God appointed Joshua as leader to take the Nation of Israel to their Promised Land. However, Joshua most probably did not get enthusiastic support from all people. Frustrated, he rebuked them. “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?” (Joshua 18:3) There could be many reasons as it is today with Christians, unable to complete the Great Commission task of reaching the whole world. (Matthew 28:18-20)
1) Forgetfulness: The Nation of Israel forgot the Promised Land and Promise-keeping God. They were immersed in the present, and they forgot the future. In the busyness of day-to-day life, the glorious future, eternity, Promises, Priorities, and the Kingdom of God are forgotten.
2) Ignorance: The New Generation that was born in the wilderness did not know what their Fathers experienced, including Egyptian slavery, God’s glorious power and deliverance, Promises, Covenant, and Law. They were ignorant of the Promise that the Sovereign God had given them their Land.
3) Negligence: The children of Israel were negligent. It means that they were living for survival and did not grasp the purpose and meaning of their call in their lives. Many Christians are immersed in consumerism and prosperity and do not seek to know or discern God’s will in their lives.
4) Incompetence: The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not think they were competent and confident enough to drive out the Canaanites, who had chariots of iron. (Joshua 17:16) Instead of learning new skills and adapting to a new, challenging environment, they preferred to get help from elsewhere. However, Joshua was not lenient; he commanded them to go and conquer.
5) Laziness: There is a common proverb: ‘No Gain Without Pain’. Only those who are alert, agile, willing to work hard, and have the mentality to accomplish could go out to inherit the Promises of God.
6) Excuses: There are always excuses for not doing what is in one’s power to do.
Am I negligent and forgetful regarding God’s call and promises?