(Trip to the Holy Land Day 2)
“Joshua 11 (King James Version) 11 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.”
So, the northern heard of the conquering of the south, and now the again the kings and kingdoms have formed an alliance and are against Joshua and the people of God.
He has put out a call, to unite the kingdoms. Their main objective was to protect their land and destroy Joshua and God’s people.
We are told in verse four that there was a great army that had gathered. The number of men was as the grain of sand. There was no way to count the men that stood before the army of God. Joshua and his man could not see the ground, because it was covered by armed forces.
According to verse five, all these kings, their soldiers, their horses, and their chariot came and camped together by the water. They were preparing for the battle. This is the greatest ring of opposition that Joshua has ever seen.
It’s pretty easy, in life, when you see nothing, but the enemy, to surrender. This is when you see nothing but trouble, and nothing but opposition. It is easy to get discouraged. Easy to give up. However, that is not what we are commanded to do in Scripture. We are called to put our faith in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Joshua, in God’s army is going to have to walk in faith. And, according to verse 6 it says the following:
“6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”
In times, like these, fear also sets in our hearts. I’m sure, the soldiers on both sides, had fear, but when God is on our side, why do we fear?
Romans 8:31 tells us the following: ( King James Bible) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
We cannot blame the men! How many victories has the Lord brought you through? -but you steal fear! It would be great, when we faced our fears; that, we would stop and count our blessings! It would be great if we could take fear out of the equation?
Remember, Elijah? God brought him through like 400 victories against, bal. Then, Jezebel wrote him a poison pen, letter, and Elijah runs. After all these victories, God brought him through when one person tells him that he is dog meat Elijah becomes afraid again. This is why we must thank my God. This is why we must have a lifestyle of Thanksgiving, brings this lifestyle brings faith and calms fear. (1 Kings 18)
Jezebel said that she was going to end his life. (1 Kings 19:2) This was only about a day after he slew a bunch of enemies of God. But our flesh sometimes dictates; even though, we are children of God. This is why we are supposed to walk in the Spirit. Without the spirit, all things of God are off the table, and we just run our lives in the ground. We have no hope, and we are of the world.
So, in verse six God tells Joshua not to fear and tomorrow, at this time, you will have the victory! God tells Joshua when you look out the innumerable army: don’t be afraid! God says I’ve got this. This is on me. Trust me! Tomorrow, this problem will be over, because this army will be dead.
Now verse 7 and 8! “So, Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left.”
Aren’t we glad that if God is for us no one can stand against us? When God promises us the victory, we can count on it. It’s a note that can be cashed!
God says that Jesus will come back and collect us, and God means it.
Matthew 24:30-33 (New International Version) “30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[a] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[b] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
Amen!
Hallelujah!
Glory to God!
God knows the beginning from the end. When this jig is up, we are trading up.
Heaven is made by God and no human hands has corrupted yet. Oh, the things that we shall, see? Behold, the Messiah, is going to call us out of this old world one day!
Have no fear and have no doubt!
Let’s get back to the lesson! Verse nine says this: “9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.”
The wars of today are a lot different than this war of Joshua. Do you know what it means to hamstring a horse? Well, initially, I thought it was a way of tying together, but it is a way worse. Hamstringing a horse means that you literally cut the hamstring Muscle. This would render the horse lame. It’s like having a horse that you can’t ride. It becomes a great big yard ornament! It becomes like a dog. However, in the war that Joshua fought hamstringing a horse debilitated the army. That would be like stealing all the missiles at the United States Army. This made it possible for God’s people. It was God‘s plan.
Joshua was obedient to God as an act of faith, he cut the hamstring muscle of the horses and burnt the chariot. In Joshua‘s day, if you had horses and chariots: you had the power. Getting rid of the horses and chariots created a sign for the people. The sign was that worldly power is no good against God.
Joshua burned the things that the world defined as strength and power. The world believes that if you have money; then, you have the power! But the Holy Spirit wants us to know this is not true. Only God has the power. True power is having the power over life and death.
To prove this is what was going on at the time I would like for you to consider the following scripture:
Isaiah 31:1 (King James Version) “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!”
Today, we can open any book or magazine, and be preached to about what matters in this life. The world would have us to believe that it is all about me, myself, and I, it’s all about how treasures make us happy, and It’s not about heaven and Hell but, here in the book of Joshua, God wants us to know that we need to reject the ideas and teachings of the world.
See, Israel, also got off track, because of what society told them. God had Joshua render the horses lame and burned the chariots to show them that we didn’t need the things of the world. We need the things of God. We need our scriptures and it’s teaching. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and put our trust in God.
Woe to those Christians who go to the world to find happiness.
Woe to those Christians who go to the world define success.
Woe to those Christians, who go to the world to find pleasure.
We need to consult God and he will give us pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness.
Now let’s consider verse 10!
“10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.
13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
I can’t wait to go to Israel and see the remnants of the city of Hazor. Today, many that live in Israel say it’s the largest archaeological site in Israel. This was a key city, because of its position geographically. It was approximately 10 times the size of Jerusalem in the days of David and Solomon. It’s also mentioned in the recordings of the prophetess Deborah as a victory for her in Judges 4:2.
Some of the sight you will see when visiting Israel! -Hazor
14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
15 As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
“18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.”
It is interesting to note here that the taking of Israel took a long time. Sometimes, we are down in the valley for a long period of time. Sometimes it is a test of our patience, but when God promises something, he comes to pass.
“19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.”
God knows who will accept him because he knows the beginning from the end. We can bank on the Love of God here! Our ways and are thoughts are not always right! For these people Joshua was up against God did not soften their hearts! These people: like today, are full of their own animosity, pride, confidence, and stubbornness!
“21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.”
22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.”
This area would be the area later known as the philistines. It was the land of the Giants. It was also where God through David, defeated Goliath.
“23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.”
At, the end of this chapter, it was the end of the big battles for a long time. However, Historians tell us that there was still a lot of mopping up to do. Meaning the tribes of Israel still had to go into the land and subdue anyone remaining in the land. To prove this there still is a lot of the book of Joshua left to discover.
After all the land is conquered, God commands Joshua to split the people up by tribes. This meant the division of the land was based on the 12 sons of Jacob (also named Israel in Genesis 32:18)
This reminds me of one denomination; like the Nazarene, divided out into there, different churches, but still doing the work of God. It’s like us all coming together at district assembly, establishing what needs to be done, and returning home to our home church, and with God, we fulfill the mission. Therefore, the tribes of Israel, had a lot of cleanups to do. They had been in corporate worship this whole time, but now they have a responsibility to uphold God in their individual communities. This is where we are at today!
We come into the store house, and we are taught all about faith. We know that we are supposed to walk by faith and stay focused on Jesus, but if we leave church and do what the flesh wants, we will see less fruit. Then, we have less fruit to bring back to the church. We become carnal and smell. In fact, we stink, and we are no longer a pleasing to God.
So, our vision for this week is walk by faith in our daily lives and build upon it!
Discussion Questions for Chapter
Which area of Canaan were the Israelites fighting here in this passage?
What did God tell you about your own battles during this lesson?
How can Christians get out of the wilderness and live a victorious life?
Why was the territory of Hazron burned?
Why did God say “you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire?”
What character traits, from this chapter, are important to carry over in own life?
Why is it important to obey God?
What is sanctification?
Why is it important to be sanctified?
