Although the children of Israel had entered the Promised Land, they had failed to take the next step of claiming the land for themselves by ridding it of it’s inhabitants. Joshua knew that they could never experience the full blessings of God‘s promise until they had followed through, so he called them out!
Josh. 18:1-4 “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.”
Notice the sins Joshua identifies which led to their current situation:
1. Laziness
“And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?”
2. Unwillingness to work with others.
“Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.”
3. Lack of dependence on the Lord.
V8-10 “And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh. And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.”
LESSON - Believers today struggle with the same issues in our lives which affect our fellowship with the Lord. So often we know what the Lord wants us to do, we are just unwilling to do it because God’s BEST requires hard work. In order to accomplish the tasks set before us, we must enlist help from others which many Believers find difficult. Prov. 27:17 reveals that there is great benefit from working alongside other Believers. It is for this reason that most of the tasks God gives us requires the assistance of others. Finally, the ultimate desired outcome from these tasks are dependence upon the Lord. Faith is increased when we work as if it all depends on us, but pray knowing that it all depends on the Lord! What stands between you and God‘s best? You may actually be your own greatest obstacle!
~Mike
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