THE DANGER OF SPIRITUAL INERTIA – Joshua 18-19

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on January 7, 2014 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; January 7, 2014

Joshua 18-19

Theme: The story of Joshua’s call to the remaining seven tribes to rise up and take possession of the land God was giving them warns us of the hindrance of ‘inertia’ in our spiritual life.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

The dictionary defines "inertia" as "a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line until acted upon by some external force". That may not sound very spiritual; but when applied to people, the same word describes "apathy", or an "inability or unwillingness to move or act". Inertia is a terrible disease of the soul—and one of the greatest of all hindrances to the believer’s spiritual growth in Christ. The 18th and 19th chapters of Joshua illustrate the problem of spiritual inertia to us—and also what happens when we resist it.

I. THE CALL FOR THE SEVEN TRIBES TO TAKE ACTION (18:1-11).

A. In chapters 13-17, we’ve read of how the land had been divided to the two-and-a-half eastern tribes; and then to western Manasseh, Ephriam and Judah. But seven tribes on the west still

had not received their inheritance. In Numbers 34:16-28, the Lord had specified to Moses that certain men from every tribe were to be selected to divide the land for the inheritance from Canaan. Furthermore, it was specified that the land was to be divided to the tribes by ‘lot’ (i.e., the casting of the lot; see Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2; Joshua 14:2). And at a key point of this work of division, the people had assembled together at Shilo (a city in Ephriam—see 16:6); where we’re told that the tabernacle of meeting had been set up, and "the land was subdued before them". Although the land was subdued, all was not well. We’re told, "But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance" (v. 2).

B. Apparently, the reason that these seven tribes still had not received their inheritance in a land that had already been subdued was ‘inertia’. After the many conquests, they had either grown apathetic or complacent; and were not rising up enthusiastically to take hold of what was theirs. Joshua had to say to them, “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you? Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me" (vv. 3-4). And so they did. Omitting the Tribe of Levi (who’s inheritance was the priesthood), and the eastern tribes (who had already settled on the other side of the Jordan), the men from the remaining seven tribes went out, surveyed the land that remained, divided it into seven parts, and came back to Joshua for the casting of the lots before the Lord.

C. It is a sign of spiritual maturity to "press on" and take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us (see Philippians 3:12-15). But when we have to be told to rise up and do it; it may be that we’ve become victims of the spiritual disease of ‘inertia’. As Alan Redpath has written, "No Christian will win the race if he stops to take a breather. No one will win the war if, on the verge of victory, he asks for a furlough. No child of God can afford to take one minute’s vacation from walking with God. How sad that so many of us have the prize almost within our grasp, the goal almost within reach, only to discover that we have come short of it and of the victory that could have been ours in Jesus Christ! We lost simply because we did not press home to possess what God had for us. We were overcome by inertia" (Victorious Christian Living, p. 222).

II. THE DIVISIONS OF THE SEVEN TRIBES BY LOT (18:11-19:48).

What follows is a description of the various boundaries of the lot that fell to each of the remaining seven tribes. As the Scriptures testify elsewhere, the blessings of these lands were worth rising up and taking hold of!

A. The Land of Benjamin (18:11-28). Their territory came between that of Judah and of the sons of Joseph. It was a large land—rich in cities. Moses had blessed their inheritance in Deuteronomy 33:12 when he said, "The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders"

B. The Land of Simeon (19:1-9). Because the inheritance of the Tribe of Judah was so vast, Simeon’s inheritance was within in the inheritance of Judah. Back in Genesis 49, Jacob spoke a curse on Simeon and Levi. They were angry and cruel brothers; and so Jacob said, "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel" (Genesis 49:7). So, we’re told that their inheritance was "included in the share of the children of Judah" (Joshua 19:9). They received an inheritance among the people of God—though no blessing is spoken of it.

C. The Land of Zebulun (19:10-16). Of Zebulun’s land, we’re told "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out"—and along with Issachar, it was said that "they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand" (Deuteronomy 33:18-19). Jacob promised that "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon" (Genesis 49:13). This was a promise that great riches lay in their land and seacoasts—if they would go and get them.

D. The Land of Issachar (19:17-23). Issachar was blessed by Moses with Zebulun. Of them, their father Jacob said, "Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between two burdens; he saw that rest was good, and that the land was pleasant; he bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a band of slaves" (Genesis 49:14-15). Issachar was given a rich land; but unfortunately, it was also attractive to others. They didn’t remain diligent to protect themselves from those who raided and abused them.

E. The Land of Asher (19:24-31). What a rich land this was! Of this tribe, Moses said, "Asher is most blessed of sons; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:24-25). Jacob said of them, "Bread from Asher shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties" (Genesis 49:20).

F. The Land of Naphtali (19:32-39). Their land lay as Moses had promised; "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the west and the south" (Deuteronomy 33:23).

G. The Land of Dan (19:40-48). We’re told by Moses, "Dan is a lion’s whelp; he shall leap from Bashan." And indeed the Tribe of Dan did! As Joshua 19:47 tells us—after defining its boundaries by lot—"And the border of Dan went beyond these, because the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem and took it; and they struck it with the edge of the sword, took possession of it, and dwelt in it. They called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father." This was an act of aggression, however that came about because of the ‘inertia’ of previous generations (see Judges 18:1, 27-29). When we neglect to take hold of what God is giving us, we don’t simply remain where we are. Such a neglect sets into motion an act of disobedience that eventually hurts others.

III. THE INHERITANCE OF JOSHUA (19:49-51).

A. When the land had finally been divided to the remaining tribes, Joshua set the example by taking what belonged to him. "According to the word of the LORD", they gave him the city he asked for. Timnath Serah was in the land of Ephraim (see 1 Chronicles 7:24); and it was there that Joshua was later buried (see Joshua 24:30)—"within the border of his inheritance".

B. All this was done under the supervision of Eleazar the priest and Joshua before the tabernacle. It was only then that it could be said that "they made an end of dividing the country" (v. 51). ‘Inertia’ is not a thing to have before a God who holds out such great riches to those He loves! He calls for action!

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The psalmist wrote, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance" (Psalm 16:6). And that can be our testimony too—but only if we resist the spiritual disease of ‘inertia’, and rise up and finish the work God has called us to do! May God cure us of ‘inertia’!