의 가족대로 제비를 뽑았으니

19:33 그들의 지역은 헬렙과 사아난님의 상수리나무에서부터 아다미네겝과 얍느엘을 지나 락굼까지요 그 끝은 요단이며

19:34 서쪽으로 돌아 아스놋 다볼에 이르고 그 곳에서부터 훅곡으로 나아가 남쪽은 스불론에 이르고 서쪽은 아셀에 이르며 해 뜨는 쪽은 요단에서 유다에 이르고

19:35 그 견고한 성읍들은 싯딤과 세르와 함맛과 락갓과 긴네렛과

19:36 아다마와 라마와 하솔과

19:37 게데스와 에드레이와 엔 하솔과

19:38 이론과 믹다렐과 호렘과 벧 아낫과 벧 세메스니 모두 열아홉 성읍과 그 마을들이라

Allotment for Naphtali

32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans:

33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[c] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.

19:39 납달리 자손의 지파가 그 가족대로 받은 기업은 이 성읍들과 그 마을들이었더라

39 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans.

19:40 일곱째로 단 자손의 지파를 위하여 그들의 가족대로 제비를 뽑았으니

19:41 그들의 기업의 지역은 소라와 에스다올과 이르세메스와

19:42 사알랍빈과 아얄론과 이들라와

19:43 엘론과 딤나와 에그론과

19:44 엘드게와 깁브돈과 바알랏과

19:45 여흣과 브네브락과 가드 림몬과

19:46 메얄곤과 락곤과 욥바 맞은편 경계까지라

Allotment for Dan

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans. 41 The territory of their inheritance included:

Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa.

19:47 그런데 단 자손의 경계는 더욱 확장되었으니 이는 단 자손이 올라가서 레셈과 싸워 그것을 점령하여 칼날로 치고 그것을 차지하여 거기 거주하였음이라 그들의 조상 단의 이름을 따라서 레셈을 단이라 하였더라

47 (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their ancestor.)

19:48 단 자손의 지파가 그에 딸린 가족대로 받은 기업은 이 성읍들과 그들의 마을들이었더라

48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to its clans.

19:49 이스라엘 자손이 그들의 경계를 따라서 기업의 땅 나누기를 마치고 자기들 중에서 눈의 아들 여호수아에게 기업을 주었으니

19:50 곧 여호와의 명령대로 여호수아가 요구한 성읍 에브라임 산지 딤낫 세라를 주매 여호수아가 그 성읍을 건설하고 거기 거주하였더라

Allotment for Joshua

49 When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, 50 as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

19:51 제사장 엘르아살과 눈의 아들 여호수아와 이스라엘 자손의 지파의 족장들이 실로에 있는 회막 문 여호와 앞에서 제비 뽑아 나눈 기업이 이러하니라 이에 땅 나누는 일을 마쳤더라

51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

                제가 미국으로 유학을 올 때에 제게는 소박한 꿈이 하나 있었습니다. 그것은 바로 제 방이 하나 있는 집을 갖는 것이었지요. 그래서였을까요? 제가 한사랑교회에 부임한지 얼마 지나지 않아서 담임목사님과 대화를 하다가 담임목사님께서 아직도 렌트를 하고 계시다는 말씀을 듣고 적잖이 놀랐습니다. 첫째는 아니, 임목사님의 목회 경력이나 현재 교회의 규모를 생각할 때에 담임 목사님께서 아직도 집이 없으시다는게 말이나 되는가? 둘째는 아니, 임목사님 같은 분도 집이 없으시면 나는 소망이 없을 수도 있겠다 는 것이었지요. 그러나 목사님의 말씀을 들었을 때에 목사님께서 현실적인 어려움에도 불구하고 얼마나 교회를 위하셨는지 알 수 있었습니다. 당신의 경제적인 어려움보다 항상 교회를 먼저 생각하셨던 임목사님이야말로 먼저 그의 나라와 그의 의를 구하라는 하나님의 말씀에 철저히 순종하셨던 것이지요. 오늘의 말씀도 마찬가지입니다. 하나님께서 약속하셨던 기업들을 아셀과 납달리와 단 지파에게 나누어 주십니다. 그리고 마지막으로 그 모든 지파들이 땅 나누기를 마친 후에야 여호수아가 자신의 분깃을 받는 장면이 나오지요. 참된 리더의 모습이 아닐 수 없습니다. 자, 하나님께서는 당신이 말씀하셨던 것을 지키셨습니다. 여호수아는 여호와의 명령대로 온전히 순종하며 하나님의 신실하심에 어떻게 반응해야 하는지 그 모범을 보였습니다. 그렇다면 아셀과 납달리와 단은 어땠을까요? 오늘은 “약속을 지키시는 하나님께 어떻게 반응할 것인가?”라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

[Introduction]

When I first came to the United States for my studies, I had one humble dream: to have a home with a room of my own. Perhaps because of this dream, I was quite surprised when, shortly after arriving at Han Sarang Church, I learned in a conversation with the senior pastor that he was still renting his home.

I was surprised for two reasons: First, considering Pastor Im’s tenure and the current size of our church, how could it be that he still did not own a home? Second, if a person like Pastor Im doesn't own a home, what hope is there for me?

However, as I listened to the Pastor, I came to understand the depths of his devotion to the church despite his financial difficulties. Pastor Im, who always put the church before his own economic comfort, was thoroughly obeying God’s command to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."

Today's passage is similar. God grants the promised inheritances to the tribes of Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. And then, only after the assignment to all the other tribes is complete, does Joshua finally receive his own portion. This is truly the mark of a godly leader.

God kept His promise. Joshua, by obeying the Lord's command perfectly, set a flawless example of how one should respond to God's faithfulness. But what about Asher, Naphtali, and Dan?

Today, I want to share a message titled: How Shall We Respond to a Faithful God?

                먼저는 하나님의 신실하심에 대해 이야기 해 보겠습니다. 본문 말씀 51절을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “제사장 엘르아살과 눈의 아들 여호수아와 이스라엘 자손의 지파의 족장들이 실로에 있는 회막 문 여호와 앞에서 제비 뽑아 나눈 기업이 이러하니라 이에 땅 나누는 일을 마쳤더라” 이 한 절의 말씀은 이들이 그동안 어떻게 기업을 나누었는지 요약하고 있지요. 제사장과 리더인 여호수아와 각 지파의 족장들이 함께 모여 여호와 앞에서 제비를 뽑아 나누었다고 합니다. 그것도 상세하게 “실로에 있는 회막 문 여호와 앞에서”라고 자세하게 다루고 있지요. 이는 기업의 분배가 하나님의 임재 앞에서 하나님의 주권으로 이루어졌음을 알려주고 있는 것입니다. 물론 그 과정에서는 각 지파에서 세명씩 사람을 보내서 남은 땅을 일곱 구역으로 나누는 것 처럼 사람의 손길이 들어가기도 하지요. 그러나 가장 중요한 기업의 분배는 제비 뽑기, 즉, 하나님의 주권으로 이루어진 것입니다. 특별히 본문에서 “이에 땅 나누는 일을 마쳤더라” 라고 적고 있는데 이 “마쳤더라” 라고 하는 단어는 창세기에서 천지 장조를 마치셨을 때, 또 출애굽기에서 회막 제작을 마무리 하였을 때에 사용하였던 단어입니다. 즉 하나님이 시작하셨던 일이 그 말씀대로 신실하게 이 땅 가운데 이루어졌음을 보여주고 있는 것입니다. 여호수아 21:45은 이를 가르켜 이렇게 적고 있습니다. 제가 읽어보겠습니다. “여호와께서 이스라엘 족속에게 말씀하신 선한 말씀이 하나도 남음이 없이 다 응하였더라.” 아멘. 하나님께서는 하나도 남음이 없이 약속을 다 지키시고 이들에게 기업을 허락하셨습니다. 그렇다면 이들은 이에 어떻게 반응 할까요?

Point 1: The Unwavering Faithfulness of God

Let us first talk about the faithfulness of God. Let’s read verse 51 together:

"These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal families of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land."

This single verse summarizes how they divided the inheritance. The priest, Joshua the leader, and the heads of the tribes gathered and cast lots in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. This detail shows that the distribution of the inheritance was carried out by God's sovereignty in the place of His presence.

Although human effort was involved, such as sending three men from each tribe to survey and divide the remaining land into seven portions, the most critical element—the actual distribution of the inheritance—was determined by casting lots, emphasizing God's ultimate authority.

The text specifically says, "So they finished dividing the land." The word translated as "finished" is the same word used in Genesis when God completed the creation and in Exodus when the tabernacle construction was finished. It demonstrates that the work God started was faithfully accomplished on earth, just as He promised.

Joshua 21:45 confirms this: "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." Amen. God fulfilled every promise and granted them the inheritance.

Given this perfect faithfulness, how did the people respond?

                본문은 아셀 자손과 납달리 자손과 단 자손의 경계를 알려주며 그들이 기업으로 받은 성읍들에 대해 적고 있습니다. 그러나 사사기 1장 말씀을 보면 차례대로 이들이 기업으로 받은 그 성읍들을 온전히 차지하지 못하는 모습을 보게 됩니다. 특별이 단 자손 같은 경우에는 오늘 본문의 말씀에도 나와있지요. 47절의 말씀을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “그런데 단 자손의 경계는 더욱 확장되었으니 이는 단 자손이 올라가서 레셈과 싸워 그것을 점령하여 칼날로 치고 그것을 차지하여 거기 거주하였음이라 그들의 조상 단의 이름을 따라서 레셈을 단이라 하였더라” 여기서 개역개정이 “단 자손의 경계는 더욱 확장되었다” 라고 번역하고 있는 부분은 원문으로는 “경계가 그들에게서 나갔다” 입니다. 이 “나갔다” 라는 동사를 “경계가 뻗어나갔다” 라고 번역할 것인가 아니면 그들의 손에서 “미끄러져 나갔다”로 번역할 것인가 이렇게 두가지로 해석이 나뉘게 되지요. 자 그렇다면 사사기 1:34을 제가 읽어보겠습니다. “아모리 족속이 단 자손을 산지로 몰아넣고 골짜기에 내려오기를 용납하지 아니하였으며” 또한 사사기 18:1은 “단 지파는 그 때에 거주할 기업의 땅을 구하는 중이었으니” 라는 말씀으로 단 지파가 유랑하고 있는 모습을 보여줍니다. 왜 입니까?  단 지파가 하나님께서 주신 기업에서 가나안 족속들을 쫓아내는 것이 아니라 오히려 그들이 역으로 쫓겨난 것입니다. 하나님께서 약속을 지키심으로 그들에게 기업을 주었는데 정작 그들은 그 기업에서 쫓겨나서 하나님께서 주신 기업이 아닌 레셈 땅을 점령하여 그 땅을 차지하지요. 오늘 본문 말씀도 단 자손이 올라가서, 싸워, 점령하여, 치고, 차지하여, 거주하였음이라, 와 같이 동사들을 쉼 없이 배치하여 이 사건이 얼마나 긴박하게 전개되었는지를 보여줍니다. 그 결과로 단 지파는 하나님이 주신 기업이 아니라 이스라엘 최북단에 위치한 도시 하나를 차지하게 되지요. 그래서 이스라엘 전역을 표현할 때 “단에서 브엘세바까지” 라고 표현하는 단이란 이 도시를 말하는 것입니다. 하나님의 신실하심에 대한 이들의 반응은 완전히 실패하여 실망스럽기 그지없지요.

Point 2: The Failure of the Tribes (The Example of Dan)

The passage describes the boundaries and cities allotted to Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. However, the Book of Judges tells us, in sequence, that these tribes failed to take full possession of the cities allotted to them.

The tribe of Dan is a particularly tragic example, alluded to even in our text today. Let’s read verse 47:

"When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled there and named it Dan after their ancestor Dan."

The Revised Standard Version (and the original context) suggests that the territory of Dan was "too small for them" or that the border "slipped away from them." Interpretation is divided on whether their border expanded or slipped away from their grasp.

Let's look at Judges 1:34: "The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain." Furthermore, Judges 18:1 states: "In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to settle, because they had not yet come into possession of the land allotted to them."

Why? The Danites were not driving out the Canaanites from their inheritance; rather, they were being driven out themselves. God, in His faithfulness, gave them an inheritance, but they were driven out and instead conquered the city of Leshem (renamed Dan), a land not originally granted to them.

Verse 47 rushes through a series of verbs—went up, attacked, took, put to the sword, occupied, settled—showing the desperate urgency of their action. As a result, the tribe of Dan ended up occupying a single city at the far northern limit of Israel, which is why the nation is referred to as "from Dan to Beersheba."

Their response to God's faithfulness was a complete and utter failure, resulting in disappointment.

                그렇다면 여호수아는 어땠을까요? 모든 지파의 기업분배가 끝나고 마지막으로 여호수아에게 기업이 주어집니다. 그런데 우리는 여기서 이 기업 분배를 다룬 본문의 전체 구조를 한번 살펴 볼 필요가 있습니다. 왜냐하면 이 본문의 시작을 여호수아의 믿음의 단짝, 갈렙이 열었기 때문입니다. 갈렙이 가장 먼저 기업을 받았습니다. 그리고 마지막에 여호수아가 기업을 받고 있습니다. 무엇을 의미하는 것일까요? 처음과 끝에 갈렙과 여호수아를 배치함으로 이 두 영웅을 다시 한 번 주목하게 하고, 이들이 하나님께 어떻게 충성하였는지를 기억하게 합니다. 바로 이들의 신앙의 모습이야말로 하나님의 신실하심에 대한 마땅한 반응이라는 것이지요. 그것은 무엇이었습니까? 바로 믿음과 순종입니다. 여호수아는 자신의 권력을 남용하지 않고 마지막까지 리더로서 책임을 다하고 기다렸습니다. 그러자 하나님께서 그의 분깃을 책임져 주시지요. 50절 말씀을 함께 읽겠습니다. “곧 여호와의 명령대로 여호수아가 요구한 성읍 에브라임 산지 딤낫 세라를 주매 여호수아가 그 성읍을 건설하고 거기 거주하였더라” 여호수아는 에브라임 지파 사람이었기에 에브라임 지파의 땅을 받았습니다. 그러나 딤낫세라는 에브라임 지파의 성읍 리스트에 포함되지 않은 곳이었지요. 즉 여호수아는 기존에 있던 성읍이 아닌 새롭게 성읍을 건설해야 곳을 기업으로 요구하였습니다. 그리고 그는 그 곳에서 남은 생을 거주하고 같은 곳에서 생을 마감합니다. 신실하신 하나님에 대한 마땅한 반응, 그 모범적인 예라고 할 수 있겠지요.

Point 3: The Exemplary Response of Joshua

What about Joshua? After the distribution to all the tribes was complete, Joshua received his inheritance last.

We should note the overall structure of this distribution section: the beginning is marked by the faith of Caleb (Chapter 14), and the end is marked by the faith of Joshua (Chapter 19). By placing these two heroes at the beginning and the end, the text draws attention to them and reminds us of their loyalty to God. Their example of faith is the appropriate response to God's faithfulness.

What was that response? It was faith and obedience. Joshua did not abuse his power; he fulfilled his responsibility as a leader until the very end and waited patiently. And God took care of his portion.

Let’s read verse 50 together:

"Following the Lord’s command, they gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and settled there."

Joshua, a member of the tribe of Ephraim, was given land within his tribal territory. But Timnath Serah was not on the existing list of cities. This means Joshua asked for a place where he would have to build a new town rather than take an established one. He spent the rest of his life there and died in the same place.

This is the model response to the faithful God: faith, servant leadership, and obedience.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘 본문의 말씀은 하나님의 신실하심으로 가득차 있습니다. 하나님은 당신의 약속을 하나도 남김없이 다 지키셨습니다. 그러나 그 약속을 받아 들은 이들은 각자 다르게 반응했습니다. 우리도 마찬가지입니다. 우리도 선택해야 합니다. 아셀과 납달리와 단처럼 그 약속을 우리의 손에 쥐어 주셨음에도 불구하고 손에서 미끄러져 나가게 할 것인가? 아니면 여호수아처럼 그 약속을 내 것으로 만들어 나의 삶, 그리고 나의 자손들에게까지 그 약속을 누리게 할 것인가? 현실의 어려움에도 하나님의 약속을 움켜쥐고 믿음과 순종으로 하나님께 충성하시는 여러분 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.   

[Conclusion]

Today's passage is filled with the faithfulness of God. God kept every single one of His promises without fail. However, those who received the promise reacted differently.

We, too, must choose. Will we, like Asher, Naphtali, and Dan, allow the promise that was placed in our hands to slip away due to lack of obedience? Or will we, like Joshua, turn the promise into a possession through faith and obedience, allowing us and our descendants to fully enjoy the covenant blessing?

I pray that despite the difficulties of reality, you will grasp God's promises and remain loyal to Him with faith and obedience, becoming a person who truly responds to His unwavering faithfulness. Amen.