Joshua
18:2-3 There remained among the people of
Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. So Joshua
said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take
possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?”
Here we find Joshua scolding the
seven tribes who have failed to take control of the land. The seven lazy tribes
lack courage to do as Joshua has commanded. He uses the example of the two
stronger tribes, Judah and Joseph, to motivate these tribes to act as they had
been instructed.
Success is there for the taking.
Without acting they could not realize the promise made by God to Moses and
Joshua. How often has Israel been promised a blessing but finds many a reason
to not reach-out and take what is promised. Joshua even points out the tribe of
Dan who lost their possession to the Canaanites. Later they are able to fight
and acquire a different territory for their possession.
Obedience to God involves action at
the place where God has shown himself ready to meet his people. The tent of
meeting is where the divine will is found. Israel cannot simply receive the
gifts directly from the hand of God. She must do her part. Laziness and
procrastination are not traits of the obedient and faithful.
Having received the land, Israel is
called to a life in the land. It is a life of peace in a land under their
control. This is God’s desire and God’s provision. The land was given to an
obedient people. When the land is lost, they cannot blame God. Israel must
measure her own life by the standard set up by God in the beginning.
This chapter makes clear to us today
that success is conditioned on obedience, on faithfulness to the Word of God.
When we are not willing to march forward at God’s command we cannot talk of God
as our God. We can only speak of him as the God of others.