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14 Then the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion as an inheritance, though I am a numerous people whom the Lord has blessed up to this point?”
15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”
16 The sons of Joseph then said, “The hill country is not enough for us, but all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have iron chariots, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the Valley of Jezreel.”
17 But Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only,
18 but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and though they are strong.”
The sons of Joseph complained to Joshua. The sons of Joseph here are the tribe of Ephraim. They are making this complaint in two points. (1) The tribe of Manasseh received two territories, one in the east and one in the west of the Jordan River, but to Ephraim, only one lot and one portion were given, even though they were a tribe of numerous people. Joshua, receiving this complaint, said to them that they can go up to a forest and clear an inhabitable place for themselves. (2) They responded by saying that the hill country was too small for them and that the Canaanites in the valley land of Beth-shean and in the valley of Jezreel were unconquerable as they had chariots of iron. To this, Joshua said that, as they clear a place in the forest, they must drive out the Canaanites. Ephraim should be able to do so if they have such numerous people and the ability. In short, they need to acquire the land with their own effort.
(1) Let’s pay attention to Joshua’s behavior as a public figure. He himself was from the tribe of Ephraim, but he did not give his own tribe any special treatment. He treated all tribes fairly. This is the reason he was trustworthy as a leader. (2) The tribe of Ephraim sought blessing without making any effort. Here is a trap that any believer can fall into. The mindset of a balanced believer is that “the Lord, by his grace, provides us with good things. Therefore, we must make the effort to win them.” Have you been complaining that the place given to you is too small? The land you shall clear with your own effort is right before your eyes. By faith, let’s make the effort to expand our territory.
Today's prayer
God the Father of Jesus Christ, forgive me for my tendency towards laziness. I am thankful that there is still land to be taken. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.