Joshua 17:15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
Opportunity and Ownership
John and Hulda Bingham left their farm in Bloomington, Illinois back in the 1860s. They took a train to what was at that time considered Dakota Territory, and there they began a farm where there was no farm. Back in those days the U.S. government was giving a section of land, 640 acres, to any farmers who were brave enough to go to the Dakotas and build a farm. John and Hulda had many children including George Bingham; George had many children including Robert Bingham, and Robert Bingham is my grandpa, my mother’s father. Land is what this young country gave the Bingham family; a farm is what they made of it.
I don’t know what you have today, but it’s been said that a wise person makes more opportunities than he finds. That seems to be the essence of Joshua’s words to Joseph’s children in Joshua 17.
The tribe of Ephraim came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one lot to inherit? We are a great people. Why do we have so little?” Joshua’s answer is masterful. He said, “If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.” They could either complain or conquer. The lesson is that opportunity is what God gives you; stewardship is what we give Him.
There are three traits of conquerors that we find in Joshua’s words. The first trait is creativity. Joshua said, “If you don’t like the property you have, then cut down some trees.” You have got to be able to make something where you have nothing. Many times opportunities come disguised as problems. If we are going to make use of the opportunities that God gives us, it often requires being creative.
The second trait is courage. Joshua says, “If you are a great people, then go cut down some trees and some giants.” People who have courage have more options than people who do not because they can see opportunities that fear would not even acknowledge.
The third trait is confidence. This confidence is in God. It is called faith. Joshua said, “You need to go take more ground if mount Ephraim is too small for you.” The Canaanites did not call this land mount Ephraim. Joshua was prophetically acknowledging what God had said He would do if they would obey. In verse 18 Joshua says, “But the mountain shall be thine…Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites.” Joshua was urging them to be creative, courageous, and confident.
Joshua later said, “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your father’s hath given you.” You will not lack what you need if you are not slack with what you have. Be faithful and follow God’s lead. Be creative and courageous. Have confidence in God, and seize the opportunities that He has given you today.