Joshua 17:14-18 'Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, in as much as the Lord has blessed us until now?” So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.” But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.” And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”
The tribe of Joshua has indeed been blessed by God and has asked for more land to be given to them as a result. Joshua's response is not, 'oh but of course'. Rather, he replies by saying IF you are a great people then go get your lot yourselves.
Like a spoiled child the tribe replies that the task at hand is too great for them because of the people in the land and their advanced arms system. But it does no good; Joshua agrees that they need more than one lot of land because of their size and says they must clear their own land and drive out the inhabitants if they want it.
I see two major points here.
1. There comes a time in our development as Christians that we become responsible for our own growth. The battles will still need to be fought and land cleared, but it's up to us to manage that ourselves and stop burdening those who trained us up to that point to continue doing the work for us. In what places do I need to start doing the work myself?
This is also a good lesson to learn from Joshua's perspective. In what places do I, as a leader, need to kick some of those I lead out of the nest, trusting that they are big enough to start doing some of their land clearing and development on their own?
2. There is also a prophetic edge to Joshua's words in verse 18. He says that the tribe of Joseph will most definately clear the land and drive out the inhabitants, despite their supirior arms! It's like God is saying, 'Growth comes at a cost to your comfort, but don't assume that just because you are not comfortable I will not make you victorious.'
There cn only be one appropriate prayer response to these lessons:
God I know You have blessed me greatly. Show me the land You want me to take. I will take it!
I also thank You for those in my charge. Show me the land they are to take and I will release them to take it!
AMEN!
