Joshua Chapters 16 & 17
Your Lot In Life
1)
1-4 Entering the Land
2)
5-12 Conquering the Land
3)
13-24 Possessing the land
A)These final Chapters focus not on military battles but on the administration of allocating territory & the settling of the land of Canaan.
B) Joshua himself as the leader has had to shift
roles from being the commander-in-chief of the united armies
1)
to
being the overseer of the settlement
process, which will end up taking thirteen years.
C) In the passage that we are going to look at
tonight – We see a Contrast - 1) 1st we see a Picture of Faith
– 7 Daughters who take the initiative –
to seek out God’s Best for them { To lay claim to
what was theirs
D) But we will also see those who didn’t like what they were given – and instead of seeing the Big Picture –
1) They raise up to
complain that they are getting a RAW DEAL –
D) The 2nd problem will be the procrastination of 7
other tribes in clearing the land & confronting the Canaanite resistance in
their respective territories.
Lets RD Ch.16:1-4
Joshua is
now dividing up the land to the tribes of Israel
A)The portion that each tribe got was by LOT – a LOT in Hebrew literally means: A small pebble
B) Evidently the drawing of lots involved the placing of small pebbles into a bag and then drawing them out.... Like drawing straws
1) They trusted that the Lord was in this – it would be Fair
C)
So here in Ch. 16 – we see the allotment given to the Children of Joseph
Ephraim & Manasseh
1) Now we Know that the Tribe of Levi had no Portion & that the Lord was their Portion
D) And we will see in our study next week how the Tribe of Simeon didn’t receive it’s own land but is included in Judah –{ Curse next week
1) So Joseph’s Sons – make up those 2 tribes{ Manasseh was divided
E) So The rest of Ch.16 & the first 2 verses of Ch.17 Deal w/ their territory where it was – We will come back to them in a minute – Ch. 17:V.3-6
Now
here we see out first Story of Faith – in the mist of the Allotment of
territory to the tribe of Manasseh – 7 Daughter of Zelophad step forward
A)If you were w/ us we first met these girls back in
Numbers Ch.27
The 7 daring daughters of Zelophehad
B) We noted that these ladies were a great example to
all of us – of how not to be bound by Customs,
Traditions & Limitations
1) But to be daring to Challenge tradition & step forward to claim all that God has for us
C) See it was the Custom & the Tradition in the Culture of that day – that inheritance could only be given to Sons –
1) Their father apparently died in the wilderness – they had no Brothers – so they were orphaned sisters – who said – this is not fair –
D) We don’t see why – we shouldn’t receive our share of the inheritance / since there was no law denying them their inheritance /only CUSTOM
These
women understood a very important factor about the Promise land – and the
inheritance God had for the Israelites
A)Which was: it was not according to merit but according to grace.
B)
In other words: God was not asking the Israelites to earn the land of Canaan,
but he was giving it to them.
1) It did not depend on how hard they worked but rather upon the grace of God that would make it available to them.
C) He only wanted them to believe Him & move in to Possess it
D) SO they came upon that basis thinking – It won’t hurt to ask – maybe God has already made provision
for a situation like ours
1)
There's nothing
revealed that is against it, and, perhaps, in HIS grace, God has found a way to
supply what we lack."
E) That is faith!!!! – God honored them for that Faith
1) Now
here they are finally in the land – the divisions are being made – and laid out
by family – they come take the Initiative to day – DON’T
FORGET ABOUT US
Now there
is a Spiritual Principle in this that we need to see – that is this
A)God wants to give all of us, all of our spiritual inheritance-the fullness, completeness, and richness of what he has determined for us.
B) We don't have it, more often than not, because we don't try to obtain it, we don't ask. There's a wonderful boldness on the part of these sisters.
1) They're not afraid to ask for what is rightfully
theirs. The apostle James wrote (4:2), "You
do not have, because you do not ask."
C) So here we see our first example of taking the
initiative in faith – to see God work – and to lay hold our inheritance { Lets see what God might ..do
1) But here in Ch.17 we also see the First Problem that Joshua has to deal w/ Pick it up in v.14-18
The
children of Joseph – [Ephraim and Manasseh] felt like they got a raw deal- They DID NOT like their LOT
A) The area that had been apportioned to them wasn’t to their liking – and so they come Complaining – we deserve better than this – [ Great People]
B) They felt that
the area that was RESTRICTING and CONFINING.....
An area that they though too was too small for them....
C)Perhaps you feel the same way about your life You DON'T like your lot in life/ You feel as though you got a raw deal
1)You feel that the area that has been apportioned to you has been a bummer
D)YOU might feel restricted and confined
by your lot in life
1) Maybe YOU look at your lot in life and say: I not a great Person but "I'm not such a bad person
E) Why is my lot so restricted?/ Why are my finances so restricted?
Why is my marriage so restricted?
1) Why is my ministry so restricted and confined?
F)Can't my boss see what is
obvious to others.... I'm the most valuable employee that he has? Can’t they
see how gifted I am -
1) Can't my pastor see what
is obvious to me... I'm anointed?
I DON'T like my lot in life
Maybe you
sit here tonight thinking – I am just plain Unlucky
A)The word: Luck should NOT even be in the vocabulary of the Christian
B)For the Bible tells us that there is no such thing as GOOD LUCK or BAD LUCK.
1)YOUR LOT IN LIFE is determined by the sovereignty of God
C) Pr 16:33 The lot is cast into
the lap; but every decision is from the Lord
1) There is NO such thing as chance or luck
NOTE: The children of Joseph received a
portion of land that was RESTRICTING & CONFINING because it was the will of
God for them at that time in their life.
WHY?
A)BECAUSE God was more concerned about developing them INTERNALLY than EXPANDING them
EXTERNALLY.
B)God was more concerned about their MATURITY than their Material Possessions / He was more concerned about buildING charActer than granting a calling
C) Notice again how Joshua addresses these two tribes: v.15
So Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest
country and clear a place for yourself there in the land
D)He is saying: IF you are a great people, THEN
don't ask for more... clear out that which you already have
1) This would be God’s way of Maturing them -
The same holds true for you & me The Lord
is MORE concerned about developing
me INWARDLY than EXPANDING me EXTERNALLY
A)The world asks: What do you DO? Everything is evaluated on what you DO but The Lord is pre-eminently concerned with what you ARE
B) Who you become
is determined by what you do w/ what God has given you – All our Lots are different for a reason
1) Some are easier than others or seem easier
in certain areas – But it is all part of God’s way of developing us
C)Let's see how
the Lord uses their LOT IN LIFE to this end
1) Here the children of Joseph are told to develop that which they already
have...... Not reach out for more
D)He didn’t tell them to reach out & extend themselves into new territories
INSTEAD - They were to CLEAN UP that which they already have
1) Specifically
the MOUNTAIN AREAS that were wooded
Now
in Scripture the Mountains are often connected w/ high points of Personal
Devotion w/ the Lord – Mt top experience – Moses At Sinai
A)Abe on top of Mt. Moriah / Jesus Mt of Transfiguration / Mt of Prayer
B) The Mt top is often the place where we MEET with God....That place where we have a clear VANTAGE POINT and a VIEW POINT
1) That place of fresh vision and understanding
C) QUESTION: How is YOUR mountain top?
1) Are you seeking for MORE MINISTRY or for MORE MONEY or for MORE RELATIONSHIPS while your mt top is still full of dead wood?
D) The thing that was keeping them from enjoying the MT / enjoying the views of the MT was all the Trees
In
Deuteronomy 20 the Lord makes an interesting statement concerning the cutting down of trees in relationship
to warfare
A)He said that if a tree is NOT bearing fruit then it should be cut down
B)The command here in Joshua to cut down those forest areas on the mountains would pertain to those trees that are NOT bearing fruit
1)They would obstruct their view and would offer a hiding place for the enemies of Israel
C) So Joshua said: IF you're a great people, clear out the dead wood
In
the New Testament the Scriptures speak of WOOD as those things in our lives
which are of NO ETERNAL value (1 Cor. 3:12)
A)Things that are NOT necessarily BAD in and of themselves- But those things that are NOT going to add anything of eternal value to our lives
B)When we enter into eternity these things will be burned up like wood, hay and stubble
1) QUESTION: Is there DEAD WOOD in your life
C)Things
that MIGHT NOT be bad in and of themselves ....
1) But they are keeping you out of that mountain top view of the Lord...... Keeping you from an eternal perspective
D) Things that are NOT producing...... Only OBSCURING / Are there things in your life that are just DEAD WOOD
Jesus said: Mt
5:8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall
see God.
A)One of the meanings of pure is that of having nothing has MINGLED with it
B)He is speaking of a heart that had nothing MINGLED in it's devotion of God
1) Nothing OBSCURING fellowship with God or perspective of the Lord
C) Joshua says: IF you are a great people, THEN cut out the dead wood... clear out the forest.... clean house.
1)App. Instead of looking for MORE, are we dealing with what God has
given to us...... Being faithful to clear out those dead items?
Now Joshua not only
said to clear out the mountain tops... But they were also to drive out the Canaanites
with their iron chariots from the valleys
A)They had mighty weapons of war... and they were in the VALLEY... Enemies In the LOW place
B) This speaks to our lives of those things that we KNOW are sin.....Things that we KNOW to be compromises
1) We are to drive those things out
C) So here is the twofold Practical Application for us in this
1.) You are NOT to necessarily EXTEND yourself into greater areas of ministry or EXTEND yourself into greater financial resources
D)Those things MAY or MAY NOT come
as the Lord wills
Instead,
you are to say: "Lord help me to develop
the LOT that in life that You
have already given me"
"Show me, Lord, if the
mountain top of my life is wooded...... If my devotional life is obscured and
help me to cut down any dead wood in my life lest the enemy have a place to
hide and my view of You be obscured."
"Lord, I don't need NEW areas.... I need revival
and renewing in the old areas"
"I need to be faithful in the areas that you have
already given me"
2.) Then you are to go to the LOW points
of your life... the valleys
A)"Lord, Help me to drive out the enemies"
"Help me to deal with the sin and compromise in my life"
B)"Give me victory in
the places where I am battling against the enemies
that war against my soul"
"Help my valleys
to be a place of peace and productivity"
C) But I want you
to notice something: HOW are they to drive out such enemies?
1) Well
in v. 17 & 18 it doesn’t tell us how – it just
tells us that they Shall – drive them out
D) Joshua in v.17 – Declared You are a great People – You have great Power but what made them great was their God
1) The Power to Drive them out – wasn’t theirs it was the
Lord – He said You shall drive them out
E) God said it – they just needed to believe it – Another important Principle for the Christian life
1) When the Word of God is Received. The Power of God is RELEASED
EX In LK 1 when the birth of Jesus is
announced to Mary by Gabriel
A)She says: "HOW shall this be for I have never had relations with a man?"
He explains that she is going to be impregnated by the HS
B)Then Gabriel said "For w/ God nothing shall be
impossible."
1) Nothing is literally no word
2) impossible = from the word meaning impotent
C) It could be read: For with God, no Word is without power
1) God's Word is ALIVE and POWERFUL
D) IF you take the commands of the Word and obey, THEN you find the power of God to enable.
1) With God's commanding comes God's enablings
E) Or Like the man with the withered hand in LUKE'S Gospel- Jesus gave the IMPOSSIBLE command: Stretch forth your hand
1) But with the command also came the enabling
F) Application: As you begin to turn away from sin and towards God you will find Him right there to enable you.
1) As you step forward to do what God has called you to do – He will be right there to enable you to do it !!!!!
Listen
tonight you are great People & You also have great Power Why?
A)BECAUSE we have a GREAT God who has been GRACIOUS and GOOD towards us and has loved us with a GREAT love.......
B)He has allowed us to bear His GREAT NAME and has given to us His Holy Spirit - THAT is AWESOME!!
C) NOTE: Did you know that YOU are God's inheritance
Eph
1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that
you may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what are the riches of
the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
D)
We are God’s Inheritance – we don’t just get him – but He gets us -You might
say that YOU are GOD'S LOT in life
1) Talk about getting a bad lot!! - But He is Pleased – You & I become great but What makes us great is who He is... NOT what we are
So here in
this text we learn some important lessons
A)1.) Your LOT IN LIFE is not a matter of luck - It is a matter of God knowing what is BEST for you
B)That is why the Word of God says: 1Th 5:18 In every thing
give thanks: for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
C) IF we are complaining about our LOT IN LIFE, it is against God who has put you in that situation
2.) Restrictions around us bring maturity
within us
A)When you feel restricted or confined it is because the Lord is saying that there is work to be done inside of you
B)He is NOT so much concerned with fame in this world- He is concerned about your heart in His kingdom
1) He is NOT concerned about your comfort in this world
C) He is concerned about your eternal riches in heaven –
1) He is telling the children of Joseph AND the people of CCV that character is more important than anything else
D) Your inner life is much more important than ministry
1)God is looking to develop men and women of integrity and character
E)The "Who's who" in the Kingdom of God are those who have cleared away the wooded mountain tops and driven the giants out of the valley.
1) They are DEVELOPING their LOT IN LIFE
This
also reminds us that The issue in our Christian life is NOT simply the START of
the race -The issue is HOW we finish
A)Olympic runner being in the lead but falling a few yards from the finish
Started well... Ran well.... Did NOT finish/ yrs of wasted training
B)It is interesting In the HALL OF FAITH in Hebrews 11 we find that there are some NOTABLE names that are missing
1) Peter, Andrew, James, John, Paul
C) WHY? Because they had NOT finished their race
1) The jury is out on you and I
D) Let's NOT be looking for a greater lot in life.... Let's be concerned with finishing the race
1) LAST DAYS – 2 weeks / 2 mths / 2 yrs – Let’s be running to win
AMEN