Just Do It!

Reading Joshua 17 and 18

Here we see the descendants of Joseph’s sons becoming numerous. They had already possessed some of the land allocated to them; however, a portion remained untaken because the Canaanites simply refused to leave, and the descendants of Joseph saw them as too mighty to remove.

They brought this issue to Joshua, who reminded them that they were “numerous and very powerful” and instructed them to clear the forested hill country—assuring them there would be plenty of land for their growing population. There will always be someone who doesn’t believe in you—just make sure it’s not you!

In our lives, we need people of faith who can speak to our true identity, not the false ones we often see in ourselves. Just as Joshua declared Ephraim and Manasseh to be numerous and powerful, we, too, need godly voices to speak truth over us.

God’s plan was for there to be light in every part of the land—not just some!

In chapter 18, we read that seven of the Israelite tribes had still not taken possession of the land already allocated to them. Joshua asked them how long they were going to wait to take possession of the land the Lord had given them.

Perhaps the LORD would ask us a similar question:

How long are you going to wait?

I’ve already given this to you—step into it. Take it!

In His wisdom, Joshua instructed each tribe to appoint three men to survey the land and write a description of it. Then they were to report back, and the land would be divided among the remaining tribes. Joshua knew that sending these twenty-one men into the land would serve as a catalyst—the kick-start needed to move the people towards possessing their inheritance.

Camping far away from their future territories allowed them to stay uncertain about what lay ahead. It allowed them to be preoccupied with other things and leave the possession of their inheritance to another day, somewhere in the future. However, by entering into the land and exploring it, a process would begin of seeing a new identity as a possessor of the new land.

You can’t learn to drive in a parked car.

Spy out the land the LORD has for you!

Meditation

1. Ask God to reveal to you people of faith who will spur you on to enter into all of your inheritance in Christ, and to give you a humble heart to receive from others.

2. Hear the words of Joshua asking you the question: ‘How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land?’

Prayer

Lord, I renounce the wrong thoughts I have believed over my life. I can do all that You say I can do. Please forgive me for speaking a ‘less than’ identity over my life. Please help me to put on the new self and therefore take the inheritance You have waiting for me to grasp.

Help me to spy out the land and to step into the inheritance You have obtained for me. Thank You that You have great things for me this year—a land of abundance—and I look forward to enjoying its fruit. Take me deeper into You, I pray, Amen.

Finishing Strong

Reading: Joshua 19 and 20

Joshua had waited such a long time to enter the Promised Land and then a further period to receive his allotted inheritance. Joshua was enslaved in Egypt, then for forty years had to live in the wilderness because of other people's lack of faith. He served Moses for so many years and then commanded Israel. Then, finally, right at the end of his life, after everyone else had received their allotted lands, Joshua received his.

Well done, Joshua! Good and faithful servant—enter into your rest. May we be faithful to the Lord, serve Him, serve others, and may we finish our race strong. Ask the Lord to guide you into your inheritance. Ask the Lord to help you remain faithful to the end.

In chapter 20, look at this picture: you can imagine transitioning from being a nation of wandering nomads in the desert, then a nation moving from place to place at war for years, to now changing again to a nation living in the land and establishing businesses, houses, law, and order—it would take time. They were not to adopt a murderous avenging-of-blood policy, but if someone accidentally killed someone, they could flee to a city of refuge where a proper court would hear their case.

Sometimes in our lives, we need to remove ourselves from dangerous situations in order to find help from those who can help us rebuild our lives. We might need a place to gain that help ourselves if we have gotten into a mess, or we might one day be in that place to hear someone's case and help them with wisdom and counsel. Whilst we cannot micro-manage every area of someone's life, we can provide godly counsel, share wisdom, and be a pivotal point in their life.

In our world today, there will be many Christian ministries that facilitate 21st-century sanctuary cities where those in trouble can find people who will give wisdom and counsel. Also, there is always a need for such people in the local church who, when people run from chaos, can offer sober, wise, and caring support.

Meditation

1. What can you put into place in your life that will help you to finish strong, like Joshua did?

2. Pray for those in your church who provide a place of sanctuary. Ask the Lord, as you grow in maturity in the LORD, how you can help provide a place of sanctuary.

Prayer

Lord, I thank You that the Bible does include some who ran their race and finished strong like Joshua. I dearly desire to do the same. Help me to maintain a good testimony, to maintain my integrity, faith, and zeal for You, LORD. May Your word not depart from my mouth, may I meditate on it continuously, and may I seek Your presence and counsel throughout my life.

Lord, I thank You that to truly enter the Promised Land is more than possessing land—it is about building a healthy society within. Lord, I pray also that You would use me in shaping a healthy, God-fearing, just society where You reign. Help me in providing that place of godly wisdom and counsel to others who will benefit from this. I ask this in Jesus precious and matchless name, Amen.