TAKE YOUR MOUNTAINS. NEVER GIVE EXCUSES.


The children of Israel entered the Land of Promise as a united body of twelve tribes. They needed that unity to reach the land, 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 was no longer enough—every 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: cut them off—destroy the inhabitants. Only then could Israel fully possess the land and live free from intimidation.


The battle for possession began with Judah. After their attempt, Scripture records:


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


The tribe of Manasseh “did not drive out” the Canaanites of 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 driven into the mountains by the Amorites (Judges 1:34–35).


One by one, the tribes of Israel took possession only partially—weakly 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 many mountains. They allowed what they did not have to overshadow what they must have.


Second, they simply did not.

That phrase—did not—reveals unwillingness, carelessness, and a nonchalant spirit. They assumed there was more time. They believed 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.


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 ahead of 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 cannot stand without it. Stop accusing people of not recognizing your struggle. A life sustained only by external help is a life vulnerable to collapse. Be wise.


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


I pray that the Lord grants you strength to avoid wasting time or living nonchalantly. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.


Peter Abdul-Razaq OLAYINKA

A Serving Missionary with Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara

WhatsApp: (+234) 8066540987

Mobile: (+234) 8051206329, (+234) 8028495639

Email: peterrazaq@yahoo.com

Twitter & Instagram: @peterrazaq

LinkedIn: Revd. Peter OLAYINKA

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