Today I read Joshua 17, describing which descendants were awarded land and the land area given to Manasseh. Ephraim and Manasseh are the descendants of Joseph. Today I considered that sometimes we unintentionally share things or accept circumstances that we originally would not have accepted. We have to address issues and situations at the beginning to not have to permanently live with that issue or situation.
Intentional and Unintentional Sharing
Joseph’s descendants intended to share the land among their family, even those without male descendants, but did not intend to make the Canaanites permanent neighbors (Joshua 17:1-18). A lot was given to Manasseh’s firstborn Machir, a man of war, and another lot for the rest of the children descended from Manasseh. Manasseh’s descendant Zelophehad had only daughters, so Zelophehad’s daughters were given an inheritance among the brethren. Joseph’s descendents asked Joshua why they were not given more land because they were a great people. Joshua told the descendents of Ephraim and Manasseh they could also have the mountain. Joshua said as a great people Ephraim and Manasseh can drive out the Canaanites from the land even though the Canaanites have iron chariots. Ephraim and Manasseh were not strong enough to drive out the Canaanites at first. When they became strong enough, they suppressed the Canaanites but did not drive them out of the land. They ended up sharing the land with the Canaanites.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
I imagine that Ephraim and Manasseh moved into the land and were not strong enough on their own to drive out the Canaanites. The Canaanites became neighbors they were used to seeing around and some may have become friends or trading partners. As Ephraim and Manasseh became strong enough to suppress the Canaanites, some of the people of Ephraim and Manasseh may not have had the heart to drive them out. Sometimes something you accept at first becomes a more permanent fixture in your lives.
What have you accepted at the beginning of a move or relationship that you wish you had addressed?