For our meditation today we will focus on Joshua 18:3,“So Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?” (ESV)
These are the words of Joshua to the people of Israel who had been delivered from the slavery in Egypt, and had now entered the Promised Land. Though the people had all of the land before them they were hesitant to take full possession of the same.
Oftentimes the Lord wants to establish us in a place, but we are slack concerning the same. God is true to His word, and faithful to fulfill all that He has promised. However, we as His children must be ready to do whatever is required of us. A good question to ask is, “Are you in the place that God wants you to be, or are you stuck because of your slackness?”
The Lord delivered the great multitudes of the Israelites from the cruel hands of Pharaoh, led them for forty long years through the wilderness, and had graciously helped them enter the land of Canaan as He promised. Through all these years the Lord mercifully provided for them and protected them through the arduous journey. However, notice how it was only when the people had faith coupled with obedience that God made them progress to the next step.
Remember that the same is true for all of us even today. Walking with God is a journey of a life time, but it also involves faith and obedience on our part at every stage. Many people keep talking about the faith and obedience that they had in years gone by. Let’s remember that it is important to consider how this faith and obedience is played out in our lives at present too. If we desire to reach the higher places that God has in store for us, it is imperative that we walk with faith and obedience every single day.
Lessons from the life of Abraham
We read in Genesis 12:1,The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. (GNB)
Abram grew up in a civilization that was advanced, was in a protective environment, and had a family that was big and well established. It was from such a place that God called Abram to come out. From being in a good home Abram was now called out to live in tents like a nomad. Abram willingly gave up all of the comforts, put his faith in God and walked out in obedience to the call of God.
This is what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 11:8,“It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going.” (GNB)
The reason we speak highly about the faith of Abram is the fact that when God called him, He never gave details about the land that He was taking Abram to, and yet Abram set out in faith and obedience though he had no clue what lay ahead.
Very often we hesitate to take that first step out of our comfort zone to go to the place that God wants us to get to.
The dispute between Abram and Lot
At the age of 75 God called Abram, and Abram along with his wife Sarai, and all his belongings set out on the journey. Abram’s nephew Lot also decided to accompany Abram on this journey. After a few years there was a situation that arose between Abram and Lot.
We read about this in Genesis 13:7,“So quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abram's animals and those who took care of Lot's animals. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were still living in the land.)” (GNB)
Both Abram and Lot were wealthy, and their livestock had increased which caused a problem because there was not enough pastures for the livestock to graze upon. This led to dispute between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot.
The one thing that we can’t often handle is arguments between two people.
This news reached Abram, but the Lord who called Abram was silent in this situation. I believe that God was watching to see how Abram would handle the conflict.
Have you noticed how when we are in some sort of difficulty, we will sense that God is silent? The reason is God wants to observe how we are handling these situations that we encounter.
Abram’s response
Let us read the response of Abram when this dispute was brought to his notice. It is recorded in
Genesis 13:8-9, “Then Abram said to Lot, "We are relatives, and your men and my men shouldn't be quarreling. So let's separate. Choose any part of the land you want. You go one way, and I'll go the other."” (GNB)
Abram told Lot that since they were brothers, there was no need for discord between them. He also gave Lot the freedom to choose to go any way that he wanted. Lot thought this was a good opportunity, looked at the land where the River Jordan flowed and was fertile, chose to go that way towards Sodom, and parted ways with Abram.
Whenever there is a difference of opinion amongst us it is important how we deal with the same. God wants us to be patient, and deal with it in a godly way.
God’s reassurance to Abram
When Lot parted from Abram this was God’s promise to Abram as found in Genesis 13:14-16,After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram, "From where you are, look carefully in all directions. I am going to give you and your descendants all the land that you see, and it will be yours forever. I am going to give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all; it would be as easy to count all the specks of dust on earth! (GNB)
Only after Lot parted from Abram we see that God spoke to Abram. Abram let go of his rights, gave priority to the relationship with Lot, and most importantly Abram was not consumed with desire of the possessions that he could acquire. No wonder God told Abram that every part of the land that he could set his eyes on, from all four directions would be for him and his descendants. Lot could only go in one direction, but God blessed Abram on all sides. Also God told Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as dust of the earth. Abram humbled himself, and his faith in God was not just with words, but was evident through his actions. God did not counsel Abram on this matter, but Abram willingly gave up what was rightfully his to possess. Observe how God was silent until Lot departed, and then God spoke and blessed Abram more than he could comprehend.
Remember that when we give up we will not lose out, and those who actually lose out will not be willing to give up. Let me encourage you to give up what’s rightfully yours, and don’t take your brother to court to seek justice for a small piece of property. By doing so you will only lose your peace, and miss out on God’s manifold blessings.
Lot was captured
Sometime later we read in Genesis 14:12-13,“Lot, Abram's nephew, was living in Sodom, so they took him and all his possessions. But a man escaped and reported all this to Abram, the Hebrew.” (GNB)
Lot was in Sodom and Abram was elsewhere, and some kings joined forces to fight Sodom, and took captive Lot, and all that he possessed. When Lot landed up a slave, one man who escaped ran to inform Abram that his nephew was captured. As I read this narrative I realized that it was God who actually sent that man as a messenger to Abram. As soon as Abram was told about this God was silent and watched again to see how Abram would respond to this situation. Abram could have blamed Lot for his decision to move away, and thereby decided that Lot was facing the consequences for his actions. Or else, Abram could have remained indifferent knowing that the ones who captured Lot were kings, and hence he may not be able to overpower them.
Have you noticed that when someone does not value the relationship they have with us and walks away, when they are in trouble of any kind, we are tempted to think that they deserve it and that we are not in any way positioned to help them?
Abram’s response
This was Abram’s response in Genesis 14:14,“When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan.” (GNB)
Abram took with him 318 men who were trained to fight from his camp, pursued the kings who took Lot captive and brought him back along with all his belongings. This was a risk that Abram undertook for his nephew Lot who parted from him. God observed the heart of Abram for Lot who was in no way worthy to receive this favor from Abram.
When Abram came back after this jubilant victory something amazing happened.
Abram is blessed
We read about it in Genesis 14:18-19,“And Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and also a priest of the Most High God, brought bread and wine to Abram, blessed him, and said, "May the Most High God, who made heaven and earth, bless Abram!” (GNB)
This blessing that Abram received was something that no one had ever received. Melchizedek who was the king of Salem and also a priest blessed Abram.
As children of God let us understand that when we obey the word of God, and work by faith, surely we will be blessed by God. Sometimes we may be hesitant to obey God, but like Abram let us not trust in men, but trust God, and do as He commands us to do.
Interestingly the King of Sodom generously offered Abram to take with him all the possessions that he had brought back from the war with the kings. Here again God was silent, and the response that Abram gave to the King of Sodom was astounding. He gently refused all that was offered, and wanted the King of Sodom to know that God Almighty had blessed him. Abram did not in any way want anyone else to get the praise for the blessings that God had bestowed on him.
We need to have the faith that was found in Abram. A faith that does not look to men for blessings, but looks only to God.
Abraham’s impatience
Notice how through all of this God remained silent as he observed Abram. After ten years Abram realized that though God had blessed him with much possessions, he still remained childless. Abram’s wife Sarai gave him the idea to have a child through her maid Hagar. Even here God remained silent.
We read in Genesis 16:16,“Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.” (ESV)
This son Ishmael was born in accordance to their own plans. When Abram didn’t trust God, did things in His own strength and according to his own way, He missed out on God’s presence and the next thirteen years were filled with chaos, and turmoil with no peace in Abram’s family.
Every time we place our plans ahead of God’s, and do things according to our own thinking, without waiting for God’s timing, we will not receive God’s blessings and will in turn heap trouble on ourselves. The bible reminds us in Proverbs 10:22,“The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” (ESV)
God’s perfect timing
For thirteen long years there was a silence from God. After thirteen years we read in Genesis 17:1,“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,” (ESV)
Notice how God introduces himself to Abram as the God Almighty after thirteen long years when Abram was ninety-nine years old.
We too need to recognize that our God is Almighty, and in His time He will fulfill all that He has promised. If we want to receive it we have to walk in faith and obedience. There is nothing that is impossible with God, but the thing that God expects of us is to walk in integrity. Only as we walk in faith and obedience day by day will the Lord take us to the place that He has ordained for us.
If you are discouraged and wondering why God has not blessed you, let me encourage you that if you want God’s power to be manifested in your life, there is a part that we are obligated to do. Your faith and obedience should be consistent, and keep on doing faithfully all that God has entrusted to you.
At ninety-nine years of age God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a son, and asked them to name him Isaac, which meant ‘laughter’. From that day forward Abraham’s life was filled with explainable joy and peace. All those days of worry and discouragement were over for Abraham.
I mentioned over and over again how God was silent in Abram’s life, and maybe that’s exactly how you are feeling too. Remember that God is silent, but watching to see how you respond to the various trials and challenges in your life. Let me explain this with an illustration. A teacher who is teaching students in a class talks and lectures a lot all throughout the term. However, when the time comes for the examination, the teacher remains silent, and will never speak even if the student wants the teacher to. The same way when God seems silent, remember that He is present and He is watching as we take the test in life. God will surely take you to the place that He has planned for you, provided you don’t get discouraged, but continue this journey with faith and obedience. Remember that God is Almighty who will bless you, and guide you to help you reach the right destination.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
