Joshua 16

Scripture

 

Joshua 16:10

 

“They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.”

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Observation

 

Joshua is continuing to give the allotments of land to the different tribes of Israel. This time he gives some land to Ephraim, Joseph's son. The land that God promised His people is now all theirs! One problem however...they did not drive out the Canaanites out from their land. They live amongst the people of Ephraim to this day. Is this what God had wanted for them? Why not finish the work God had called them to, and take the land completely?

 

Understanding

 

God wants what is best for His children. We must trust and obey God to receive His best from Him.

 

As we are currently learning in Pastor Gary's sermon series about the Ten Commandments, we now understand the reason why God put them in place for His people. It's not to be a "killjoy", but it is because God loves and cares for us so much that He gives us these commandments to live under so we can benefit from them both physically and spiritually. God put them into our lives as a safeguard to protect us from life's pitfalls and evil. God wants the best for us. It is up to us to trust Him/His ways, above our own, to fully receive His best.

 

The people of Israel are God's chosen ones. God has blessed them with a new life and a new land. He tells His people to go get what is theirs, the land that He has promised them, and to take it all for themselves. But they failed to do one thing. They let some of the "old tenants" stay behind, and live amongst them. (Ephraim's tribe did not drive out the Canaanites in this passage, and the tribe of Judah did not drive out the Jebusites in the previous chapter). God knew the problems that would arise if His people were to share the land amongst the Canaanites and Jebusites. God didn't want these other people's pagan beliefs and sinful lifestyle to infect His people's mindsets. God knew that if His people didn't take the land that He has blessed them with completely, that His people will fall back into living that sinful life that He had just delivered them from. God has delivered them from their enemies, He has given them this new land filled with milk and honey, He is giving them a fresh start, He is willing to give His people His best, but their disobedience of His instructions will cause them to not receive it. They will be hindered because of it.

 

“If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors. He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals. When you arrive in the land he swore to give your ancestors, you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7:12-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Life Application

 

Settling for anything but God's best is just plain mediocre!

 

Why settle for ground beef everyday, when I can get filet mignon? Sure ground beef is good, but it really doesn't compare to a nice, juicy, tender piece of filet mignon that is well cooked and prepared by the world's renowned chef! And that is what I'll be missing out on in life if I settle for anything but God's best for me. God wants His best for me. Am I willing to trust in Him, obey Him, and wait on Him if need be?

 

Dear God, thank You for giving me Your best each and everyday. I know at times it may not seem like Your best to me, but I know that You have a purpose behind everything. I know in the long run, if I continue to trust in You, and obey You, I will  be a better man because of it, and I will reap Your blessings from it. Help me not to settle for this world's best, but to strive for Your best. Thank You God for seeing the best in me. I love You Lord Jesus. Amen.

 

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-Moses Gaddi