Joshua 17

Scripture

 

Joshua‬ ‭17:14-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

 

“Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.””
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Observation-What does it say?

 

The land that was allotted to Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's descendants), are listed as a continuation from what we read yesterday in chapter 16.
In verse 14, the people of Joseph started complaining about the amount of land allotted to them, saying that it was not enough and that they deserved more. Joshua encouraged them that they are strong enough to take more land for themselves, but the people of Joseph had their excuses. At the end of this back and forth, Joshua ended up encouraging them that they will be able to take over the hill country despite the Canaanites being so strong. 

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Joshua did not pity their complaints. He encouraged them to turn their complaints into action.

As the descendants of Joseph ( Ephraim and Manasseh) were complaining about their lot being too little, Joshua made them focus on the solution instead of the problem. In addition, he encouraged them by reminding them of their own words ( vs. 14) and stating that they were under the Lord's blessing, they are a numerous people and they do have great power. Instead of griping about their situation, Joshua reminded them that they are able to get more lot with God's help and blessing.

Romans 8:37 NLT-No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Life Application

 

We need to be reminded of who we are in Christ in order to turn our complaints into action.  

 

We say we know who we are and we go so far as to say we believe it, but it's proven when put to the test. The descendants of Joseph were encouraged to take more land instead of complaining about their lot, but their initial reaction was fear, not faith. Joshua ended up reminding them what they already knew about themselves, and challenged them to walk it out. 

 

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When I get tempted to forget who I am in Christ, I not only get encouragement from His Word, but I go back to some encouraging words spoken over me by respected leaders of the faith. Those words are authority, encouragement, joy and wisdom. It helps me live out my life with authority as a leader and in the encouragement, joy and wisdom that He has gifted me with. 

Dear Lord, when we get tempted to complain and forget who we are in You, I pray that You would send someone to speak Your truth into our lives and we would listen to that wisdom instead of seeking out someone to have a pity/complaining fest with. I also pray that we would be those type of encouragers, as Joshua was, to others who have forgotten and continue to live their lives in fear, not faith. With Your Spirit, we are more than conquerors. We love You  and give all glory and honor back to You. Amen.

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-Michelle Gaddi