And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them(Josh. 18:1).
For 39 years, the Tabernacle of God had preceded the Israelites through the wilderness. For nearly seven years after that, it had been assembled at Gilgal, just off to the east of where the city of Jericho had stood. Now, it was being permanently assembled at Shiloh (meaning a place of rest). At long last, the journey of the Israelites was over. And the land was subdued before them. They had come into their inheritance, and God had chosen a central point to put His name in their midst. But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, even unto His habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee (Deut. 12:5-7).
Although God had instructed Joshua to begin parceling out the land even before the Tabernacle arrived in Shiloh (Josh. 13:7-8), there were still seven tribes that had not yet moved to claim their share. The tribes of Simeon, Dan, Naphtali, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin had all hung back, seemingly content to remain a united, nomadic band under the leadership of Joshua. This, however, was not the Lord’s will. He had brought them into the land to possess it fully and to establish therein a great nation (Gen. 12:2; Deut. 1:8). And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you? Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me (Josh 18:3-4).
It was not enough for the people to simply be in the Promised Land; God required that they commit to it. The same level of commitment is required of us today. When we choose to follow Christ, we are choosing to turn our lives over to him— mind, body, heart, and soul—we can hold nothing back. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (John 12:25). He is offering us a place in the family of God, but we have to step up and accept that offer. We must claim it, just as the Israelites had to move forward and claim their lot in Canaan. They had to quit thinking in terms of a future Promised Land and begin thinking of Israel, the culmination of that promise.
Our life in Jesus Christ begins now. When we accept Him as our Savior, we automatically accept the fulfillment of all of His promises, past, present, and future. That means that we must live for Him in the here and now, embracing the life he has given us by giving all that we are to Him.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God(Rom. 12:2).
Thought for Today: It is not enough to stand in a Church; we must worship. It is not enough to bow our heads and clasp our hands; we must pray.
Christ Revealed: Through Shiloh. The children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the Tabernacle (Josh. 18:1). The Tabernacle was located at Shiloh, meaning “peace”; the Tabernacle was where the presence of God dwelt and both the place and the Tabernacle were prophetic of Jesus. These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace (John 16:33).
Word Studies: 17:1 man of war = great soldier; 17:13 waxen strong = grown stronger; 18:4 describe = draw a descriptive map; 18:10 divisions = family groups; 18:12 the goings out thereof = its outer limits.
Pray For Country:Turkmenistan (5,171,943) Central Asia • Major Language: Turkmen • Government Controlled Religious Activities • 89% Muslim; 9% Eastern Orthodox; 2% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray for a spirit of humility and submission before the Lord (John 3:30-31).
Optional Reading:John 10