04/08 Reading - Thoughts & Comments

8-Apr Joshua 17-18 1 Tim. 1-2 Psalms 36-40 Proverbs 8

Josh 17:14-18 (NIV)14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the Lord has blessed us abundantly." 15 "If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites." 16 The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel." 17 But Joshua said to the house of Joseph--to Ephraim and Manasseh--"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

Now starts the trouble and cracks in the Israelite fiber of strength.  Many things begin to happen including complaining, improper judgment, lack of faith, division, and disobedience.  Joseph's people begin to do the following:
1. Disobey God by not completely driving out the enemies, resulting in an inferior belief system and an ever present enemy that intimidates Joseph's people.
2.  They begin to complain to Joshua that they are many but their land is not enough.  Joshua tells them to go kick butt and take some more land over from the Canaanites.  But the people see Canaan's iron chariots rather than God's mighty strength.  They forgot about Og the 16' giant and all the powerful enemies, giants, and squatters that Israel crushed through the wisdom, revelation, strategies, and power of God.
3.  They are becoming lazy and don't want to go up and clear trees.  They want another piece of land that's easier to possess.

It's at this point that Israel will begin her slow decline into laziness, loss of vision, and unwillingness to rid the land of her enemies.  This is the seed sown that will result in thousands of years of conflict that will end in a world war in the Middle East in the future. They had the opportunity to crush and annihilate their enemies so that no trace or remembrance would be left.  But they chose to stop before the job was completed.  Their decisions will bring great trouble to their future generations rather than a secure inheritance.

God help us to never stop the fight, and to never get lazy and disobedient when it comes to securing the inheritance you have for our childen's children.  A good man lays his life down making sure that his children are secure and prosperous in the land.  May we never give up or give in, and may we never look at their iron chariots and draw back in fear, desiring another land that's easier to conquer because of an "iron chariot".  May we always listen to our Joshua (JESUS) who says, ""You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out."

COMPASS GUIDE deals specifically with these hiccups, road blockages, and attitudes that will stop you from focusing on the final prize.  Pull out your 25 word Core Vision Statement.  Renew your respect for it and press in this week to set new goals, accomplish old ones, and close some chapters that need to be finished so you can open the new chapters which allow you to seize new and powerful lands.      

Tomorrow's Reading:
9-Apr Joshua 19-21 1 Tim. 3-4 Psalms 41-45 Proverbs 9