Focus Chapters:
- Joshua 15:20-63
- Joshua 16-17
Standout Verse(s):
Joshua 16:10, 17:12-13 NLT
They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.
But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region. Later, however, when the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves. But they did not drive them out of the land.
Observation (s):
- The tribe of Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites and chose to have them reside among them, as slaves, at Gezer.
They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.
- The descendants of Manasseh fought to occupy their assigned lands. When they conquered the land, they chose to have some of the Canaanites work among them as slaves.
But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region. Later, however, when the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves. But they did not drive them out of the land.
Application:
The tribes of Ephraim and the descendants of Manasseh made a conscious choice to disobey God’s instructions and refrained from totally driving out the Canaanites from the Promised Land. Instead they chose to enslave some of the Canaanites, perhaps in the belief that placing them in a subservient role would prevent the dissemination of their pagan culture. It is interesting to note that the tribes obeyed God’s instructions to an extent, they only enslaved Canaanites in certain regions. Disobedience to God’s instructions, whether partially or fully, still equates to disobedience. By choosing to keep of the Canaanites, the tribes chose gaining earthly benefits over obeying God. They reaped the benefits in the short-term, however their spiritual and physical long-term futures were tainted by the consequences of that disobedience.
Conduct a self-audit. How many times have you made a conscious decision to disobey the instructions that God gave to you. How often have you skimmed the line of disobedience, telling yourself that you are not breaking God’s commands fully? Was it worth it in the short and long-term? Choose wisely: Reaping short-term earthly benefits or Obeying God’s commands. With God, there are no partial measures.
