Joshua 13:1-14: Distribute the Land in Faith
Joshua 13:1-14: Distribute the Land in Faith
"6 As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 7 and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh."
♢ Joshua, like all of us, cannot escape the passing of time. He is aging, growing weary. He fought diligently to conquer the land of Canaan, as God commanded, but there remains much land yet unconquered.
God tells Joshua that there is much land still to be possessed, listing the unconquered territories, including the five major Philistine cities from Egypt to Ekron and the coastal cities along the Mediterranean. The area near Mount Hermon in the north remains unconquered. There is more land remaining to be taken.
Joshua, with so much work left to do, is growing old and tired.
God then commands Joshua: "Distribute the land to the tribes!" Divide the land among the tribes, even the areas that haven't yet been conquered. He promises: "I will drive them out before the Israelites!"
Joshua, doing his best, working to his full potential in accordance with God's commands, still hasn't conquered most of the land. Joshua is now old and tired. As his body weakens, his spirit may also be weakening. Perhaps he has begun to think that he cannot conquer all the land that God has given him. He might have felt rushed and anxious.
At that moment, God seems to remind Joshua who is in charge of the war: "I am in charge of the war! I will fight for you!"
What God demands from Joshua is not an army, weaponry, strategies or tactics, but faith, trust in God. "I will give you this land, so divide the land to the tribes!" Dividing the land that has not yet been conquered is an act of faith.
It means trusting that what hasn't happened will happen, that God will make it happen. "Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). Because God is with us and will fulfill His promises.
♧ Faithful God, keep us from being imprisoned by our circumstances. Help us to believe in the God who is with us and empower us with courage. Let our wars be Your wars. Holy Spirit, empower us with courage. Amen.