Scripture
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?” Joshua 18:3 NIV
Observation
Joshua divided the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, according to what God had prepared.
However, not all the tribes had conquered the land that had been promised to them. There were still peoples and cities there to be conquered.
In this verse Joshua shakes the people: “Why aren’t you doing anything? Go and take possession of what God has given you.”
Application
Sometimes we get confused on “waiting on the Lord” and “taking possession” of God’s blessings.
The two extremes are: either we are very passive, and don’t move; or we try to take matters into our own hands.
Some people want God to do everything for us. But others don’t make room for God to direct us and guide our paths.
I believe that there is a time for waiting, for patience, but there is also a time to take steps guided by the promises of the Lord in our life. If God has already given us the direction, we have to move, to take hold of God’s blessings in our life.
Prayer
Father, help me to have the balance between waiting on You (even when things get tight and try to force me to take actions without Your direction) and also to march, to go ahead, to conquer the horizons that You have given me directions. Help me to have patience and to be pro-active too. In
