Beloved,
The people of Joseph said:
Joshua 17:16 – “ …Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth Shean (Bet’ She’ an) and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Joshua 17:17-18 – “Then Joshua said to the House of Joseph, to Ephraim and Mannasseh, You are a numerous people and have great power. You not have one allotment only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”
You see Joseph sons were directly blessed by Israel, thus Joseph received a double portion. In this conversation, the descendants of Manassah and Ephraim are asking for more lands because their tribes are large. Joshua is granting them this, but he is telling them to obtain more lands they must drive out the Canaanites. The Chariot was the most powerful weapon of its day. It terrorized men on the battle field. It is like a person with a rifle going against a modern tank.
Judges 1:27 “ Manasseh did not drive out the iinhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages … for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
Manasseh was fearful so they disobeyed God’s command through His Leader Joshua. We also know that for years and years that the Canaanite presence caused a physical threat to Israel and well as an avenue of great compromise (worshipping false Gods).
I believe the Holy Spirit is telling us that there is no peace in compromise. To rise up and meet and defeat your obstacle head on. What is your obstacle – sin, fear, and difficult circumstances. It is not the dream, challenge, or person (gate keeper) before you. Finally, this history lesson teaches us that there can no rest so long we allow fear to dictate our actions. Why? The meaning of the word Beth Shean is “house of rest”. You see the fear we have or lack of faith that is controlling us is also occupying the place of our rest. This is why we feel anxious and unsettled when fear grips our heart.
So my brothers and sister, rise up – the Lord has commanded you, equipped you, and is with you to “… be more than conquerors through Him that loved you” (Romans 8:37).
Abandon in Christ,
Pastor Beau
