Under Tribute
Joshua: Pass Over and Possess • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? 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.
Introduction
Introduction
The second of the two largest tribes receive their inheritance in chapters 16-17. Joseph was blessed by Jacob on his deathbed. This morning, we will see the importance of vigilance in the land of Promise.
We need to be looking throughout the book for our theme for 2025. The central focus of the book of Joshua is that God wants us to move forward and take ahold of the blessings of our salvation.
Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
As we saw in our study of Ephesians, God has blessed us with spiritual blessings. All the saved have access to these blessings. Do we share them with the lost? Do we live them faithfully in our lives? Do we thank God for them daily? The book of Joshua leads us along the path of living the victorious Christian life. All we need to live victoriously, we already have in Christ. We must just cross over the river of fear and take ownership of the land of Promise!
Few things are as deceptive as unconfessed sin in our lives. When we allow the enemy to build strongholds around choices that we have made or practices we have allowed, there is a need for doing battle against them. What have we allowed to stay in our lives that we are not willing to give up and confess?
The children of Israel had seen defeat through the presence of unconfessed sin in Canaan. At the First Battle of Ai, thirty six men had perished because of the act that Achan had done in Jericho. Once they removed that sin, there was a great victory and the destruction of the enemy city.
But the message of this section of Joshua that we are in now is different. Now the focus is not on the group as obedient but the individual. In the land of individual blessings, inheritance depends on obedience. What will the children of Joseph do with what they have been given?
One of the wonders of history is the concentric castle. It was a design that improved over the stone castles that had existed before in Europe. Instead of only one wall, this new design consisted of at least two tall walls with towers and a central keep. Built in the 1200s and 1300s in Europe, they were a major obstacle to any uprisings in the area.
This is especially true in the country of Wales. The invading army of Edward I of England wanted to make sure that the Welsh would not try a rebellion against their authority. Some of the best examples of these castles are found here. For many years, these castles were essentially impregnable to attack.
The reason for this condition of permanence was that the multiple walls and the inner keep made of stone ensured that the garrison was able to outlast nearly any siege machine that was brought against them. Almost no weapon could pierce both walls or destroy these keeps. The only thing that was able to change the dominance of the castle was the introduction of gunpowder and the age of the cannon in the late 1300s.
Strongholds in our lives are either impregnable, like these castles, under tribute or eliminated from our hearts. What do you see dominating the landscape of your life today? The land of Joseph was filled with strongholds that were waiting to cause the people to turn their hearts away from God.
Declaration
Declaration
There must always be a striving for greater things for God. Victory over the enemy strongholds requires obedience to the Word of God. The sins we leave under tribute will only bring us into bondage later. Two truths provide tension in the passage this morning.
1. Tribute is a Personal Choice
1. Tribute is a Personal Choice
The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries. Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
Chapter 15 of Joshua showed us the territory that was inherited by the Judah. Judah had the southern area that was partially desert. At the camp at Gilgal, Joshua and Eleazar had distributed this to the largest tribe. As we see in verse 1, the method that was used for the division of the land was “by lot”. This took place either at Gilgal or as in the next section at Shiloh. One commentator mentions that this was likely in an urn of some kind to ensure that the decision was by God not man as to the area to be possessed.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
Joseph is the second tribe that is chosen by lot. Manasseh and Ephraim were the two sons of Joseph. Because Levi does not inherit except for the Lord Himself, the two sons of Joseph fill out the 12 tribes. In verses 1-4, we see that the two tribes moved into the area that God had given them. This was the moment for their obedience to the Lord and faith in His promises to become reality.
In verses 5-9, we see a listing of the area that was occupied by Ephraim. Among these cities is Jericho and Gezer. This area was a smaller area that is north of the area of Judah.
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Though they had taken possession of their inheritance, the note in verse 10 is a reminder of the results of fear instead of faith. There was a challenge in the city of Gezer but Ephraim did not go up to fight against it. Ephraim is concerned with more room later in chapter 17 but does not drive out the inhabitants of Gezer. This was a personal choice unlike Judah. Judah could not drive them out. Ephraim did not try. Instead, they put them into forced slavery.
The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
Moses reminded the children of Israel in Deuteronomy to refuse the fear of sight in favor of the faith of the invisible.
If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out: so shall the Lord thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. Moreover the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
Verses 1-11 of chapter 17 give us the listing of the inheritance of the older brother of Ephraim, Manasseh. It is surely significant that the area given to Manasseh is so large compared to Ephraim. In fact, half of Manasseh has already inherited on the other side of Jordan with Gad and Reuben.
Among this listing of the area, we see the story of the daughters of Zelophad. Showing us again a personal example of faith, they ask for inheritance among the men to ensure that all of the land is divided correctly to the children of Manasseh. The promise of Moses in the book of Numbers is seen in fulfillment here.
As we come to the verses 12-13, we see that the refrain of Judah and Ephraim is carried on in Manasseh. Thery are not able to drive out any of the Canaanites in the area around Megiddo and Endor. Verse 13 summarizes for us the problem that the people have allowed to keep them from obeying God. Their problem is partial obedience. How far we have come from the obedience of Joshua in Joshua 11.
As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
As we move into verses 14-16, we see that the children of Joseph complain about the amount of room that they have. Ephraim wanted more room but they did not try to drive out the people in Gezer. Manasseh is concerned with more room but fails to climb the mountain and cut down the forest. Man’s solution to the problem that God has solved is compromise. The command that God had given to those who willingly surrender is taken and used for those who Israel is to lazy to drive out.
And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.
How can we apply this situation in Canaan? What significance do these actions have to the church of today? The people in the land of Canaan were sinful people. Just like us they had done things wrong.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Their sin began with their pagan religion. Based on human sacrifice of infants, immoral actions in the temples and violent self-harm, their religion was an affront to a holy God. God had given them over four hundred to repent of their actions but they did not.
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
So it is with us. There is mercy for our sin before the throne of God. He gives us time to repent and turn to Him. Jesus, God’s Only Begotten Son, came to Earth and lived a perfect life for you and me. He was the perfect sacrifice to take away our sins. On Calvary, He died suspended on a cross for the sins of the world. This event was followed by the Resurrection on Sunday morning. He now is alive forevermore and He offers you the opportunity to believe in Him. Choose life today unlike the Canaanites who chose their own way of religion.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
We can apply this situation in Canaan to our lives by looking at what lies inside our hearts. Are their cities to be taken? Are there sins to be confessed and forsaken? Do we complain of the things that God has called us to do? All of these are opportunities for us to be content with where we are in our spiritual lives and put the enemy to tribute. Slavery and removal are not the same thing. God wants us to choose to radically follow Him. Will I, will you do what is necessary to see God work in our lives and win victory after victory over the sins that so often beset us? The land of Israel remains filled with those put to tribute even to the time of Solomon.
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
Ephraim and Manasseh show us that tribute is a personal choice. When we allow sin to remain in our lives, even with only minimal interaction, the selfish religion of the enemy will affect our service to God. God wants us to do greater things for Him than we have in the past but our lives are littered with strongholds of sin that must fall.
2. Pulling Down Strongholds is a Personal Victory
2. Pulling Down Strongholds is a Personal Victory
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? 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. And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. 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: 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.
In verse 14, the children of Joseph come back to Joshua. Perhaps they had seen the land that they were going to already. Maybe they had lived there for a little while before they return to Gilgal. However, they have discovered their hardship, the first response is complaint. Pride and complaining go hand in hand. So they can say to Joshua, “Why hast thou given…” and “I am a great people…” When we complain, our personal pride and what we feel we are owed comes out of our heart in our speech.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Joshua is not swayed by the complaints of Joseph. Instead, he challenges them to the expansion of the blessings that they have already been given. The land is filled with cities that are just waiting for someone of faith to win victories for the King. Paul tells us what to do with the strongholds of sin in our lives,
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Walking in the Spirit is the way to the removal of the strongholds of sin. How are you doing with communing with the Holy Spirit? What is God saying to you daily through His Word. The journey of life is a constant following of the leading of God and His Word.
Joshua gives them hope in verses 15-18. The reason that there was hope in the midst of hardship was that God will get the victory. In verse 18, Joshua commands them to do what they know to be right. Even though the enemy is strong and they have effective weapons, there must be victory over the sinful opponents. God had promised,
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
As Ironside says in his commentary on Joshua,
Addresses on the Book of Joshua Chapter 14: The Inheritance of the Tribes and the Story of Othniel and Achsah (Joshua 15–19)
We are called to deal unsparingly with every unholy thought and every sinful tendency, cleansing ourselves from “all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” It is only thus that we can appreciate truly and enjoy, in the way God would have us, the great privileges and manifold blessings He has bestowed upon us.
The pulling down of the strongholds in the land of Canaan will require the people walking in obedience to the Word of God. Will we do what is necessary to walk in the Spirit? What can we see across the landscape of our hearts? Use the Word of God today to remove the strongholds of sin in the land of blessing.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There must always be a striving for greater things for God. Victory over the enemy strongholds requires obedience to the Word of God. The sins we leave under tribute will only bring us into bondage later.
The story of the book of Judges is one of a constant cycle of bondage for the children of Israel. Those people that were not removed in Joshua become a constant thorn in the rest of the Historical Books of the Old Testament. When we fail to deal with sin, we spend our lives living in constant defeat. Will you deal with your sin today?
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Perhaps, you say that you don’t see any strongholds across your landscape. You see victory often. Praise the Lord! Go up to the hills and go out into the valleys of the promises of God. Do you see people saved because of your testimony for Christ? Do you see God answer prayers you pray for other people? Do you see your heart encourage in hardship by remembering that God brings everything into our lives for a greater purpose of redemption of the lost and the growth of the saved? Strive for greater things today and go up to the woods and see victories!
On the afternoon of July 1, 1863, the soldiers of Confederate General Ewell were following up on the retreat of the Federal army at a place called Gettysburg. There had been many of the Federal soldiers killed north of the town and they were fleeing back toward the hills to the south and east of the town. This was a moment that could have been decisive for the reputation of the man who had taken over for the legendary Stonewall Jackson. Yet, nothing was done to follow up on the enemy.
This missed opportunity was one of many that occurred during the Battle of Gettysburg. The next day, the hill that they failed to take would cost the Confederate Army dearly.
Delay cost them as it will the children of Israel. Will you today take the opportunity that God has given you to remove the strongholds in your life?
