Joshua 17 & 18: Great People, Great Power
Verse of the Day: (17:17) And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only

1. Joseph (17:1-18)
But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. (17:18)

God blessed the 2 sons of Joseph; Ephraim and Manasseh, each with an inheritance, and hence Joseph had 2 lots and was regarded as 2 tribes of Israel, because Joseph helped Pharaoh of Egypt in providing for his people during the time of famine, as well as the people of Israel, and the rest of the world. Now Joshua challenged the 2 sons of Joseph, the 2 great peoples with great power, to completely drive out the Canaanites, and possessed all the Promised Land. Though there were 12 sons of Jacob yet Levi had no inheritance because God was their inheritance, and therefore the 2 sons of Joseph made up the rest of the 12 tribes. Though God blessed Israel, yet she must believe in Him, otherwise, they could not claim all the Promised Land. Today, we must believe in God, and claim His promises, otherwise we are still in the bondage of sins. (Romans 7:22-25) 

2. Joshua (18:1-10)
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? (18:3)

Though we are God’s people, yet we must believe in Him and continually walk in His Spirit, instead of our flesh. Though God gave Israel the victory over their enemies, yet there were still 7 tribes who had not completely received their inheritance. Joshua rebuked them for their slothfulness. Even today, Israel have yet to claim all the Promised Land because of their slothfulness and unbelief. Indeed, God shall only richly bless and keep us, when we walk in His Spirit, and not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Romans 8:1-6)

3. Jerusalem (18:11-28)
And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families. (18:28)

Though Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes, yet one of its cities, Jerusalem, was the site of the temple of God as well as the palace of the King of Israel. In fact, one day, during the Millennium, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, shall reign and destroy the old Jerusalem and create a new Jerusalem on a new earth. During this period, He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there shall be no more pain or even death. (Revelation 21:1-4)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am a great people with great power because of You.