Scripture:
Joshua 17:14-18 ESV
[14] 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?” [15] 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.” [16] 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.” [17] 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, [18] 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.”
Observation:
The people of Joseph had to say something. The can’t they were given was just not enough. They needed more. After all, they had a lot of people to provide for, and the little piece of land they were given was just not enough. So they took their complaint to Joshua and got an answer… probably one they didn’t expect. Go clear the trees on the hill if you need more land. If what you were given is not enough or it to narrow. Do the work and make it fit your needs. The Canaanites were still in that land and the challenge was not an easy task. They had Chariots of iron and strong men of Valor. It was going to take some work. However, it was not an impossible task. Looking back on all the battles they have already won, and knowing GOD would fight for them it could be just a walk in the park. But were they willing to put in the work? GOD had brought them this far by HIS mighty hand the question is now that they had been given a piece of land that Joshua saw as sufficient were they willing to work for what they thought they needed?
Application:
I got a little concerned this morning when I started reading. All I saw was land being divided up and thought to myself I’m going to have to dig in to find some meat and potatoes this morning. Early on in our walk, we see GOD just revealing HIMSELF to us every time we pick up the bible HE is showing us something that we just need to know about HIMSELF. Once we have read the Bible a few times the words don’t change but our desire to know more does, and we have to dig in a little deeper to experience. What GOD is trying to tell us about HIMSELF. I’m not saying what we learned at the beginning has changed, because the surface-level reading still revealed GOD’s character to us. What I am saying though is when you start to mature in your walk with Jesus the surface-level reading just won’t do you will have to work for it. I was sitting in a life recovery meeting a year or so ago and the topic of faith came up. You know what they said…faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain…and someone from across the room said…yeah but don’t be surprised if GOD hands you a shovel. My point is this. GOD will bring you to the edge of what you think is impossible…so HE can meet you where you’re at. HE may give you a shovel and tell you to start digging in, and as soon as you kick the shovel into the ground the work is done, and honestly, you may just end up moving a mountain, but your faith will get you through every shovel full of dirt. All HE wants to know is whether are you willing to put in the work. Blessings come and blessings go but the calluses are a reminder of the work it took to get to where you are at. Even Paul says to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.
Prayer:
Father, we know that salvation is a gift. It’s something you have given us because you love us. But I also know that you will ask us to do what we are more than capable of. You asked Moses to step up to the Red Sea and raise his staff and then you parted the water. You instructed Joshua to match around the city of Jericho and on the final day blow a trumpet and shout…then you brought down the walls. I want to thank you Father for the way you reveal yourself. You will almost always give us something that we can do and that something activates our faith. So that you can move the mountain even if what you tell us stands…it is something that we can do. I am reminded of Ephesians 6:13-14 Sometimes you just need us to stand and get ready for the fight. Father we want to seek your face. Your hand is awesome and mighty but your face reveals who you are and I just want to know you… that’s what a relationship is about. Let us see your face in all that we do. I know that you will meet us where we are. It in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.