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His Provision: Through Blood, Sweat & Tears
Rod ShimabukuroThen Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, [18]but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.” Joshua 17:17-18
The children of Joseph’s descendants felt the property/land inheritance given them was not large enough for them to live on. They wanted more land, more room. It didn’t appear to be a greedy request given Joshua’s reply - for the people to initiate and possess more land. To clear out trees on the slopes of the hill for their people. But it will also take dealing with the opposition. It will require work, preparation, a fight - - blood, sweat and tears.
One of the main points of the passage is God’s Provision for His people through and with their partnership. Provision often is accessed through participation of the person or party receiving the provision. That participation will many times incur the cost of “blood, sweat and tears.” That’s an intriguing phrase - where id it come from?
The expression 'blood, sweat and tears' is usually said to have been coined by Sir Winston Churchill in his famous "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech in 1940, when he warned the British people of the hardships to come in fighting WWII.
That phrase predates Churchill though and had been used several times during the 19th century with allusion to the trials and tribulations of Jesus Christ; for example, this poem, called Christ in the Garden, reprinted in The Huron Reflector in 1845:
So deep was his sorrow, so fervent his prayers, That down o'er his bosom rolled blood, sweat and tears; I wept to behold him and asked him his name; He answered, 'tis Jesus, from heaven I came.
My take away today is:
Through Jesus blood, sweat and tears - I have the joy and honor of pouring out my life to participate in receiving and laying hold of God’s provision. Many times it’s not “just handed to me on a silver platter.” I will need to work, pray, prepare, fight and acquire his provision.
Dear Jesus. Thank you for Your blood, sweat an tears. The life of sacrifice you lived, emptying yourself of Your divine privileges to be with your sinful creation. Thank you for Your enduring, faith-loving character displayed through life. If only I would once again, receive Your strength and grace to live the kind of life You have called me to live.... I would really appreciate Your help! I depend on You! You are my King - I am Your creation, son, slave and servant!
