This Land is MY Land
Reflective Reading: Joshua 13:17-18
It’s been a long seven years of warfare! Starting in Jericho, Joshua has had a very successful military campaign, destroying thirty-one godless cities. Tired of fighting, the twelve tribes are starting to compromise, willing to live peacefully with some of their Canaanite neighbors—that is, as long as their enemies are willing to serve them.
Joshua can’t force the Israelites to fight, and besides, his age is an issue now. God himself tells Joshua that he is “old and well stricken in age.” I imagine that Joshua was willing to keep fighting, but God is going to end his tenure with one last act of important work—the dividing of the land for the twelve tribes.
This last act is not going to be easy. (It will take over seven years to complete.) And, no matter how Joshua distributes the land, someone isn’t going to be happy. Can you imagine if you were one of the heads of a tribe and you had your heart set on the land that bordered the sea, only to receive a forest in the northeast? Or, perhaps you were dying for the land around the sea of Galilee, and you received the south land where it is dry as a bone. Now take this imagination into the text and picture 12 tribes equaling more than 2,500,000 people all waiting for their desired inheritance.
As the land is divided by lot, Joshua begins the process of distribution similar to a modern-day surveyor. This is going to take time—seven years. All of the tribes seem to be satisfied with their lot—all except for the tribe of Manasseh, who feel they’ve been given the short end of the stick. So, this is where the story gets interesting. Let’s listen in on their conversation…
“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).
Note the root problem—they (Manasseh) did not fully obey God and utterly drive out the Canaanites. Instead, they let their enemies live within their borders and used them as servants who would eventually pay them tribute. Isn’t that how we often allow certain sins to remain in our lives? We rationalize them or think that they aren’t “that bad” because these sins work to our advantage or pleasures.
Hmm…let’s keep reading to see how things unfold…
“Then the people of Joseph (Manasseh) spoke to Joshua, saying, ‘Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the LORD has blessed me?’” (vs 14).
Do you hear the entitlement attitude? Let’s see how Joshua responds to their whining and complaining:
“And Joshua said to them, ‘If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you’” (vs 15).
I love Joshua’s response! He’s basically telling them to stop being entitled and lazy and start looking more closely at what they already have. See the way Joshua uses their own words against them? They claim they are a numerous people and therefore need more land. Joshua challenges them that if they are such a numerous people, then they should get to work! If they are as numerous as they claim, then they should start cutting down trees in the hill country and driving their enemies from their land. If they do, then they will have plenty of room!
If you continue reading Joshua 17, you will learn that Manasseh continues to argue with Joshua, claiming that their enemies are more powerful and have more sophisticated weaponry—whine, whine, whine! Joshua responds by reminding them that they “are a great people” and have “great power,” and regardless of how strong their enemies are, they will be victorious (16-18). Now for the best part of the story…
In light of all the complaining and procrastination of possessing the land, Joshua challenges all the tribes (especially Manasseh), saying,
“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?” (18:3).
What has happened is that once the tribes started to settle in the land, build houses and cultivate their gardens and fields, they lost their will to fight. In their minds, it is time to settle down and enjoy the fruit of the land—they’ve had enough battles for one lifetime!
But that, my friend, is what we must never do! Why do you think the Lord told Joshua to be strong and of good courage? For the peace and luxury that was ahead? No! The Lord encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous for the battles he would have to fight his entire life.
Sadly, the Israelites threw in the towel too soon. They failed to obey God’s direct command to keep fighting until all their enemies were destroyed. They were not supposed to rest or be comfortable until all of the land had been conquered. And this, my friend, is our calling and quest today. There is a battle to be waged and a war to be won. The next generation is depending upon us! We need soldiers of the cross who will not compromise nor be dissuaded with the difficulty of the task. We must not be weary in well doing. We must fight the good fight of faith!
I think Joshua’s last words to the children of Israel are just as meaningful for us today:
“And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, ‘How long are you slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?’”
The prophet Jeremiah writes:
“Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed” (Jeremiah 48:10).
The bloodshed Jeremiah is referring to is in reference to the total destruction of God’s enemies. As in the case of Joshua and the children of Israel, the enemy that must first be destroyed is the enemy that lies within us. Once we experience victory over our own sin, God will help us to defeat the enemies without. Then and only then will our fears and failures be replaced with strength and courage.
“And the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with you whithersoever you go’” (Joshua 1:9).
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading and Listening:
The Runaway Darling (Ages 9+)
Courage of Nikolai book/audiobook (Ages 9+)
The Village Hero (Ages 9+)
The Unexpected Return book and audio drama (Ages 12+)
