How the middle East was originally divided...

Joshua 18

18 Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at pShiloh and set up qthe tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.

2 There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. 3 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, r“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? 4 Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. 5 They shall divide it into seven portions. sJudah shall continue in his territory on the south, tand the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north. 6 And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. uAnd I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 vThe Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. wAnd Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

8 So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh, 10 and Joshua xcast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, yto each his portion.

So, God has told the Israelites after FORTY years of wandering (which could have been much less, but was forty years due to their disobedience and unfaithfulness towards God), that they have made it to their land. Now THEY must  subdue the inhabitants and take what God wants them l to have.

Joshua looks around and sees that several tribes of Israelites have not done that.  "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? "

Hmmmmm...I wonder why they waited. They were told that God would go before them, as long as they relied on Him and not themselves). All they had to do was do it. Yet they didn't! I think if God had given me a huge chunk of land that I had waited forty years for, I would go get it! Right? 

Well, then I look around and I realize that I do the things I want to do...without asking Him about them and waiting for His answer. I do everything on MY plan and my decisions all day long, every day. No wonder things get so messed up!

God is asking me the same question today.  How long will you put off doing what I have told you I want you to do? How long will you do what you want instead of what I, your loving Father, want for you?

Father, I know you have a plan. Please make it clear to me, so that I know what you want me to do. Don't let me wander for forty years because I am too stubborn and impatient to listen and choose to do I what you want instead. I just want to do what you want me to do...to be a part of the plan YOU have for me. In Jesus Christ's name I pray. Amen.