Stuck

 “Stuck”  Joshua 18-19
Shiloh was the center of worship for Israel for nearly 300 years. The Tabernacle stood there as a reminder that God dwelt among His people. Yet in Joshua 18, seven tribes were still waiting — delaying to step into the inheritance God had already given them. This passage is a challenge that still speaks to us today: don’t delay, don’t settle, and don’t stand still when God calls you forward. 

#1 God’s Presence at the Center
1 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. For nearly 300 years, the Tabernacle stood at Shiloh — not in a fortress, not in a military outpost, but on a plateau in the heart of the land. It was sacred space, where the tribes could gather to worship. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was at the center of the Tabernacle, the Ark always went before the people. It represented the presence and power of God. And every time they tried to move without Him, they were reminded of how weak they truly were.  

At Ai, Israel went in their own strength — and they were humiliated and defeated. But at Jericho, with the Ark leading them, walls were nothing more than a pile of stones waiting to topple at the presence of God. The pattern is clear: without God, they were vulnerable; with Him, nothing could stand against them. Every drift into self-reliance brought defeat. Every return to His presence brought victory. And the same is true today. We are nothing without Him. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Our power doesn’t come from chariots, horses, armies, or numbers. It comes from  the presence of God, and we find that power not on the battlefield, but on our knees. 

Shiloh was at the center of the Nation of Israel. That’s where God’s presence dwelt, right at the center. His presence must remain at our center. The weaker we are, the stronger He shows Himself to be.  

#2 – How Long Will You Wait?
2 But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 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? 

Reuben, Gad, East Manasseh, Ephraim and Judah. Five tribes have received their inheritance. By the time we come to Joshua 18, Israel had been fighting for seven years. The 2½ tribes had already settled east of the Jordan. The Tabernacle, with the Ark of the Covenant, had been moved from Gilgal to  Shiloh — the place of rest. For the next 300 years, Shiloh would be the visible center of worship, sacrifice, and the presence of God. Here, the people could gather, worship, and experience the power of God. But seven tribes were still delaying. They lingered near the Tabernacle, enjoying the safety of Shiloh, but refusing to go forward into what God had promised them.  

Joshua confronts them in Joshua 18:3: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?” (Matthew 21:28–31)  28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.  

This is the same principle Jesus taught in the parable of the two sons. The father told both sons to go work in the vineyard. One son argued and refused at first — but later obeyed. The other son said, “Yes, sir,” but never went. Which one did the will of the father? The one who actually obeyed. Israel was in danger of being like that second son — giving lip service to God while failing to act. And here’s the truth: Delayed obedience is disobedience. Sometimes we want to stay in the place where it feels safe, but God isn’t calling us to safety. He’s calling us to trust. God is not safe, but He is faithful. It’s not enough to say “yes” to God while staying where it’s safe. Obedience means moving when He says move. Don’t just talk faith — walk it. Don’t just feel His presence — follow His call.  

#3 – Don’t Settle for Comfort 

4 Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north. 6 You shall therefore survey the land in seven parts and bring the survey here to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.” The seven tribes took comfort in their numbers. Together they felt strong. But once divided, they would be vulnerable. Their safety was never in their numbers — it was in their God.  David wrote in Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. The tribes were beginning to forget the God of their fathers. And Jesus warned about the same temptation in the New Testament. In Luke 9:59–60 Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." The point was clear: don’t delay obedience by clinging to comfort, excuses, or the familiar. Comfort feels safe, but calling requires surrender.  Comfort is not the same as calling. Strength in numbers is no substitute for strength in God. The first step to losing ground is forgetting the God who gave it — and delaying obedience is the surest way to miss what He’s calling you to.  

#4 – Go Out Before God Moves  
8 Then the men arose to go away; and Joshua charged those who went to survey the land, saying, "Go, walk through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh." 9 So the men went, passed through the land, and wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 10 Then Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions. Once the scouts went out and mapped the land, the domino effect of God’s plan began. Lots were cast, and the seven tribes received their inheritance. But it couldn’t happen until they went out. Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan.  

Tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:11–28)  • Jerusalem – Mentioned here as on Benjamin’s border (v. 28). Later becomes David’s capital and the site of the Temple.  • Gibeon – Famous for the Gibeonites’ treaty with Joshua (Joshua 9). Later, Solomon has his first great sacrifice here (1 Kings 3).  • Bethel – Important site of Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28); later becomes a center of false worship under Jeroboam.  • Jericho – “City of Palms,” first city conquered by Joshua. Tribe of Simeon (Joshua 19:1–9)  • Given land inside Judah’s territory (Judah had more than enough).   • Beersheba – Known as the southern boundary of Israel, often paired with Dan to Beersheba. 150 miles Important in Abraham’s, Isaac’s, and Jacob’s  stories.  • Simeon gradually gets absorbed into Judah later in history. Tribe of Zebulun (Joshua 19:10–16)  • Territory in Galilee.  • Bethlehem of Zebulun (not to be confused with Bethlehem of Judah).  • Nazareth was in this region (though not listed by name here), where Jesus grew up.  • Zebulun’s land becomes part of the area known in Isaiah 9:1–2 as “Galilee of the nations,” fulfilled in Matthew 4:13–16 when Jesus ministers there.  Tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:17–23)  • Shunem – Where the Shunammite woman hosted Elisha (2 Kings 4). Also where Abishag the Shunammite came from (1 Kings 1:3).  • Jezreel – Valley famous for many battles. Later, King Ahab and Jezebel’s palace; Naboth’s vineyard was here (1 Kings 21). Tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:24–31)  • Coastal plain region, north of Mount Carmel.  • Acco (Acre) – Important seaport in later history (though the tribe never fully conquered it).  • Tyre & Sidon nearby — key Phoenician cities, though technically outside Israel’s full control. Mentioned often in the prophets and the Gospels. Tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:32–39)  • Northern Galilee region.  • Kedesh – A city of refuge; also home of Barak, who with Deborah defeated Sisera (Judges 4).  • Sea of Galilee – Much of Jesus’ ministry happens here (though the sea itself isn’t named in Joshua).  • Later prophecy: “In the land of Zebulun and Naphtali… the people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:1–2; fulfilled in Matthew 4). Tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:40–48)  • Original allotment near the Philistine coast.  • Zorah and Eshtaol – Where Samson grew up (Judges 13).  • Timnah – Where Samson sought a Philistine wife (Judges 14).  • Later, Danites migrate north and conquer Laish, renaming it Dan (Judges 18). This becomes the northernmost city of Israel — giving rise to the phrase  “from Dan to Beersheba.” Sadly, it also becomes a center of idolatry. Exodus around 1446 BC 1406 BC for Israel entering Canaan under Joshua. 1399–1398 BC – Land division and settlement of the 12 tribes.  

49 When they had made an end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked for, Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it. 51 These were the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country. Timnath Serah: abundant portion God still works this way. His blessings often move when His people move. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15). Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). The Gospel is an action word — it means Go Tell.  When Jesus sent out the 70 disciples (Luke 10:17–20), they returned overjoyed: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name!” They had seen the power of God at work through their obedience. But Jesus reminded them, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” When we put feet to the Gospel, we are reminded that our true joy is not in what we accomplish, but in the fact that we are secure in the hands of God. That’s where the Roman handshake illustration That’s the grip of the Gospel. 

Our security is not in how tightly we hold on to Him — it’s in how firmly He holds on to us. Leaders lead. And sometimes that means going off the map — charting new territory, stepping where no one else has yet stepped, trusting that God can steer a moving ship more easily than one anchored at the dock.  God’s blessings move when His people move. The Gospel is carried by feet that go, mouths that speak, and leaders who are willing to step into uncharted territory — secure in the grip of God Himself.  

Faith in action, God in motion.  At Shiloh, Israel was reminded of God’s presence. But they were also confronted with God’s challenge: “How long will you wait?” Delayed obedience is disobedience. Comfort is not calling. God moves when His people move. The same is true for us. We can’t sit back and wait for everything to fall into place. We must step forward in faith, remembering that God’s presence goes with us. Because in the end, it’s not about the building, the numbers, or the strategy. It’s about His Spirit dwelling in His people — and His people saying, “Here am I, send me.” And here’s the reminder: Righteous people suffer, but resilient people endure. To endure and persevere means to remain under the tension, to remain under the load. It is staying power. It is fortitude. The best definition I’ve found is holy toughness. Some of us need to toughen up. Some of you may be thinking, “I’m done. I’ve waited. I’ve prayed. It’s not  happening. I’m about ready to quit.” But it’s always too soon to quit. You may be this close to a breakthrough. 

Don’t give up.