It was evidently up to the leaders of the tribes to approach Joshua and say, “We’re here to receive our lot, our inheritance.” Yet at this point, seven of the twelve tribes had not yet done so. Why? I suggest it was that, without a specific region appropriated to them, they would have no battles to fight. They could be on the coast for a while and then go into the valley of Jezreel or on to Jerusalem. Whenever difficulties arose, they could simply pack up and move. And there are Christians who are just like them.

There are people who have left the wilderness of carnality and who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They’ve entered the Promised Land of the Spirit-filled life, and are experiencing something of abundance - yet they don’t want to be locked in to a specific territory, a specific congregation. “I want to attend this meeting over here and that church over there,” they say - until the pastor makes them angry and they head in a different direction. “When the building project is complete, I’ll be back,” they say. Although people with this mindset might think they’re being led by the Spirit, in reality, they are simply neither accountable to, nor responsible for, anyone. They’re involved as long as it is comfortable for them, but if they’re asked to do something that stretches them, they’ll leave.

The majority of the tribes failed to claim their inheritance. And, sadly, Joshua’s question still needs to be asked in our generation: “When are you going to quit floating around, sink some roots, put your hand to the plow, and claim territory for the Kingdom?”