“The failure of Ephraim”
“And they
drove not out the Canaanites that dwelled in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell
among the Ephraimites to this day, and serve under tribute.” (v.10)
Here in our
text the word “they” refers to both Ephraim and Manasseh. So both tribes of the
children of Joseph failed to drive out the Canaanites from their cities. Their
lapse in faithfulness was likely to be particularly disappointing for Joshua, as
he was from the tribe of Ephraim. (Num.13:8)
Although
they lacked the courage to take on the iron chariots of the Canaanites, they
had the nerve later to ask Joshua for a larger inheritance. (Joshua 17:14) Ephraim’s
failure to trust in God for His deliverance over the Canaanites exposed them to,
a continual burden of overseeing them as servants and the idolatrous practices
and customs of these wicked people.
Faith is
not a passive journey. It requires action in a direction we often may not see a
way through. However, God will honor your faith through your own courageous
obedience.
The Truth
“Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
