Land Still to be Taken (pirate map / compass) Joshua 13

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In 1715, a fleet of Spanish ships left Havana, Cuba, for Spain with treasure, including vast quantities of silver. As this journey began however, an early hurricane wrecked the ships off Florida’s Atlantic coast, drowning more than a thousand sailors. And in the wake of such a disaster, pirates, privateers, and others—particularly Jamaicans—descended on the area to plunder the vessels, sparking what was a “a gold rush” Of the time.

Among these pirates, we find one particular man by the name of Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, who first appears in the records as a pirate at this moment.

While many details about Blackbeard’s early life remain a mystery. Much has also been discovered in time. During his day for instance, merchants whispered his name in fright. Reports circulated of a large man with “fierce and wild” eyes who kept a brace of three pistols on a holster across his chest and a tall fur cap on his head. Lighted matches made his luxurious beard smoke “like a frightful meteor.”

Blackbeard prized ship, which he stole from the French Navy, was named Queen Anne's Revenge. This ship was armored with was heavily armed with 250,000 bits of lead shot, 400 cannonballs, dozens of grenades, and many muskets, as well as a total of 40 cannons. Blackbeard was known to plunder books as well as commodities. The pirate may have had a fondness for good food too, since records show that after stealing his ship, that he kept the French cooks for his personal enjoyment.

Blackbeard made it his personal mission to search new lands in search of hidden gems and treasure chests. His fame quickly spread, and his wealth amassed, yet, like so many other pirates, his career was short-lived; within just two years of plundering this Spanish fleet, Blackbeard was dead. His head was stuck on a piling off Hampton, Virginia, as a warning to other lawbreakers. To not repeat the same feat.

300 years removed from Blackbeard, there are still many details that we don’t know. Details of early life, details of their upbringing, family life and other details. And while I’m certainly not advocating the idea of piracy this morning, there is still a sense of wonder and excitement as we consider these pirates and their ships from days gone by.

Yet while many details remain elusive, one common theme that I think we find is a sense of motive. You see for all of these pirates, there was a sense of commitment to searching for treasure. For discovering new lands and for looking for hidden gold. While there is much to not like about their character, there is something that we can learn still from their commitment to searching for what’s hidden beneath the surface.

And yet, here’s my question to us this morning… Do we have the same sense of commitment and excitement, in searching our hearts… as we do with perhaps finding hidden treasure or newfound lands?

You see, I think of the words of David in Psalm 139, where he says to God. 19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

And so much in the way of David. Our quest this morning is to do 3 things as we discuss lands still to be taken.

1. Search the land (our heart) & identify the enemy . 2. Slay the wickedness, 3. Lead us towards righteousness.

1. Search our Heart. Identify the wickedness

If you have your bibles with you this morning, turn with me to Joshua 13. And as you’re turning there you may recall that last week, we looked at the Israelites and the fight against the 5 Amorite Kings. And we read together, I don’t know about you, but for me, I love these war stories in the bible. Stories where God shows up in a big way, stories like last week where there are these massive hailstones crushing the enemy, and God allows the sun to stand still so that Joshua and the Israelites can continue to wipe out and annihilate the enemy…

We get excited by such stories. We love a good storyline right. Especially as Americans, there are shows that will air one season… that perhaps are good, but if the story isn’t good enough, then after one year sometimes, the tv series will get canceled. And the book of Joshua, the first half we would say passes our criteria for a good story. There’s fighting, and there’s action, and there’s adventure and we’re hanging on to the edge of our seats… and then… somehow, this exciting narrative that we enjoyed in the first 12 chapters, quickly fades away. The page-by-page roller coaster of the first 12 chapters comes to a halt and we’re left to wonder where the excitement went.

I mean just by a show of hands, and it’s ok to be honest here. Have you ever read parts of scripture, and it just seems a lot more difficult to get through certain parts? Anyone??? I mean, and I know I’m the only one here… but there are parts of scripture that are really easy to read, and other parts that we really have to ask God what the deeper insight and meaning is. Parts of scripture like we’ll read today.

Still, as 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Let’s look at the scripture together and then, we’ll unpack what we’re looking at.

Joshua 13:1-7 13 When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

2 “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, 3 from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites 4 on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites; 5 the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

6 “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 7 and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

So, as we look at this scripture this morning, I love verse one. It says, when Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “you are now very old.” Which by the way, has anyone ever said that you to you recently? Hey you’re pretty old. Yeah, I think this statement coming from anyone other than God would be an insult.

But God tells him plainly that He’s old. But what’s the next thing that he says? He say’s your old, oh, but I’m not done with you yet. He says: “and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.” So, this first statement sets up the rest of this chapter. Joshua’s old, but God’s not done with him… and the reason God is not done with him is because there are lands still to be taken.

You see, although the vast majority of the fighting was done there were still areas, to lesser degree that still had to be conquered. And the land still had to be divided up and separated according to each tribe.

But here’s where I want to take us for a moment. It’s the why behind the scene… why did God want Israel to come in, and take over this land completely?… Deuteronomy 9:4–5 :4 After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Here's the point. God was driving out these enemies, because of their wickedness, because he didn’t want his people to be impacted by the enemy.

You see, I think about our humble abode that we moved into just over a year ago. And for the record, to this day I’m grateful for that house. It wasn’t much, but it was what we needed at the time. But one thing that you may not know about our last house was that it wasn’t just us living there… and, no I don’t mean I had a crazy uncle in the basement, You see, the occasional mice, I could deal with… although there were a few occasions where Kim screamed at the top of her lungs because a mouse ran across the bedroom floor in front of her.

But aside from the mice, we also had these little, small bugs, that would come out when you least expected it. I remember in the winter of last year, at the house we were renting, that one day I was going to grab something of the kitchen counter, and this little black bug with antennas scurried across the over and hid behind the oven. And then, a few days later went by, I was in the bathroom and after opening the shower curtain, another little black bug scurried along. This dance continue for over a ½ year, and it wasn’t until we bought our home that this massive cockroach problem stopped… But here’s the, it’s not about just one little cockroach. No, these little cockroaches have friends, and they multiply… and then before you know it, they take over your home.

Church, sin works in the same way. And God, seeing the pockets of Israel that had the enemies there, knew that they had to leave… because if they stayed there, they would infect his people.

So, here’s the question. Do you have a cockroach problem? Really, Have you searched your heart? God was committed to driving out the sin in Israel… have you considered the territory of your heart? Have you examined recently what’s going on, on the inside?

2. Slay the wickedness

You see again, we won’t read all the way from Joshua chapter 13 to the end of Joshua 21. But I want us to examine verse 43 for a moment before we continue on. We’re told: Joshua 21 43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Here's the point church. God was faithful to Israel. The 2nd half of Joshua shows us all how God was faithful to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and gave them the land that he swore to give to them… and yet, we see that the people of Israel are not faithful to God. You may say where did that take place. Well let’s continue in Joshua 13

8 The other half of Manasseh,[a] the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assigned it to them. 9 It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. 11 It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah— 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was the last of the Rephaites.) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maakah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

Where did Israel fail? Let’s read it again… 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maakah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

Here’s the point, Israel did not expel the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: Instead, these people would dwell among the Israelites. And because the Israelites did not destroy all as God had commanded them, these people became snares to them

Judges 2:3 The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.’”

So, we see that the people were to go in and completely wipe out the inhabitants, and yet they fail to do so…. And in doing, they set snares for themselves. You see we’re not told specifically why they didn’t remove these people, but I think in part…. It was more work to have them move, then to clean up the problem.

It reminds me of a true story about a Wild Animal Trapped by Cheetos

The story goes, A javelina, also known as a peccary or a skunk-pig, was found stuck inside a car. According to an Arizona Sheriff's Office, a deputy responded to a call and found the animal inside a Subaru wagon. According to local residents, the hatchback of the car had been left open overnight, and the javelina jumped inside in an attempt to eat a bag of Cheetos. Once inside, however, the hatch closed.

The sheriff’s office was sympathetic to the animal’s plight, according to the agency’s statement. “Can you blame him? Who doesn’t love a midnight Cheeto snack?”

Unfortunately, the closing of the hatchback frightened the animal, and caused it to tear through part of the dashboard and passenger seat in an attempt to escape. It also inadvertently shifted the car into neutral, which then rolled down the driveway and into the street.

Upon arriving on the scene, the deputy released the animal, confirming that there were no injuries. Eventually, the agency issued a reminder to the general public. "As a reminder, if you’re in the Southwest, you probably already know it’s best not to feed javelina. Yes, it’s tempting, but when wild animals are fed by people it draws them into neighborhoods and can create unnecessary conflicts."

Here’s the point. The Javelina was trapped by the Cheetos… and had the vehicle rolled into oncoming traffic, it could’ve cost this animal it’s life. The Israelites, had traps, and snares because they didn’t remove the enemy… and as you know the scripture, God would punish them for it in time… there sin would catch up with them and have a massive impact on them.

But we’re not off the hook. Galatians 6:7 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

So, here’s the question for us this morning… is there a bag of Cheetos in your trunk? No, the question is… how’s your heart… Is there something in your heart that God wants to remove this morning? Is there a sin, Is there a bait that you’re quick to run to… This morning God wants you to kill that.

3. Be Filled with God.

We won’t spend too much time on this next point. But I want to draw our attention to Caleb for a moment in Joshua 14. And as we’re looking there together, God will continue to rid the nation of Israel of Inhabitants so that the people can completely take over the land, but here, he will use Caleb. He wasn’t done with him. Joshua 14 6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[a]

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

Now there are a number of truths that we could glean from this story. We see the lesson of perseverance, and commitment to God. We see God is faithful to Caleb and to the Israelites. But where I want us to focus our attention for the next few moments is on the Heart of Caleb. You see, from the beginning of time, God has been looking for people to walk with Him wholeheartedly.

The Lord our God is a jealous God… and we remember that Joshua and Caleb had God’s favor because they walked before the Lord with all their heart. And as we look at the word wholeheartedly this morning, we see in the Hebrew, that it says Caleb followed the Lord God of Israel Wholly mālā'. And the word Holy means, to fill, be full, filled to abundance and satisfied.

Here’s the point. Caleb’s heart was fully satisfied with God. Caleb Followed God, and Caleb’s heart was full of God.

To bring this all home…. The bottom line is this. 1. We search the land (our heart) and identify the enemy within. 2. We ask God to slay the enemy. 3. We ask God to fill our hearts fully.

You see, when your empty of you, you have a void. There is an emptiness there… and church, God’s deepest desire is to move into this area of your heart. God’s desire is to possess your heart fully.

I’m going to call Lisa back at this time.

And she comes forward, I just want to close with a challenge to us this morning. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us to: 4 “Hear, O Israel: [a]The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Is there something invading your heart this morning. Is there a sin, is there a struggle, is there something we’re holding on to? Have we gone to the Lord and said: “23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Church, God desires to have every area of your heart… He’s not interested in just a piece of your heart, he wants all of you.

How are we doing in this area?

Pray