Dwight Eisenhower said "To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land were the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed"

I am sure most of God’s people could identify with that quotation. It is also true that some parts of the Bible are difficult to read and to understand, when you reach genealogies and continuous lists of names, I am sure we feel like skipping a few verses out.

We are entering such a period in the book of Joshua, up until now it has been action all the way, we have come to that part where, with many of the battles over, it is time to divide the land out.

Many of the remaining chapters do not lend themselves easily to expository preaching.

Perhaps chapters twelve and thirteen could easily be left out but I felt there where some simple thoughts that we could take onboard.

Let’s take a broad outline of them before we look for some spiritual applications.

In chapter twelve we have a review of the victories achieved, from v 1-6 we are reminded of the victories they enjoyed under Moses. We are reminded again how the two and one half tribes, Rueben, Gad and Manasseh settled for the East Side of the Jordan

From v9-16 you will read of the victories over the southern armies in Canaan.

From v 17-24 you will read about the victories over the northern enemies.

Some were mighty victories, very notable, others were small, but none the less God takes note of all our victories.

Remember Ai and how that small insignificant place caused Israel to stumble, likewise victory over the small things is a cause for rejoicing and God takes note.

Thank God for the little victories you enjoy day by day.

Chapter thirteen begins with God reminded Joshua of unoccupied territory, v 1-6.

From v7-33 again we are reminded of the inheritance of the two and one half tribes on the East Side of the Jordan.

What spiritual lessons can we draw from these two chapters?

Alan Redpath said, "Don’t let our failure to achieve what we hoped to do close our eyes to what the Lord has done."

Sometimes perhaps we can feel discontented with our Christian life. We can feel that we haven’t made much of it and really we feel at times that we have little to be thankful for.

In chapter twelve, God reminds Israel of the victories they had already attained, they were looking back and thanking God for his blessings upon them, 33 kings had fallen, victory after victory they had known.

How often we sing.

For all the Lord has done for me I never will cease to praise him.

Yes, we are not what we could be, perhaps not what we should be, praise God we are not what we were.

Yes, look over the territory that we have marched through, think of the mountains we have enjoyed.

Remember the valleys he has brought us through.

Look at the cities we have conquered, the foes with God’s help we have overthrown, oh let us rejoice and be glad.

Not that we might be proud or lifted up, but that we might be encouraged.

How many things in your life have been nailed to the cross? We have had victory over many sinful desires and habits.

That hope that is within you, what confidence, we can lay our heads upon the pillow knowing that we can sing.

No more concerns about the future, hell flames will never touch us.

Look at the number of the saints you now can call your friend and brother.

What reassurance it gives us to know that, God is still on the throne, that he is working all things out according to his divine purpose and will.

Count your blessing God has used you in the past he has something for us to do.

Let’s reflect on some of the things that Christ is said to have given in John’s Gospel.

Now Joshua was old, some estimate about one hundred. Here is an old man in bad health, perhaps there is an old person reading this message, old and stricken in years, perhaps thinking, " Who cares about me?"

Perhaps no one visits you, no one calls any more, perhaps just a token visit.

Joshua 13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Notice that the Lord spoke to this old man. In spite of your age, your health, and your position in life the Lord has a word for you dear old saint of God.

The Lord will not forsake the elderly, the Lord can still use you.

Yes there is still much to do.

Yes we need to look back and count our blessings, and we need to look forward and see the continuing battle.

Let me mention two areas where we still have much to possess.

• The Scriptures

How much of this territory have you possessed? How much of this book have you travelled over?

How much we will lose out on through ignorance of this great book.

• The Saviour

This is why we were saved, that we might become more and more like our Saviour.

As we gaze upon our own lives and then look upon our Lord, how much of his character do we possess?

There remaineth yet much to be possessed.

His holiness.

How much of our life is marked by holy living?

His obedience.

His meekness.

His mercifulness.

His restraint.

His longsuffering.

His compassion.

His goodness.

His selflessness.

His humility.

His forgiveness.

His love.

Someone described Paul’s goal in life as follows.

You see that it's knowing Jesus Christ, gaining intimacy with him, being found secure in him, being conformed to his image. The ultimate goal, in a word, is Christlikeness. The Christian life is not about accomplishment ultimately; it's about relationship.

Look back, count your blessings

Look ahead, continuing battle.

In chapter thirteen we find a reference to Baalam.

I want to say a word to the unsaved.

We read of Baalam in Num 22-24, he is also referred to in the New Testament on three occasions.

I don’t want to go into all about Baalam this morning- just think of his privileges.

Numbers 23:4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

Numbers 23:21-22 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. [22] God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

Rev. 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

He couldn’t curse them, but he corrupted them by getting them involved with Moabite woman, and 24000 died as a result. [Num25]

Baalam had many mighty privileges, having come in contact with God, having known God’s word, having known how God blessed his people, he rejected this all for his love of things.

Dear unsaved friend, how privileged you have been, to come in contact with God, meeting after meeting, to listen to his word, to watch his people and how blessed they are, but you need to look out for Baalam rejected all this and died as an enemy of God.

You need to look out, infact you need to look up.