Joshua 15–17

Assignment for Greatness

“And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.” (Joshua 17:15)

Joshua had given each of Israel’s tribes land in Canaan to settle. Some of the Israelites complained about the land assigned them. They complained that their land was either too small in size or too hard to conquer or both. In our verse Joshua answers one of the tribes who said they were not given enough land. In answering them, he addresses the claim of greatness, the complaint of greatness, and then gives them a charge for greatness.

Claim of greatness. “If thou be great.” This tribe informed Joshua that they were great (Joshua 17:14). While the primary reference to “great” here refers to numbers, yet the idea of greatness in position is also present. They expected recognition and privilege as a result. But if you are truly great, you will not have to tell people; they will know it.

Complaint of greatness. “If mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.” The complaint here was that their land amount was too small. However, some of the preceding verses indicate that this tribe had not done a good job of driving out the enemy from their inheritance. Part of their problem was not lack of land but lack of labor in driving out the people.

Charge for greatness. “If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants.” Joshua’s answer said that if they were great, they could prove it by doing a great work. Their new assignment was to conquer tough land and tough people. In later verses the people complained about the assignment, but Joshua would not change the assignment. The people’s problem was like that of some in every age. They wanted recognition of greatness but not the responsibility of greatness. They wanted the privilege of greatness but not the production of greatness. Joshua so much as said, if you are great, prove it by doing something great. Do not demand recognition, show that you deserve it.

Daily Bible Reading: Sermonettes #1.

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