FROM GILGAL TO SHILOH
Since the tribes of Israel had begun to move in and inherit the promised lands; Gilgal had remained the center of political and religious activity. After distributing parts of the land to those who inherited it; Joshua was now down to the remaining seven tribes.
Before the rest of the distribution could happen something else of importance needed to be accomplished. As the tribes had begun to settle into their lands; Gilgal now seemed so far away. It had been the place for congregational gatherings in which to make sacrifices, the center for worship and the hub of all of Israel’s political actions. Perhaps it was time for the worship center to move from Gilgal to Shiloh.
NEVER LOSE FOCUS OF YOUR CENTER
Gilgal was just too far away for many of the tribes to conveniently travel. It seemed that God was leading Joshua to settle the issue by moving The Tent of Meeting into a more centralized location. They needed to move from Gilgal to Shiloh. Joshua pondered all that would happen in moving the Tent of Meeting from Gilgal to Shiloh. He sought God’s will.
Remember how the people of Israel had traveled in the wilderness?
The Tabernacle had always remained in a central location in the middle of all of the people. In the camps they faced the doors to their tents towards The Tent of Meeting. This kept their hearts and minds focused on worship. Worship had always been the center of all they had done in the past. Moving from Gilgal to Shiloh would help worship. If they continued in the present arrangement it might cause their focus on worship to change just when they needed it the most. Something needed to be done to help them stay a worship-focused nation.
After much prayer and consideration it was finally decided they would move The Tent of Meeting to Shiloh.
Shiloh was located more central within the land of Canaan.
WHY WAS SHILOH CHOSEN?
Why Shiloh?
The name “Shiloh” means “rest.” The conquest of the land was almost accomplished. There were only seven more tribes to be given their allotment. The people were ready to bring the nation to a place of peace and rest.
Israel’s struggles had been long. The nation was very ready to transition from being conquerors into being the good residents of a godly nation.
Establishing the Tent of Meeting in a central location called Shiloh was all part of Joshua’s vision for helping the people to move on with their lives. One priest named Eleazar played a huge role in helping to make this transition possible.
JOSHUA’S GOD-GIVEN VISION FOR ISRAEL
At this point Joshua is longing for a well-earned time of semi-retirement. However; he knew that he needed to help the people to move forward and meet their new challenges.
It was definitely NOT the time to sit still and sink into a lazy state of being.
Some of the people, not yet knowing their allotment, were getting way too comfortable with the natives in the land. They seemed happy and content to keep living as they were without moving on into their inheritance.
Are we not all guilty of the same?
When is the last time you moved out of your comfort zone in order to keep fulfilling the plans God has for your life?
NOT A GOOD WAY TO LIVE
Have you ever thought about the fact that complacency can eventually become a sin? It is a sin that could happen to any nation at any point in time.
The mighty nation of America has inherited a promised land straight from God’s heart. He has richly rewarded the faithfulness of our nation’s past by giving us a bountiful and abundant land. Yet; we have let the enemies of God encroach on our blessings and begin to destroy our inheritance. We have grown fat and lazy and comfortable and so set in our ways. We don’t seem to want to move and work and put forth the efforts that would continue to maintain and increase our abundant inheritance from God.
Joshua knew something that we all should learn.
This is not a good way to live.
MOVING INTO GOD’S BEST WAYS TO LIVE
It is time for more than one generation to begin to rise above the mediocre stance of greedy worldliness. We must learn how to reach for God’s greatest purposes for our people.
He has graciously invited us into His grand plan for mankind. Now we must realize our purpose and fight for our inheritance. We must not blend in with the current culture and sit back with a full stomach and become content with something that isn’t of our God.
There is so much more in store for those who remain faithful.
This is what Joshua knew.
He had a vision for completing the allotment of the land and helping the people to move on into their true goals from God.
This had to happen before Joshua could completely retire and enjoy his own personal blessings. He had to make the people see that God still had plans and their lack of movement and action towards their purposes was NOT included in those plans.
So; Joshua moves the worship to Shiloh. He and Eleazar begin to motivate the people to realize they must keep on moving until they have found their permanent homes in the land.
CALLING OTHERS TO JOIN THE CAUSE
Joshua began to delegate some of his responsibilities to others; knowing that his time was now limited. It was very important that the vision did not die with him. This new way encouraged even more unity among the tribes.
Joshua appointed three men to go and scope out the rest of the land. They were to do an accurate survey and present a clear picture of the cities and towns which were left to be conquered. These were to be given out by the drawing of lots. Drawing lots insured that the lands were divinely chosen for each of the last seven tribes. No decision was made by mankind. God was consulted for every decision made and no man influenced those choices.
This way of making the decision for who got what area of the country gave most of the last of these tribes hope that they were going to be in exactly in the right places. They knew those places would be where God was placing them. This kept them from feeling like just the “leftover” tribes who had inherited last.
Joshua did all within his power to make sure that they understood the fact that God was implementing a master plan in all that was happening with their constant state of transition.
IF GOD IS FOR US WHO CAN STAND AGAINST US?
These new events gave the last tribes hope that they would finally have a permanent home. They felt their new homes would be worth all the effort they were about to exert in order to make these land distributions happen.
Each tribe now had a sense of the fact that God would be with them and all would be well. All of the tribes needed this encouragement and hope after such a long time of living as vagabonds in the land.
Moving The Tent of Meeting to Shiloh insured that the baton of responsible leadership will be passed on to Eleazar and the heads of each tribe after Joshua retired from his role in the settlement of God’s promises to His people. It insured that worship of God would continue to remain their primary motivation in the daily lives of each citizen of the new nation.
TRAITS OF A GREAT LEADER
All good leaders provide a way for someone to come after them. This is how good works are carried on and not ended from one generation to another. Some of the tribes were better at this than others.
Again; this truth seems the same in the modern day world.
What have the last three generations in America forgotten to pass on to their children?
How much of their inheritance has been left to chance and happenstance?
Have we created weak places in the walls and the good foundation of our country by not teaching and coaching the next generations?
IT ALL STARTS WITH WORSHIP
These are important points to consider as a nation begins to change. The place to start with any change is within the places of worship. What is your community establishing that will make a difference for God’s people in the generations to come?
Let’s not grow weary of well-doing. There is much left to conquer in the modern world of today. The bible has shown us how to move forward in love, truth and obedience. By doing so we learn the secrets of how to thrive.
Thriving is so much more than merely existing among the enemies of God that have been left in the land.
This is a time to go out and conquer. Our inheritance is well worth the fight. The time to transition into a better place is NOW.
Why?
Because God always keeps His promises! He has a plan for mankind. We all play a part in that plan. Don’t ever hesitate to live out your very best for the sake of God’s Kingdom. The final rewards will truly be great.