JOSHUA CHAPTERS 16, 17

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

THE INHERITANCE OF JOSEPH’S SONS

INTRODUCTION:

1. Although the tribe of Levi received no inheritance, still the number of heirs remained twelve, because Jacob had taken Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to be his own, saying, “Ephraim and Manasseh…are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they are mine.” (Gen. 48:5) He had thus given them a blessing just as he did his natural born sons. (Gen. 48:9ff) In these two grandsons, Jacob had given to Joseph a double blessing. There were twelve heirs, but thirteen allotments, since the tribe of Manasseh was divided and had portions on either side of Jordan.
2. Here in Joshua Chapters 16, 17 we have the dividing to the sons of Joseph their inheritance. First Ephraim’s portion is given in Chapter 16. Then Manasseh’s two portions are given in Chapter 17.
3. With respect to Manasseh’s inheritance (Chapter 17) we are told of two very interesting incidents.

a) We see Joshua handling the case of Zelophehad’s daughters, who inherited in the stead of their father, who was dead. (Verses 3-6)
b) We have Joshua’s response to a complaint submitted by the sons of Joseph that their inheritance was too small for so great a people. (Verses 14-18)

4. The main focus of this lesson will be on these two interesting, as well as instructive stories which the historian was moved to included in the record of Joseph’s children.

I. THE WONDERFUL STORY OF ZELOPHEHAD’S DAUGHTERS. (VERSES 3-6 WITH
NUMBERS 27:1-5)

A. THIS BIT OF HISTORY HARKENS BACK TO ISRAEL’S WILDERNESS DAYS AND THE TIME OF MOSES, WHEN FIVE WOMEN DEMONSTRATED STRONG AND BOLD FAITH RESPECTING THE PROMISED INHERITANCE. (SEE NUM. 27:1-5)

1. They now, a decade or so later, are receiving the reward of their great venture of faith.
2. Though they were women, and we believe young, unmarried women, they provide an example of strong and exemplary faith. They are true role models for Christian young women to emulate. In fact, they are worthy examples for all Christians, regardless of age or gender.

a) They believed in God’s covenant promise at a time when many about them were unbelieving.
b) They believed in a Promised Land, and they wanted to have a share in it. All they had to stand on was the promise of God. They had not actually seen the land of promise but they believed the covenant promise. (Num. 18:19) Thus, they had, as it were, seen it through the eyes of faith.
c) Naysayers and doubters had not discouraged their faith. Many had essentially said, “You can have my part.” (Num. 13:31; Heb. 3:12-4:2)

3. The fact that the inheritance they desired had to be won by conquest did not prevent them.

a) Many a man could not say the same.
b) They could not fight, but they believed that God would fight for them.

B. THESE FIVE WOMEN HAD BROUGHT THE MATTER OF THEIR CONCERN STRAIGHT TO MOSES. (NUM. 27:1, 2) “Then came the daughters of Zelophehad…and they stood before Moses…”

1. They did not go complaining tent to tent but went straight to the mediator himself.
2. Moses took the matter to the Lord. “And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.” (Num. 27:5)
3. Their case may have seemed sort of weak, but Moses made it his personal concern, and became their representative before God.

a) If you are convinced that there is a heaven to gain and you earnestly want a part of it, then take your case to the great Mediator and He will bear it before the Father.
b) Notice the success of their endeavor. (Num. 27:6, 7; Josh. 17:3, 4)
c) Our case may seem very poor and hopeless but when the Savior makes our concern His concern, He’ll handle it and He will prevail!!

C. WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF GREAT FAITH IS FOUND IN THESE FIVE YOUNG WOMEN!

1. They were not pre-occupied with the vain things that charm most young minds.
2. They overcame all of the pulls that Satan directs at single young women, and remained pursuant of things good and worthy.
3. May we all, especially the young people (women and men), be inspired and encouraged by these young ladies.

II. THE PITIFUL COMPLAINT ISSUED BY JOSEPH’S CHILDREN. (VERSES 14-18)

A. TYPICAL OF HUMAN NATURE GENERALLY, THEY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION OVER THE SIZE OF THEIR ALLOTMENTS. (VERSE 14)

1. In spite of the fact that what they had was theirs as a gift of God, they were not hesitant to complain about it.
2. They even based their complaint upon grace received. “…seeing I am a great people.”
3. Such complaints are too common even among believers, who see God’s gifts as their just desserts and also inferior to what others have been given.

B. PERHAPS BECAUSE JOSEPH WAS OF THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM THEY WERE EMBOLDENED TO ASK FOR A LARGER LOT.

1. Had their complaint been legitimate Joshua would have most likely responded to it more sympathetically. However, he would not show special favor to them on the basis of kinship.
2. In reality, their portion was sufficient, even though they, being two tribes, thought they needed more land.
3. They thought they were showing disagreement with the manner in which Joshua divided the land, but sadly, their complaint was against God Whose will was revealed by the lot.
4. They sinned against Joshua in assuming that he would show family favoritism and against God by implying that the lot had slighted them.

C. THEY GAVE TWO REASONS FOR THEIR COMPLAINT. (VERSES 14, 16)

1. They were a very numerous people. (Verse 14)
2. A good part of the territory that had fallen to them was in the hands of the Canaanites, and they were a very formidable enemy. (Verse 16)

D. JOSHUA TURNED THEIR ARGUMENT AROUND TO GOAD THEM INTO ENLARGING THEIR INHERITANCE. (VERSES 15, 17, 18)

1. He said, “If you are a great people (a numerous people) then you will have no difficulty in finding plenty of able-bodied men to enlarge your producing land.” (Verse 15)
2. He argued, “If you are a great people then take the land that has fallen to you out of the hands of the Canaanites.” (Verses 17, 18)
3. Notice, having recognized a very familiar tactic of a complaining spirit, in that, they referred to their two territories as one lot, Joshua seems to have answered them with sarcasm, telling them how they might have more than “one lot only.”
4. How could they have witnessed all that had gone before in the conquests of the land and remained so faithless? (We could address this question to ourselves time and time again.)
5. They desired a lot in which they might indulge themselves in ease and luxury, but such would not be the case.

a) Joshua bids them work for more, (Verse 15) and fight for more. (Verses 17, 18)
b) We must learn that by faith we are to work and fight to extend our borders, and pray that God will continue to bless us with numerical growth. (Verse 14)
c) As a church we are to “lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes.”

6. Let us learn from Joseph’s children.

a) It is so foolish to complain of our lot when we have not made the best use of it. If we will not develop what we have, why should we be given more?
b) Our lot in life will improve as it is used well.
c) Great claims should be sustained by great achievement.
d) The best right to an inheritance is to have obtained it through the exertion of faith.