The war against evil

 

READ Joshua 9–12

Our grandson asked why God made war against the tribes in Canaan. We hesitated and then he said, “It was because they were evil, wasn’t it?”

This reading is about those early battles after Jericho and Ai were defeated. I’ve often thought that these battles are much like the battles of Christians against sin. Our new life in Christ is secured, yet the old life and temptations from the world, our old fleshy nature, and the devil threaten us. God says we must “put to death” all sin and live in newness of life, just as ancient Israel must do.

But the next event does not fit that analogy. Joshua was duped by the Gibeonites who pretended they lived far away and were no threat to Israel. They asked about a covenant so they would not be destroyed and their deception won them the curse of being servants rather than death.

However, Joshua was not fooled again. When the “five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it” he kept the covenant made with the Gibeonites, and “went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.” Then the Lord said to him, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”

When Joshua and the army of Israel came upon the armies of these kings, the Lord threw this vast enemy into a panic and they fled. The Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them and they died. “There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.” (Joshua 10:5–11)

In the middle of all this, God answered an amazing prayer. Joshua said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon  . . . . And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies . . . . The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:12–14)

Joshua put to death the five kings that had attacked him, then “struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded . . . . and captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:40–42)

When these and other enemies joined forces to fight against Israel, the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” It happened just as God said.

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 . . . .There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle. For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses . . . . So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war. (Joshua 11:15–23)

Experience and these events tell me that obedience is vital and that God is with me to give me victories over my battle with sin. I need to guard against the subtle suggestions that some of them can be used for my good, and any fear that I cannot overcome. Joshua’s battles assure me in my battles that Christ is with me. He has already secured my place in His kingdom and wants me to fully experience His gift of abundant life!