Joshua 17:16 – The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
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This section of the book of Joshua is one of those sections of scripture we like to skip over when reading. It does not generally excite us when God records for us the particular cities of ancient Israel which were allotted to a particular clan. We do not really care that much about where the border of Judah ended, or whether or not the tribe of Joseph got one or two portions. But we forget that this was incredibly exciting news to the people. When They read of God apportioning the land to the tribes, they were reading of the faithfulness of God to keep his promises. He had promised the Israelites the land, and here he was keeping his promises.
In the light of this faithfulness of God, we read verses similar to the one above. The people from Joseph’s tribe wanted extra land, because they felt that their portion was too small for their numbers. In reality, they felt they could not take the land, because the Canaanites who lived in the plains of their apportioned land had big iron chariots.
It is at this moment that the careful reader slams on the brakes and takes thought. Who in the world do these men think they are? God has faithfully driven out all the inhabitants of the land before the Israelites. No nation, regardless of how strong their army, has been able to stand before the people of God. God is the one who stopped the flow of the Jordan river so they could cross and who brought down the walls of Jericho. How in the world could they not think God would finish what he started? But, these people lacked faith, and they actually allow the people of Canaan to live among them, in disobedience to God’s express command.
Let me ask, do we do the very same thing? Do we fail to trust God, even though he has shown himself faithful? Think of every time you get worried about how your needs will be met. Think of every time you are tempted to cut corners and disobey the will of God, because your heart tells you that the only way to get a job done is by taking the less ethical path. Think of how easy it is to fear for your future. But God has been as faithful to us as to any generation. Sure, we may have struggles, but we also have Christ. There is no room for us to doubt God’s provision. He has promised to give us what we need, but we sinfully doubt him. We are like the people who just saw the walls of a city fall at our shouts, but who immediately turn and say, “we can’t beat those guys; they have chariots.”
Let us remember the past faithfulness of God. Remember how faithful God was to provide for every need of every person in the Bible. You do not read of any of God’s people who were serving him faithfully starving to death. You do not read of him failing to give them success when they worked from inside his will. God was faithful to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, and all his followers. Remember that god has been faithful to you. Even if it is something as simple as taking care of a little need when you needed it most, he was faithful. How can you doubt him now? It is time to remember God’s past faithfulness, and turn from doubt to faith and obedience.
Lord, I acknowledge that you are faithful. You have always kept your word. You have not left anything undone. I do not need to sin to survive. I need only to serve you faithfully, obey your commands, and take you at your word. I know you will be faithful, because you will not let your name be defamed among the nations. I pray that you will help me to remember your past faithfulness. I pray that you will help me to rest in your character. Remind me that you always, yes always, keep your promises. Lord, I trust you, and I ask that you help me to trust you more.
Pastor Travis Peterson 