Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17

 

 

HISTORICAL BOOKS

JOSHUA 

CHAPTER 

17

I would like to share this joke before praying on the following chapter:-

What falls on the water and never gets wet?

A shadow!

1. Then allotment was made to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a warrior.

(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17 verse 1)


Oh God, my Father  I pray that I be a warrior instead of a worrier for even though I see wonders taking place throughout life I still tend to lose my focus on You and at that point I start worrying. I pray that all my thoughts feelings and belief always have their roots in You my God and Father Amen.


2. And allotments were made to the rest of the tribe of Manasseh, by their families, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida; these were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their families.


(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17 verse 2)


Oh God my Father You love me so much that You do not want to see me in need, as much as You provided for Your people, You provide for me and my family. Therefore, I need not worry and feel tense for You are with me everywhere I am Amen.


3. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh had no sons, but only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4. They came before the priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun and the leaders, and, said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our male kin." So according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the kinsmen of their father.. 5. Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, 6. because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the Manassites.

(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17 verses 3 to 6)


Oh God, my Father how fair You are! You make no discrimination among Your children regardless of their gender Amen. You treat us all equally with love dignity and respect Amen. 


7. The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath, which is east of Shechem; then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of Entappuah. 8. The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the Ephraimites. 9.Then the boundary went down to the Wadi Kanah. The towns here, to the south of the wadi, among the towns of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes along the north side of the wadi and the ends at the sea. 10. The land to the south is Ephraim's and that to the north is Manasseh's with the sea forming its boundary; on the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar.


(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17 verses 7 to 10)


Oh God my Father among us humans respecting one's boundaries is very important, for if not many litigations may arise. A typical example is the boundaries set with reference to territorial waters or the boundaries where one can send trawlers.  I thank You, God for making no boundaries between us. The only boundary that can ever exist can only be caused by my sins Amen.


11. Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Bethshean and its villages, Ibleam and its villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages (the third is Naphath) 12. Yet the Manassites could not take possession of those towns; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land. 13. But when the Israelites grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.


(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17 verses 11 to 13)


Oh God my Father You gave us the capacity to live life to the fullest as in the case of Your people, to whom You promised all the land. However for some reason we decide not to live according to the abundance that You planned for us, instead, we choose to live limited lives. I pray oh God that we live according to Your will and live in utter obedience to it. It was Your will that Your people cleansed the lands of the Canaanites, however in some cases, the Israelites chose not to do so.  Amen.


14. The tribe of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, since we are numerous people, whom all along the LORD has blessed?"

(Historical Books Chapter 17 verse 14)


Oh God my Father, even though we try to be as fair as possible in our relationships, there are still times when we still do not get it right and end up disappointing others even though our intentions may be good. I pray oh God for all those of us, who grumble about how their life has turned out and accuse You of the negative outcome even though they had played a major part in it leading to their own downfall. Amen.


15. And Joshua said to them, "If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear ground there for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you. 


(Historical Books Chapter 17 verse 15)


Oh God my Father many times we depend more on others than trying to have a go at solving our issues ourselves, however having said that it is always wise to seek Your wisdom and assistance in order to discern if what we desire is according to Your will Amen.


16. The tribe of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us; yet all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel."


(Historical Books Chapter 17 verse 16)


Oh God my Father, the more You give us, the more we complain or find fault. Your people complained in relationship to the Canaanites, thus forgetting that it was by Your power that they had been permitted to enter the Promised Land in the first place and not by their efforts alone Amen.


17. Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh. "You are indeed a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, 18. but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong."


(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 17 verses 17 to 18)



Oh God, my Father I thank You for Your divine providence. As a human race, we complain and even make demands on You as much as we praise and worship Your Name. On the other hand, You always in some way or another answer our prayers. At times we try to find our solutions beyond us and even beyond You, however, You make us aware that You have given us all that it takes to fulfil our goals. Moreover, You may make us aware that the needed resources are not that far away and beyond our reach and that with a little help from You combined with our skills in partnership can bring the solution to our issues. Amen.



Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-



Oh God my Father You are the answer to all my prayers. As You told me in this chapter, if I observe intently Your ways and obey Your commandments, my life will be in a state of order, however if not it, will turn into a state of chaos, sin and disorder.  The solution to many issues is foud in me and not beyond or through the power of others. I greatly thank You for this insight and pray for Your support so that I can be able to live a life according to Your will in total observance of Your will and statutes. Amen.