I was reading in Joshua the other day and came across a very ugly word in Chapter 18 – neglect.
Josh 18:1-3: Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?” [NKJV]
The children of Israel had been in the Promised Land for some time, probably around six or seven years. They had been conquering kings and taking cities. They had set up the Tabernacle of Meeting in Shiloh. Five of the tribes had received their inheritance, but there were still seven who had not. Joshua’s question to them is telling … “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?”
Neglect. Per Strong’s Old Testament Hebrew Words, this is a primitive root which means to slacken (literally or figuratively). In the King James, it was translated as cease, fail, idle, slack, be still, be slothful, or weak. Like I said, it’s an ugly word.
Unfortunately, even though we know it is ugly, it is a word which may define our spiritual life at times. We neglect our walk with the Lord. We slacken our pace, grow idle, even become slothful (lazy).
Joshua challenged the seven tribes to get moving, to press on toward their inheritance. The next chapters in the book show that they did exactly that. The seven tribes went out and surveyed and divided up the land. Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan received their inheritance.
We cannot allow neglect to find its way into our spiritual walk. God has promised us an inheritance too.
Father, it seems so many times I am neglectful of my walk of faith. I grow lazy, dim, slack in pursuing everything you have for me. Forgive me for my slackness. Energize me to meet the challenges and opportunities until I arrive at my promised inheritance. Amen.
