Day 1,052: Joshua 16- Settling Into God's Good Stuff

The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel. 2 Then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites. 3 Then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.
4 The people of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
5 The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon, 6 and the boundary goes from there to the sea. On the north is Michmethath. Then on the east the boundary turns around toward Taanath-shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah,7 then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah and ends at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Ephraim by their clans, 9 together with the towns that were set apart for the people of Ephraim within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages. 10 However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.
 
Meditation
“God’s promises are for your children and your children’s children,” proclaimed Peter during the first church sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:39). God’s faithfulness is for generational renewal. God’s people are wise to settle into the good stuff of God’s promises by removing the sin of our hearts and habits.
 
On his deathbed, Jacob prioritized blessing his sons (Genesis 49). Joseph’s was most lavish (49:22-26), picking up on the meaning of Joseph’s son Ephraim, “fruitful.” Joseph, the prince of Egypt, was promised to one day be fruitful. God’s blessing passes through generations. Grace invites us to sink roots into His promises with a life of holy sacrifice.
 
Joseph’s children’s children are settling into the good stuff of God’s blessing, one of the richest and most fertile sections of the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, they left a foothold for the enemy by not following God’s directive to remove the Canaanites (10). Sin crouches at the door to steal sustainable settling into God’s promises (Genesis 4:7). If you do not deal with your sin then it will deal with you.
 
“Do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies,” pleads Paul.  “You are under grace!” (Romans 6:12-14). Through Jesus, we, as believers, receive inheritance and become children of promise, free to inhabit the fruitfulness offered by God’s covenant faithfulness. May we not allow the enemy to keep a foothold, even if we think the sin serves us. Remove the sin and settle into God’s good stuff, His promises through Christ, so you can live a fruitful life.
 
Richly Dwelling
-How does the journey of Joseph and his offspring paint the picture of the promises of God’s generational faithfulness?
 
-Why is verse 10 important? Where do you allow the enemy to keep a foothold in your heart and habits?
 
_-What does it look like for you (practically) to settle into the good stuff of God’s promises by removing the sin of your life? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
The allotment of the people of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel.