Year 1, Week 25, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 25, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Joshua 16-18.

Today’s reading continues navigating the allotment of land that each tribe received. Joshua 16-17 notes the land allotment pertaining to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (the half of the tribe that was to take possession of land on the west side of the Jordan River). These chapters of today’s reading not only notes some of the territory and cities within the allotments, but also makes mention of other details such as the promised land allotment for the daughters of Zelophehad (see Numbers 27:1-11, 36:1-13). Unfortunately, it is noted that there was failure to take complete possession of the land by removing their enemies, as the LORD required of them. Joshua 18 opens with strong words for the remaining tribes and their failure to take possession of their allotment of land. Joshua 18 then concludes with an emphasis on the land allotment for the tribe of Benjamin.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was how the failure of the tribes to take possession of the Land was laying a tragic foundation for much trouble to be upon Israel in the future: “They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them.” (Psalm 106:34-36). Today’s reading explicitly makes mention, at several places, of the failure of the tribes to completely take their allocation of land. Ephraim did not take full possession of their land: “However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor” (Joshua 16:10). Manasseh also did not take full possession of their land: “Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out” (Joshua 17:12-13). Then, Joshua had to get after seven of the tribes, who had not even started the task of taking possession for their land: “So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?” (Joshua 18:3). The people want a land to possess but they seem unwilling to pursue the matter as they give excuses for not doing so: “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” (Joshua 17:16). To which Joshua admonishes them: “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” (Joshua 17:17).

The LORD has gifted the Land to Israel. Israel has not had to secure the Land by conquest; the LORD has secured the Land by conquest. But now, through reliance and obedience, Israel was to work, that is, exert some effort in order to take possession of the Land. Many will not make this effort. They want the Land, but they do not want to put forth the effort to obtain the Land. The LORD was present with His people, and because of the LORD’s presence, the Land was ready to be possessed: “Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them” (Joshua 18:1). So failure to take possession of the Land according to tribal allotment was not based on any failure on the LORD’s part. The failure was based upon many of the tribes failing to put forth effort in order to obtain what they LORD had gifted to them. This failure to take possession of the Land, which the LORD has given to them, by driving out their enemies will become the breeding ground to a host of other failures.

The failure to take possession of the Land that was gifted by the LORD, illustrates something important about the Christian life. Living the Christian life is rooted in the gracious supply of the Lord Jesus Christ; nevertheless, living the Christian, also entails putting forth effort. It is unbiblical to assume that since the Lord supplies all that is needed, there is nothing to be done on the believer’s part. It is Biblically faithful, however, to say that since the Lord supplies all that is needed, believers can and must do all that is commanded of them. Notice how Peters puts these two components together, when he first of all declares what the Lord has given: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises” (2 Peter 1:3-4). God has granted to His people all that they need to live. But then notice the connection Peter makes as to what the Lord’s people are to do in light of being granted everything they need to live: “For this very reason, make every effort” (2 Peter 1:5). What the Lord Jesus grants to His people does not make their efforts unnecessary; all that the Lord Jesus grants to His people actually makes their efforts doable and effective.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe