Take Your Inheritance … by Wesley Clayton

Today’s Passage – Joshua 16 – 18 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Titus 1 – 3Proverbs 17Psalms 81 – 85

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46

Read the “0317 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post on this passage – “Get to Work

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?” (Joshua 18:1-3)

Joshua 14 – 16 deals with the inheritance given by God to the children of Israel.  Joshua 14:2 tells us how God wanted it done, “By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.” We skip to Chapter 17 and we see the land still being given out, but something happens that does not follow suit with the previous verses; someone isn’t happy: “And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?” (Joshua 17:14) We read in chapter 16:1 – 4 about the lot they were given and what it sounds like is they had some coastal land, some wilderness and some mountainous land. It sounds pretty awesome to me.  This brings me to my first point: listen and follow the man of God.  The Pastor is just doing what God has revealed to him.  As Christians, or humans in general, we have a tendency to complain about anything and everything.  Sometimes we just don’t understand what God is trying to do through His man, but it is his job to lead and our job to lift up his arms while he is doing so. In this instance they have some legitimate concerns, the hill is not big enough and the Canaanites have iron chariots.  We all have the same concerns and worries, and it all can be boiled down to something like this: “something is in our way.”  One of my favorite passages and the prayer that I prayed before going out on any mission while I was deployed was “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:2-3). Remember, we serve the God of the impossible. 

We start chapter 18 with these simple words: “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh.” This is one of those things that you could easily just read and keep going, but when you put it into context this is what happened, a family of the church was having a problem so the pastor called the church family together to help.  The houses of Ephraim and Manasseh saw no possible way to handle their situation, and they were not alone, they and five other houses were in the same position. This is quite possibly one of the greatest attributes of a Godly church; one that will come together in a time of need, sacrificing much for the well-being of others. Some may have said something to the effect of: “oh well, not my problem,” and a lot of times that is our attitude with our church family. We feel bad or sad about the situation but we are not willing to do anything about it. Let’s take some notes from the children of God and put some action to our words.  The family gathered together, God gave Joshua a plan to solve the problem, and together the family, led by God, attacked the situation.  

Finally Joshua issues their challenge, “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?”  This may sound familiar to you this goes all the way back to March 10 postI Will Be With Thee” – Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 23 

“And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. … And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 23)

Pastor Larry Brown once said, “God already has the check written, He’s just waiting on faith to pick it up.” We are not talking about a name it and claim it prosperity gospel, instead we are talking about the actual promises of God.  

Is God waiting on you to do something? Maybe talk to that neighbor or co-worker that you see everyday; or, maybe just to go share a kind word with that person that no one likes. Remember, Jesus died for them too.

Wesley, Melissa, Amelia, and Barrett

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Sami Mears
Sami Mears
4 years ago

Thanks for that Devotion, Wes!

C Stahl
C Stahl
4 years ago

Great thought for the day. I especially love the last paragraph. Thank you. Amen.

Debbie L.
Debbie L.
4 years ago

Great message! Thanks dear Wes.

Phil Erickson
Admin
4 years ago

Good Stuff!

Cindy Erickson
Cindy Erickson
4 years ago

Great post and great reminder. Thank you Wes, and thank you for your service to our country

Gary
Gary
4 years ago

You rock dude

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