I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS!
Ever said that or had that thought? The Promised Land had been divided up between the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh complained to Joshua that they were not given enough land. After all, Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph, the one who had saved the whole family from starvation. They should have been given more consideration when the land was distributed.
The Complaint – We deserve better.
Text – Joshua 17:12-18
(14) Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?"
You start thinking about what you deserve when you imagined it would be easier.
(12) Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
(16) But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron.”
You are not helped when others do for you what you can do for yourself.
(15) So Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you."
You can complain about what you deserve after you make use of what God has given you.
(17) And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph — to Ephraim and Manasseh — saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, (18) but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."