Continued Conquest
It is impossible to describe every conflict and battle in a few lessons. Joshua had an assignment to finish. Throughout Canaan, the Promised Land, kings and people kept hearing of Joshua and his victories. In chapter ten, Joshua captures the five Amorite kings.
Joshua 10:21 – “No one dared speak against the Israelites.”
There were many cities and much land to be conquered.
Joshua 11:15-16 – “Joshua obeyed everything that Yahweh commanded Moses. Yahweh empowered Joshua to conquer the whole region.”
1. CAPTURE OF THE SOUTHERN CITIES
Every day moved forward, and God was with Joshua.
Joshua 10:29, 31, 34, 36, 38 – From Makkedah, Joshua and his army marched southwest to the cities of Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, and lastly Debir, attacking each one. Every verse outlines the steps made in conquering these cities.
A. This was not a one-man show!
We can get discouraged when a task is too big, and sometimes we fail to bring others along with us. Then we might say, “I can’t accomplish this, and it’s over.” I know you can work hard and get weary, but each day, God is and will be your strength and helper. He will place people around you to help get the job done.
B. The God of Israel fought for Israel.
We often see a task as “our task,” “our project,” or “our event,” but God has called us and given the instructions. It is time to believe we are never alone. He will fight for us and make things happen that only He can do.
C. God used many miracles.
God used hailstones to strike the enemy (Chapter 10). In another unique miracle, God answered Joshua’s prayer and prolonged daylight (Chapter 10) so that the destruction of the enemy could be complete. Surely, “the Lord fought for Israel.”
I was reminded recently of a verse in Romans 8:31: “What, then, shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” In the previous verses, Paul talks about our present suffering sometimes to the point where we don’t even know how to pray—but there is hope. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Not only does He pray, but as this verse reminds us, God is for us, planning for us, fighting for us, and we will win.
There is nothing in your past that can disqualify you from the victory that lies ahead. In fact, as we learn from our past mistakes, we become “more than conquerors”—winners because we know who our source is, who has the last word, and who gets all the glory. Christ gave His life for you; He will not withhold anything you need to live for Him. He will bring surprises into your life to show His mighty power and guidance.
2. CAPTURE OF THE NORTHERN KINGS
Joshua 11:1, 4 – “The northern king, Jabin of Hazor, organized a massive coalition to fight Israel. He sent messages to the other kings, and they came out in full force with a multitude of horses and chariots.”
A. Yahweh spoke to Joshua.
Joshua 11:6 - Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, “Don’t be afraid of them: by this time tomorrow, I, Yahweh, will have them all lying slain before Israel. After the battle, cripple their horses and burn their chariots.”
I know we hear this so often that we can take it for granted, but: LISTEN TO GOD. I could never say this enough. There is one God and one plan—His plan—and we are the ones called to put it into practice. Yahweh did not want Israel to trust in the might of horses or chariots, but in Him alone.
Psalm 20:7 – “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”
We can’t control what other people do or how they treat us. However, we can control our choice to obey God. Whatever new challenges we may face, the Bible contains relevant instructions that we can either choose to ignore or choose to follow.
B. Joshua launched his surprise attack.
Joshua 11:7 – “Joshua launched his surprise attack. He and his entire army pounced on them at their camp by the waters of Merom. They defeated them and pursued them.”
Joshua 11:9 – “Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.”
C. Yahweh fought alongside Joshua’s fighting men.
3. GOD’S COMMAND MUST BE COMPLETED
Joshua 11:15 – “As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.”
A. Joshua carefully obeyed all instructions.
The core theme of Joshua is obedience. This theme is repeated frequently in the book because obedience is one aspect of life that each individual believer can actually control. We can’t always control our understanding, because we don’t always have all the facts, but we can control our obedience.
B. It is difficult to complete someone else’s project.
Joshua stepped into Moses’ job, building upon what Moses had started and bringing it to completion. A new person starting a new job usually brings a new style and personality to the role. But in God’s work, we cannot work effectively if every change of personnel means starting over from scratch. True servants will step in and continue to complete the good work that others have begun.
C. Joshua gave the land to the people.
Joshua 11:23 – “Joshua conquered the whole land, just as Yahweh had promised Moses. Joshua assigned portions of the land to each of the tribes of Israel, and the Israelites lived in peace throughout the land.”
How did the land have rest from war? This expression means that the battles for the conquest of the land ended. The ongoing conflicts had forced the Israelites to live in highly stressful situations. The people responded with a massive sigh of relief when the fighting and killing finally stopped, much like modern people respond to a cease-fire. This had been a very long journey, and Joshua and the people truly needed this rest.
CONCLUSION:
This book has covered many years in the life of a man who dedicated himself to a call, a mission, and a cause: bringing God’s people into their promise. There are timeless truths we can learn from these events.
The conquest of much of the land of Canaan seems to happen quickly when we read about it in one sitting, but it actually took over seven years. We often expect quick changes in our own lives and fast victories over sin. Our journey with God is a lifelong process, however, and those changes and victories take time. It is easy to grow impatient with God and feel like giving up hope because things are moving too slowly. When you are too close to a situation, it is difficult to see progress. But when we look back, we can clearly see that God never stopped working. This was beautifully true in Joshua’s life and journey. God knew from the beginning “I’ve Got This.”
REFLECT:
What task are you currently facing where you need to step out, move ahead, and trust God’s power to be revealed in His unique way?
Name a time when you felt like giving up. How did God help you, and what happened once you "got up" and made a move?
Name a time when it was difficult to adopt and carry out someone else’s vision. What did you learn from that experience?