The Challenge of Growth (Joshua 17:14-18) (December 12, 2025)

The Challenge of Growth (Joshua 17:14-18) Living Life 12/12/2025 Daily Devotional Bible Study

 

 

The Challenge of Growth

 

 

 

 

Introduction: Complaining vs. Growing in Faith

Welcome to living life being around people who complain a lot it's a really something that is not a pleasant.
It's hard to be around those kind of people.
I could understand how Moses felt in the Bible when the Israelites were constantly complaining.
I think God wants us to live a life not of complaining but of being thankful and also trusting in him and finding our satisfaction in him.
Um but also apart from complaining people who want stuff for free they don't want to work

they just want stuff for free.
I think that's also against the heart of God.
I believe that God wants us to partner with him even in prayer.
He doesn't just want us to pray but he wants us to seek how can we partner with God in receiving the direction that God wants and to follow his will and and allow his will to come to fruition and I think you know breaking away from complaining also stop just praying and asking only but also partnering with God.
I think that is the sign of true growth

and if we walk in that way we will truly grow as Christians.
So we're gonna see that in our passage today.
So let's read together

 

 

 

The Challenge of Growth

 

 

 

The Challenge of Growth

 

 

Scripture Reading: Joshua 17:14–18

Joshua Chapter Seventeen verses fourteen to eighteen.

The people of Joseph said to Joshua Why have you given us only an allotment and one portion for an inheritance?
We are a numerous people and the Lord has blessed us abundantly if you are so numerous Joshua answered and if the hill country of Effram is too small for you go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Parasites and Peepyites The people of Joseph replied

the hill country is not enough for us and all the Canonites who live in the plaine have chariots fitted with iron both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the valley of Jesriel.
But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph to Ifrm and Massa you are numerous and very powerful.
You will have not only an allotment but the forested hill country as well.

Clear it and its farthest limits will be yours.
Though the Canonites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong you can drive them out.

 

The Complaint: Wanting More Without Effort

So once again Jashua is portioning out the land for the Israelites and as we saw in the last couple days Ephram and the tribe of Manassa they have received their land but Ephrame and Massa these tribes looked at the people their people and said we have way too many people and such little land and so they asked for more and so Joshua replied take the forested hills from the people of K and the Cannonites

um but then they replied they are way too strong for us like there's no way we can drive out these Canyonites.
And so all they did was complain but also ask hey just give us more give us more.
And um so Joshua says in verse seventeen if we read together but Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph to Ephraim and Messa you are numerous and very powerful.
You will have not only one allotment but if we continue to read in verse eighteen but the forested hill country as well.
So what Joshua is saying is

it's not that God doesn't want to give you this land but don't just sit there and not work for it a partner with God and as you walk in faith God will allow that lands for you.

 

The Call to Partner With God

Many times we pray and ask for things and that's a great thing to do.
You know it's always great to pray and ask God for certain breakthrough and certain help in areas where we feel like there's nothing we can do.
But many times we pray and we don't act in faith we're not asking God God how can I partner with you?

God I really feel like this is what would be best for me and my family or my ministry or whatever it is my work but God what do you want?
And God if that is my goal if that is the path how can I partner with you to allow those blessings and allow the honor to be given to you how can I partner with you?
It's not just about prayer but in that prayer should be this question of asking God how can I obey how can I trust you in this way?
And I feel like that brothers and sisters

Ah is that next step of growth for us to not just pray but to act in faith and to walk in faith It's not easy but if we get into the habit of just asking and asking and not living by faith there will be no growth and we will not be able to enjoy the vast blessings that God has for us and we will not be as effective as the disciples of Christ that God desires for us to be.

 

 

 

In what areas of your life is God calling you to grow?

 

 

 

 

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The Barrier to Growth: Fear

A big reason why Ephrame and Manassa were unwilling Ah to initially go and drive out the Canyonites in these forested areas was because of fear.
A big reason why we do not grow as Christians is because of fear fear that we will miss out on greater things if we obey fear that if I am not pleased and satisfied in a temporal temporary sense that um you know I'm gonna miss out fear that you know others will have more joy if I don't if I obey God in this time um but and then fear like um

Ephrame and Massa had here where if I follow God you know we might get defeated like if I if we fight these powerful Canyonites we're gonna lose and that's what keeps us from growing brothers and sisters.
So in what areas are you struggling with fear in your life?
In what areas are fear keeping you from taking that steps of faith and partnering with God in the great will he has for your life and for your ministry your family and your work

and confess that fear and repent of that fear and change your prayer to God.
What do you desire and how can I partner with you to let your kingdom come on Earth as it is in heaven So I encourage your brothers and sisters let's partner with God and let's grow in faith as we ask God for what to do but also the strength to do it and know that God's way is the best way.

 

Closing Prayer

Let us pray Heavenly Father We thank you

Ah that we don't have to complain and we don't have to ask for things for free because we know that we have our ultimate satisfaction in you Jesus but also that we believe in faith.
You don't just give us shower things down but um you want us to partner with you in faith and so Lord may our prayers change from God give me this God give me that to God What do you desire and what is your plan

and how can I partner with you?
And as we do that, we believe our faith will grow and we will be able to truly enjoy Ah the amazing intimacy but also the amazing blessings you have in store for us.
So please help us to walk in faith and grow in faith.
In Jesus name we pray amen.

 

 

"When Christ gives us a particular calling to fulfill, he emphatically does not promise that it will come easy. In fact, it is often precisely the opposite. Difficult obstacles emerge to comfirm the genuineness of our calling."~David Matis