TAKE YOUR MOUNTAINS. NEVER GIVE EXCUSES.

 The children of Israel came into the Land of Promise as a conglomerate of twelve tribes. They needed unity to reach that point. But once they arrived in Canaan, each tribe had to take possession of its own inheritance. What you take is what you get. At this stage, collective effort would not suffice—each tribe needed to claim and secure its portion for future generations.

God had already given clear instructions regarding what must be possessed:

“For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off... I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.”

— Exodus 23:23, 27

The command was simple and decisive: to cut them off—to destroy all the people. Only on this basis could Israel take full possession of the land and be free from intimidation.

The battle for possession began with Judah. After their effort, we read:

 “And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.”

— Judges 1:19

Judah was intimidated by the chariots of iron and failed to take full possession.

Next came the Benjamites, who “did not drive out” the Jebusites (Judges 1:21).

The tribe of Manasseh “did not drive out” the Canaanites living in Beth-shean and its towns (Judges 1:27–28).

Ephraim “did not drive out” the Canaanites in Gezer (Judges 1:29).

Zebulun “did not drive out” the Canaanites in Kitron and Nahalol (Judges 1:30).

Asher “did not drive out” the inhabitants of Acco and Sidon (Judges 1:31–32).

Naphtali “did not drive out” the Canaanites but dwelt among them (Judges 1:33).

The Danites were even forced into the mountains by the Amorites (Judges 1:34–35).

Thus, one after another, the tribes of Israel took possession only partially—staggeringly and sparingly—of the land the Lord had already given them.

Why did they fail to take full control?

First, they were intimidated by chariots of iron.

They quickly forgot the God who had given them victory on so many mountains. They allowed what they did not have to overshadow what they must have.

Second, they simply did not.

That phrase—“did not”—reflects unwillingness, carelessness, and a nonchalant attitude. They assumed there was still time to act, believing the remaining Canaanites posed no real threat. They thought they could take possession whenever they wished. But they failed—and the Canaanites remained enduring enemies of their existence.

Brothers and sisters, hear the word of the Lord:

 “Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.”

— Deuteronomy 1:8

Our possession lies before us. It is our divine responsibility to conquer and claim it.

Stop blaming others for your failure. Stop depending endlessly on support as if your life depends on it. Stop accusing others for not recognizing your struggle. A life sustained only by external help is prone to collapse. Be careful.

The land is before you—go and possess it. Take your portion and live joyfully.

I pray that the Lord grants you strength not to be a time-waster or a nonchalant person.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Peter Abdul-Razaq OLAYINKA 

A Serving Missionary with Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara.  

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