God said to Joshua that He has GIVEN (past tense) the land to him (Joshua) and that he was GIVING (active process) it to him. It’s both at the same time. It’s a bit like my parents telling me my inheritance is mine, but I will only receive it a bit at a time.
God also said the promised was Joshua’s (and the people’s) and he should go forward and take the land.
God said He would go ahead of the people and initially He would drive out the enemies, they would enter the land slowly… until they had grown in strength… until they could take the land for themselves.
I see a few things in this:
- Jesus has given us many promises. They are ours. In Him the promises are YES and AMEN. They are ours… but they come gradually to us.
- The promises don’t come to us in one moment, instantly – because it would overwhelm us. Although He could give it to us in a moment, He chooses not to – it would not be good for us. He doesn’t give us bad gifts.
- Initially He will help us overcome the things in our lives, gradually helping us drive out the enemies (another process) – until we grow in strength, and we learn to drive them out ourselves. We are to be children, not babies being carried all the time.
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