The Importance of Faith and Action
“The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of mankind” (Psalm 115:16; NASB). Moffatt translates the latter part of the verse, “The earth He has assigned to men.” His use of the word “assigned” communicates with greater accuracy the contextual meaning of the Hebrew word nathan(1) in this verse. God didn’t give away ownership of the earth; He assigned the responsibility of managing or governing it to humans. The Passion Translation says He has “put us in charge” of the earth. God’s gifts are often also assignments, an example being our children.
Holy Spirit uses this word nathan no less than six times in the first chapter of Joshua to remind Israel that He had “given” them the land of Canaan (verses 2, 3, 6, 11, 13, 15). Canaan was the land He had promised (“given”) their forefather, Abraham (Genesis 12:7). They were now being assigned the task of conquering and taking possession of what God had given. Someone once asked, “Well, which was it; was God giving, or were they taking?”
The answer is, “Yes.”
Another word in this passage also aligns with this concept. Verse 11 uses the phrase, “The land the Lord your God is giving (nathan) you, to possess (yaresh)(2) it.” The word yaresh has different shades of meaning. It means “legally an heir,” but also “military invasion in order to seize or possess.” In other words, God was telling Israel, “I have given it to you legally; now, I’m assigning you the task of militarily taking possession of it.”
Joshua 1:3 also alludes to this. The Lord said to Joshua, “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” The word “tread” is darak, and means more than just stepping on something. It is a term of war used to describe “bending the bow” before shooting an arrow. It is still used today in Israel for the command, “Load your weapons.” God wasn’t telling Israel that everywhere they simply walked or stepped would be given to them. He had already marked off the perimeters of their inheritance. He was saying, “Every place that I have promised, and where you are willing to ‘load your weapons’ and possess, I’m going to give you.”
So, one last time: Was God giving, or were they taking? YES!
And to prove my point, I remind you that the previous generation in Israel was fearful and unwilling to darak(3) - load their weapons - and fight. And they did NOT possess what God said was theirs.
These things happened to Israel as types, shadows, or examples for us (see 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). Our inheritance must be possessed, also. That which our Joshua - Jesus - has given to us will not automatically come to us simply because we are now born again. We, too, must darak and yaresh!
The truth that we must “seize” or “lay hold of” by faith what God has already “given” us is not understood by many Christians. They believe that what God wills for us to possess or experience - from that which Christ’s redemption provided - will sovereignly manifest for us. But this is not so. Most believers have never been taught what it means to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life“ (1 Timothy 6:12). “Lay hold” could be translated as “seize.” Thayer says the word (epilambanomai) means “to take what is one’s own, to take possession of, to take to one’s self, to make one’s own; to claim, procure for one’s self; that which when taken is not let go; to seize, to lay hold of, to apprehend.”(4 & 5)
Obviously, this verse is NOT telling us to “take” or “wrestle” provision from God. But we ARE being told to use our faith to “take possession of” what God has given us through Christ; to “seize” it, and “don’t let go.” Sin’s curse operating on the earth, opposing circumstances, demonic opposition, and more, will attempt to steal or keep from us what God has “given.” Paul was telling Timothy, “I know it is a fight, Timothy, a fight of faith. But you must use your faith and lay hold of that which God has given you.”
Jesus told us we would have to bind and loose (Matthew 16:18-19). He said we’d have to use the “weapons of your warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4), and “wrestle” against spiritual powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). He put our enemies under our feet legally, but we would have to move in His authority in order to experience the manifestation of that victory. What He accomplished, we would have to enforce. This is why Romans 16:20 says, “And the God of peace will soon crush satan under YOUR feet” (v. 20, emphasis added).
We have been doing so for America, and we will continue to do so.
Pray with me:
Father, as we move toward revival and reformation, You are reminding us of the picture You gave through Israel. You told them to prepare their weapons; they were going to possess the land. They would have to “possess” militarily what You were “giving” legally. Their enemies were physical; ours are spiritual.
Jesus defeated these spiritual foes, and You have given us authority and spiritual weapons with which to overcome them. And yet, they have influenced our nation for decades and controlled other nations for centuries. This must end. The spoils we’re after are people’s salvation; we want millions to be freed from the curse of the Fall and their separation from You. We want them delivered from sin and freed from oppression. We want our children to know You and Your ways, and to be passionately pursuing a relationship with You. You want this, as well.
We want our nation to once again embrace its calling and destiny. We desire to serve Christ and other nations by taking the gospel of Jesus to them. We want You to be honored - from the highest levels of authority in our land, to every home and person. We want to help You accomplish the great revival You’re planning, being Your voices, Your hands, Your feet, and especially representing Your heart. You have said You would restore America to this purpose if we humbled ourselves and prayed, turned from sin, and sought Your face. A remnant, a representational intercessory army has done so, and will continue to do so. We know You will honor what You have said. So we command for You once again, “Kingdom of God - rule of Yahweh, victory of Christ, life of God, breath of Holy Spirit - COME! Will and desires of King Jesus, BE!” We pray and decree these things through His authority, Father, and thank You in advance. Amen.
Our decree:
We declare that we WILL lay hold of that which God is giving.
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James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5414.
Ibid., ref. no. 3423.
Ibid., ref. no. 1869.
Ibid., ref. no. 1949.
Ibid., ref. no. 2983.