Joshua 16:10
“And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the
Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under
tribute.”
One of the things that separated Joshua and Caleb from the rest of Israel was their drive to
possess all of the land that God had given them. When the land was being divided by lots, Caleb went to Joshua and requested the mountain be given him that he originally spied out. He remembered how the ten faithless spies said that the mountain could not be conquered, and he wanted to prove that with God’s help it could be done. The Scriptures say about Caleb in Joshua 15:14, “And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.” Caleb was a driven person who would not be satisfied until he got what the LORD had promised him.
What a difference between Caleb and the Ephraimites. The verse above says about the Ephraimites that “they drave not out the Canaanites.” Instead of having a drive to obtain all that the LORD has promised them, the Ephraimites were satisfied with simply dwelling with the Canaanites, which eventually led to Israel’s demise.
One of the greatest needs of this generation are people who are driven like Caleb to go and possess what God wants them to possess. Too many young people are passive about their future. Many are satisfied with excuses as to why they can’t do something instead of being driven to go and do something great. Sadly, many pastors are okay with an average church because they are happy with just getting a paycheck every week instead of going and seeing what great things God could do through them. Too many churches are indifferent towards the empty pews instead of being driven to go and fill those pews to overflowing.
My friend, you must be driven if you want God to do something great through your life. The only reason the Ephraimites did not drive out the Canaanites is because they were not driven. The only thing that keeps you from seeing God’s great works is the lack of drive to see God do something great through you. God’s hand is not incapable of doing something great today, but God’s people lack the drive to do what it takes to see Him do something today.
If God is going to do something great through your life or ministry, you are going to have to be determined to see Him do something great. When obstacles or adversities come that seem to be too big to overcome, it will take a determined drive not to let the obstacle win by quitting. You are going to have to find a way to overcome those obstacles, and God can give you that way to overcome them if you have the determination and drive to do so.
Furthermore, you must never be satisfied with the status quo. One reason very little is being done in the LORD’s work today is because people have an average vision instead of a great vision. If you are happy with just being like everyone else, you will continue to have what everyone else has. The drive not to be the status quo is what causes you to work while others sleep. The drive to see God do something mighty is what will make you stay up and pray late into the night to get God’s power on you so that He can do mighty works through you. My friend, don’t be satisfied with average, but get a drive to do something great for God and let nothing stop you from seeing it until it happens.
