Joshua 17: Unfailing Impartial Word, Manasseh’s Faith Blessed

Rev. Nabil Nour, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, South Dakota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Joshua 17. God does not show partiality. As Ephraim showed in the last chapter, God’s love and mercy and are not restricted by birth order. Neither are they restricted by gender, as Manasseh shows here in Joshua 17. Even Joshua, God’s representative, shows no partiality towards his fellow descendents of Joseph. Even though Manasseh’s holdings end up embarrassingly huge, God does not fail to bless Machir or Zelophehad’s daughters, who in faith asked for God’s help. The unfailing Scriptures however also show that the tribe of Dan was not forgotten or neglected in the midst of Joseph’s bounty, with Ephraim’s territory firmly restricted to the south fork of the Kanah. Through all this, Manasseh points to Jesus Christ, who blessed the faith of the least, making us forget our travails through His salvation.