Taking Possession of our Inheritance

Edited by Steve Fountain from a sermon preached on September 30, 2012.

Last week we were flying at about 30,000 feet over Joshua 13-19 and got a good sense of our  imperishable, undefiled and unfading inheritance — God Himself.

When we come down from the clouds and the wheels of the plane screech against the tarmac, do God's promises appear wild because of disbelief; or do they become real, vivid and priceless?  

Joshua had been the fearless leader for Israel, and now it's up to the 12 tribes to divide and conquer — but this was soon to change.  The Israelites had been given a promise in Joshua 13:6 that God would drive out the enemy before them.  They had been instructed to go, divide the land, and in the strength of God possess their inheritance. 

Yet, they simply did not take hold of the promises of God. 

I would like to compare two contrasting attitudes: Joseph's reluctance and Judah's boldness. 

There is a lesson here for all of us in trusting in God and gaining your inheritance instead of seeking what appears to be the easiest path to satisfy your own desires.     

Because the tribe of Joseph didn't follow God's instruction to drive out the Canaanites, they could not expand to the north and west. And forests hindered expansion elsewhere.  In Joshua 17:14, the people of Joseph actually ask God for more land! Their inability to conquer the land stems from their ingratitude, and they falter on the promises of God. Because of their ingratitude, they actually challenge the outcome of the lot, which was controlled by God — and so were actually challenging God by suggesting that perhaps God was not good to them.

To be content with what God has given is a sure statement that you believe God’s promises to give you everything you need.

Listen to the wisdom of Joshua in verse 15 as he deconstructs their conceit.  Joshua says, instead of looking at the problems, consider your opportunities — clear the trees so you can have pasture and farm land. But instead they come up with another excuse in verse 16, suggesting that the Canaanite's iron chariots are way too much for them.

The people of God did not go on to do what God told them to do for two reasons.  First, they wanted peace at any cost and they also wanted wealth.  They picked getting money (tribute) from the Canaanites to let them stay in the land instead of driving them out. Through the time of the judges and beyond, the Israelites slowly lost ground because they had not possessed their possessions on the basis of God’s promise.

While Joseph demonstrates reluctance, Judah demonstrates a bold faith that lays hold of the promises of God.  This bold faith is highlighted in one family — the family of Caleb.  Caleb is singled out as an object lesson of someone who, because of gratitude and persistence, took possession of his inheritance because he held onto the promises of God. 

You may remember that Caleb and Joshua were among the12 spies under Moses, who,  years earlier had been the only two who believed God’s promises.  (Numbers 13:30)  When the campaigns had broken the heart of the land, Caleb (now 85) came to Joshua and said, “Now by faith I’m going to do what I said all along could be done.”  What a man!  Here he was, out of step among a people who, for the sake of peace and wealth, were not continuing the warfare.  

Caleb followed the Lord and actually went up and claimed his land — he fought for it and won it and proved what he had believed for many long years.   

Yet you might be tempted to think.  I could never be like that?  And actually, you would be right — you cannot.  In fact, we can only attack mountains, or move mountains by faith that God’s power, his grace are what gets the job done.  Like Israel, we are called upon to possess our inheritance, too. 

This is where the rubber meets the road — either we crash and burn, or we live for Christ. Either we have faith or not.  We can talk of all the great things we have to look forward to in heaven, but if we do not live as though we have heaven now in our hearts, then the promises of God are nothing.  If the promises of God are wild and sound distant, then we need to stop and take stock.  We must ask for forgiveness and begin to believe God and begin boldly living by faith.