In Joshua, chapter thirteen, verse six, God promises to drive out the Canaanites before Israel, yet the promise was conditional on Israel’s obedience. Since Israel neglected to drive out all the inhabitants of the land, God allowed some of them to remain among His people. This inactivity led to numerous problems for the Israelites, especially falling into idolatry. God is not bound to His promises if we are not faithful to His conditions. Whatever becomes of us, however, may be laid aside as broken vessels: God will do His work in His own time.
The fulfillment of this promise was conditional on the Israelites proving unfaithful or disobedient would not subdue the districts now specified. The Israelites never possessed them though the inhabitants were subject to the power of David and Solomon. The order of God to Joshua to make an immediate allotment of the land. The method to distribute the land by lot was, in all respects, the best that they could adopt. It prevents the ground of discontent, charges of arbitrary or partial conduct on the part of the leaders, and its announcement in the life of Moses.
In Numbers thirty-three, fifty-fourth verse, the system to which the allocations to each tribe intended to lead the people to acknowledge God as the proprietor of the land, having the right to its disposal. Moreover, a solemn appeal to the lot showed it to be the dictate not of humans but divine wisdom. It was used, however, only in determining the part of the country where a tribe was settling: the extent of the settlement was to be decided on a different principle, as stated in Numbers twenty-six verse fifty-four. The overruling control of God is conclusively proven because each tribe received the possession predicted by Jacob in Genesis forty-nine, three through twenty-eight, and by Moses in Deuteronomy thirty-three, six through twenty-five, respectively.
The promise of driving them out from before the children of Israel supposes that the Israelites must use their endeavors and go up against them. If Israel, through sloth or cowardice, let them alone, they are not likely to be driven out. We must go forth in our Christian warfare, and God will go before us.