Joshua 18-19: Don't be content with partial victory
Theological Proposition/Focus: God desires his people to be Christ-like and continues to push us forward in growth.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: We have a tendency to declare victory once we have finished the easy part. In our spiritual growth, we must not declare victory simply because we are ready to be done.
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 1.1 Image:
- 1.2 Need:
- 1.3 Preview: In this passage, we will see that we should not settle for less than God is offering us. This means we need to take note of what God is offering and take action as God directs.
- 1.4 Text: Joshua 18:1–10
- 1.5 Setting the Stage:
- 1.5.1 Victories with cracks
- 1.5.2 Joshua wisely called for a meeting.
- 1.5.2.1 The Israelites, as a whole, moved from Gilgal to Shiloh, about 20 miles northwest
- 1.5.2.2 Shiloh was centrally located and provided a convenient (central) location for the tabernacle
- 1.5.2.3 The discontentment shown by the sons of Joseph (17:14–18) was evidence of fracturing unity.
- 1.5.2.4 Joshua wisely elected to bring the people back around the tabernacle as a source of unity.
- 1.5.3 Joshua wisely noted the war weariness [1]
- 2 Body
- 2.1 Don't settle for a purposeless nomadic existence (18:1-3).
- 2.2 Take note of the blessing that God is offering (18:4-7)
- 2.3 Take action to realize the blessing that God is offering (18:8-10).
Introduction:
Image:
Need:
Preview: In this passage, we will see that we should not settle for less than God is offering us. This means we need to take note of what God is offering and take action as God directs.
Text: Joshua 18:1–10
Setting the Stage:
Victories with cracks
At this point we have been following Israel through 17 chapters of conquest
While there have been tremendous victories, there are cracks starting to appear.
Sin had led to defeat (e.g. Achen)
Partial Obedience had led to compromise.
Joshua wisely called for a meeting.
The Israelites, as a whole, moved from Gilgal to Shiloh, about 20 miles northwest
Shiloh was centrally located and provided a convenient (central) location for the tabernacle
The discontentment shown by the sons of Joseph (17:14–18) was evidence of fracturing unity.
Joshua wisely elected to bring the people back around the tabernacle as a source of unity.
Joshua wisely noted the war weariness [1]
With this in mind, let me read the passage to you and then we will talk through a few key ideas.
Body
The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you? 4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. 5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north. 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God. 7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them.” 8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD.” 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions. [2]
The first point that I see in this passage is that Christ followers we must be careful.
Don't settle for a purposeless nomadic existence (18:1-3).
I think that the people, tired from war weariness, having experienced some victory, decided that they were done.
Understand the true freedom of Psalm 46:10
we are free to pursue Spiritual growth since the cares of the world are not our primary concern.
Understand the object of value in Luke 10:38-41.
Luke 10:38-42 teaches us not that activity is bad, but that relationship is more important than activity. We should pursue a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus.
