Looking at the twenty-first century and our life as Christians today, things are no different. The excuses made by the people of Joseph are exactly the same kind of things we do and say today in order to avoid obedience.
I need to have a certain quality of life before I can really start investing my time in the church or making plans to lead family devotions. God needs to step up and give me the things I want and need, then I can make the sacrifices he wants from me. So until I have a larger salary, I cannot really tithe and support the ministry of the Word. Until my wife starts giving me the respect I deserve, I am not going to love and care for her in the way God wants me to.
In our struggles against the world, the flesh, and the devil, we can claim that they are too strong for us and we simply do not have the power to resist temptation. I know the Lord wants me to control my anger but I just cannot. I am not strong enough. This is who I am and I cannot change things. I know the Lord wants me to flee sexual immorality but I really need that feeling of control that comes from pornography—I cannot do without it. I know God wants me to lead my family in devotions but I do not know what to say and I am just too tired in the mornings to get up in time to do these things.
In giving us the examples of complaints from the people of Joseph, the Spirit is reminding us of our weakness and susceptibility to sin. Yes, we have been given an inheritance that does not perish or fade (1 Peter 1:4), but our sinful natures have not been removed. We are no better than the people of Joseph, even with the Spirit dwelling in our hearts in a much fuller way than he ever did during the time of the old covenant. Discontentment, laziness, and the desire for comfort will continue to plague our lives as long as we live in this world. Like Israel we want to enjoy the blessings that come from the gospel, but we are reluctant to do the good works that should always follow.
The Holy Spirit has given us Joshua 16-17 because he wants to conform us into the image of Christ our Saviour (Romans 8:29). By giving us these negative examples, he wants us to see the same excuses that we make on a daily basis so that we might repent and learn from them.
14 Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the LORD has blessed me?”