Accept God's Best, Nothing Less

by Timothy Howe

A Promise Fulfilled

We have seen the story of Joshua, God granted the people of Israel their Promised Land. What God said he would accomplish for this people, He did. 

His fulfilled promise demonstrated his care.

He cared about Abraham. Abraham would be called a friend of God. He followed God by faith. God's fulfilled promise was a fulfillment of His relationship with Abraham.

He cared about the Israelites. He protected them as they wandered through the desert. He provided for them in their hunger. His presence proceeded them and followed them on their journey. 

He cared about His promise. God keeps his word. The entrance into the Promised Land by Israel shows that God is faithful. 

A Promise Deferred

At the very time that God manifested His faithfulness, part of Israel demonstrated their faithlessness. 

Eastern Tribes

Joshua 22 records the story of 2½ tribes who decided that they did not want what God promised. The tribes had noticed other land that they preferred which was outside of the scope of what the Lord had in store for them. 

The Land of Gilead

These 2½ tribes returned to the land they originally wanted in 22:1-6. They had chosen the land of Gilead on account of their wealth matched the perceived wealth of the land. We find this story in Numbers 32:1-5. This land was outside of the promise of God (22:9). The result ended up with most of the people of Israel in land of Canaan and these Eastern Tribes remaining in land of Gilead.

The Eastern tribes stayed in Gilead because they thought they knew best. They failed because they thought they knew best. Truly the Lord knows what is best for us. 

An altar at the Jordan

The Eastern Tribes made the situation worse by erecting an altar at the Jordan out of in direct disobedience to God's word. The nation of Israel was instructed to worship the Lord only at the Tabernacle. The Eastern Tribes' altar resembled a worship site so much that the other tribes were willing to go to war with them. The Eastern Tribes explained that the altar was only a memorial stone. The truth is that the altar represented their selfishness  and fear. (22:24ff) 

The assembly of Israel accepted the altar and the explanation of the Eastern Tribes because it was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. They thought they knew best. They failed because they thought they knew best.

Disappearance

As you read the rest of the story of Israel, one thing stands out. These 2½ would eventually disappeared. They merged into the other peoples who inhabited the land of Gilead. They would worship their gods and turn their back on God. Their rejection of God's best led to their ultimate demise.

Are you wandering?

You might be wandering during a desert time in your life. Rely on God to bring you through it. Wait on the the Lord. He will see you to what He has in store for you. 

Are you waiting?

Can you imagine? The Lord has something planned, and people would willingly choose a different outcome. Yet, I wonder how many of us do that very thing. We are on the path of God's best for our life, when we get distracted by something else. Some of these distractions might even be "good," but they are not God's "best." Why accept something inferior to God's best?

Have the courage to accept God’s best for your life and nothing less.