Self-Imposed Limits

Joshua 17:14 (ESV) Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?”

This passage in Joshua 17 reminds me of many of God's people (and myself at times). The people of Joseph are large and numerous. Yet they feel the portion of land given them is limiting. So they come to complain to Joshua about what he's given them. They are actually phrasing it to suggest Joshua is ignorant of how much the Lord has blessed them. As in: "Don't you see how big God has made us? Why did you rip us off?"

This is how we can act sometimes. We feel like there's more in us than what our conditions are allowing to come from us. And then we feel like someone needs to "give it to us."

Note Joshua's response in this unfolding back and forth:
Joshua 17:15 (ESV) And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”

Translation: If you feel too blessed for where you are, YOU DO something about it. Implied meaning: Stop blaming me for what you don't have, go get what you need!

To which they replied:
Joshua 17:16 (ESV) The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”

They start to make excuses. There are "iron chariots" in these places! How quickly they have forgotten the God who fell the walls of Jericho and destroyed the bigger and stronger nations of their past. But this is a composite of the Christian experience. We tend to stop moving forward in faith, experience the frustration of non-movement, and then complain. 

In scripture, God's people are repeatedly called to move beyond their self-imposed limits! They must break through, stop making excuses for where they are and activate faith for where they could be! Want some proof from the New Testament?

Ephesians 1:19 (NLT) I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. 
Ephesians 3:20 (ESV) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...

Consider what Jesus says about those who are born of the Spirit in the Kingdom compared to the greatest Old Covenant prophet in history...

Matthew 11:11 (ESV) Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The problem with Christians is rarely the obstacles OUTSIDE of them, it is typically the obstacles INSIDE them. Self-doubt, discouragement or just plain negativity hem us into mediocrity. That's why this passage in Joshua 17 is so important for us. Instead of arguing with God about how our lives should be different, perhaps we need to FIGHT in prayer, the Word, and hard work toward our goals. Instead of describing the "iron chariots" we are facing, perhaps we should trust the power of God we already possess.

Joshua learned this for himself. He had to be repeatedly encouraged by God for the first few chapters and battles in this venture. Now he's trying to pass that confidence on to the next generation - not an easy task. You see this in his final words to the sons of Joseph:

Joshua 17:18 (ESV) 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, and though they are strong.”

The words of Joshua here remind me of the Words of our true Joshua in John 14:12 (ESV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Complaining, excusing and blaming have never created anything or conquered anywhere. Leave them in your past and walk in the power of your calling and election. Jesus has gone to the Father for you. You have the Spirit of God in you. MOVE!