Joshua 15-17

Thursday Evening Bible Study

April 7, 2011

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision

The major battles involving the twelve tribes of Israel are winding down. There will be smaller battles that the individual tribes themselves will face, but the big battles are done.

We now begin the process of dividing up the conquered land among the twelve tribes.

Note: We are going to be seeing a lot of names of places. I will not try and stop and talk about each one – but one of the things I like to do when I’m reading through my Bible and I come to passages like this – I like to test myself and see how many of the places I recognize. I look for the places I know. We’ll try to do that as we go…

Joshua 15 – Judah

15:1-12 Judah’s Borders

:1 So this was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families: The border of Edom at the Wilderness of Zin southward was the extreme southern boundary.

:2 And their southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.

:2 their southern border Show map

We then get a rough description of the border around the tribe of Judah.

:3 Then it went out to the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin, ascended on the south side of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and went around to Karkaa.

:4 From there it passed toward Azmon and went out to the Brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your southern border.

:5 The east border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. And the border on the northern quarter began at the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.

:6 The border went up to Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

:7 Then the border went up toward Debir from the Valley of Achor, and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and ended at En Rogel.

:8 And the border went up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley of Rephaim northward.

Play Jerusalem Hinnom map clip

There are three valleys that define the city of Jerusalem. The Kidron and Central valleys, and the valley on the south – the Hinnom valley.

:8 the Valley of the Son of Hinnom (ge-ben-hinnom)

After the nation of Israel was split, there were a couple of wicked kings in Judah who did bad things in this valley.

Ahaz burned incense and his CHILDREN in this valley. (2Chr. 28:3)

(2 Ch 28:3 NKJV) He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

The burning of babies in the fire was how people worshipped the god Molech.

Manasseh was the most wicked king of Judah.

(2 Ch 33:6 NKJV) Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

During the revival of King Josiah, things changed.

(2 Ki 23:10 NKJV) And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.

What did it mean for Josiah to “defile” this place?

In Jesus’ day, the valley had become the city dump. There was still burning going on, but it was the burning of garbage.

In Jesus’ day, the name of this valley was shortened and became a picture of hell itself – “ge-henna”. Jesus said,

(Mt 5:22 NKJV) But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

There are some ugly pictures conjured up with “ge-henna”. Children being burned. Garbage smelling and rotting. Fires that never stop…

:8 Rephaim – giants

:9 Then the border went around from the top of the hill to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and extended to the cities of Mount Ephron. And the border went around to Baalah (which is Kirjath Jearim).

:10 Then the border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (which is Chesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed on to Timnah.

:11 And the border went out to the side of Ekron northward. Then the border went around to Shicron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and extended to Jabneel; and the border ended at the sea.

…skip to …

12 The west border was the coastline of the Great Sea. This is the boundary of the children of Judah all around according to their families.

(show map) We see the borders of the tribe of Judah, the southernmost tribe.

The eastern border was the Dead Sea.

The northern border went from the Dead Sea, through Jerusalem, and ended north of Ashdod.

The western border was the Mediterranean Sea.

15:13-19 Caleb takes Hebron

:13 Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).

:13 Hebron – Chebrown – “association”

Play “Hebron map” clip

About 20 miles south of Jerusalem, up in the hills of Judah. (Alt. 3,000 ft.)

This is where Abraham bought his only piece of property, the cave of Machpelah, where he buried his wife Sarah, and where he was buried as well.

Prior to Israel conquering the land, a race of giants had taken up residence there, descendants of a fellow named Arba, giving the name of the place “City of Arba” or “Kirjath Arba”

:14 Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

:14 Caleb drove out …

We mentioned back in Joshua 14:6-15 about Caleb and Hebron.

When Joshua and Caleb had been a part of the spies checking out the land forty years earlier, Hebron was one of the places that Caleb had spied out.

He knew there were giants there.

Yet this was the place that he asked for as his inheritance.

(Jos 14:12 NKJV) Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

Now we see Caleb take the actual steps to take the land.

Lesson

Working the program

There are some things in the Christian life that require us to simply ask for them.

As long as our request is with faith, salvation is one of those things.

(Ro 10:13 NKJV) For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

There are some things in the Christian life that not only require us “asking”, but require us to be “doing” as well.

Caleb didn’t just “ask” for Hebron, he also drove out the giants.

It’s one thing for me to be asking God for help in losing weight.

But if I don’t stop eating those delicious chocolate candies we have laying around for Easter, it’s not going to happen.

I can see one of those TV “bowflex” ads and begin to think I’d like to have a body like the guy on TV. I might think I’m doing all that’s necessary when I pick up the phone and call the phone number on the TV. But if I don’t use assemble the machine and use it after it arrives at my home, it’s not going to do anything for me.

These ideas are kind of obvious, right?

So why is it such a hard concept to think that growing spiritually is any different?

Spiritual growth requires spiritual discipline.

Paul uses the idea of physical discipline to paint a picture of spiritual discipline:

(1 Co 9:24–27 NKJV) —24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Paul talks about living the Christian life as if you’re training for an Olympic event.

Some areas that require discipline

Victory over sin

Folks who know AA know that it’s important that you “work the program”. There are steps to take to find freedom from addiction.

Prayer

From Tozer:

“To pray successfully is the first lesson the preacher must learn if he is to preach fruitfully; yet prayer is the hardest thing he will ever be called upon to do and, being human, it is the one act he will be tempted to do less frequently than any other.”

The Word

The Bible doesn’t read itself.

Fellowship

If you ever spend a lot of time at church, you will eventually get your feelings hurt. You will be offended. You might even feel “betrayed”.

Yet the rubbing up against each other is one of the ways that God helps us grow in things like “patience” and “humility”

(Pr 27:17 NKJV) As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Serving

I believe that a mature Christian is a servant of others. Jesus said,

(Mk 10:43b NKJV) but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

The mark of a good servant is “faithfulness”

(1 Co 4:2 NKJV) Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

When Jesus rewards us,

(Mt 25:21 NKJV) His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Faithfulness requires discipline.

It means I show up and do what I promised even when it’s hard.

It means that I still take time to reach out to other people even when I am convinced that I’m hurting more than they are.

Caleb “worked the program”

:15 Then he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher).

:16 And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”

:15 Debir

Play Debir map.

About eight miles southwest of Hebron in the West Bank. It’s interesting that there’s a Jewish settlement nearby named “Otni’el” after Othniel.

:16 to him I will give Achsah my daughter

Is Caleb just trying to get rid of his unwed daughter, or is this an honest incentive for somebody to conquer Debir?

:16 Achsah – “ankle chain” or “anklet”

Not “ball and chain”

:17 So Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.

17 Othniel – “lion of God”. He would be Caleb’s nephew.

:18 Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?”

:19 She answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

:16 He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it

Lesson

Training the next generation

I’m not sure that Caleb couldn’t have taken Debir himself.

But he leaves room and gives incentive for the next generation to step up to the plate.

I found a great video of some children who are learning the importance of good communication and facing their problems…

Play “Twins Talking” video

Othniel will play a role in the nation in the book of Judges. He will be the first “judge” after the death of Joshua and will be used to deliver them from the king of Meopotamia (Jdg. 3:9)

I wonder if Othniel’s role in the book of Judges isn’t partly due to the opportunity and encouragement he got here from Caleb.

15:20-63 Cities of Judah

Notes:

Some cities will belong to more than one tribe – like Jerusalem (Judah and Benjamin)

Some cities have the same name as cities in another area

If I told you I was planning a trip to Paris, would you know where I was going? Was I going to France? Texas? Or perhaps California (“Perris”)?

These are real places. We know where many of these cities are.

In contrast, the Book of Mormon talks about ancient peoples and cities in America, places that no one knows where they are.

These next couple of chapters may be boring, but they contain important information that will help put other parts of your Bible into context.

Let’s do what we did last time – raise your hand if the name of a city sounds familiar…

:20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

:21 The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the South, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

:23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

(not the same Hazor)

:24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

:25 Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth, Hezron (which is Hazor),

(another not the same Hazor)

:26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,

:27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,

:28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Bizjothjah,

:28 Beersheba

The oasis in the southern desert where Abraham and Isaac dug wells. (Gen. 21, 26)

:29 Baalah, Ijim, Ezem,

:30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

:31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

:31 Ziklag

This was the Philistine city that David and his men settled in after he fled and decided to live among the Philistines to get away King Saul. (1Sam. 27:6). David is from what tribe? Judah – we’ll see lots of David’s places in this chapter.

(1 Sa 27:6 NKJV) —6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

:32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

:33 In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

:33 Eshtaol, Zorah

Samson hung out near these cities. Samson is “arrested” by the men of Judah at the request of the Philistines (Jdg 15:13). Why? He’s causing trouble in their territory.

:34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,

:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

:35 Adullam

David and his family hid in a cave here when he was running from Saul. (1Sam. 22:1)

(1 Sa 22:1 NKJV) —1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.

:35 Socoh, Azekah

The Philistines were camped out near these places when David fought Goliath (1Sam. 17:1).

:skip to …

36 Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages;

:37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,

:38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

:38 Mizpah

Not Jacob’s Mizpah (Gen. 31:49)

:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

:39 Lachish

A major city. Found in 22 passages in OT (especially in Jeremiah’s day)

… skip to…

:40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kithlish,

:41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages;

:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

:42 Libnah

Another major city. 17 verses

:43 Jiphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

:44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages;

:44 Keilah

The city David saved from the Philistines, but who turned around and almost turned David over to Saul (1Sam. 23)

:45 Ekron, with its towns and villages;

:46 from Ekron to the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages;

:47 Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages—as far as the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea with its coastline.

:46 Ekron … Ashdod … Gaza

These were three of the five main cities of the Philistines, located on the coastal plain of Israel in the lowlands.

…skip to …

:48 And in the mountain country: Shamir, Jattir, Sochoh,

:49 Dannah, Kirjath Sannah (which is Debir),

:50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,

:51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages;

:52 Arab, Dumah, Eshean,

:53 Janum, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,

:54 Humtah, Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages;

:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

:55 Maon – when David is running from King Saul, he spends time hiding in the “Wilderness of Maon” (1Sam. 23:24)

:55 Carmel – not the city in the north (or in California), but this is where David encountered the fool Nabal, and ended up marrying his widow Abigail. (1Sam. 25)

(1 Sa 23:24 NKJV) —24 So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

:55 Ziph

Another city that almost turned David over to Saul (1Sam. 23:1; 26:1)

:56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

:57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages;

:57 Timnah

Where Samson fell in love with his first Philistine girl (before Delilah), it was a girl from Timnah that he married. (Judg. 14:1)

(Jdg 14:1 NKJV) —1 Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.

…skip to …

:58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,

:59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages;

:60 Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.

:60 Kirjath Baal (“city of Baal”, or, “city of the lord”)

:60 Kirjath Jearim (“city of forests”)

Kirjath Jearim is one of the cities that the Ark of the Covenant would spend twenty years in (1Sam. 7:1,2). When David brought the Ark into Jerusalem, he brought it from Kirjath Jearim

(1 Sa 7:1–2 NKJV) —1 Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2 So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

:61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

:62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi: six cities with their villages.

:62 En Gedi –

One of my favorite places. Located where the Kidron brook comes out at the Dead Sea. This is was one of the places where David hid in a cave from King Saul. (1Sam. 23:29)

(1 Sa 23:29 NKJV) —29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

It’s also where the Dead Sea will be partially healed during the Millenium from the waters coming from Jerusalem’s throne, and there will be fishing in the Dead Sea. (Eze. 47:10)

(Eze 47:10 NKJV) —10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.

:63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

:63 Jerusalem

It won’t be until David is king that Jerusalem will be conquered. (2Sam. 5:6)

(2 Sa 5:6 NKJV) —6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

Jerusalem will also be shared with the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 18:28)

(Jos 18:28 NKJV) —28 Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

:63 could not drive them out

Take note. The Jebusites were not driven out of Jerusalem.

Joshua 16

16:1-10 Ephraim’s boundaries

:1 The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel,

:1 the children of Joseph

Remember that Joseph was the son of Jacob. Technically one of the twelve tribes should be the tribe of Joseph, but because Jacob blessed Joseph with the “double portion”, Joseph’s two sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) were granted equal status to the other tribes.

The tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe, is dropped out of the list of inheritance because they will be scattered throughout the twelve tribes. God is their inheritance.

We then get the boundaries specifically of the tribe of Ephraim.

:2 then went out from Bethel to Luz, passed along to the border of the Archites at Ataroth,

:3 and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, as far as the boundary of Lower Beth Horon to Gezer; and it ended at the sea.

:4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

:5 The border of the children of Ephraim, according to their families, was thus: The border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth Addar as far as Upper Beth Horon.

:5 The border of the children of Ephraim

See map. Note: Joshua is from the tribe of Ephraim.

:6 And the border went out toward the sea on the north side of Michmethath; then the border went around eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed by it on the east of Janohah.

:7 Then it went down from Janohah to Ataroth and Naarah, reached to Jericho, and came out at the Jordan.

:8 The border went out from Tappuah westward to the Brook Kanah, and it ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families.

:9 The separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

:10 And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

:10 they did not drive out the Canaanites

Take note. They did not drive out the Canaanites from Gezer. Perhaps they were waiting for them to become old Gezers…

Joshua 17

17:1-13 Manasseh’s boundaries

:1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph: namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war; therefore he was given Gilead and Bashan.

:1 Gilead and Bashan

Part of the tribe of Manasseh has already settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River. They settled in the land conquered from King Sihon and King Og.

skip to …

:2 And there was a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, the children of Helek, the children of Asriel, the children of Shechem, the children of Hepher, and the children of Shemida; these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.

:3 But Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

:3 But Zelophehad

Zelophehad was a faithful man who had died in the forty year wilderness journey and who had not left any sons behind.

His five daughters had asked Moses if they could have a share of the Promised Land and God told Moses “yes”. Later they would remind Joshua of Moses’ promise to them.

:4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

:5 Ten shares fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan,

:6 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

…skip to …

:7 And the territory of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, that lies east of Shechem; and the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.

:7 the territory of Manasseh

See map

:8 Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.

:9 And the border descended to the Brook Kanah, southward to the brook. These cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook; and it ended at the sea.

:10 Southward it was Ephraim’s, northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was its border. Manasseh’s territory was adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

:11 And in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth Shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns—three hilly regions.

:11 in Issachar and in Asher

Not all the cities of a tribe would lie within their borders. Sometimes the borders got a little sloppy.

:11 Beth Shean

This is one of the great archaeological sites you’ll see when you visit Israel. Absolutely amazing place.

:11 the inhabitants of En Dor

These people were known as Ewoks. J

Actually, this is the city where Saul went to inquire of a witch rather than seek the counsel of the Lord. (1Sa.28:7)

:11 Megiddo

Originally one of the royal cities of the Canaanites overlooking and guarding the valley of Jezreel. This is the location of the battle of Armageddon.

:12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

:13 And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

:13 did not utterly drive them out

They finally became strong enough to fight these Canaanites, but instead of wiping them out, they just made them pay them taxes.

After all, why wipe out these people when they can be made to pay you money instead?

Isn't that good business sense?

Once again. It’s beginning to become a pattern.

God has warned the nation before they came into the Promised Land to not leave things unfinished:

(Nu 33:55 NKJV) But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.

This is the opposite of “discipline” or “working the program”.

If you don’t work the program, you’ll have trouble.

17:14-18 Give us more

:14 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, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?”

:14 Joshua

Keep in mind that this tribe has a special relationship with the head dude, he's from their tribe. Joshua is from the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph)

:14 only one lot

They have decided that they needed more land than they had been given.

At the outset, this looks kind of admirable.

After all, they want more of the "Promised Land"?!?!

What it comes off as is pride and a little sense of “entitlement”.

They want Joshua to give them more.

:15 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.”

:15 then go up to the forest

Joshua's reply isn't exactly what they want to hear.

Joshua is saying that if they want more, they should go ahead and conquer more land. But it’s going to require them working and fighting a bit more.

:16 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.”

They respond to Joshua by complaining. They don’t like his ideas. Joshua’s ideas are too hard for them.

:17 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,

:18 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.”

:18 the mountain country shall be yours

Joshua’s not going to make it easy for them.

They’re going to get more room, but it’s what he’s already mentioned, the stuff that’s going to take hard work.

Joshua says they need to make due with what they’ve been given.

They’re going to have to play “Paul Bunyan” and clear out the forests in the hills.

They’re going to have to go to battle with the Canaanites and drive them out.

Lesson

Don’t be afraid of hard work

God has some big things for us (like mountains!).

But sometimes the big things require diligent, hard work, like chopping down trees and fighting enemies.

Sometimes we get the idea that if God is going to take care of all my needs, then I can just kick back, watch “Gilligan’s Island”, and see God stick a paycheck in my mailbox each week. In reality, I need to get a job.

We see the same thing in ministry as well.

Excellence in ministry requires that we be diligent in what we’re doing. Diligent in prayer, study, hard work.

(Pr 22:29 NKJV) Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.