When Joshua and the Israelites took Canaan, we read that they had wiped out all the people of the land and destroyed their cities. In today’s reading we see how hard it was to actually accomplish that.

The Towns of Judah

Judah had almost one hundred towns in its allotment of land. Their territory had benefitted the most from the victories Joshua won upon entering Canaan and their enemies were mostly eliminated.

But in the city that came to be known as Jerusalem, the Jebusites still had a stronghold, and they defied Judah to come and take it from them. Centuries after this time King David would finally conquer them and build his royal city.  But until then Judah continued to live with enemies in their midst.

Ephraim and Manasseh

These two tribes were descendants of Joseph and co-heirs of his inheritance in Canaan. Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by his Egyptian wife so they were half Egyptian, but their grandfather Jacob adopted them before he died making them fully his heirs.

Back in Genesis 33:18-20 we read how Jacob purchased land in Canaan, near Shechem, and set up an altar to God. He was there because he fled from his father-in-law Laban in Haran. Once he was safely returned to Canaan he recommitted himself to the Lord and built that altar. He named it El Elohe-Israel, God, the God of Israel.

Before he died, Jacob gave his son Joseph the land he owned in Shechem. Eventually it became part of Ephraim’s allotment in the Promised Land, and in John 4 we will read about this place again. Jesus stopped and rested there at the well Jacob dug on that land, while he talked with a Samaritan woman.

Not Enough Territory

Ephraim and Manasseh held the largest allotment of land, but they felt it wasn’t enough. Their families were multiplying so rapidly they needed more room to spread out. They had even established towns on some of the other tribal lands.

Joshua told Ephraim and Manasseh to fight the Perizzites and Rephaites for additional land in the hills and forests, but they objected.

“The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” Joshua 17:16

It was probably a mistake to say this to Joshua. He was the great general who had led Israel to many, many victories in Canaan. He faced impossible odds and defeated vast armies so he had little sympathy for these two tribes now.

“Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph – to Ephraim and Manasseh – ‘You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they area strong, you can drive them out.’” Joshua 17:17-18

Dislodging the Enemy

Ephraim had gone through failure while trying to take land away from some stubborn Canaanites earlier. Down by Ephraim’s border with the tribe of Dan was a fortified town on a hill called Gezer. The men of Ephraim were not able to subdue it militarily, but by controlling commerce and the economy, they had managed to subject Gezer’s citizens to forced labor.

The trouble with subduing the enemies who lived inside the tribes was that they never knew when there might be a revolt. And it was dangerous to have any pagan culture continue to flourish in Israel because there was always the possibility that Israelites would go into business or intermarry with Canaanites.

The longer the Israelites lived with the Canaanites the more likely their own culture and religion would be compromised.

Application for Today

When Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to establish his kingdom on earth he didn’t tell them to destroy people or cultures. Jesus sent his followers out to befriend the people of the world and teach them the Gospel. He warned that his followers would not always be well received, but he taught them not to be afraid, but to love and serve other people.

However, they had to be careful with their own hearts and not let them be compromised.

Failing to deal with sin in our lives is like living with an enemy inside us. It causes constant trouble until we go after it and drive it out with the Lord’s help.

Ephraim didn’t want to take the land God had given them because it seemed like too much trouble to drive out the enemies living there. They asked for more land in a different location instead, but Joshua sent them back to confront their problems. He assured them that they were big enough and strong enough to do it with God’s help.

Ephraim’s enemies opposed them. They held ground Ephraim could have put to better use and they were a constant source of anxiety and frustration.

Can you identify with Ephraim? Maybe there is something in your life that gives you anxiety or frustration. Perhaps you haven’t been successful in dealing with it and now you wish you could just walk away and start over somewhere else.

The Lord can help you with your problems. You don’t have to walk away; God has a plan for conquering whatever is troubling you. Write down what you would like see change and ask him to help you take action today.