In Joshua 16, the focus shifts to the allotment of land among the tribes of Israel. Though brief, this daily devotional highlights a critical issue: the Israelites’ failure to fully drive out the Canaanites, as commanded by God. This partial obedience reflects a deeper lesson about compromise and settling for less than what God has promised. I discover how you can hear from God, read the daily devotional on Judges 15,
As we read this chapter, we’re prompted to examine our own lives. Are we fully embracing the blessings and responsibilities God has given us, or are we settling for partial victories? Joshua 16 challenges us to confront these questions and renew our commitment to fully claiming God’s promises without compromise.
Joshua 16 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Joshua 16 is the continuation of the allotment of land. This is a chapter of only ten verses. Are you willing to fight for what God has for you, or will you settle or compromise? Please read or listen to Joshua 16.
What Does Joshua 16:10 Mean?
In 1995, I read Joshua 15 and 16 on the same day. Concerning chapter 16, I wrote, “God told them to drive out the enemies, but they didn’t, referring to verse 10.”
Nine years later in 2004, I read Joshua 15-17 on the same day. Concerning 15 and 16, I wrote, “When we face enemies, what do we do? Caleb asked for his land even though it had giants in it. Joshua 15:14 says, ‘Caleb drove them out.’ No question about it.” Then I wrote, “The sons of Judah did not drive out the Jebusites, according to 15:63, and the sons of Manasseh ‘did not drive out the Canaanites’, according to 16:10.”
Nine more years later in 2013, I read Joshua 16 and wrote, “Compromise, 15:63, 16:10 show Israel’s failure once again to obey God fully. For some reason they settle for letting the Jebusites and Canaanites live in their midst, yet God told them to completely cleanse the Holy Land from these people. Why did they settle for less? Did they get tired of fighting? Did they assume the victory was good enough? Did they stop short of complete victory to use the remnant for their own benefit, forced labor, according to 16:10? Why do we stop short of complete victory in Jesus? Why do we compromise with His Word?” I wrote part of my prayer that day, “Take all the territory given to me, do not compromise.”
Chapter 15 of Joshua ends with verse 63, “But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.”
Chapter 16 ends with verse 10, “However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.”
The instructions from the Lord were clear. Let’s go back to chapter 1. God speaking to Joshua says, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses” (v. 3). Verse 5, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Verse 7, “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”
What Is the Summary of the Story of Joshua?
Let’s go back to verse 4 of chapter 1, “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.”
These are the same people who crossed the Jordan River on dry ground because the Lord parted the waters. These are the same people who saw the walls of Jericho fall down, the same people who watched God rout Ai, the same people who saw the sun stand still in a battle of God’s victory. These people had seen the hand of the Lord over and over in their lives.
Joshua 13 starts with this verse, “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.’” The next few verses describe all the land the Jews were supposed to conquer. God Himself says in verse 6, “I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.” They had seen God help them. God says He will help them and yet they do not do it.
What Is the Lesson of Joshua 16?
We are so often the same. We see the hand of God, we read about it in the scriptures. We see His miracle-working power. We see His commandments. We see Him tell us, “Go possess the land” and yet, like the Israelites, we stop. We compromise. We settle. Why? Is it that we think God was for those of yesteryear and not for us today? Is it because we do not know how to discern the voice of God in our world today? Is it because we do not really trust in God or His Word?
Why is it you are not conquering the land God has asked you to conquer? The people left in the Promised Land became problems for the Jews for days and days and days into their future. Maybe in places where you have compromised, those issues are problems for you today. But in this Book of Joshua, I hope you have gained confidence. I hope you have seen the hand of the Lord. I hope you have seen Him win victory after victory when they follow Him. I hope you have gained confidence so you can conquer the territories God wants you to possess.
What Is the Main Lesson of Joshua?
No more compromise. No more settling. Like in the days of conquering the Promised Land, it was a battle and they had to fight it. When they did, God was on their side. He so often fought the battle for them. He will do the same for us today. Do not compromise. Do not settle.
Prayer
Father, forgive us when we do not obey You, when we do not hear Your voice, when we do not understand the territory You have for us to possess. But strengthen us, Lord, as we read this great book of Yours in the Word. You are reminding us You have a purpose for us. You have a battle plan for us. You will go with us and You guarantee the victory! Thank You for building our confidence in You because of Your Word.
Restore us, Lord. Renew our willingness to fight for You. Push away our desire to compromise, our desire to settle, our desire to take the easy way out. Build our faith in You. May we trust You again in the battles of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.