As we read in Joshua 13:1-6: There must be no resting on past achievements; otherwise, God’s purpose for Israel could never be fulfilled. God had given them the land, but they had to claim every part of it. The process of taking possession of the land involved first surveying it, then dividing it among the tribes, and finally allowing each tribe to take what was allotted to them. What God intended for the Israelites to have and what they actually possessed were very different. Throughout history, the Israelites never fully achieved God’s plan. Joseph's inheritance was given to the descendants of his two sons long before they took possession of the land. Judah also received the largest allotment because of his willingness to sacrifice himself for Benjamin. The rest of the land was divided by lot, with precise boundaries. The tribe of Levi received a portion throughout the land, consisting of certain cities and their surrounding areas. Their role was to serve God by serving His people. What the land was to Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ is to us. The mountains offer us glimpses of heaven. The valleys may appear to be places of discouragement and despair, but they often turn out to be valleys of divine blessing—green pastures and fertile fields. Our inheritance in Christ is not part of Christ but all of Christ. Our possessions are only what we are willing to claim by faith. I am led to pause and reflect: what "lands" are in my life that I have yet to conquer and possess? I fear I have settled for half-measures instead of fully claiming all the Lord has for me. We never reach a stage of Christian experience when we exhaust all the possibilities of life in Christ. Not one of us has won every battle we have fought. There are times when we have been defeated. We have not fought every battle we should have. There have been times we evaded the enemy and chose the easier path. These experiences of defeat, followed by confession and assurances of forgiveness, give us the incentive to press on with Christ toward the goal. He never leaves us, but there is still land to be possessed.
Areas we need to possess include knowledge, which is different from intellect. Mental discipline, memory, and observation can develop our intellect. Someone might have little intellect but possess deep discernment of spiritual truth that surpasses intellect. A person can be well-informed yet be a fool in the matters that matter most. Another area to claim is spiritual experience. There are enemies, strongholds, habits, and “kings” that are deeply rooted. Our peace is often disturbed by attacks of evil. He strikes without warning and, in a moment of anger, may speak sharply and critically. In some cases, people are hesitant to acknowledge and submit to the Lord's authority over worldly associations and friends. We appropriate Christ by faith when we fully submit to the Lord and surrender to His will, dedicating our life, talents, and everything we have to Him. We appropriate by faith the life God intends for us when we avoid living in spiritual poverty, resist pressures and temptations around us, and remain vigilant against complacency, apathy, and laziness.
The third section of the Book of Joshua begins in this chapter and continues through chapter twenty-two. The first five chapters describe the entrance into the promised land. Chapters six through twelve cover the conquest of the land, and this section explains the division of the land. The last two chapters feature Joshua's farewell as he speaks to the people.
The four main messages of the book are to teach us about God's faithfulness to His people. The second is that, to enjoy the blessings God offers, we must claim them by “walking on the land,” the “two-feet rule,” which holds great significance. The third message helps us understand how God perceives sin. His horror and holy hatred of sin stem from His knowledge of what sin causes when people turn to the vices and evil inherent in sin. The fourth message emphasizes the importance of living a victorious life in fellowship with God.
The enthusiasm and energy of Israel began to fade, possibly because they were becoming war-weary and eager to settle down. It seems like they were content with what they had rather than striving for more. The land was there to be claimed, and God had promised it to them when they walked upon it. Zeal and endurance are sustained when we look ahead and see what God’s purpose is, instead of focusing on what we already possess and settling for less.
Christians should always keep God's word in their hearts as well as in their minds. Procrastination and spiritual lethargy should cause us to fear because they do not bring victory and contentment. In the New Testament, Paul warned about staying stagnant in divine matters. He said that he forgot what was behind and instead focused on the future. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”