Joshua 17

But the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."

(Jos 17:18)

There are two phrases that caught my eye in today’s chapter: “Cut it down” and “Drive them out”. The house of Joseph had been given the mountain. There was a forest there… it was thick with trees; but they were going to cut them down and clear themselves a place to live. The Canaanites were strong, they had iron chariots; but the house of Joseph would drive them out. I want to once again look at how this can apply to our own lives… how we can cut down the thickets and drive out the enemy.

1. CUTTING IT DOWN – Forests are cool to visit, but you can’t really live in one. There is no space to build a house, or to assemble any kind of a community. The trees have to come down before the city can be built and established. The town I live in (Reston) is unique because of the large amount of protected forest that is part of it. But, there would be no Reston if some of those trees were not cut down, and the land made inhabitable. When we come into a new stage of life, a new chapter in the story that God is writing in and through us, there is often a period of “tearing down” that must take place before there can be any building up. In the New Testament we read often about the need to crucify the old man, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. When we do this, we are tearing down… tearing down our own ambition, our own fleshly desires, our own worldly thoughts and opinions. In a figurative sense we are cutting down the forest so God can build us into what He wants us to be. If we don’t first cut down, there will be no room to build. If we only do the job partially, we limit God in what He can do in and through our lives. The Lord wants from us a heart that is totally surrendered to Him. He wants a heart that is prepared for Him to build!
2. DRIVING THEM OUT – The Canaanites are described here as being strong, and possessing iron chariots. This tells us that the enemy wasn’t going to give up without a fight. They were equipped for battle, and they were resolved to fight. The word strong that is used here carries with it the idea of unrelenting intensity. Like a fierce storm, or a long and tireless drought, the Canaanites were going to put up a fight. Though the fight would be long, the house of Joseph would win it… for the Lord was on their side. Oftentimes in the Christian life, we act as though the flesh won’t put up a fight. When it does, we often give up. The Lord wants us to be resolute as we war against the flesh, taking ground step by step, occupying the territory that we take. The flesh is equipped by this world, and ready to do battle… BUT THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE. Don’t be deceived friends; the battle against the flesh will go on until we go home to be with the Lord. Our responsibility is to continue to fight, to keep taking ground, and holding that which we have gained. The Holy Spirit wants to give us the victory; all we must do is choose to walk in Him. We can win each battle we fight if we will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, and realize that the flesh will never surrender. Though the battles are won, the war rages on… DON’T LET DOWN YOUR GUARD!