JOSHUA 10 GOD AT WORK FOR HIS PEOPLE Like the nation of Israel when they entered Canaan, so we in our day have to learn to conquer our foes and deal with opposition under divine control and power, before we can possess what we have been given. Quick fixes of sin-problems and heated reactions to attacks are not the way to victory. The loss of one battle does not mean defeat. Critical moments that arise, may be very decisive as far as the rest of our lives are concerned. Joshua had learned that "he that believeth shall not make haste," unless God directs them to. There are times for action and there are times for waiting depending on how the Lord Himself instructs us.
After Israel took control of the center of the land reaching beyond Jericho to Ai and Bethel all the way to Shechem, they waited for the Lord's guidance. In the central campaign, the decisive battles were Jericho and Ai. In the southern campaign, the decisive battles were at Gibeon and Beth-horon. In the northern campaign, the decisive battle was by the waters of Merom [Josh.11]. The first opposition came subtly through the deception of the Gibeonites. There are times when God is merciful to us in spite of our independent attitude, and will use us again. Sometimes by divine sovereignty, He will use a mistake to "fall out to the furtherance of the Gospel." Gibeon was a great key city in all of that land, and was well defended by mighty men. But God had brought a victory over those people in spite of Israel's failure.
Much of Christian living involves winning battles, great or small, during the course of daily living. The loss of one battle in the Christian life does not mean ultimate defeat. What we do at critical junctures, may prove to be decisive in wide areas of Christian experience. In the early campaign, disobedience and prayerlessness meant inevitable defeat. Now, in the southern campaign, new dangers and situations are matched by faith, action and ruthless uncompromising, daring warfare. This resulted in total victory. Five kings declared war on Gibeon who called for help from Joshua. Assured of God’s promise of victory, Joshua came up from Gilgal, his base of operations, and defeated the enemy. One of the greatest battles in history, took place in which God intervened and lengthened the day so victory would be total and final.
When a sinner realizes their lost condition and seeks the Lord, there is antagonism towards them. Those who are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God," are condemned in their own soul when one who is lost faces the fact that only the Lord Jesus Christ can save them. Hostility from those who know that person, even friends and family, is not uncommon. A coalition of five kings who ruled cities to the south was formed against Gibeon. Fear is a legitimate emotion when one is convicted of their danger. Fear itself does not bring salvation, but "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." It is not a bad thing when people are afraid to listen to the Gospel for fear they will be convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment and will be converted.
We need to remember who we are. The Israelites were no ordinary people, because the people of God were supported by the supernatural power of God and thus were to be feared. God’s people today (the Church) are to be feared. Some unbelievers will leave a friendship because they are afraid to be associated with a person who is committed to holy living. Even coming into building where a Bible-believing and practicing church meets makes people nervous. There is fear lest they be converted. The people there are uncompromising in their testimony, courageous in faith, and holy in their lives. There is a sense of awe when the Lord’s people meet and reverence is demanded by the presence of God. The believer is to be righteous in conduct, uncompromising in principles, passionate in devotion to the Savior, sacrificial in service and transparent in life. This should make something about the place where God’s people meet, seriously impacting to those who come there. It is a good thing when the practice of truth tempered by grace produces a reverential fear. There was no battle until Joshua took the initiative and attacked. He did not hesitate to act quickly and righteously toward the Gibeonites who had lied to him, because the Lord said, "Fear not, for i have delivered them into thine hand." Integrity demands that we keep our word in spite of what others may say or do against us.
When God gives His sanction to a thing, there is no reason to linger for our own purposes. There was a plan already in place and a strategy to follow in conquering the land. The all-night march and the quick attack were unexpected by the enemy alliance. Before the enemy could act, the Lord "discomfited" them, threw them into confusion, and they were destroyed by hailstones from above and the God-directed swords of the Israelites. Even the extended daylight hours, all combined to bring about victory over five kings and their armies all at once. Divine authority and divine intervention brought about one of the greatest victories of human history. This was so impacting; a poetic stanza was written in the book of Jasher. When the Lord Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church, He didn’t say that the gates of hell would not come out and march against the Church. The gates of hell can not withstand the onslaught of a Spirit- filled company of God’s people. It is important, and it is God’s plan, that His people be on the offensive. We are not to run away, but instead, launch a full-scale offensive in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There will be times when we will be tested as to our word and integrity. We will be tested as to our leadership whether we will be compliant to God's directive or will make an excuse or delay a necessary action. We will be tested as to our honor, honesty and convictions. We will be tested as to whether we believe, and are willing to act on the word of the Lord, in spite of what other people may say or do. The key to victory for Joshua was “Gilgal,” the place of the cutting off of the flesh. Gilgal was the place of remembrance: all God’s people went down into death there when they crossed Jordan. It was the place of resurrection: they came with their leader into new life. As the place of renunciation: they cast off the carnal existence of the wilderness. Gilgal was the place of restoration because they were back in fellowship with the Lord. At the place of realization this was where was where they ate of the “old corn of the land.” Finally, they had strong food from the land. It was here in the place of revelation where Joshua met the Captain with the drawn sword. The lessons of Gilgal need to be well-learned and reviewed.
Paul, the apostle. gave the key to a Christian's life and work. "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." A believer needs to stay near the cross in order to know and retain our perspective in life and work. Communication with God is an attitude more than an act. The Christian life has its roots in Calvary. This is where we died with Christ and rose with Him; where we deliberately renounce carnality. Here we enter into living fellowship with the Lord. This is where we take the strong food of His Word to our hearts and realize all our faith begins as an understanding of what was accomplished there. We realize the Captain of the Lord of Hosts, who won the greatest victory ever, is with us. Gilgal reminds us there is an attitude we need to maintain. The lines of communication between God and us are to be maintained. The attitude and acts of communication between us and God, are the secrets of power.
The results of Joshua acting in faith initiated an act of divine intervention in which the Lord "discomfited" the ungodly coalition. He enabled His people to slay, chase and smite the enemy and continued to act on their behalf by sending the killing hail and extending the daylight to bring a victory that would never be forgotten. A victory like this had never happened in this way. Here when Joshua acted in faith in the Lord, the Lord acted in power for His people. We are not alone in spiritual warfare. God "hearkened" - listened to His faithful servant and the Lord "fought" for His people. The Lord helps, sustains and gives victory when we are in fellowship with Him. There is no protocol to follow in winning spiritual battles over spiritual enemies. In ourselves we are helpless and need God in every event.
The battle was not over until the five kings who had hid in a cave in fear, were brought out into the open where they were forced to lie on the ground with the feet of Joshua’s captains on their necks so all Israel would know it was the Lord who brought the victory. To leave any sin hiding in a "cave" nearby, is to lose the victory. Sin has to be brought out, confessed, judged and forsaken forever. Nothing else will do. We need to put our feet on the necks of pride, materialism, compromise, jealousy and a critical attitude including every crippling thing in our Christian testimony. The Lord has fought for us and won the victory. In the same way the Lord won the victory at Beth-horon, and Israel was identified with the Lord “against whom ye fight”, so we go beyond surrender to Christ and consecration to Christ’s lordship, and declare war against all that is sinful in our lives. Satan will continually resist those who declare war on sin. We attack on all fronts by the power of God; maintain a constant attitude of fellowship with God; claim victory in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The five kings had to be hung. In the life of the believer today, we must be sanctified. We must triumph in Christ by never taking sides with sin; by being against everything that has to be judged in ourselves, condemned and confessed before God. Israel could see for themselves it was the Lord who brought about the victory but had used them. He is greater than any enemies or opposition we will have. All glory from any victory belongs to God alone. Our praise goes to Him alone. Joshua had led the army in the way God had ordered. He did not debate, compromise or rationalize what God said. He simply obeyed God. That principle remains in effect for us today.
We should never allow relationships or activities that lead us into accepting sin or allowing it to gain traction at all. However, some alliances we have formed may make us think we are finished because of failure. God in grace worked for His people in spite of their past failure. In grace God led them to obey Him again, encouraged them with promises of victory, enabled them to believe His word and act of faith, and gave them success and victory. That order is still in effect today. The Lord used power He alone had and matched them with the united strength of His people.
Because we win one battle doesn't mean we will not be opposed again. Spiritual energy must continue to be exercised in order for enemies to be conquered. And even conquered enemies must be guarded against. The king of Hebron had died when Hebron was defeated, but a new king took his place and they had to be defeated again. We need to take steps in our lives to make sure old battles don't have to be fought again. Full obedience earned the reward of faith that is acted upon. God's word cannot be second-guessed or down-played. True self-judgment occurs when we return to Calvary after our victories as well as our defeats. Prosperity makes us self-confidence and negligent about the things of God if we are not careful. In order for me to live a victorious life as a Christian, I must be consistent, faithful, prayerful and trust God alone to do what He wants through me. I must take charge of my life and deliberately avoid and shun sin in spite of my wants and wishes.