Approval to Expand

This morning I felt I should read from Joshua 17, and was surprised to see that this contains the story of Tirzah and her sisters, which is a great story of how the Lord extended the blessing and inheritance to the daughters as well as the sons. It also talks about the encouragement that Joshua gives to the two tribes of Joseph - Manesseh and Ephraim. They were complaining because they needed more room, since the Lord had blessed them and made them multiply. They wanted Joshua to appoint for them some other inheritance that they didn't have to work for. Although this isn't stated exactly that way in scripture, reading between the lines of verses 14-16 you can see that is their desire.

Joshua, on the other hand, feels that they can extend the borders of their inheritance by some hard work, and that will bring an increase to their inheritance. He encourages them in their abilities and in their efforts to expand their territory - verses 17-18.

This is what I felt the Lord's encouragement was today. That if you are feeling constrained by your situation, due to increase, the Lord is approving and encouraging expansion. However, it won't just be handed over with no effort, but rather through perseverance and new strategies. God desires our increase and is the God of abundant provision and blessings, and He means for us to expand our territories, and will provide the means to expand. This will require effort on your behalf, but it will be worth it.

Here are the verses from Joshua 17:14-18 NIV:
"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.”