Suggested Bible Reading: Joshua 12-15
Devotional Thought:
Title: “The Importance of Finishing.”
The easy to read narrative of chapters 1-11 is brought to an abrupt end in chapter 12. The list of defeated kings prepares the reader for the more detailed nature of the chapters that follow, particularly chapters 13-21. Following the detail of battles, miracles, victories and defeats the presentation of geographical boundaries and names of cities, towns and villages is a challenge to the reader, but a testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord and His interest in the fulfillment of the detail of the inheritance which he had given to the children of Israel. “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years.” As an old man, Joshua’s work was not finished even though, in all probability, he had passed the age of 100. He was 110 when he died (24:29) and it is thought by many commentators that it took seven years to survey and divide the land. The details of the job that the Lord had given to Joshua had changed. He was no longer able to do what he had done as a young man; however, his long years of serving the Lord had prepared him for this final task. For most of us, age does bring change. The physical limitations that accompany advancing years often means that the things we once did with relative ease is no longer possible. That does not mean that ones service is finished. It does mean that it has changed. It is sad when a believer refuses to acknowledge at the onset of getting older that he is not able to do things as well as he once did, and will not allow others to take on his responsibilities. This was one of the problems in the days of Hosea when “gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.” (Hos 7:9) It is good when a brother is willing to accept a new sphere of service to which the Lord has directed him and for which his vast experience has prepared him. “And there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” This was not a rebuke or even an indication of failure on the part of Joshua. He had been very faithful unto the Lord. It was a statement of fact in relation to the inheritance that the Lord had promised the children of Israel. Joshua had done what had been required of him, yet the work of possessing the land was not finished. God has a part we all play in the bigger picture of God’s sovereignty and the counsel of His own will. (Eph. 1:11; 3:11) Joshua was no longer capable of the tasks that He had accomplished up to this point in his life. However, Joshua could do the dividing up of the land. Therefore, Joshua was being instructed to divide the land, even if parts of the territory to be allocated to certain tribes were not yet under their control. They had come a long way from the slavery of Egypt, but they were not to be content with a partial inheritance. I fear that too many Christians today become complacent and plateau in their Christian lives. They live as if they have arrived when there is so much more to be done. How about you? Are you passionately pursuing the will of God with the same zeal as you did when you got saved? Before Joshua gave his farewell speeches to the nation, he was to help the Israelites maintain the focus on the land that they had been given and to pursue with enthusiasm the claiming of the land in its entirety. Does God have more land for you to claim in your Christian walk? Don’t quit on God, He did not quit on you!
Personal Prayer Requests:
- Lord, please help me to grow in grace each day. Please help me to constantly be pursuing obedience to the wide range of commands in the Bible.
- Lord, please help me to be the motivator that Joshua was, and please help me to encourage my family, church, and friends to never quit on you.
- Lord, thank you for going all the way to the cross and never quitting, but for the joy that was set before you, you endured the cross, despising the shame, and now completed, you have sat down at the right hand of God the Father.