“The border of Manasseh ran from Asher to Michmethath which was east of Shechem; then the border went southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the sons of Ephraim. The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook (these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh), and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and it ended at the sea. The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east. In Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean and its towns and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, the third is Napheth. But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land. It came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.” Joshua 17:7-13 NASB1995
Manasseh was the firstborn and Ephraim was the second born. However, the second was chosen to receive the double blessing. The second born always points us to a Biblical truth about Jesus. The sea is a representation of sin in the Bible.
The first born could not take possession of all the Lord had for him because the Canaanites persisted. They could not drive them out. Instead, they put them to forced labor. Every bit of this story, I believe, is pointing us to a deeper Biblical truth. Israel could not overcome sin. They worked and even attempted to force people to follow the Law, but they could not drive out sin from amongst them. Neither could we. Therefore, the second born, or the second Adam, who is Jesus, did it for us. If we continue reading we can see a spiritual lesson of what we get in Christ.
“Then the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion for an inheritance, since I am a numerous people whom the Lord has thus far blessed?” Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.” Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong.”” Joshua 17:14-18 NASB1995
This is referring to the double blessing again. There is not just one lot for the taking. There is two. Joshua, whose name actually is a representation of Jesus tells them they will not only have one portion, but they will have two and the hill country is for the taking. The hill county also points us to the fact that in Christ, we are seated with Him in the heavens. We have authority and power.
What would they have to do after taking the hill country? They had to clear the forest. The trees point us towards people and the Canaanites point us towards the enemy of God that must be driven out. Jesus, our tree of life, was the One who drove out the enemies of God. All that we have to do is believe that it is done. In Christ, we do have the ability to take the forest. We do have the ability to drive out the enemies of God, not because of our power, but because of His.
Are you concerned about family members. Believe, and pray. And keep praying. God’s enemies and ours have already been defeated. We have the hill country. We can ascend to the mountain of the Lord for our families and take possession of what the Lord has given us.