Scripture Nugget 3.19.2016
“Yet the Manassites could not take possession of those towns; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land. But when the Israelites grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. Joshua 17:12-13 regarding the western half of the tribe of Manasseh.
“And Joshua said to them, ‘If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear ground there for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.’ … ‘You are indeed a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot 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, an though they are strong.’” Joshua 17:15, 17b-18.
Inheritance from God comes with responsibility. Just as Adam and Eve were to “keep and till” the Garden, the Israelites had the responsibility to not only enter in the land (the tribes their portions) but to take possession of, to make the land useful and to drive out those presently occupying the land and cities. Why drive them out? Because they worshipped other gods, many of their practices were abominations to God. God did not want the Israelites to be tempted to fall into those practices, thus separating God’s chosen people from God. We/I have a responsibility to respond to God’s grace, to choose to accept that grace, live in and under that grace and to share that grace with others. To “keep and till” the gift given by God. O that I would always do so. Even though that means picking up, carrying and living out the Cross Christ asks me to bare.