Those words “the land shall rest from war” are finally heard in the book of Joshua. It happens first when we get to the end of Chapter eleven of The Book of Joshua.
WELCOME
If you are just joining in with our every-Thursday walk through the bible with the innocent eyes of a child following to know their father better; we welcome you! We are a group of about 137 now. Our numbers are continuously growing. It is our hope to walk through all of the scriptures together. We are not in a hurry. Slowly and surely we are making our way. Our purpose is just to be thinking through the scriptures as laymen faithfully working together.
Your questions and comments are warmly welcomed. Please feel free to invite a friend. You will find us here at The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog every Thursday. Today’s study comes from The Book of Joshua; Chapter 11.
THIRTY-ONE SLAIN KINGS
During all of the battles that Joshua fought for Israel’s inheritance; thirty-one kings were slain. There were many wars and battles to fight. It must have seemed to the Israelites that there was always a new battle looming. The Book of Joshua in Chapter 11 ends with some powerful words though. Verse 23 says “And the land rested from war.”
It must have been nice to have that brief pause in the conquering of the territories that God had sent them to conquer.
Most of the battles had been fought; but there was still the land of the North to take. The people living in Northern Canaan did not want to give up their lands. They gathered every possible man who could fight, banning together, and went out to defeat Joshua.
Looking out on the land full of warriors they seemed to be as many as the sands of the sea.
AS MANY AS THE SANDS OF THE SEA
Jabin, King of Hazor had organized several kings into a great resistance. They had many horses and chariots and lots and lots of strong warriors.
What must have been going through Joshua’s mind as he saw this great number?
Whatever it was, those thoughts didn’t last very long because God was there with him. God told Joshua not to be afraid because tomorrow He would deliver Israel. Joshua was commanded to hock their horses and burn their chariots.
To “hock” a horse is to “hamstring” a horse. This would render the horses incapable of pulling the chariots. By following these specific instructions Joshua and Israel pulled off an impossible task with God’s help.
PULLING OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE – AGAIN
Many have wondered why Israel did not want to just take the horses for themselves instead of “hocking’ them and destroying their power to pull chariots.
Men have also pondered why Israel did not take the chariots to use for themselves after this magnificent defeat.
The truth is that God did not equip Israel on purpose. He wanted Israel and everyone looking on to realize that it was His plan. God was the reason that they obtained the victory. It wasn’t by the might of the men of Israel.
Israel’s weakness only showed more of God’s strength to the nations looking on.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
This is reassuring to many today who live in America.
We have seen the weakening of our military because of the lack of leadership and poor decisions of those in charge of our nation. Disagreements and divisions have happened among our military troops and soldiers. The disagreements were created by deliberate maneuvers for psychological reasons. Past victories were paused and reversed on purpose.
We pulled out of a country we were defeating and left much of our military equipment behind for the enemies to use against us.
Our enemies have been funded right and left with our own money against the will of the people by greedy deals made by leaders who only think of their own political gain.
GOD IS NOT IN POLOTICS
Yet; the people of God today are faithfully holding on.
Like the people in the times of Joshua, we are trusting God to defend us when we are too weak and helpless to defend ourselves.
We have a Joshua named Jesus!
He is in charge and diligently listening to God. If we pray God will hear us. Jesus has made this possible for us.
Like in the days of these ancient battles; God can give us impossible victories. They will prove His power and His might.
Our position of weakness will only help to reveal God’s glory.
That is something to hold on to and remember in end-times.
GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY OBEY HIM
The men that Joshua and Israel fought were as many as the sands of the sea. Their equipment was immense when Israel’s was almost non-existent.
Still; God came through for them.
The King of Hazor who had gathered the other nations of Canaan against God’s people was eventually destroyed by the sword of Joshua and burned. The cities that had come against Israel were also burned and destroyed.
Joshua won because he followed the words of Moses which were received from God.
FOLLOWING THE WORDS GOD GAVE TO MOSES
We have the same words. They were repeated to us again later by Jesus Christ; our Messiah. He did not come to do away with those words; but to fulfill them.
Are we following God’s instructions today?
This is how it will be in the end. God’s people will prevail because Jesus will lead us as Joshua led Israel. All evil kings will burn in hell (a fire that burns them completely up); and all cities that supported them will be destroyed forever.
The power of God will prevail in the end and the same words will be repeated again; “the land shall rest from war.”
KEEP FIGHTING THE LORD’S BATTLES
What a great day that will be!
Let us take lessons from the soldiers of Joshua and continue to fight The Lord’s battles to the end. At the last, we will receive our inheritance and God’s enemies will be cleansed from all lands of the earth.
For the first time ever; we will find peace on earth; when Jesus returns and rules and reigns eternal.