Joshua 17:7-18

⁷ The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. ⁸ (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) ⁹ Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. ¹⁰ On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
¹¹ Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth).
¹² Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. ¹³ However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.
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 chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
¹⁷ But Joshua said to the tribes 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 chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Resiliency

Resiliency is the ability to recover from adversity or problem. Many Filipinos are resilient. In the midst of storm, they don’t easily give up. Storm is a distressing burden but not the end. More or less 20 typhoons visit the Philippines annually. Yet in the midst of devastating calamity, most Filipinos can still smile and find ways to keep on. That’s a picture of resiliency to recover from destructive storm of life.

When Israel entered the Promised Land, they faced resistance. Surviving enemies opposed them from occupying their inheritance. Nevertheless, the Israelites did not stop. They tried to settle in their allotment in the midst of problem against the Canaanites.
Believers or not, there will always be problems in this world. Problems are instrumental for us to evaluate our faith in God. Are we discouraged by problems? Recognizing the problem should help us realize our need to rely upon the Lord.

1. Realize the Need

¹² Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. ¹³ However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.
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.”

The Manassites recognized God’s blessing upon them. They multiplied in numbers. They acquired much livestock and slaves for themselves. They realized the need of wider inheritance. They presumed that it was not enough for their numbers. After Judah was given a very wide inheritance, the Manassites assumed that they should receive as much.
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 chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”

Their problem was not the land area. Some parts of their inheritance were occupied by Canaanites with chariots. Chariots were considered superior military equipment at that time. Compared to their military equipment, they assumed that the huge Canaanites were superior. The Manassites forgot that the Lord helped them to drive out their enemies, even without the luxury of chariots or advance military powers.
Problems are opportunities for advancement but never appreciated. In this life, advancement of lifestyle has been a problem. Many don’t know when enough is enough. Competition in lifestyle is not openly discussed but it exists.
It teaches in Ecclesiastes 4:4, ⁴And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Necessity

In North America, vehicle is a necessity. When buying a vehicle, consider the power, performance or longevity. Some cars require premium gas or the more expensive kind of gas. There are expensive cars that are more reliable and cost efficient in the long run. Many customers buy cheaper cars that use the cheapest gas and oil. Such decision is considered if resources are very limited. Are you worried about gas prices?

Worrying about the price of gas cannot help lower the price of gas. We should rely upon the Lord to sustain the lifestyle He wants us to glorify His name in our life.
If God wants us to have a lifestyle like our neighbour’s, He can easily grant us. Don’t you think so? Luxury or necessity, problem lingers on. The lifestyle God allows us to have, ordinary or extraordinary, He would sustain us with peace to enjoy it. It is very necessary to realize the problem for us to know what we may ask God for solution.
It says in James 1:2-8, ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Joy comes from God. When there’s joy in the midst of problem, God’s grace is at work in your life. God’s grace becomes more apparent in the midst of problems.
God wants us to come to Him often. He wants us to ask Him for our daily needs. When there’s a need, there’s a problem. Life in this world is full of problem. We desire a pressure-free-kind of life, a life free from worry, don’t we? Such desire points to the eternal and problem-free kind of life that God has prepared for believers.

This material world cannot provide a lovable, joyful, peaceful, and problem-free kind of life. We need to rely upon the Lord to enjoy life in this problem-filled world.

2. Rely upon the Lord

¹⁷ But Joshua said to the tribes 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 chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

The tribes of Joseph approached Joshua and hoped that Joshua would grant their concern. Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim. They tried to pressure Joshua to give them more land. His relatives expected Joshua to make favorable declaration for them but he told them that they can drive out their enemies. He implied reliance upon God.
The pressure of expectation from relatives and close friends is more realistic among believers. It is an added burden but it should inspire us rely more upon the Lord. Ministry leader or not, each believer will face a pressure of expectation from love ones.

Lily

An East Asian student named Lily was one of the thinkers and enthusiastic attending Bible study. When it was time for the water baptism, Lily reasoned out that she cannot join the water baptism. At first, her reason was more of female monthly concern.
Later, she confessed that she is a member of an oppressive political party. And her parents expect her to be loyal to the political party. As member of the political party, she receives some privileges that may help her parents and siblings to be alleviated from the pangs of poverty. She was torn between fully submitting to the will of the Lord and the desires of helping her family to be lifted up from poverty.

In Canada, life is abundant but many Canadians are pressured by the demands of life. Material demand is not a modern problem. Even in the Bible times, the Israelites have also concerns in the advancement of materialism. They were concerned of the chariots of their enemies but King David can inspire us in Psalm 20:7, ⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

This passage presents King David as a very devoted man of God. It seems so natural for King David to rely upon the Lord always. Actually, one of the sins of David was relying upon his army instead of trusting God. When King David grew strong in power and his kingdom was securely established, he was tempted to rely upon his army.
It is written in 1 Chronicles 21:1, ¹Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
And David admitted his sin in 1 Chronicles 21:8, ⁸ Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.

Each believer has spiritual failures. New immigrants who are believers would often attend prayer meetings. But after they are established, their lifestyle would easily change. This narrative is very common that we often hear in the church. Like King David, believers can easily forget to trust in the Lord if they have no problems.

Realizing our problems should lead us to rely upon God. Trusting in material resources and physical capabilities can cause even believer to forget the Lord. Is this the reason why God allows problems for us to come to Him more often?
What problem are you facing right now?
Praise God if in the midst of problems, you are led to seek the Lord.
Not many church attendees can realize that they need to rely upon God.
Yet, the more we grow in our faith in the Lord, the more we desire to seek and ask Him for help. And the Lord wants us to seek His help for our daily need.
In the midst of problem, seek the Lord’s help.

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