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...