Joshua 13:1-16: a reflection

1Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. The LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed. 2“This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites; 3from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim, 4on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites; 5and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath; 6all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, even all the Sidonians. I will drive them out from before the children of Israel. Just allocate it to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. 7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.” 8With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: 9from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon; 10and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon; 11and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah; 12all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for Moses attacked these, and drove them out. 13Nevertheless the children of Israel didn’t drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath live within Israel to this day. 14Only he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The offerings of the LORD, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him. 15Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families. 16Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;

Joshua has grown old, and much has been accomplished in the conquest of the land. But God says something that might have surprised him: You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed. Even after all Joshua had done, much of the promised land remained unclaimed, still to be possessed. The work was not finished; there was more of the promise still to lay hold of, even at this late stage.

Notice God's word to the aged Joshua: much land remains to be possessed. Joshua might have thought his work largely done, and rested on what had been accomplished. But God reminds him that much of the promise was still unclaimed; there was more to possess. The promise had been given, and much taken; but much remained, still to be laid hold of, and God was calling attention to what was yet to be possessed, not only to what had been.

That word speaks to us about the promises of God, much of which may remain unpossessed in our own lives. God has promised his people great things; and we may have laid hold of some, and be tempted to rest there, as though there were no more. But there may be much of God's promise still unclaimed in our lives, much yet to be possessed, more of him and his gifts to lay hold of. Do not rest content with what you have already laid hold of, as though there were no more of God's promise to possess. Like Joshua, hear God's reminder that much remains; there is more of God, more of his grace and gifts and calling, still to be laid hold of. Do not settle, even late in life, as though the work were finished and there were no more to possess; press on to lay hold of more of what God has promised, for much land may yet remain to be possessed in your own walk with him.

Lord, when Joshua had grown old, after all he had accomplished, you told him: you are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed. Much of the promise was still unclaimed, still to be laid hold of. Let that word speak to me about your promises, much of which may remain unpossessed in my life. You have promised your people great things; and I may have laid hold of some, and be tempted to rest there, as though there were no more. But there may be much of your promise still unclaimed in my life, much yet to be possessed, more of you and your gifts to lay hold of. Keep me from resting content with what I have already laid hold of, as though there were no more of your promise to possess. Like Joshua, help me hear your reminder that much remains; there is more of you, more of your grace and gifts and calling, still to be laid hold of. Keep me from settling, even late in life, as though the work were finished; help me press on to lay hold of more of what you have promised, for much land may yet remain to be possessed in my walk with you. Help me press on to possess more of your promise, Lord.