Joshua 17

Joshua had given the precise genealogies for Manasseh so that there would be no confusion between people in whose land belongs to who (17:1-11). Seeing The Lord had given Joshua the commandment to divide up the land according to their tribes, Joshua is making sure God’s word is followed down to the letter (17:4)

Following the allotment, the “tribes” of Joseph challenge Joshua with a complaint. They feel they have not been given enough and that Joshua doesn’t understand that because of their size and strength, they should deserve a larger portion (17:14).  This comes after the fact that Manasseh was apparently strong enough to put the Canaanites to a tribute but not strong enough to drive them out, which seems suspicious to me.
Here we can contrast the requests of Joseph’s tribes with Caleb’s and Zelophehad’s daughters (14:6-12). Both of their request were made humbly and based upon God’s promises whereas Joseph request was delivered in such a way that can be perceived as a challenge. Joshua responds with a challenge of his own (17:15) saying, If you are that strong then go to the north and take you more land.

Upon a second reading, one can see the kind of leader Joshua was.  He led by his faith.  Even though Joseph stumbled when they saw the chariots of iron, Joshua encouraged them to act by faith and trust the power of God in their lives.

¹⁷ And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: ¹⁸ But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

Christ won a great victory of which  His disciples live in through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The church is a great people who possesses a great power. They do not need to accept sin that diminished their testimony, nor do they need to settle for one lot only, but by faith, they can do great things for God.