“They did not drive out the Canaanites.” (16:10)
The tribe of Joseph receive a double portion in the form of his children, Ephraim and Manasseh. Half of Manasseh had already received their claim on the east of the river Jordan. The other half shared with Ephraim. Despite the strength of 1½ tribes, they were unable to subdue and drive out the Canaanites. They failed to fully possess their inheritance. Subsequent history shows that although Ephraim became the dominant tribe in the northern kingdom of Israel, they became ‘leaders’ in that kingdom’s decline (see Hosea’s prophecy). They were meant to be doubly fruitful, for so is the meaning of their name, but they turned back in the day of battle (Psalm 78:9). They assumed that the things allotted to them by God’s choice would be automatic. They failed to exercise their God-given strength in possessing their God-given inheritance. Nothing is automatic in the kingdom of God. Though He freely gives, God does not reward laziness. We must be strong in faith, devotion and in the going through of trials. Then, we will subdue our enemies and possess our inheritance. Otherwise, we will sadly share the same fate as Ephraim. May the Lord preserve us from that happening to us.
PRAYER :- “Lord, keep me strong, so that I do not accept compromise.”