Watch this Text: “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?” Joshua 18:1-3

In Verse 1 “The land was subdued.”

But in verse 3 Joshua chides the Jews, seven Tribes of them anyway: “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?”

Wow!

Is this a contradiction?

I think not.

Verse 1 shows “the possibility, the promise fulfilled.”

Verse 3 shows “the reality.”

Notice they (the Israelites) are already worshipping God (at the Tabernacle) … but most of them have not yet fully obeyed God (out in the land, the suburbs)!

What a thought, what a danger!

The entire land HAD been conquered … at least to the extent that the boldest of the enemies were GONE! God indeed had kept his Word.

But specific areas of the Land, some promised to each Tribe of Israel, still had to be claimed and developed, with some enemies yet to be conquered!

The potential was there!

The realization of that potential rested in the hands of the people.

Well!

In God’s Word we have everything we need to live a victorious Christian life, everything. (Even the Holy Spirit accompanies God’s Word, He being its Author!)

But most of us Believers do not appropriate all God’s Word, applying it to our lives, internalizing and personalizing it … not like we should!

Therefore we too, much like those seven Tribes from the Lesson today, have failed to drive out our (spiritual) enemies!

Something to think about this cold, rainy (in Connersville, Indiana anyway) Wednesday in November!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17

 

 

Normally this morning I would have written a Lesson from Joshua 17:14-18. Discussing the behaviour of the Tribe of Joseph, both negatively and positively. But years ago here on the Website I did such a study. It is still available on our “Archive” Page. Or you can use a search engine (I just did) looking for Dr. Mike Bagwell.org, Joshua 14:14-17. The eight Lesson Series is named “Claiming Your Inheritance.”

So … I look elsewhere in Joshua chapter 17 for today’s Lesson, not wanting to be repetitive. And the Lord led me to verse 6, an Old Testament anomaly!

“Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.” Joshua 16:6

The following statement is not critical of Scripture, not al all. It is in fact, accurate. The Old Testament culture is strongly patriarchal. Meaning “ruled by the men.” And it should be! Quoting Paul who is quoting Moses who is quoting God: “For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” 1 Timothy 2:13, immediately followed by: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Wow!

There’s much more: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Again, patriarchal, Ephesians 5:22-23.

In reality, with only one exception (earlier in Joshua 17, I might add) that I can remember, the boys (men) always were given the family inheritance! Dad to Son to Grandson, etc. The girls were basically omitted! Of course they could “marry” into an inheritance.

That’s partly what makes Joshua 17:6 so unique. “Because the DAUGHTERS of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.”

The girls were included here!

They got their share of the land!

What’s the point today?

Just this … “God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34

And in our day, the “dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2) as Paul called it, ladies can enjoy the goodness of God as well as the men!

Ladies can have prayers answered, as well as men.

Ladies can serve God too, and in more ways that we have sometimes realized. (Not pastoring a Church, not usurping authority, but in a hundred other ways.)

And ladies can (and should) receive honor and respect for their faithful Christians lives!

Where would our small Bible-believing Churches be today without their ladies?

The choirs would be nearly empty!

The children untaught!

The Church a lot less sweet!

And even the offerings would be lower, much lower in some cases!

I am glad that even way back in the Joshua era … “the DAUGHTERS of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons ….”

Some of God’s most sensitive, discerning followers are feminine.

And Paul (whom we love to quote on the “submission” issue) also wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

I want to thank the Lord today for the godly ladies He has placed in my life. Two Grandmothers, a Mom, one Wife in heaven and one by my side as I write these words!

They all deserve their “share!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The 16th chapter of Joshua concerns the children of Joseph, the land they were to be given. God decided such matters in ancient Israel. Of course the Tribe of Joseph basically consisted of his two son, Manasseh and Ephraim. In only 10 verses their “real estate” holdings are described.

But notice the last two verses of the chapter, sad really. Very informative, too. “And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.” Joshua 16:9-10

The children of Ephraim (following the example of many of their brother tribes) did NOT expel all the heathen from their domain! They allowed the disastrous influence of such (wicked) people to stay close-by! The Ephraimites did not claim and did not act on God’s clear promise to “drive out” the enemies ahead of Israel’s approaching army! Read Deuteronomy 11:23 here. “The LORD will drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.”

That’s a sin, a failure of Israel’s faith, for sure! Remember Romans 14:23? “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin..”

But in today’s Bible Text there’s even more “danger” revealed, subtle danger in compromise!

“And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and SERVE UNDER TRIBUTE.” Verse 10 again.

They have now turned the dangerous Canaanites into “money-making” opportunities! Collecting “tribute” (could be “taxes”) from them, or more likely … making them into “slaves” in order to coerce free labor from them!

Getting rich … off things that are wrong in the first place!

Now they will NEVER get rid of the Canaanites!

Too costly a decision!

Oh, does that remind me of America today!

One instance:

Abortion is wrong, period.

But it’s been turned into a multi-million (multi-billion) dollar industry these days! Too many people profiting by this dastardly procedure, really … “murder.”

To outlaw it now (unthinkable to most judges and politicians) would simply COST too much in jobs and scientific research and world esteem! And votes too, for unscrupulous lawmakers!

Some professing Christians too, deep into sins they should have mortified long ago, have turned their “enemies” into cuddly little “pets!”

Well, again … seems like Paul was right.

“For the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10

What an up-to-date Lesson from such an ancient Text!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The fifteenth chapter of the Book of Joshua is filled with geography, nearly 100% so! The Tribe of Judah is being given his inheritance in the Land of Canaan. A gift from God to those people, I might add.

The people of the Old Testament often inherited Land (or crops or good health) as part of their faithful obedience to the Lord. We who accept the New Testament (and Jesus as Saviour) often inherit (not necessarily material goods) bountiful  spiritual blessings!

But (back to Judah) … within her parameters was the (ultimate) City (the location of) Jerusalem! But it was not yet officially called Jerusalem. It was, in fact, a heathen stronghold!

Joshua 15:63 explains: “As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.”

Wow!

Now, many years later, David finally expelled those “Jebusites.” (2 Samuel chapter 5 tells the story.)

And the people of Israel began to peacefully inhabit that “choice” City!

What a Lesson we have right here before us!

The pesky little enemies that cannot be conquered today … stay faithful … tomorrow you might yet be able to overcome them!

Wow again!

Did Judah get stronger?

Was David that much superior in his leadership qualities?

Did Israel’s faith grow bolder?

I do not know, maybe a combination of all these.

But we do have an example here of a body of believers (the Jews) not getting weaker over the years… but rather getting stronger!

Defeating enemies who have held you at bay for a long time!

Dear reader this morning, is there anything in YOUR life that displeases God? Anything you once tried to dismiss from your behavior, character? Tried, but failed?

Then … try again!

Asking God for further strength!

Grow upward in your spiritual trajectory!

Don’t slide downward!

Our verse again … “As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.”

Then watch David, years later … “And the king and his men went … unto the JEBUSITES, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless DAVID TOOK THE STRONG HOLD OF ZION: the same is the city of David (JERUSALEM). And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and SMITETH THE JEBUSITES … that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain.” 2 Samuel 5:6-8

Hunt out and destroy (today) that sin that so easily besets you!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

As a young Pastor/Evangelist I preached about today’s “hero” dozens of times!

Caleb, “who wholly followed the Lord.”

Joshua 14:6-14 tells his story, at least as far as his “inheritance” is concerned.

“Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and CALEB the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: BUT I WHOLLY FOLLOWED THE LORD MY GOD. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, THE LORD HATH KEPT ME ALIVE, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five (85) years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that HE WHOLLY FOLLOWED THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL.”

Wow!

I don’t know if the Bible account here needs much comment.

A man of faith, Caleb.

One of the original 12 spies whom Moses send to scout the Land of Canaan. One of the two who “believed” God, Joshua himself being the other.

And now that Israel is being “given” her various Land Grants (Tribe by Tribe, thus family by family) … Caleb asks for a particular place.

A dangerous place, a mountainous place and a (to Caleb) special place!

He, though eighty-five years old, felt (with God’s Help) he could drive away the giants (Anakims) from the immediate territory … and settle there safely!

The man had faith when he was young!

The man still had faith when he is old!

What an example!

I called my Sermon fifty years ago “Caleb Christians.”

I’m quoting our protagonist: “If so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them (the huge enemies) out, as the LORD said.”

Lord God, grant us that kind of faith!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, the land Caleb settled was soon called “Hebron,” meaning “fellowship!” An association of like-minded followers! A company or band of brothers!

This too, a lifetime of fellowshipping with Almighty God!

Caleb, what a man.