Does “life” ever make you tired? I’m talking about a tired that is much more than physical fatigue. Life is challenging!
It took seven years for Israel to complete the task of inhabiting the land God had given them. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh had agreed to fight alongside their brothers even thought their land lay on the east side of the Jordan. We are told that 40,000 men from these tribes went in battle formation in front of the Israelites (Joshua 4:12-13).
Once the land was taken, Joshua allowed them to return to their homes and enjoy the rest that God had promised them. But before they returned to their homes, Joshua reminded them that they must be careful to love and serve the Lord with all their heart and soul (22:5).
“Rest” obviously refers to the cessation of battle, but it is also associated with the occupation of the land. They now inhabited the land God had promised them. They were living in His promises! Rest is not the cessation of all our labors; it is living daily in the promises of God.
If you are feeling a little stressed and tired, you need to learn how to live in the promises of God. Jesus extended the invitation—“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28).
Prayer. I confess that I often grow weary because I depend too much on my own strength. I come to You for rest today. Amen.