After finishing my national service, my friends and I took a trip to Bali. One of the highlights of that trip was climbing Mount Batur. We started our hike at around 3a.m. so that we could watch the sunrise at the peak. After a few hours of hiking, we finally reached a viewpoint near the peak and the view was amazing! We saw that the peak was not too far away but to get there, we had to make a very steep climb – there were people climbing on all fours just to reach the peak. Despite knowing that the view from the peak would be better, we initially decided to stay put since we could rest and enjoy an already beautiful sunrise from the viewpoint. When the sun started to rise, we got curious and decided to make our way to the peak and see if it was worth the climb. To our surprise, the view from the peak was entirely different from the viewpoint we were at! We could see the entire volcanic crater and had a much clearer view of the sun rising in the distance, something we could not have experienced had we stayed at the first viewpoint.

After reading Joshua 18, I realized that my friends and I had a similar mindset to the Israelites when it came to claiming their inheritance in the promised land. In Joshua 18, the Israelites were gathered at Shiloh and Joshua asked the remaining seven tribes how long they were going to wait before taking possession of the land they were promised by God (v3). Joshua then instructed the tribes to survey the land so that he could cast lots and distribute the land amongst the remaining tribes.

The Israelites had already overthrown the Canaanite kings, what remained was for them to claim the land that was promised to each tribe. In this chapter, we see that the Israelites were comfortable in their current position and did not want to go through the trouble of clearing the land that they were promised. In the previous chapter, we saw the tribes of Joseph complaining that they did not have enough land, while also avoiding clearing their allotted land in fear of the Canaanites who were still living there.

Do we find ourselves in the same situation as the Israelites? We may have settled into a comfort zone in our ministry, or our lives may be smooth sailing and “chill” at the moment. While there is nothing wrong with leading a peaceful life, we must be careful not to slip into a state of idleness like the seven tribes. Just as the Israelites would have missed out on the land that was promised to them, we would have missed out on experiencing the goodness of partnering with, and struggling, with God in ministry.

As someone who enjoys the status quo, stepping out of my comfort zone is daunting – just like the steep climb to the peak of Mount Batur. However, that experience and the story in Joshua 18 has taught me that taking a step of faith and allowing God to challenge me will lead me to experience the joy of a life lived for God. There will be more obstacles to overcome – just as the Israelites had to survey and drive out the Canaanites residing in the land. I can have faith, however, that the reward will definitely be worth it. I just need to be willing to make the climb!

I hope this passage has also inspired you to reflect on your current walk with God. Is God calling you to step out of your comfort zone in any areas of your ministry? Is there some responsibility you have been putting off because it may seem too daunting at the moment?

Prayer: Dear God, I pray that you will quieten my heart so that I can listen to your calling in my life. May you give me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and serve you wherever you lead me to. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.