February 23, 2014 - Sunday

Start Time:  6:04 A.M.

End Time: 6:30 A.M.

Title: Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

Scripture: Joshua 17:1 – 18

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashanbe cause the Makirites were great soldiers.  So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.  Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.  Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

NOTES:

Ø God is fair and just!  He is a respecter of both men and women.  When Zelophehad, a descendant of the tribe of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, God made sure that these women were also given land or inheritance of their own.  No can accuse God of being a sexist because He created and treated both men and women equally according to their functions, skills and purpose.  Thank You Lord because You made us and respect us individually and You do not allow our gender to affect Your treatment on us.  You give us what is due us when it comes to what belongs to us.  Thank You Jesus!

→The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah.  (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.)  Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor,Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth^[a]). Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

NOTES:

Ø God does not allow our enemies to take root in our lands and if they insist of doing so, they will end up laboring for the people of the Lord!  God puts a distinction of who is His and who are not!  He will ensure that those who are not His will become subject to His people especially when they live in the land that God has promised for us!  Our Lord, will not allow others to take a hold of what is rightfully ours.  And if in cases when we will have to share it with them, God will ensure that they serve us!  Hallelujah!

→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.”  “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.” 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.” 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.

NOTES:

Ø God gives more than what our eyes can see and our minds can comprehend!  He not only one allotment but also the forested hill country to His blessed people, the tribe of Joseph!  God gives in abundance and His promises are beyond our understanding.  The tribe of Joseph doesn’t understand why they were only given 1 allotment when they are so numerous but they didn’t know that God is not stingy and no can out-give God.  At times we are limited by our own understanding and our own eyes and we start to complain or raise concerns but we forgot that God is the God of abundance and His name speaks of overflowing and outpouring.  Praise Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Glorious Savior and Amazing Father!  Thank You for Your abundance!  Thank You because You treat each one fairly and justly and You deal with us more than what we deserve.  Thank You because You are a respecter of our Gender.  Thank You because You do not allow our enemies to take root or take hold of what belongs to us.  You ensure that there is distinction between Your people and those that are not.  Lord thank You because You have set us above the rest and when we do have to share what is ours to them, You made sure that they are to serve us for Your purpose.  Lord thank You because Your promises and blessings are beyond what our eyes can see and what our minds can comprehend.  So thank You because though our eyes and mind fail us to see Your goodness, You are still faithful to us.  Thank You Lord.  Truly You are an Amazing God.  Show me Lord every day Your love, favor and grace.  I want to be a witness of Your goodness in my life every day.  In Jesus’ Name! Amen!