Joshua 15-17
“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.”
The Lord now returns to the inheritance of the land of promise. The portions of the tribes of Judah and Joseph are set out first. The portion of Judah proved “too much for them,” that is, their boundaries were larger than they could fill, and eventually the tribe of Simeon dwelt within the lot assigned to them.
As the portions of these tribes are set out, the slackness or weakness of the inheritors is commented upon. “As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.” The fortress of Zion, where these men were lodged, was not subdued until David’s day (2 Sam. 5:6-106And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. 8And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. 9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 10And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. (2 Samuel 5:6‑10)), and even then its defenders taunted David to cast them out.
“The Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.” If the Ephraimites were able to put them under tribute, they might have destroyed them altogether, but “they drave not out the Canaanites.” They, instead, made a gain out of them, using them for their own advantage. Alas, is it not too often so with Christians with what they should regard as their spiritual foes?
“The children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.” This “could not” is a terrible word: it is the dead force of unbelief, that distrust in the living God, which has been the spiritual ruin of thousands. This “could not” was simply sluggishness. The enemy at least was in earnest; his foot held the native soil, and there, save at the cost of his life, he “would dwell.” If God’s people settle down contented with any advantages they may have gained, they will find that Satan and the world, far from being conquered, are determined to maintain their ground. Let the inert and distrustful Christian consider the certain end of his “could not.”
Let us not be deceived; spiritual foes placed under tribute will soon assert their right to rule. Israel learned all the abominations of the Canaanites, and had to serve the Canaanite in punishment for their sins. And those principles so contrary to Christ, “the rudiments of the world” – “the commandments and traditions of men” – the “worshipping of angels,” meats, and drinks, and holy days, with “philosophy and vain deceit,” against which the Holy Spirit, through Paul, warned the Christians of Colosse, having been introduced into Christendom, and not having been “utterly” refused by Christians, now rule many, who, beguiled of their reward, and subject to ordinances, are in thralldom.
Although the children of Ephraim so signally failed in making thoroughly their own what God had given them, yet they murmured because their allotted portion was not large enough. Their numbers, “I am a great people,” and their past history, “the Lord hath blessed me hitherto,” entitled them to a larger place than befell them! How like the heart of man, ever ready to find fault – except with self! Murmuring over his circumstances, while failing to discern the extent of his privileges! Many a Christian murmurs thus, looking at his own importance and the dignity of his past history. He who is not satisfied with what God has appointed for him, misses the very opportunities in which he is most calculated to serve God. But the truth was, the portion of Joseph was fully equal to that of the other tribes when their relative numbers were compared, and their district also was peculiarly fruitful.
Joshua keenly rebuked their self-sufficiency. “If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if Mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.” He threw them, in the wisdom of God, upon themselves, to shame them into action. Had their greatness been so vast, they need not have spoken about it. When the Christian speaks of being great, he exhibits his littleness. If he announces his virtues – as is frequently done – he only declares his pride. The greatness of the tribe of Joseph would be seen by their deeds, by felling the wood country and cutting down the giants, but they showed themselves men of words rather than of deed and truth, and trusting in their past greatness instead of in God, they broke down under the test to which Joshua put them. “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.”
Joshua again took them up on their first words, “Thou art a great people, and hast great power”; and told them if they made their lot thoroughly their own it would prove ample for them, “Thou shalt not have one lot only.” Finally, he set them to cut down the wood country, to possess the mountains, and to cast out the strong Canaanites with the iron chariots. Great and strong people as they were, they were surely fitted for hardness and courage.
“Cut down for thyself.” We need such a word. There is too much looking to man and too little to the Lord. If victories have been granted the Christian aforetime, if by him the Lord has vanquished the powers of evil, saving souls, and bringing them out of the kingdom of darkness, or delivering His people from Satan’s snares, still, the past is not power. If the believer is looking to the past – “The Lord hath blessed me hitherto,” he is looking to the blessing and not to the Lord. He must even today, in God’s strength, learn afresh the word, “Cut down for thyself.” That the Lord is mighty to save is the chief lesson we should gather from past victories. The experience of the past goodness of the Lord should simply stay our souls upon Him for present power, and send us forth in the energy of His strength.
Men – Christian men – may give a place to the believer, but the Captain of the host would teach us that the power which He gives is the only real title to Christian honor. The Apostle Paul would not go upon “another man’s line of things made ready to [his] hand”; he would not boast of “other men’s labors” (2 Cor. 10:12-1812For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. (2 Corinthians 10:12‑18)); he was too single-eyed to do so, and a noble Christian would ever seek to act in the spirit of these words, “Cut down for thyself.”
The Lord has given to all His people some special service of love and work of faith; never let any say, “My bounds are too narrow for me,” but seek to make all his “lot” practically his own. The Lord has appointed us to overcome in the power of His grace; and if we are simple-hearted, we shall find that victories are to be gained in our present circumstances, and that the providential ordering of our lot is rich and fruitful. “Cut down for thyself.”