A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey 11
Joshua 17:14-18
14 Then the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion for an inheritance, since I am a numerous people whom the LORD has thus far blessed?” 15 Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” 16 The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.” 17 Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong.”
Israel crossed the overflowing Jordan relying on God alone and conquered the cities in the central region, Jericho and Ai. Without taking a break, Israel defeated the united forces of the southern region and won great victory against the kings of the northern region. It’s not that they drove out all of the Canaanites but in general, the Canaan came under Israel’s governance.
But this was not the end. Up to that point, all the tribes united as one and won victory by Joshua’s faith. But from then on, each tribe had to win battles by their own faith. Joshua distributed the entire Canaan Land, both the areas that had been conquered and the ones that hadn’t among the tribes of Israel. The distribution of the land must’ve been an inspiring incident for the Israelites.
They unfairly suffered as slaves in Egypt, wandered in the harsh wilderness for 40 years, and engaged in hard battles for seven years. Finally, it was the moment for them to reap its fruit. They were assigned their own dwelling place where they could happily live with beloved families and farm together.
But it doesn’t mean they enjoyed peace right after they were allotted their land. Each tribe needed to wage battles by faith and entirely destroy the remaining Canaanites. They had to conquer the land given as an inheritance with faith, without changing their heart, forgetting God’s promise, turning away from Him, and forsaking His commands. Todays, we’ll explore how each tribe was allotted their inheritance and conquered it.
Listening to this message, I ask you to think about how you would’ve acted if you had been in their shoes. Also, I ask that you engrave their experience on your heart and let it add to your faith and wisdom. I pray in our Lord’s name that all of you finally obtain all God’s promises of blessings by faith without having a change of heart at all.
Brothers and sisters, now, it’s time for each tribe to come before God and be allotted their inheritance. Just because Israel comprised 12 tribes doesn’t mean the Land of Canaan located on the west of the Jordan was divided into 12. There were a few exceptions. First, the sons of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh who were already given their inheritance on the east of the Jordan were excluded. Here, the half-tribe of Manasseh latterly referred to the half of the sons of Manasseh.
Second, the tribe of Levi that was not supposed to receive the land was excluded. Third, the tribe of Joseph that had taken a double share as a single tribe was excluded. As for the sons of Rueben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they had already been allotted their land before they crossed the Jordan. The Bible says, “With the other half-tribe, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east,”
Before the conquest of Canaan began in earnest under Joshua’s leadership, they received their inheritance already.
Joshua 13:8
It was the land on the east side of the Jordan which had been conquered in Moses’ time. They saw the land as a proper place to raise livestock. Unlike the wilderness, the land had much grass to feed their livestock and it was fertile enough for them to cultivate crops and fruits. That’s why they demanded the land as their inheritance. Moses granted their demand but there was a condition. When Israel conquered the west side of the Jordan, they were not to say, “We’re out of these battles because we’ve already got our inheritance.” And these tribes made a promise to Moses.
The Bible says, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our livestock and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead; 27 while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over in the presence of the LORD to battle, just as my lord says.” They promised that they would fight hard ahead of others and not return home until all other tribes were given their inheritance. As promised, the tribes of Rueben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed the Jordan with other tribes leaving their families, livestock, cattle, and their possessions on the east of the River.
Joshua 32:25-27
According to their promise, they took the lead in bravely fighting until the Conquest battles were over. Because the battles were over, all they had to do was go back to the east side of the Jordan they received as their inheritance. They didn’t need another inheritance on the west side. Next, the Levites serving as priests exceptionally didn’t receive land as an inheritance. We’ll talk about this tribe again later on.
With two and a half tribes excluded among the twelve tribes, the land could’ve been assigned to eight and a half tribes. But there was another to consider. It was the tribe of Joseph. With God’s blessings, the sons of Joseph multiplied more than other tribes. So, the offspring of Joseph two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh received their share respectively. Overall, nine and a half tribes were allotted the land on the west side of the Jordan. To Moses, God had already presented principles in distributing the land.
God said, “To the larger group you shall increase their inheritance, and to the smaller group you shall diminish their inheritance; each shall be given their inheritance according to those who were numbered of them. 55 But the land shall be divided by lot. They shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.” God commanded that each tribe be given their inheritance according to their population and which land they would receive be decided by lot. This was the fairest way that could prevent complaints about their respective inheritance.
Joshua 26:54-55
It’s because the chance of taking better land was the same for all the tribes regardless of the order of casting a lot. Casting a lot first didn’t guarantee that they would get a better one. Also, the Israelites had faith that the outcome of their casting lots would be up to God, not coincidental. The Bible says, “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.” In the process of revealing Israel’s sin, by way of casting lots, God had Achan selected among all the Israelites which were numerous.
Proverbs 16:33
Based on that experience, Israel could believe all the more firmly that God had control over the process of their inheritance being given. The tribes took turns casting a lot. But, a problem arose while they were being allotted their inheritance.
The Bible says, “Then the sons of Joseph, namely, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion for an inheritance, since I am a numerous people whom the LORD has thus far blessed?”
Joshua 17:14
They were saying that they were originally one but grew into two tribes by God’s blessing so they had to receive more as their inheritance. Actually, the inheritance they’d already received was never small. Rather, their land covered the vast areas of fertile and good soil in the central region. Still, they complained, insisting that they receive more as a large tribe.
And, Joshua replied, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” If they lacked places on which to do farming, they could just go up to the forest and expand their territory. Even still, the sons of Joseph grumbled against Joshua rather than obeying.
Joshua 17:15
They said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.” They claimed that even if they conquered the area Joshua mentioned, still, it wouldn’t be enough. So, they demanded wider and better land. They also said with fear that Israel hadn’t got iron weapons yet, but in the land they would conquer were frightening chariots of iron. They’d already forgotten why their parents suffered the 40-year trial and died in the wilderness.
Joshua 17:16
Among the twelve spies that initially spied out Canaan, the ten spies failed to make a confession of faith, involving their fleshly thoughts, even though God was with Israel. They’d seen the ten plagues striking Egypt and the splitting of the Red Sea. They saw bitter water turning into sweet water and water springing up when a rock was hit. When they craved meat, God sent them numerous herds of quail so they could help themselves to them.
Although God proved His presence with them in various ways, the ten spies complained and failed to demonstrate faith, thereby causing God’s wrath. The same went for the sons of Joseph. They’d seen, heard of, and learned from their parents’ mistakes, so they followed and Joshua. But, as they were in a position to demonstrate their own faith without Joshua, they made that confession out of fear.
If we’re in a situation like theirs, what kind of confession should we make? We’ve witnessed God being with the shepherd and manifesting numerous wonders, signs, and works of power. We’ve seen the blind opening their eyes, the mute and the deaf beginning to speak and hear, and the crippled standing up. Numerous times, we’ve seen and heard of people healed of polio, cerebral palsy, cancer, leukemia, AIDS, etc. So, would you boldly confess, “God is still living and manifests His power. I firmly believe!”
But the important question is, Can we demonstrate our faith in the face of a certain problem? No matter how much you see and hear of God’s works, not all of you make faith out of them the same way. Some people develop spiritual faith by seeing or hearing of God’s power or develop greater faith, while others have only knowledge-based faith from what they’ve seen and heard of. No matter how great your knowledge-based or fleshly faith is, you cannot bring down God’s work.
But if you display spiritual faith, even if it’s small as a mustard seed, God works for you. Then, how can we have spiritual faith? As you engrave the evidences of the living God you’ve seen and heard of, you believe that He is living. So, you live by His will. As you show such deeds, spiritual faith is given. Namely, you hear the words of God, engrave them on your heart, make bread of them by acting accordingly, and cultivate your heart into spirit. To the extent you do so, your faith grow into spiritual one.
After you hear words like “Don’t hate. Love your enemies,” if you achieve a heart by which you love even your enemies without hatred, you’ve cultivated your heart into spirit. Then, God gives you spiritual faith by which you can truly believe and He works according to that faith. Thus, just because you’ve long been a Christian and worked a lot for His kingdom, you don’t have great spiritual faith. But, to the extent you strive to obey the words and achieve a spiritual heart, you have great faith.
But, despite having experienced numerous works of God, the son of Joseph failed to demonstrate faith just because their enemies had chariots of iron. They themselves proved before Joshua that their complaints originated from such an improper heart. Their complaints and confessions without faith came from desire to take better things and from an arrogant heart wanting to be served as a big tribe. Because they’d grown big by God’s blessing, they should’ve lowered themselves, served other tribes, and taken the lead in advancing even to the regions difficult to conquer.
But, they just sat back and only complained, asking for more as an inheritance. They were very different from Caleb who confessed and marched in faith. (and who we talked about in the last session.) He said, “Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken.” Caleb neither exalted himself nor forcibly insisted on his rights.
Relying on God’s previous promise, he requested it by faith. He didn’t ask for an area already conquered but the one inhabited by the robust Anakites. Without fearing them at all, he proclaimed that he would win by relying on God alone. And, according to his faith, he conquered Hebron. But, the sons of Joseph failed to demonstrate such faith. Unlike when they fought with Joshua, they even revealed their fear, making a confession that lacked faith.
Even if the enemy had possessed stronger weapons than chariots of iron, with true faith, they would’ve had no fear. Accompanied by Joshua, they trusted and obeyed him, crossing the Jordan and destroying Jericho. They’d already experienced the stopping of the sun and the moon. Throughout their conquest battles directed by Joshua, they defeated great enemies that they couldn’t even confront on their own, which was a continuation of miracles.
During those battles, they only obeyed no matter how dangerous they found their situation. But, as they were told to take their inheritance by fighting on their own, they made a confession lacking faith. When they had to show their faith, they feared and revealed their lack of faith. Instead of giving in to their complaints, Joshua again reminded them of their wrong thoughts and demanded that they had faith on their own.
Joshua said to them, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong.” This was the faith of Joshua.
Joshua 17:17-18
Also, Joshua reassured them that if they unchangingly demonstrated the deeds of faith they displayed in the battles accompanied by him, they would expand their territory to their heart’s content, as a great tribe blessed by God. But eventually, they failed to obey him wholly.
The Bible says, “But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.” Other verses say, “But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land. 13 It came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.”
Joshua 16:10
Joshua 17:12-13
Both the tribe of Ephraim and that of Manasseh didn’t completely drive out the Canaanites residing within their inheritance. If the sons of Joseph had displayed faith and driven them out, today’s Israel would have more peace. But, because they failed to obey and didn’t drive them out, those Canaanites bothered them through generations. While Israel loved God and dwelled in His word, it remained strong, ruling over the Canaanites.
But, as Israel worshipped idols and turn away from God, the Canaanites became strong and tormented Israel. The more serious problem was, the Canaanites caused Israel to come in contact with the wicked, gentile customs prohibited by God, commit sins, and bring about God’s wrath. They should’ve displayed firm faith in the first place and obeyed God wholly. But as they failed, they suffered through generations.
The God of power who was with Joshua was not a God of a single person Joshua but of the entire Israel. God desired all the Israelites have strong and bold faith as that of Joshua. If only they had shown faith, again, God would’ve manifested all the works that He did through Joshua.
If the sons of Joseph had acted with such faith, no doubt they could’ve driven out the gentiles with chariots of iron. It’s the same today. While God shows the works of His power at this church, He doesn’t want us to just keep them as knowledge but make strength out of them. He also wants us to act by faith for ourselves, thereby manifesting amazing works demonstrating His presence. We already have the handkerchief of power on which Senior Pastor prayed.
With this handkerchief, not only should we be able to heal ourselves but heal others and resolve their problems as we visit or evangelize them. Then, when God works mightily with the power of re-creation all over the world, as warriors of faith we can say, “Here I am” and be used by Him. Now, we should prepare ourselves for this.
When our shepherd was with us, he brought down God’s amazing works with his faith. Witnessing them, we rejoiced together. But now, while the shepherd is not around us, we’ll bear fruit according to our respective works. Even now, it’s not too late. We can remind ourselves of the words of truth we’ve heard, discover our shortcomings, and change ourselves through fervent prayer.
Being complacent with fleshly thoughts like, “I’m not doing bad” greatly hinders your change. I urge you to reflect on your words, thoughts, faith, and deeds with the absolute word of God, and quickly achieve a heart of spirit and spiritual faith which you long for. After all the tribes were allotted their inheritance, the Levites came before Joshua and received their share.
As mentioned earlier, unlike other tribes, the Levites didn’t receive land as an inheritance. The Bible says, “Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.” Instead of giving them land, God had the Levites make a living out of the tithes and offerings the people offered unto God.
Numbers 18:20
As said in the Bible, “They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, And Your law to Israel. They shall put incense before You, And whole burnt offerings on Your altar,” God commanded the Levites to offer sacrifices on behalf of the entire Israel and keep His Temple. He also assigned them a precious duty of teaching the people the Law of God. So that the Levites entrusted with this precious duty won’t be disturbed by secular work but entirely focus on God’s work, God Himself offered to become their Inheritance.
Deuteronomy 33:10
Today, Levites refer to pastors anointed by God and workers ministering at God’s sanctuary. Those who serve as a pastor have to entirely dedicate their life to God, so they shouldn’t put their mind to secular matters, get another job, or run a business out of greed.
Due to the financial situation, some pastors are in a sabbatical year.
As said in the Bible, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word,” pastors should devote themselves to God’s work. Praying fervently, they have to circumcise their heart quickly, and they should pile up numerous hours of prayer to receive power. Also, with powerful words, they have to visit and preach to the souls, thereby helping many of them have true faith. So that pastors and church works can dedicate themselves to God’s work, the church provide for them.
Acts 6:4
Although the Levites didn’t receive land as an inheritance, they were allotted the cities to live in and the fields to raise their livestock on. God set apart some cities located within other tribes’ inheritance and gave them to the Levites. That way, the Levites were scattered among the Israelites. Here, we find God’s special providence.
As God had Levites scattered among the entire Israel, each tribe could find them in their own land or nearby. This was for the Israelites to readily hear and learn the word of God. Namely, God let all His people stay close to His commands all the time. Today as well, God wants us, His children, to always stay close to Him and..