Joshua 16:1-10: a reflection

1The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel. 2It went out from Bethel to Luz, and passed along to the border of the Archites to Ataroth; 3and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth Horon the lower, and on to Gezer; and ended at the sea. 4The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance. 5This was the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families. The border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth Addar, to Beth Horon the upper. 6The border went out westward at Michmethath on the north. The border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah. 7It went down from Janoah to Ataroth, to Naarah, reached to Jericho, and went out at the Jordan. 8From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families; 9together with the cities which were set apart for the children of Ephraim in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 10They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.

This passage sets out the inheritance given to the tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, tracing their borders. But it ends on a troubling note: they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, but let them remain in the land, though they put them to forced labor. God had commanded that these peoples be driven out, lest they become a snare; and here, Ephraim leaves the task half done, tolerating in the land what should have been removed.

Notice the incomplete obedience recorded here: they did not drive out the Canaanites, but let them remain. It was not open rebellion; they took their inheritance, and even subjected the Canaanites to labor. But they stopped short of full obedience, leaving in the land what God had said to remove. And this half-done obedience, repeated among the tribes, would prove a lasting snare, as the peoples they tolerated drew Israel again and again into idolatry.

That is a caution about the danger of half-done obedience, of leaving in place what God has told us to remove. We can obey God partly, dealing with most of a sin or a compromise while tolerating some remainder, telling ourselves it is manageable, even useful, kept under control like the Canaanites put to labor. But what we tolerate rather than remove often becomes a snare in time. Where God has shown you something to be put out of your life, do not leave it half done, tolerating a remnant you think you can manage. The Canaanites left in the land became Israel's snare; what you tolerate rather than remove can become yours. Finish the obedience; drive out fully what God has told you to remove, rather than leaving in place a remnant that will trouble you later.

Lord, the tribes of Joseph took their inheritance, but did not drive out the Canaanites as you had commanded, leaving them in the land though under forced labor; and this half-done obedience, repeated among the tribes, became a lasting snare. Caution me by it about the danger of incomplete obedience, of leaving in place what you have told me to remove. I can obey you partly, dealing with most of a sin or a compromise while tolerating some remainder, telling myself it is manageable, even useful, kept under control. But what I tolerate rather than remove often becomes a snare in time. Where you have shown me something to be put out of my life, keep me from leaving it half done, tolerating a remnant I think I can manage. The Canaanites left in the land became Israel's snare; what I tolerate rather than remove can become mine. Help me finish the obedience, and drive out fully what you have told me to remove, rather than leaving in place a remnant that will trouble me later. Give me thorough obedience, Lord, not half-done.