LIVING UP TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

LIVING UP TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

 

Joshua 17:1-18

Introduction: To begin with it is instructive to see how Israel performed after the land of inheritance was secured by Joshua. It is important to note the statement which occurs ten times from Joshua 13:28 – Joshua 19:48 and says, “This is the inheritance of. . .” and the tribes named have that inheritance. This study is going to demonstrate why Israel eventually wound up in the Babylonian Captivity and had incorporated into their worship, false gods, and they had forsaken or ignored their calling to be the people of God. Israel had a great potential but neglected their responsibilities to obey God and drive out the inhabitants as God had told them to do. This failure left them open to things God did not want them to become engaged in. Note with me some of the statements about their negligence. 

  • Joshua 15:14 Caleb drove out the Anakims and occupied the land.
  • Joshua 15:63 “. . .Judah could not drive them out [the Jebusites], from Jerusalem.
  • Joshua 16:4, 10. Note vs. 10, “And they drave not out the Canaanites. . .”
  • Joshua 17:12, Note vs. 12, “. . .Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants. . . 
  • Joshua 18:3 (KJV) 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?

It is evident that the people of Israel had a problem with motivation and were stricken with “slothfulness.” Have you ever had someone tell you that you have great potential in some area? We often see young people and even children and make the comment that they have great potential in some area. A child who loves animals is often considered to have potential to be a veterinarian. Someone who has interest in airplanes often is said to have great potential and could be a pilot someday. Have you ever considered the matter of living up to your potential? If we understand the relationship we have with Christ and Him living in us by His Holy Spirit then we have great potential. Or you fail to meet your potential. 

Let’s look at a passage and story today that is a potential “Soap Opera.” We might call it the “Bold and the Blundering.” That is the contrast we will find in Joshua 17. We find an interesting contrast here between a group of people who were “bold” and lived up to their potential, and another group who were blundering as a blind man and did not live up to their potential. That is what we want to evaluate this morning, the bold and the blundering. Wouldn’t you like to be bold in a good way? God is so interested in his dealings with man. Sometimes he uses women to teach men what they need to know. Now I know that it grates on you, who are men, and it even cuts at your manhood, right? 

Joshua 17:1-6. Now I’ll get the story. Half of the tribe of Manasseh had stayed on the East side of the Jordan. They received their inheritance there. The other half of the tribe is mentioned here, and the sons of Manasseh are named. There is one problem mentioned in Joshua 17:3 where Zelophehad did not have any sons according to Numbers 26:33, just daughters. The name of Zelophehad would not be carried on. To the Jew this was a major issue to carry on the name of the father. Go to Numbers 27:1-11. God was saying that no name would die out in Israel. Now, if my son does not have any children, or does and not have a male child then the name of Jerry Rockwell will die out. Now that is not really a big deal. Now today the Rockwell family is rather large, and it has lived on in so many ways. I have a younger brother who has two sons and they will continue the name of my father.

But here we have a different thing. There were no sons and the daughters of Zelophehad come forth and are very bold in approaching Moses on behalf of their family name and their family inheritance. With no sons then what happens to the inheritance, i.e. the land inheritance, of their father? This was a rather big deal with them. They want to know what was going to happen to them. In this culture this was a very bold action because women had few rights and were not much more significance than a farm animal. This is a very radical action by these women. Note with me some of the characteristics of these women in their boldness.

  1. They were concerned about their father’s name. Numbers 27:4 (KJV) Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. 
  2. They boldly asked for this inheritance. They were going against the grain in this culture.
  3. They refused to let the matter rest. They approach Moses in Number 27 and then when the land is divided in Joshua 17 they show up again, this time to consult with Joshua. Now think about Joshua’s situation. He had a lot going on and these five women were probably not high on his priority list. They could have let the matter slip and then get bitter about it. That happens often today.

Note when they came, they were not demanding. They simply come to Joshua and remind him what Moses said about the situation they were in. Look at Joshua 17:4 (KJV) 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 (Num. 27). [Emphasis added.] They are saying, Joshua do you remember what Moses said about this matter. 

Boldness is not being obnoxious and demanding. The Apostle Paul made a statement n this vein in  1 Corinthians 15:10 (KJV) But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  It is being persistent, with politeness, and acting on what God has said. Boldness is the willingness to stick to it until something is done about it. There are women who dare to get all that God has for them. There are men who have not figured it out. They talk about how manly they are and have great potential but not man enough to live up to it. Here we have some women who want to live up to what God wants in their life and they want to live God’s way and live in a way that pleases Him.

Go to Ephesians 2:11-13 (KJV) 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. We have something we do not deserve to have. We have a special relationship with God where in times past that was not possible with the Jew. There is a figure that God uses to demonstrate His relationship with His people and that is the marriage. Now if I understand the analogy, Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and the church is the bride. We explored that last Sunday. That means there is an element of the church that has a feminine side to it. Now some of us men do not want to admit that and refuse to even acknowledge it. Now let me remind you about 2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Now that should verify the feminine part of the church. Now stay with me because I am going somewhere with this. We are all considered to be part of the “bride of Christ” (Rev. 21:9).

We should want all that God has for us. Do you? Here are five questions for those who want to be bold. Here are some things that may be contrary to what we have been taught in the past. 

THE BOLD

  1. Are we humble enough to learn from women? If you will read this book which is more up to date than the news paper you find at the news stand. The Bible we hold in our hands gives us example after example of women who stood up when no man would. We cannot deny that. Are you humble enough to learn from a woman? Men have the idea that women are just a notch below them. God mad men to be the leader in his home but women are not slave girls. The Bible is very clear about our relationship with Christ. Galatians 3:28 (KJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. You see, we are one in Christ. In other words women have the same privilege in their relationship with Christ as men do. This is the contrast in Joshua 17.
  2. Are we as concerned for the name of our Father as these women were? You see we have a heavenly Father and we should be concerned about the name of our Father. Our significance in this world is intimately tied to His mission in this world. God has us on this planet, not just to have fun, not to have a problem free life, but to have the privilege to be part of His mission. To tell others about our Father and his provision for us in Jesus Christ. When Jesus said we should pray in Matthew 5 he said when ye pray, say “Our Father which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” That means we should want to honor Him and bring glory to His name. We should want to worship Him. Here was a group of women who were concerned about their father’s name. We have got to be concerned about His name, not ours. I have seen guys get into a fight because someone made fun of his truck or his dog. But we will let anyone run down the name of God. We will let other desecrate His name. How many of you would sacrifice the comfort of living in the United States to go to a far country and tell people about the name of your Father? Have you seen what the Bible says about the “name of God?” Listen to some of the words of the Bible:

Psalms 66:2 (KJV) Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

Psalms 72:19 (KJV) And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Isaiah 24:15 (KJV) Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. It takes a man to do this. Sometimes, when men won’t do that, God uses women.

  1. Are you willing to boldly claim our inheritance from our Father? These ladies knew they had an inheritance and they said they wanted to claim it. There have been people who actually win the lottery and never claim it. Probably because they did not check their ticket. Look at Psalms 2:8 (KJV) Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. [Emphasis added.] Do you claim that verse? I do, will you claim it? We often make vain claims like: Oh God give us a nice church where we can all be comfortable. Oh God give me all of my needs. That is how we pray. The commission we have is that we are to be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. God said in Psalm 2:8 (KJV), “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Are we willing to pay the price and ask God to give us the uttermost parts of the earth for your inheritance?
  2. Are we willing to pray God’s words back to Him? This is what the daughters of Zelophehad did. They reminded Joshua and Eleazar of what God had told Moses. They were just reminding them what God had already said. One of the most effective ways to pray is to pray God’s words back to Him. You see that is why we can look at a passage like Psalm 2:8 and say will you be bold enough, will you accept the challenge to ask God for the heathen? Will you say, God I want that inheritance? That is to glorify His name.

THE BLUNDERING 

What about the men of Ephraim and Manasseh? These are the blundering of the passage. 

  1. They were lazy/slothful and refused to obey God’s instructions. Look at Joshua 17:12 (KJV) Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. They never gained the victory over the inhabitants of the land and cities. They could not drive out the inhabitants. Look at Joshua 17:13 (KJV) Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out. Here they did the same thing we found in Joshua 16:10. They were disobedient to the commands of God. We have looked at this before. They did not get the victory. They simply put the Canaanites to tribute. In other words, they made them slaves. We do the same with our flesh. We make it our slave. You can serve God in the flesh. A performance driven Christianity does not know the grace of God. 
  2. They were greedy. Look at Joshua 17:14 they were greedy and proud of it. Do you remember that Joseph was given a double portion of the firstborn? We have looked at this. Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. They come to Joshua and say, ” We only got one lot.” Wait a minute, they got two portions. They were “greedy,” wanting more land, and they were “proud,” saying they were a great people. Why look how God has blessed us. 
  3. They complained a lot. Look at Joshua 17:16 they were constantly complaining. Look at the Canaanites, they have the chariots of iron and we need more land because we cannot drive them out. They are stronger than we are. Now I think we get that way sometimes and forget the passage which says in 1 John 4:4 (KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Do you know what Joshua does? He calls their bluff. Look at Joshua 17:15 (KJV) And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. Look at Joshua 17:17-18 (KJV) 17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: 18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. Joshua says to them, “If you are a great people then get with the program.” If you are so wonderful then get busy and do the job. What Joshua is saying to the people of Ephraim is that you guys are too lazy to get up and cut down the trees on the mountains given to you. If you want more land, then go and make the land given to you useful. You want land, then drive out the giants and the iron chariots. If you are such great people, then demonstrate it. Here is an important principle. The issue is never your lack of something, but not living up to the full capacity God has given you. I often wonder when a person tells me how great a Christian they are and then never function like one. They can tell you how much Bible they know but then the never talk to anyone about the Lord Jesus Christ. They can tell you how godly they are but never are faithful to the Lord. The issue is never what you lack. In Christ we have been blessed with all things. 2 Peter 1:3 (KJV) According to his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV) For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. Do you get the point? We have no reason to murmur and complain. Have you ever been around someone who says, “Well I am the one who keeps this company going. Those guys sitting around in the nice suites and big offices don’t keep this company running, I do and I need more salary because of who I am.” The issue is never how much you make. The issue is being a good steward of what God gives you. We have developed an attitude that the government owes me something. The big talk in political circles is that we need to cut Medicare. The “Senior Saints” are in an uproar. Our country is on the verge of bankruptcy. What would you do if Social Security stopped tomorrow? The issue is not money but how you live your daily life. Someone says, “Well, I don’t have enough money to get milk for the baby, but you have two cell phones, and you will go to Best Buy in the morning to get the new iPad or Sony box with games in it. Where is our value system? Many today are living like Ephraim. The Bible is alive today. 

God has given you spiritual gifts to function in the body of Christ. How are you doing today? Are you living up to your potential? How do we move from the “Blundering” to the “Bold” and live up to our potential? Here are three things that will help us.

  1. Cut down the trees so you can see. Matthew 7:3.
  2. Drive out the giants. 
  3. Stop gripping about the iron chariots. Proverbs 22:13; Proverbs 26:14; Proverbs 26:15-16.

Conclusion: What are you going to do about it? What keeps you from living up to your full potential? What are you going to do today that will start you on the road to living up to your full potential? What are you going to do right now? Can you say that you will not be the same person next week that you are today? Why not change?