Passage: Joshua 16-18

On Monday, March 24, 2014, Yujin wrote,

It came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely (Joshua 17:13).

The LORD commanded Israel to completely drive out the Canaanites from the Land. Here and in numerous other occasions we are told that they did not obey the LORD and do this. Instead of driving them out, they made the Canaanites their slaves. As Israel's history would bear out, this failure to obey the LORD resulted in the consequences that God predicted would happen; namely, that Israel would become corrupted by the immoral and idolatrous influences of the Canaanites.

Friends, I reflected on this today and considered what lessons there might be for us today? While the Old Testament demanded complete destruction of the Canaanites because of their immoral and idolatrous influence, the New Testament commands believers to flee immorality and idolatry:

Flee immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14).

Now, Israel got into trouble because they did not completely obey the LORD's command. They allowed the Canaanites to persist in the land. And these Canaanites became a strong influence on Israel to turn away from the LORD.

Do we completely obey the Lord? Do we flee immorality and idolatry, or do we allow these influences to persist? You may wonder, 'How do we allow these influences to persist?'

Movies, television, internet, social networking, bars, clubs, office parties, immoral friends and associates, etc.... Have we established clear lines of obedience, so that we might not by these things be influenced into immorality and idolatry and any number of other sins?

Netflix and Amazon Instant Prime can be stumbling blocks to holiness and purity, for our eyes are a gateway to our hearts, so that we are not immune from the wrongful influence of what we watch. I have both unsubscribed from these and deleted the apps for these. I recommend all my friends do likewise.

For me, this is in part what it means to flee from immorality and idolatry. There are numerous other things that we can do to completely obey the Lord in this regard, but each of us must assess and act for ourselves.

Passage: Joshua 16-18

On Sunday, March 24, 2013, Yujin wrote,

Some of the descriptions for the division of the land may be a little difficult to follow. I encourage you to use this map as a guide, so that you might have a better sense of how the land was divided.

Passage: Joshua 16-18

On Thursday, March 24, 2011, Sherry wrote,
In Joshua 16-18 they are still dividing up the land. Women did not traditionally inherit property in Israelite society, Moses put justice ahead of tradition and gave the women in Joshua 17:3,4 the land they deserved. God told Moses to add a law that would help other women in simmer circumstances inherit property. Joshua was now carrying out the law.

Passage: Joshua 16-18

On Thursday, March 24, 2011, Stephen wrote,

"They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor."

"Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. ¹³ However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely."

We all know that the Israelites failed to dislodge the Canaanites completely from the Promised Land and they became perpetual problems until they were removed from the Land just as God said. We briefly talked about this last night during SMT class and learned that the Israelites disobeyed God by mingling the evil practices of the Canaanites with the Law that was given to follow instead of turning their backs completely from their God. The obedience is all or none! There's no such thing as partial devotion or obedience. Let us examine ourselves today to see if there's any compromise in our faith and give everything that we are to the Lord!

"The people of Joseph said 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.” ¹⁵ “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “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.” ¹⁶ The people of Joseph replied, “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.” ¹⁷ 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 ¹⁸ 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.”"

Even though the Promised Land was given to the Israelites as an inheritance, we see here they struggled to obtain it. They were scared by the size of their enemies one time and now by their weapons of war. God still demanded them to take a step of faith to claim their inheritance. How about us for the promise of salvation? Even though it was given to us and no one, including ourselves, will not be able to take it away from us, God still tells us to work out our salvation in fear and trembling as if we might lose it. Yes, we can lose it hypothetically but it will never happen because it is guaranteed not by the level of our performance but by the Author of our salvation! This is our strength to walk in faith, not for a reason to have a sentiment of elitism as some might erroneously say. Who would say, "Why did you rescue only me, not others?", after being saved from a raging torrent by his rescuer? Would he be boastful because he was chosen to be saved or feel overwhelmingly grateful? Let's praise Him for our salvation again today!!!

Passage: Joshua 16-18

On Thursday, March 24, 2011, Unmi wrote,

The significance of city of Shechem:

Joshua 17:7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The city of Shechem appears to have been on the border between Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph.

From the book of Genesis, we were already told that Joseph's descendants would inherit Shechem. Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take youback to the land of your fathers. And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.” (Genesis 48:21-22) Jacob is referring to city of Shechem that Simeon and Levi took by killing all the Shechemites after they were tricked into circumcising themselves. Before dying, Jacob promises this land to Joseph. Prior to his own death, "Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” (Genesis 50:24-25)

Both of these promises were fulfilled. In Joshua 24:32, "And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants."

The city of Shechem was not significant only for Joseph or Dinah (Genesis 34), it was the first Canaanite city that Abraham arrived in after leaving his homeland. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:6-7) Shechem was the site of Abraham's first altar to the LORD in the Promised Land.

Jacob arrived in Shechem with his family after leaving Paddan Aram. He bought a plot of land there and set up a altar as well which he called "God, the God of Israel." After Jacob came from Paddan Aram,he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. For a hundred pieces of silver,he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel (Genesis 33:18-20).

It is believed this is when Jacob dug his famous well, the same "Jacob's well" where Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman. "Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar (Shechem), near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. (John 4:4-6) This is where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman and asks for a drink. After a few conversational interchanges between Jesus and the woman regarding "the living water" and also about her husband, "Sir, the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (John 4:19-20) "This mountain" that she is referring to is Mt Gerizem, the mount of blessing in Deut 27. Moses instructed the Israelites to stand on Mt Ebal and Mt Gerizim to pronounce the blessing and curses on the people. When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. (Deut 27:12-13) The city of Shechem lies in the valley between these two mountain ranges. Once Jericho and Ai were destroyed, Joshua followed Moses' instructions, built an altar and renewed the covenant before pursuing further conquest. (Joshua 8:30-35) After completion of the military conquest of Canaan, Joshua brings back all the Israelites again to Shechem to renew the covenant one last time before releasing all the tribes to their land. (Joshua 24)

Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal from east Mount Gerizem on the left, Mount Ebal on the right, the city of Shechem in the middle.

After the allotment of land, Shechem is giving to the Levites and becomes a city of refuge. Unfortunately it is at the city of Shechem that Israel is divided into two kingdoms, the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. (1 Kings 12) Shechem was located in the Northern Kingdom and becomes the religious center of the North.

The Samaritans believed that Mt Gerizim was the most holy place in the land, the mountain of blessing and later built a temple there. It is with this perspective that we can understand why the Samaritans believed it was holy ground, but Jesus tells her “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:21-24)

No matter how much historical or religious significance Shechem or even Jerusalem has, Jesus tells us that it is NOT the place of worship that is importance...It is the HEART of worship! And not just the heart of worship for sincerity or zeal does not lead to salvation, but we must worship in TRUTH!