“How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?” Joshua 18:3
Dear Ones:
Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, spoke of Israel’s errors, as being an example of that which we are not to do, or pursue. All through Scripture we have pictures of God’s dealings with Israel, to illustrate to us what is good in His sight, and what is not, that which He will bless, and that which He will not.
In the book of Joshua, we have the account of Israel crossing over the Jordan River, entering into the “land of promise,” where God would fulfill His covenant with Abraham, and his descendants. It would be there that the promises of God would become stepping stones for Israel to possess the possession that God had declared He had given them. However, as is the case with believers today, they began to “settle down,” neglecting to go forward. God did not save them out of Egypt just to bring them into the land, just to be blessed by Him materially. His objective was far greater. It would have to do with the revelation of His person, and saving grace, to the entire world. In the land of promise there would be realized the greatest promise of all…the promise of His manifest presence. It would be His presence that would distinguish the people among all others in the world. However, there would come a day, that Israel would NEGLECT going up to possess the land that God had given. It is one thing to KNOW the promise. It is another to KNOW the One who promises, and see realized His hand working according to that promise. Hence, the question by God to Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land?”
Again, in the history of Israel, at a time many years after Israel had entered into Canaan, the promised land, they lost it. Because of their turning to idols, and away from the true knowledge of God, they forfeited their possession of it, and also their experience. How is this so? God’s covenant remained the same…the land belonged to them. However, for a time, because of the deportation into exile of the nation, their experience of possessing the land, and the corresponding blessings, was nullified. The position of God was that the land was theirs, but the possession and experience of it was lost. However, after a period of seventy years in exile, the compassion and mercy of God began to manifestly reveal itself to the nation. God would open for them a door of hope, and the promise again of possession, and the blessing. He would speak to them of a new beginning (Is. 43), of the outpouring of the Spirit (Is. 44), and of a return and restoration of the true worship of God in Jerusalem. (Is. 45) God would reveal to Israel through His prophets, that the promised possession would again be theirs. They would be restored to it, and it to them. The question would be: “Who is there among you of all His people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.” (2 Chronicles 36:23)
In the book of Hebrews, the Lord brings us to the imminent application of these truths. Three times He says: “TODAY, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (3:7,15; 4:7) What is the issue here of possessing our possessions in Christ? First and foremost it is that of faith, a faith that chooses to put one’s whole trust, without reserve, in God. This is evidenced by ceasing from our own “works,” our ways and means, to believe Christ fully, and forever.
Dear Father, give us grace TODAY to embrace Thee according to Your word, without reserve, regret, or retreat. We would stake all upon Thee according to Your word for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad