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Dissatisfaction

Words of Faith Final

Dissatisfaction

Words of Faith 9-28-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Joshua 17:14-18 (NIV)

       [14]  The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the LORD has blessed us abundantly."

       [15]  "If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites."

       [16]  The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

        [17]  But Joshua said to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment [18]  but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

 

        Chapters 15-17 of Joshua read like courthouse documents. They detail the borders and water rights of the tribe of Israel. While they are fascinating for a mapmaker, they are not typical devotional material. But there are a few dramatic moments.

        Remember that the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim were the descendants of the two sons of Joseph. Joseph was the brother who rose to power in Egypt and saved the entire family from starvation, including father Jacob! Joseph's family had received a "double-portion" of inheritance, which was normally designated for the eldest brother. The tribes of Joseph is sometimes called the two “half-tribes.”

         When the lots were drawn and assignments of land made, Joseph's descendants were not at all satisfied with the outcome. They registered their complaint with Joshua. "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly."

          The various tribes' relative sizes, as recorded in Numbers 26, indicate that Ephraim and Manasseh should have qualified for one allotment each. But when we look at a map to see the size of the territory granted to each tribe, it is apparent that the Joseph tribes had little reason to complain in terms of square miles. Even more, the land they were given was the most fertile in all of Israel.

        Joshua was firm in telling these two tribes to first clear the land and then work together to drive out the Canaanites still there. It was a rich land that they simply needed to clear and possess. This was not what they wanted to hear. They complained that this rich central region of the country was not enough, especially if they had to deal with expelling Canaanites. And their enemies had superior weapons.

        The position of Joshua was strong. To paraphrase, Joshua told Ephraim and Manasseh—Stop whining.  You have nothing to complain about. You just need to get to it. You are numerous and powerful. You have been allotted plenty of space and even more if you stop complaining and get after it. You can drive the enemies out.

         Joshua may have been a bit exasperated. Remember this is one of the two spies who had listened to ten others complain and whine about how big the land's enemies were. This is the general who had led Israel into battles they were certain to lose, but the power of Almighty God was with them. 

        We can get dissatisfied at times as well. We can worry about what is ahead and forget how much God has done for us so far. We can get to comparing the blessing we have received and feel it is not a fair portion. We can get stuck in fear of enemies we have not even seen yet, rather than trusting that the same God who has brought us safe thus far will guide and protect us through every challenge and bring us to victory. 

         Hear the word of the Lord through Joshua: The farthest limits will be yours. The Enemies are strong, but you can drive them out.

 

        Father God, I give thanks for all that You have done for me.  I am grateful for every protection and battle won. Give me grace to receive those victories and courage to look forward to the future. I believe in You. I trust in You. In Jesus' Name. 

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2005, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.