JOSHUA 17 LIVING TO CAPACITY Two contrasting attitudes were seen in Israel toward the settling of the promised land. Caleb took what God gave him and moved ahead with enthusiasm in spite of his age to fulfill God’s plan for him [14:12]. He was confident that God would help him drive out the wicked inhabitants and he would soon fully occupy his land [15:14-15]. In contrast, the two tribes of Joseph were given rich land and lots of it, but they were afraid to drive out the inhabitants and take full possession of it. Instead they begged for more land. Joshua asked them to prove their sincerity first by clearing the unclaimed forest areas. They agreed but failed to carry through [Ju.1:27].
In the closing section of the book of Joshua, the land was apportioned among the tribes by lot. The tabernacle was erected in Shiloh in the center of the country. God's presence was in the midst of His people. It is the Person of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ Himself we worship when we gather together on the Lord’s Day. We don’t worship an ordinance or a church [Mat.18:20], but we are a called-out people who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ and are separated to Him 24/7.
When it came to claiming the land, the portion of land each tribe was allotted, corresponded to the position it had been placed in relation to the tabernacle during the journey through the wilderness. Following that pattern, in the same way, each of us is given grace according to the gift which God has given us. We do not have grace to match someone else’s gift. We have been placed in the body to function as God intends and knows is best for us, for others and for His divine purposes.
Complaints and comparisons are not uncommon among the people of God even today. The tribes of Joseph believed that they were a great people and complained that hadn’t received a portion worthy of their greatness. They boasted that past blessings through their ancestor Joseph justified a greater reward for them. They suggested they were too big for the little bit of land they were given. The Canaanites were entrenched in the portion given to Joseph’s tribes and this so called “great people” were afraid to drive them out. They thought because they had shared in the conquest of the land, and because Joshua was one of their tribe (Ephraim) that they were great. The truth was they were proud, and that is a very different attitude from that of Joseph. The Holy Spirit lights up our true selves and assesses our own worth. The real value of Christian character is not assessed by church attendance, reputation as a Christian in some famous organization or even by the respect other people may have for you. The true value of a believer is measured by faithfulness to the Lord and a consistent walk of holiness of life. Some complain they don’t have enough scope for their abilities and seem discontented with their lot. They feel they are victimized by their circumstances and should move to where things are not so frustrating and restricting.
What is the best way to go about dealing with complaints? Joshua said in essence, “Go to work. Cut down the trees that cover the fallow ground and use that land.” Their complaint still continued so he told them that if they were a great people, use their power and drive out the enemy from the valley. It is the same way with us. Get rid of any dead wood you have in your life. The impossibilities that face us are all within the power of the Holy Spirit to deal with. What blocks our vision and progress? What robs us of victory? Do the work we can do, in the place where we are with our might and let our progress be seen for what it really is. We need to cry to God that the Holy Spirit will give us strength for the task and that He will increase our capacity to fulfill that which God has allotted us. The greater the obedience, the greater the discipline, the greater the faith and the more allegiance to the Lord we have, the more we are capable to expand and grow to be what God intends.