The last few chapters of the book of Joshua describe in detail the climax of the Exodus. Finally in the promised land, they are now in the process of dividing the land amongst the tribes. Not all of the tribes were pleased with their allotments, however….
First we have the Ephraimites complaining to Joshua… “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.” (Joshua 17:14 NIV). To which Joshua replies, “If you are so numerous…and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” (Joshua 17:15 NIV)
In other words, if you aren’t happy with what you’ve been given, then do something about it! This wasn’t good enough for the people of Ephraim, however. They responded with, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” (Joshua 17:16 NIV)
The people of Ephraim were dead serious in their concerns; however it must have sounded a lot like excuses to Joshua, for he didn’t bend: “But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—’You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.’”
I think I can understand where the tribes of Joseph are coming from. Especially with my recent situation as a full-time caregiver for my husband who has advanced dementia, who was awaiting the fulfillment of a 5-year-old promise of healing. Our “allotment” is healing from dementia. God promised this, but after all this time, all we saw was that his cognitive abilities were failing fast. No, we weren’t satisfied with our lot! God promised us something much better!
And so I am ashamed to say that I spent a lot of time complaining to God. Of course, as an aside, if you have complaints against God, the best place to bring them is back to God Himself. Nonetheless, as I read this passage from Joshua the other day, I could hear God speaking Joshua’s words into my ear: “If you are unhappy, do something about it!”
But what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t bring about the awaited miracle!
And neither could Ephraim, for they faced an enemy who was better equipped than they were — Chariots fitted with iron! Nonetheless, they were told, “though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, YOU can drive them out.“
Wait. Did this mean that I could drive out the demons of dementia? Me?
Well obviously not of my own power, but I doubt Ephraim could have driven out the iron-clad chariots of their own power either. God is the One who gives the power. Our job is to go out in the power of the Lord and … “drive them out”!
I wasn’t quite sure what this meant, exactly. How was I supposed to drive out dementia?
A second story was brought to my attention then. The tribe of Dan was given territory just like all of the other tribes. However, the book of Joshua records that their territory was lost to them (See Joshua 19:47). The first chapter of the book of Judges gives us a bit more insight into this “loss”: “The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain.” (Judges 1:34 NIV). Joshua 19:47 tells us this: “they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their ancestor.” (NIV).
Their story is a bit different from the tribe of Ephraim. They didn’t complain about their allotted territory, they simply couldn’t hold on to it. The Bible doesn’t record that they complained about their loss, either. Rather, it records that they went out and did something about it: They fought for their possession.
By this time, I was beginning to understand. God was telling me that I also had a role to play in my husband’s healing. I needed to fight! I needed to do some serious spiritual warfare!
Now if you are reading this wondering why I hadn’t been doing spiritual warfare up until this point, well, I was left wondering the same thing! I had this tool in my power, and I wasn’t using it! Jesus’ brother, James, tells us: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NIV). When I submit myself to the Lord, I still have a responsibility! To “Resist” the devil! We have been given the “authority” to do so: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19 NIV). There are many more Biblical references to our ability and admonition to enter into spiritual warfare, but here is just one more: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18 NIV).
Now I don’t know why God choses to partner with us, but He does. He equips us with the strength and power and protection, but He asks us to go out and fight the devil. I am happy to say that my laissez-faire attitude about spiritual warfare changed that day…
What is there in your life that doesn’t seem to add up to expectations? Could it be that God is asking you as well to go out and fight the devil for what is rightfully yours? If so, take courage, for, as Joshua said to the unhappy Ephraimites, “YOU can drive them out“!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
