This may be the “toughest” verse in the chapter, Joshua 11:20.

I’ll couple it with the preceding verse to give it some context. “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. 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.”

The Lord hardening hearts?

The Lord showing no favour?

The Lord destroying people?

Yes, this is Joshua 11:20, King James Version, the Word of God! (Actually, just about any so-called “version” says essentially the same thing here!)

To “harden” a heart means allowing it to become “stubborn, strong, courageous!”

God here was in reality making more enemies for Israel, for her army! (Turning people against her, am I right?) Then … very same God would fight for Israel, demolishing those very enemies via His Power!

Wow!

But one can see (after careful thought, and  prayer) that this was no rash move on God’s part. These “enemies,” Canaanites by culture, were WICKED to the extreme. And had been growing progressively more vile with each passing year! For over four centuries!

God was “gracious” to them that long, four hundred years of longsuffering!

Plus this … the sin those people practiced with such abandon … that alone hardens one’s heart! Desensitizes one to the good things of God! 1 Timothy 4:3 … “Speaking lies in hypocrisy (among other sins); having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” No longer able to discern right and wrong!

This too, Israel “needed” some enemies, to keep her strong for battle! And when these heathen people (with no provocation from the Jews whatsoever) rose up against her … she responded appropriately! Thereby benefitting from her “foes!” (Oh, the Wisdom of God!)

So … all God is really doing in this verse is “making all things work together for good” for His people! It’s an illustration in the Old Testament of Romans 8:28, so boldly stated in the New Testament!

Let’s not blame God for something He promised long ago. To judge the wicked!

Let’s just praise Him that He still makes no mistakes!

Psalm 36:6 says it well. “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; THY JUDGMENTS ARE A GREAT DEEP: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I sit here at a computer keyboard (in a motel room) … amazed!