Get After It!
Dec 19, 2022
READ JOSHUA 17:14-18 & 18:1-3
Israel has made it to the Promise Land. After forty long years of wandering in the desert, the deaths of an entire generation, and multiple lessons about obeying The Lord, they were finally home. Though they were now inside the borders of the land God promised to Abraham, they weren't free from conflict or challenges. Israel had defeated many Canaanites but had not entirely possessed the land.
In Joshua 17 & 18, the children of Joseph come to Joshua to complain that they hadn't been given enough land. They declare themselves to be "a great people." Joshua replies, "If you're a great people, go get your land."
Several principles in this story are valuable to us. First of all, we need to:
1) TAKE OWNERSHIP
Taking ownership means that we must stop blaming everyone else.
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THEY ACCUSED JOSHUA
These particular Israelites first accused Joshua. "Why have you given me but one portion to inherit?" Next, they pointed their finger at the Canaanites and their iron chariots.
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THEY BLAMED THE CANAANITES
Joshua had told them to get more land if they wanted more, but they said the enemy would prevent them. The Canaanites had iron chariots and seemed too powerful for them (even though they were "a great people").
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"YOU HAVEN'T..."
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"THEY ARE..."
How often do we fail because we won't take ownership? We find it easier to blame everyone and everything else rather than pull up our bootstraps and get after it.
We also need to:
2) RETHINK OBSTACLES
Joshua suggested they go to the forests of the hill country and harvest wood there. They were to possess that and then drive out the Canaanites. So what would usually have been an obstacle could be a resource.
If we can discipline ourselves to view our obstacles and struggles as opportunities, we will find them to be a great help in the long run. Perhaps you lack the finances to accomplish something. At first glance, this would be a limiting factor. But in the long term, it may cause you to become much more resourceful and learn new ways to achieve your goal.
Maybe your health prevents you from the activities you once enjoyed. So now you're free to discover new interests that would've never entered the equation.
Lastly:
3) STAND UPON GOD'S PROMISES
If God has promised something, then get on board! The only thing that prevents Him from executing His will in our lives is our unbelief.
Hebrews 3:17-19 (KJV)
"17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
Hebrews 4:1-2, 11 (KJV)
"1 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. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
The word "unbelief" in the above verses means disobedience. Israel never enjoyed many of the blessings of God because of their disobedience. Instead, they chose not to allow the Lord to lead them.
He doesn't speak because He's bored and needs something to do. Instead, The Lord has a plan and calls and empowers us to fulfill a unique role within His program. He cannot fail and will not break His promises.
SO GET AFTER IT!
Summary:
1) TAKE OWNERSHIP
2) RETHINK OBSTACLES
3) STAND UPON GOD'S PROMISES
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