Get Up to the Wood Country - Joshua 17:15

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the children of Joseph spoke unto Joshua, saying, Why have you given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD has blessed me until now?”, and in chapter seventeen and verse fifteen of Joshua we learn how, “Joshua answered them, If you be a great people, then get you up to the wood country, and cut down for yourself” where we read,

And Joshua answered them, If you be a great people, then get you up to the wood country, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for you.

The verse reads, “And Joshua answered them, If you be a great people, then get you up to the wood country, and cut down for yourself …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Joshua answered them” or “and Joshua or Jehoshua whose name means ‘Jehovah is Salvation’ and was son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan, responded to them, the children of Joseph”, “if you be a great people” which means “whether and in case you, the children of Joseph, exist as a massive and exceedingly numerous group of human beings”, “then get you up to the wood country” or “therefore, wherefore and on this account you, the children of Joseph, arise and ascend to the forest, thicker or wooded height”, “and cut it down for yourself” which means “and fashion and transform it, the forest, on behalf of your, the children of Joseph’s, own selves”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” responded to the offspring of “Joseph” by telling them that since they were “a great people”, they should ascend to the forest to fashion and transform it for their own selves.  

 

The verse goes on to say, “… there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for you.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “there in the land of the Perizzites” which means “within the territory, district and region belonging to the Perizzites whose name means ‘belonging to a village’ and were a people who inhabited southern Canaan prior to the conquest”, “and of the giants” ” or “and belonging to the huge and massive human beings”, “if mount Ephraim” which means “whether and in cast the rising above the plain or hill which belonged to Ephraim whose name means ‘double ash-heap; I shall be doubly fruitful’ and was second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh” “be too narrow for you” or “exists as pressed, exceedingly close and confined on behalf of you, the offspring of Joseph”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” stated if the hill country of “Ephraim” was too small for the children of “Joseph”, they should overtake the  forest where the huge human beings and the “Perizzites” were located.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how “Joshua” told the offspring of “Joseph” that since they were such a numerous amount of “people”, they should arise from “mount Ephraim” which was too small and seize the forest area where the “giants” and the “Perrizites” lived. God knew where all of the tribes were to be located within the promise land, and He was attentive to their needs. He knows where we are as well, and He knows our needs. (See Philippians 4:19) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and to give us the ability to live wherever He desires in a way that is pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16: 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we see how, “the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".