January 11, 2024

The children of Joseph were not satisfied with the lot they were given and complained to Joshua. He was not sympathetic because what they were given was plenty of room for them. However, a portion was still inhabited by the Canaanites, Perizzites, and giants, and they would have to go to war with them to take it. It included forests, which would have taken a lot of manpower to clear, but it seems they may have wanted an easier allotment to possess. Joshua denied their request, but he encouraged them to go in and take it because they had plenty of manpower. 

Isn’t that a picture of our lives? Some people are like the tribes that were given cities that were already built and ready to move into, but others, like most people, have to work hard to earn every dime they have and have to build it for themselves. The most challenging part is conquering and controlling our minds, which may have been an issue with Joseph’s children being afraid of challenging the Canaanites and the giants. We work hard to slay the “Canaanites and giants” in our lives to possess and conquer the land, but with God, we will prevail!

And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country,and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. Joshua 17:15