What Are You Waiting For? (Joshua 17:13-18)

"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. The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?” Joshua replied, “If there are so many of you, and if the hill country of Ephraim is not large enough for you, clear out land for yourselves in the forest where the Perizzites and Rephaites live.” The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.” Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.” (Joshua 17:13-18 NLT)

Upon entering the Promised Land and taking possession of the central regions, Joshua began assigning each tribe a permanent settlement of land. 

But when the tribe of Joseph (Ephriam & Manessah) didn't get a big enough lot, they complained like a 4 year old who got the smaller half of the cookie. In their defense, they were more numerous than some of the other tribes who had been given larger lots then theirs. 

As they argued their case before Joshua, it probably went something like this, "Um, Joshua, I'm not sure if you realized it or not, but our tribes are actually bigger but we don't have enough room for all our people. Do you think we can have more land?"

So Joshua responded, "Absolutely! Go get as much as you need. There is plenty of room left in the forest area of Canaan. Go get it!"

It wasn't that there wasn't enough land to meet the need, they just didn't want to have to fight for it. They wanted more but they hadn't even bothered to take hold of what was already theirs. He basically told them to take as much as they wanted, but it was up to them to go drive them out.

But what does this story have to do with me?

How many times have we complained to God about our lack of _______? (Honestly we all have). Many times our problem it's not that God can't or won't grant us the desires of our heart, rather it's that we think God should just work His magic because we're simply not willing to align ourselves with His will in prayer. 

On more than one occasion Jesus challenged His disciples to, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7, 8 NLT). 

In John 14:14 he said, "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!" (John 14:13, 14 NLT). 

There are many things God has already made provision for in His Word. In fact Jesus said that God already knows all about our needs even before we ever ask Him. So what makes the difference? 

Prayer. 

"And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. (1 John 5:14, 15 NLT)

Now these verses are not saying that God is a magic genie that will grant our every wish, however they do seem to imply that whenever we align ourselves with His will for any situation, God is ready and willing to help us and grant us what we're willing to fight for in prayer. Today we can claim the promises we have already been given as we surrender our plans to His.