“Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.”
Joshua 11:15
Reading through this passage of Joshua is truly exhilarating. A colorful narrative of deception, cosmic miracles, and incredible military conquests is contained in just a few short chapters. We see the Israelites falter, but then regain their footing in the strength of the Lord as they proceed to take the northern Canaanite lands. It reads like a fantastical ancient tale, and we should consider it a gift that God recorded these amazing stories for us in Scripture to grow our knowledge of him.
While there is much for us to give attention to in these passages, I think it is important to note the obedience we see in Joshua as he leads Israel into battle for the Promised Land. After neglecting to consult with the Lord before entering into a covenant with the Gibeonites in chapter 9, Israel is careful not to make the same mistake twice. As they continue to encounter the current inhabitants of the Land, Joshua commits his army to the command given to them in Deuteronomy 7:1-2. They “defeat them…devote them to complete destruction”.
For a person like myself who is unfamiliar with war, this can be gruesome to read (“hamstring the horses” was a Google search I was fearful to make). However, the motivation behind this destruction is for the Israelite’s benefit: God knows the fickle nature of the hearts, and if alternative gods are placed before them they will forsake Yahweh. Thus it is of utmost importance that they completely blot out the peoples, and more specifically their pagan religions and practices.
We read in this narrative that God often gave Joshua direction going into battle by declaring the outcome had already been determined. “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands” indicates that God is not leaving these battles up to chance (10:8). The winner has been selected and will prevail. However, even with the results predestined by God himself, Joshua must still act. He does not sit back and wait for victory to be handed over, rather, he marches forward, often marching his men for miles and miles, initiating war, and then chasing them even further! Do not be fooled by the summation of these battles—what may be described in a sentence or two often spans regions that are lengthy and imply strenuous efforts and costly engagements. Joshua’s obedience is characterized by a steadfast commitment to faithfulness to God and willingness to press on, even when the fight is tough and the men are tired.
Read Luke 12:41-48
Jesus’ teaching in this parable is clearly summed up in the final verse, “everyone to whom much was given, much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more”. As they questioned him, Jesus tells his followers that they must be ready for the hour when the Son of Man is coming—being intentional with their time, rather than lazing about or squandering the days away with inane worries and earthly pursuits.
We are in the thick of unfamiliar territory. You are no doubt exhausted in more ways than one. I would guess that family members are starting to be less quirky and more annoying; you’re tired of not being able to go where you want when you want, and you just want life to go back to normal. While this may not be the hardest thing you will endure in your lifetime, and it pales in comparison to many hardships, that does not mean that it is easy.
With so much uncertainty ahead, will you choose to fall back, allowing other Christians to take hold of opportunities that you know were meant for you? Or will you rise to the challenge, knowing that Jesus has already determined you victorious in him, and declare his victory over death to the people of Sullivan? We have been given much, in that we have the promise of eternal life. Because we know this truth, much is then expected of us. We must be obedient to the call of the Great Commission and share this knowledge with whomever we can, for the glory of God and the building up of His Kingdom.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Photo by Bryan Goff on Unsplash
