These chapters outline the various parts of the land, which were allocated to each tribe.

Already two and one half tribes received their allocation on the East Side, Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh.

Chapter fifteen is taken up with Judah’s allocation, this being the tribe from which the messiah would come, was first on the West Side to receive its inheritance.

Chapter sixteen and seventeen were taken up with the allocation to the two tribes, called after Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

In verse one of chapter eighteen we discover the tabernacle being erected in Shiloh.

This was a central location, reminding us that Christ and the worship of Christ should and must be central to everything else.

In verse eleven Benjamin hears of his allocation.

Chapter nineteen verse one Simeon, verse ten Zebulun, verse seventeen Issachar, verse twenty four Asher, verse thirty two Naphtali, verse forty Dan.

Joshua 19:51 These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

Just two things we want to say about the dividing of the land.

Notice v 51, "It was before the Lord" It was God’s choice, again we should be content with the gifts and talents God has given to us.

God’s choice, also notice a Grave calamity.

Over and over again we read these sad words.

Joshua 15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

Joshua 16:10 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.

Joshua 17:12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Many of them failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land

As we look upon the land of Canaan, we consider it a type of living our Christian life to its full potential, each tribe had a lot to possess, sadly some failed to possess their possessions, reminding us of many of God’s people, who have a portion of their inheritance, but have failed to reach the potential of all that God has for them.

I wonder, how near is your portion to your potential?

Are you happy with your portion or do you want to reach your potential?

I hope as we take a closer look at some of these verses that we discover how we can best reach our potential and live victorious Christian lives.

How much of your inheritance is still occupied by the Canaanites?

Let’s drive out the Canaanites and claim our inheritance, lets live our Christian lives to the full potential for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

I want to look briefly at some of the different attitudes we find in these verses as the land is being distributed. Remember it’s not a portion we want, it’s our potential we want to reach for his great names sake.

I want us to look at five women in these chapters.

Joshua 17:3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

Joshua 17:4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

They receive their inheritance.

Numbers 27:1 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

Numbers 27:2-3 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, [3] Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

Numbers 27:8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

Yes possessing your possessions can be an uphill struggle, do you want to keep the portion or do you really want to reach your potential?

It can be an uphill struggle; also we see in numbers 36 that zeal alone in not enough.

They had to obey the word of God, do you want to possess your possessions, reach your potential, is there that enthusiasm, eagerness, is there that commitment to obey the word of God?

Lesson On Eagerness: It could mean uphill struggles, we must obey God’s word at all times.

We want to examine this account here again in chapter seventeen, a story of a tribe, who were not happy with their allocation.

Notice their inability to drive out the Canaanites from their possession, now let’s examine their complaint.

Yes there is no doubt that these people were eager for more possessions, greater positions but there was a fundamental problem.

Joshua simply told them conquer what God has given you firstly.

No we can’t manage that, we want more.

We have a hint of sarcasm on Joshua’s final word to them.

Go and conquer what God has given you first, then the Lord will bless you with more.

• Do you want to know more about God’s word?

• Do you want to do more for the Lord?

• Do you want a greater position. Do you feel your are capable of greater things?

These tribes wanted more, but they had failed to conquer that which God had already given them.

I want a new job, are you doing your job now to the glory of God?

Could God trust you somewhere else?

Did you notice what held them back from occupying their territory?

They did not drive out the Canaanites. Is there some sin that you haven’t driven out of your life?

Is that the cry of your heart, more, more, more. I want to have more, I want to do more, I have much more to offer, have you conquered the Canaanites in your life yet?

Do you see the lamentable envy?

Yes we want more, but they ignored what God had already given them to do.

Look what they were told to do.

There was a mountain there, it was theirs but they would have to cut down the wood.

As I considered the wood that has to be removed, I want to look at it negatively for a short time.

Is there some god that is keeping you away from the Lord?

Could it be sport, work a hobby?

• COMMUNICATION.

Have you a gossiping tongue?

Does the axe need to be laid to that tree, before you can really move on and reach your potential?

• OCCUPATION.

We can apply this verse to the quality of our work for the Lord.

Gold, silver and precious stones, valuable, lasting and unperishable.

Wood hay and stubble, worthless, wastes away and will not last.

Consider the quality of your service for the Lord?

Cut down the wood and drive out the Canaanites then the Lord will give you more.

Joshua 19:1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

Look at the example of Judah, they shared their inheritance with Simeon.

If we want to reach our potential then we need to exercise the ministry of encouragement.

If the Lord is really blessing you, then you will want others to share in this blessing.

You discover that it’s the encouragers who fulfil their potential.

What about you?

It could be that you just don’t care.

It could be that you are happy with a portion, happy to be saved and really there is no enthusiasm for the Lord’s work, you have no interest in possessing your possessions, you are happy with second best.

Seven tribes just happily going along, no interest in fulfilling what God has placed them there to do.

Joshua 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

How long? Is it not time you got enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, God has given you so much and you are happy with a little portion, my how you could be used if only you would reach your potential.

How long are ye slack to go and possess the land?

There is a story told about Marshal Romell, the desert fox. One of his teachers said he was the laziest boy in the class. On one occasion she said, "if Rommel ever turned up a dictation without a mistake, I would hire a band and go off for a day in the country."

On hearing this Rommel set to work and handed in a piece of perfect work, however the band didn’t appear and he slumped again.

The thought of reward drove him, but the reward came to nothing.

Oh, but we will have no such let down. What a reward it will be to hear those words from the master’s lips, "Well done."

He won’t say, "Well done," if you haven’t done well.

Is this God’s word for you?

Joshua 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

Let us notice finally:

Notice who received the first inheritance, west of the Jordan.

Joshua 15:1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.

Judah first, the tribe from which Christ came.

Joshua 19:49-50 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: [50] According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

If we want to reach our potential in the business world or perhaps academic world, we are told, put yourself first, consider number one.

Christ first.

Others next.

And self last.

The secret of joy is this,

We have considered: