But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment … - Joshua 17:17

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 8, 2015): Joshua 17

The Washington Post’s Richard Cohen recently wrote an opinion piece entitled “Obama, the President Who Lost his Voice.” The article spoke of the changes that have occurred over the past seven plus years in Barak Obama. Some, like his older appearance and the grey hair that has sprouted on his head are to be expected. But the president has also forgotten how to talk. The problem is that it was his voice that earned him the White House in the first place. But that passionate eloquence that won the elections is now long gone. It has been replaced by short bitter comments on the life that exists around him.

Cohen specifically mentions the President’s response following the Paris attacks.

Obama’s self-inflicted predicament was apparent in the statement he issued following the Paris terrorist attacks. Unlike many other mass killings, this one was broadcast in real time — unfolding on TV as it happened. It left the United States both shaken and horrified. Yet Obama spoke coldly, by rote — saying all the right things in the manner of a minister presiding at the funeral of a perfect stranger. (Richard Cohen)

The tragedy is that it simply didn’t have to be this way. But Barak Obama seems to have proven that he is a President who is afraid to lead. His fear might be that if he tried to lead no one would follow. In the early days of the presidency, he may have feared that what was necessary to lead would not get him re-elected, but in the midst of his refusal to lead, especially on the world stage, he lost his voice. He could have been the passionate voice of change. He was intelligent enough and emotional enough to have been a great leader of the world. But he opted for the safe road, the easy road, and because of that, the phenomenal potential of his presidency was never realized.

The descendants of the sons of Joseph come complaining to Joshua about their land allotment. It was not enough. They were a populous people who deserved more. They seemed to ignore the fact that they had received much of the choice land. What they had received was not enough. And Joshua response was that their land actually had few limits, because they had been given the hill country as well. With their superior numbers, they could clear the land that needed to be cleared, and they could push aside the inhabitants of the land. What Joshua had handed to the sons of Joseph and phenomenal potential. Joshua was emphasizing that once again they were being placed in the position of being a leader of Israel. They could set the example for the rest of the nation – they could go beyond the minimum and capture the land.

But, unfortunately, this they were unwilling to do. And as a result they too would begin to lose their voice and their position as the leaders of the nation to another tribe who seemed willing to pay the price and set the course for Israel. That tribe would be Judah. But the job probably should have belonged to Ephraim and Manasseh – If they had not abdicated from the task that had been set before them.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 18