Then Joshua asked them, "How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?"
Joshua 18:3 NLT
God had given them the land, but they failed to enter and possess it by faith. To take possession means to occupy the land completely, own it, control it, which is much more than just crossing the boundary line. Possessing it is an act of obedient faith based on the promise of God given back in Joshua 1:11, loosely paraphrased here - "Get ready, cross Jordan, take possession of what God has already given you."
Life Lesson by Charles Stanley - "Israel's partial obedience was disobedience toward the Lord and ungratefulness for all He had already given them." Yes, Israel had subdued the land, but by faith, it still had to be possessed.
And let's face it, I'm sure Joshua was eager to complete his assignment, which included the division of the land among the tribes BEFORE he took possession of his own. Joshua had been patiently waiting for OVER 40 YEARS!
What keeps us from claiming the territory God wants to give us? What is holding us back from acting on His promises?
Prayer:
Father,
We know You are with us. Help us to walk in the courage You have commanded we have, and to step forward in faith to honor You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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