This morning I noticed something interesting in the book of Joshua. The last few chapters haven't reveled much new information about the character of God, but I have seen a lot about man's reaction to what God says and does. Today I want to focus on the does part of that, and in the next day or two on the says part.
Joshua 18.2-3, "There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not divided their inheritance. So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, 'How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?'"
At this point the people have been in the Promised Land for about five years. In chapter 14 Caleb, the other faithful spy from Numbers 13, says, "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God fully. So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God fully.’ Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today." (verses 7-10).
After five years of fighting many of the nations that were in the land have been defeated and destroyed. Many but not all (more here later). But the people still have not taken possession of the Land God promised to give them. They have moved through it fighting enemies for half a decade, but at the end of chapter 14 it says, "Then the land had rest from war." Chapters 15-17 have three of the tribes taking possession of their share, and back before the people crossed the Jordan River, Moses gave land to two other tribes. Five of twelve have their share, but the rest have not yet taken their promised inheritance.
God has given them a great gift. He's given them rich land, flowing with milk and honey (abundant in plants and animals), at the crossroads of the known world. He's given them victory in battle over the inhabitants of the land. He's given them the cities and houses that those inhabitants built and lived in. And yet they aren't claiming the gift that is already theirs. Why?
I don't have an answer, and I don't know that anyone does, because the same thing still happens today. God has offered every member of the human race eternal life, salvation, freedom from sin, a gift that simply has to be received, and yet so many don't take it. Why?
All of the work has been done for us, all of the preparation has been taken care of. God holds it in His hands, freely offering it to us, and yet so many say, "No thanks, I'm not interested." God has done a great thing, and our part in it is the simple one of receiving a completely free blessing we didn't earn or deserve at all, and yet we refuse it?
Israel had to be persuaded by their leader to take the land God had promised and given them. And today its as if people need to be persuaded to take salvation from His hands. People, let's take what God is freely offering us. It will transform your life. It doesn't promise to solve your problems and guarantee you happiness and success, but it brings peace, and fullness of life. It brings freedom from guilt and shame, forgiveness from the past, and the presence of God for the resent and future. It offers the life we were created to live, and perfection and full restoration to come. And it's yours, take it!
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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