This was Their Lot - Day 17

Joshua 15:1 - Judges 8:27

"And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?" Joshua 17:14

          God had blessed each tribe of the children of Israel with a lot or portion of land. The children of the tribe of Joseph were not satisfied with the lot they got and wanted more land.

 

"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

 

          Joshua told them yes they could have more land but it would be in the wooded area on the mountain. They would have to do the work to clear it.

 

"And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel." Joshua 17:16

 

          The children of Joseph were still not satisfied.

 

"And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:

But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong."  Joshua 17:17-18

 

           Joshua told them again that they will clear the land and they will drive out the Canaanites, even though they are strong. To get this part of their inheritance they will have to work for it.

          God has so many blessings he just gives to us because he loves us so much. Sometimes there may be blessings that we may have to work for to receive. That makes those blessings even sweeter because not every one is going to want to do the work to receive them.

 

          I want to be thankful for all that God has for me. When the opportunity comes where I need to work hard for something I hope I have the character to see that it is for my good. I hope I will be willing to do the hard work to get the special blessings.