Joshua 16:1-10.  Today’s reading in the first part of the division of the land for Joseph.  If you remember from the story in Genesis (Genesis 37-50), Joseph was the brother, among the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel, see “What’s in a Name”), who was sold into slavery by his brothers.  He was taken as a slave to Egypt where he rose in power with the help of God.  Eventually, due to a famine in that part of the world, his father and brothers migrated to Egypt.  For 430 years the descendants of Jacob lived in Egypt and multiplied to become a group of over 2 million people.  At the end of that time they left Egypt and moved back to the land promised to them by God (with a 40 year tour of the desert in between, see “The Old Testament Connection”).  The book of Joshua tells the conquest of the promised land

In Genesis 48-49 Jacob spoke his final words to his children.  It was common in those days for a father to pass on blessings or “good words” to his children.  Sort of a proclamation of what he though or hoped their future would be like.  Often in the Bible God would honor these proclamations.  With respect to today’s reading two parts of his blessing are important.  First is Genesis 48.  In that chapter Joseph takes his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim to see their grandfather who is nearing death.  In that chapter Jacob (Israel) accepts these two sons, who were born in Egypt, into his family.  He actually claims them as his own and tells Josheph that he will get and extra portion of the land (Genesis 48:22).  Also when he is blessing the two boys (men?) he puts his right hand on Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh.  The right hand was considered the one with greater power and greater blessing.  Manasseh was the older son and by custom should have received the greater blessing but in this case Ephraim got the greater blessing.  Joseph was quite mad about the situation but Jacob declared that it was what it was.

The second part of the blessings of Jacob that is important for today’s reading is the particular blessing for “Joseph”.  It is interesting that the blessing is for Joseph and not for each of his two sons.  The blessing is quite long compared to the others, as long or longer that the one for Judah.  Where the blessing for Judah placed Judah in leadership or control (even though he was the fourth child of Jacob) the blessing for Joseph proclaimed that Joseph would receive much material wealth but would also have a history of conflict (Genesis 49:22-24).

In today’s reading we see the border of the sons of Joseph.  This is the same wording used for Judah, “The sons of Judah”.  In this case Ephraim and Manasseh are given their “lot” together.  Remember that lot was like a dice cast for decision making.  We also saw that God controlled the dice (But look back a day or two for the post on gambling.).  In this case “the lot” refers to the results not to the dice.  And the “lot” is singular.  There is one decision for both Ephraim and Manasseh.  As before, the border is described first but only the southern border is described (vv. 1-3).  Then the territory is described again, now as the territory of Manasseh and Ephraim.  Starting with Ephraim the southern border is again described and then the border between Ephraim and Manasseh (vv. 5-8).  In verses 9-10 we are told that, in addition to the land inside the borders, that Ephraim also received some cities inside Manasseh’s territory.  In tomorrows reading we will see the northern border of Manasseh’ described but only after a special story kind of like the story of Caleb before Judah’s territory was described.  Verse 10 ends Ephraim’s story with the note that they were not able to drive the Canaanites out of Gezer.  They did force the people of Gezer to be slaves though.  Earlier in Joshua we were told that all the inhabitants had been killed.  Remember though that time is passing and people were constantly moving around in those days.  It is likely that while the land divisions were being made that some people move in and re-inhabited some of the cities in the land.  Just last night I saw a commercial for a TV show about the future.  A virus killed all of mankind except for a few survivors.  The survivors banded together and re-inhabited Los Angeles.  This could be similar to what was going on in Gezer.

A couple of interesting things that I thought about when I read this a were how they did not get rid of the Canaanites in their territory.  If you read through Judges with us you might remember that Ephraim and Manasseh were involved several times in battles against people in and around Israel.  Just like Jacob’s “blessing” said they had a history of conflict.  Another thing involves the “blessings”.  It is interesting that both brothers received their allotment together (tomorrow’s reading just continues this story).  It’s almost as if God said, “Jacob.  You wanted them treated separately but that’s not how I’m going to do it.”  In Genesis 48 when Joseph first goes to see his father the sons are referred to as Manasseh and Ephraim.  Later in the story they are referred to as Ephraim and Manasseh.  The older brother should always be listed first and by switching them the point is made that their roles in the family have been reverses (see Genesis 48:20).  It is interesting that in Joshua 16:4 that they are referred to in the order of their birth, Manasseh and Ephraim, but god starts with Ephraim when handing out the territory.  On the other hand the territory is handed out together (as I pointed out above) and their territory is intermingled with some of Ephraim’s cities inside Manasseh’s territory.  All of this shows me that God gave insight to theses Old Testament people but was not bound by everything that they said (See “What’s in a Name”).  The prophetic nature of these blessings show God’s omniscience (The fact that He knows everything both actual and possible about everyone, every where, in all of time, all the time at the same time.  Wow!  Get your head around that one.).  The fact that He does not always do what people say they want done shows God sovereignty (Independence or authority).  I’m glad God shows us what is going to happen before it happens sometimes so I can believe in the rest of what He says will happen.  I’m also glad that God makes all the final decisions.  Kevin in “Home Alone” whished his family was all gone.  Later he thought he made them disappear.  Ultimately he regretted making them disappear and was glad when they came home.  If God is controlled by us irreversible actions would probably happen that we would come to regret.  In fact the part of life that we do control seems to have a lot of things in it that we are sorry about.  So I’m glad God acts according to His plan not ours.  God I appreciate your omniscience. I’m glad you use it for our benefit. Thank you for showing us enough to believe in you.  Thank you also for having a plan and doing things your way.  I know your way is the best way because you love me; you love us.  Help me have peace as you work out the details of life.