“And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, ‘How long are you slack (tardy…late) to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?” (Joshua 18:3)
Dear Ones:
In the book of Hebrews, we find an exhortation that is so very important. “Let us therefore fear, lest a PROMISE being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (4:1) That which is key to consider here is the promise of God, and our response to it. In Joshua’s day, God had, for many years promised the children of Israel a “promised land,” a land where the promises of God are realized. The people finally entered it under the leadership of Joshua, and came to know and experience the blessing of God upon them as they conquered their enemies and the land was possessed. The sad side of this enterprise is that Israel only went part way in possessing the land. It is concerning this issue that Joshua, like the author of the letter to the Hebrews, exhorts them to not be slack, tardy, or late, in going up to possess ALL that God had promised them. Why is the consideration of possessing entirely the land so very important?
In the book of Isaiah, we begin to understand something of the reason. “‘Your are My witnesses,’ saith the Lord, ‘…and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me.'” (Is. 43:10) God reveals to Israel that her greatest blessing is the testimony of His manifest presence with them. What a privilege that the Almighty Creator and Redeemer, would choose a people, to reveal to all of the world, and creation, that He is the ONLY true and living God. We find this same thread of truth in the New Testament. “But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit (Almighty God) is come upon you: and you shall be My witnesses unto Me…” (Acts 1:8) Again, the great blessing in going up to possess the land in Joshua’s day, was that God would reveal His glory in the accomplishing of it. In our day, as it was in the Apostle’s day, we are called to go up and “possess Christ,” who is our inheritance, our “land of promise,” where, and in whom, the promises of God are realized, and known. The question then becomes: WHO will go up, and possess the land? And, are we late, or slack to do so? Lastly, if we are slack, WHY? It is an eternal calling and opportunity to glorify God. We have but ONE life to live on this earth.
Joshua divided the promised land to the children of Israel in Shiloh. Later in the history of Israel, just before David was anointed king of Israel, we see Samuel the prophet in Shiloh. That which occurs there at that time is very significant, and contributes to what our vision should be of what the Lord would have us trust Him for. “And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” (1 Sam. 3:21) The key point is the same as on the day of Pentecost, God “revealed Himself.” The realized promise of Pentecost is for all believers to this present day, “…”I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” (Acts 2:17) God has poured out His Spirit upon ALL flesh, but who will believe Him for the full realization of that promise, according to His purpose, and for His glory?
Dear Father, give us grace, to be those who are stir themselves up to truly seek Thee for Thy highest and best. Save us from all timidity and fear, giving us the spirit of Joshua and Caleb, who were determined to go up and possess the land. Anoint us, and fill us with this blessed Spirit of Pentecost, that we should be Your witnesses by word and deed, carrying with us that sweet aroma of Christ. Then, the world will know that You are the only true and living God. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad