Here’s today’s verse … “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.” Joshua 11:18

Talk about an ocean in a thimble!

This one line Sentence of Scripture says a lot!

(I heard a scientist, an astronomer, this week tell of a now observable, imploding star … called a supernova … where a single spoonful of matter might weigh a thousand tons! I feel that way about Joshua 11:18, our Text this morning!)

“Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.”

Including the leaders of Jericho, Ai, then that whole “southern” half of the Land of Canaan … and next that militant swing “northward” which followed! One nation, one city-state falling after another! Tribe after tribe … defeated!

“Joshua made war A LONG TIME with all those kings.”

And I am wondering, “How long?”

I consulted my Bibles, my study Bibles.

Several say at least seven years from the beginning of the conquest until Hebron fell … based on the life of Caleb, his chronology! (Comparing Joshua 14:7 with Deuteronomy 2:14 and doing the math!)

That’s a long time to be at war!

Especially for a young, relatively small Nation like Israel!

Another Bible Teacher observed that one can easily read of the Conquest of Canaan in a single sitting, every battle! A “quick” read, indeed!

But, in reality … it took seven long years (meaning seven Passovers, seven Pentecosts, seven Tabernacles) to wage these numerous battles!

A lesson on “time” today?

Time spend in battle!

This all set me to thinking, on a spiritual plane, how much time do we spend “at war” with the enemy?

“In battle” against the world, the flesh and the devil?

I’d say, “Seven years!”

No, I’d say, “Longer than that!”

Truthfully, “as long as we live in these physical bodies” of ours, on this earth prior to the Lord’s Second Coming … we will face (spiritually) battle after battle after battle!

It is an ongoing contest!

Paul’s verb “wrestle” in Ephesians 6:12 is most fully expressed by a present tense verb … an ongoing wrestling match! Not ending anytime soon! “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Wow!

No wonder Paul felt, testified … “I die daily!” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

Us, as Christians, in battle?

Listen to Jesus … Who constantly battled evil … “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” If our dear Lord fought … we must as well, Matthew 10:24.

An elongated war!

Paul, in 1 Timothy 1:18, exhorted young Timothy to “War a good warfare!”

Lifelong … until we reach that City, the City of Peace!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Be a victor today, “in” Christ Jesus our Lord!

 

What a testimony!

“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.” Joshua 11:15

Oh, how sadly the trajectory of Scripture is littered with lives, characters, who spiritually shipwrecked. One after another, from Adam onward!

So Joshua is in reality “a breath of fresh air.”

A man of obedience!

Look at the chain of command here in our Text, the chain of transmission … “As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua …” From the older generation to the younger! Good teaching … and good learning! The way things should ideally operate!

Here’s a New Testament example of the same thing, old Paul to young Timothy … “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

Wow!

But with Joshua particularly, God records: “… and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.”

“Nothing undone!”

“All the Lord commanded!”

Looks like (though we know Joshua was human) 100% obedience!

Why did this man have such a pristine record?

Many reasons, no doubt.

But here’s one, anyway.

He is in the Bible a PICTURE (or a SYMBOL or a TYPE) of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was God’s very Son and indeed sinless!

More about that tomorrow.

In fact, I’d like to share with you a dozen ways Joshua “prefigures” Christ Jesus our Saviour, our Deliverer!

Meanwhile, today’s Lesson?

“Are YOU an obedient servant of the Lord?”

And let me ask myself, “Am I?”

High on the scale of God’s priorities (if not topmost) is OBEDIENCE!

Can you think of anything today the Lord has asked you to do, led you to become … anything at all … that you have delayed?

That you have ignored?

That you have forgotten?

If so, you well know what to do!

Joshua’s reputation again … “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.”

Do it again, Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Israel, her army, with the Hand of the Lord aiding them, has now conquered the southern half of Canaan, her “promised land” indeed!

But no sooner had that feat been negotiated, and … “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, 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, 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. And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.” Joshua 11:1-5

Yes, another coalition of Kings, ready to attack God’s people!

This is the largest enemy confederacy yet!

Talk about being in God’s perfect “Will” … “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel.” Verse 6

And did God do what He promised? (Question asked; question answered! God ALWAYS does what He promises!) “So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.” Verses 7 and 8

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31, how “blessed” to be a believer in Jesus.

Now to today’s Lesson …

“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. 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.” Verses 10 and 11

Hazor was one of the largest cities in the whole area. In the entire “Fertile Crescent,” one Bible dictionary says. The Name of the city means “castle!” (Remember, the armed forces of Hazor have already been defeated.)

But I am interested today not merely in the fact that Joshua (again) obeyed God in what he did (100% … all the way) … but that he “burned” the city too. The end of verse 11 … “and he burnt Hazor with fire.”

I believe this because the Bible says so!

I need no further “proof.”

No corroborating evidence.

But, in this case, it’s available!

Archaeologists have located the site of ancient Hazor.

And visible, empirical data exists, validating the Bible account of this fire!

Around 1400 BC, exactly the time frame of Joshua’s battles here!

All I can say is, “WOW!”

I suspect a (trained) man with a shovel and pick could follow the entire itinerary of the Book of Joshua and discover place after place where these battles unfolded!

Why?

Because … God’s Word is Truth!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

But this too … if archaeology cannot find a certain “place” in the Bible, or located “evidence” of a miracle … that does not shake my faith a bit!

In such cases (particularly when the Bible is under attack), Romans 3:3 must apply, must prevail: “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”

Amen!

 

It’s often called the “Southern Campaign.”

Joshua and the army of Israel “talking” the Land promised them long ago. Claiming it, based on God’s infallible word to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob! For instance: “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given THIS LAND, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” Genesis 15:18-21

There will also be a “northern campaign” to follow.

Joshua was a good leader.

The southern campaign I’ve just mentioned is clearly described from Joshua 9:1 through Joshua 10:43, two whole chapters.

Battle after battle is mentioned.

City after city falls!

Jericho!

Ai!

Next a five-king coalition had to be defeated, specifically Adonizedek king of Jerusalem and Hoham king of Hebron and Piram king of Jarmuth and Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon!

Then the city of Makkedah!

Next Libnah!

Lachish!

Then Horam King of Gezer!

Eglon!

Hebron!

Debir!

Wow!

Then a summary statement: “So Joshua smote ALL the country of the hills, and of the SOUTH, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.” Joshua 10:40

The southern campaign ends successfully, I’d say. “And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.” Joshua 10:41-42, the ending two verses of Joshua chapter 10.

Next, as I earlier indicated, the army turns northward.

And what’s the POINT of this Bible Lesson today?

It looks to me like the Christian life (the Book of Joshua symbolizes “victorious” living for our great God) consists of one battle after another!

Physically back then, for Joshua.

Spiritually today, for us.

“For WE wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Yet the parallel is true … it’s (even for us now) conflict after conflict!

No wonder Paul declared “I die daily.” 1st Corinthians 15:31

Friend, what are YOU Battling right now?

And … just as God gave Joshua the victory, even so can we enjoy perennial victory through the awesome Power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, in our hearts and lives!

Let’s fight!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Lord has given Israel (yet another) victory!

Using both meteorology and astronomy to do so, I might add! (Huge hailstones and lengthened days!)

And the army of Israel returns to camp, Joshua 10:21 adds an interesting note. “And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: NONE MOVED HIS TONGUE AGAINST any of the children of Israel.”

Wow!

“All the people” returned to camp, not a single death recorded, among the Jews!

And where was “camp?”

“Makkedah,” a little place west of what would later become Israel’s Capital, Jerusalem. Just a village, with a significant name however. “Makkedah” means the “place of the shepherd!” (In Hebrew spelled “noqed,” simply meaning “sheepmaster.”)

I’d say there were in the Will of God, “in His Hands!”

But watch what our Verse today says next … “None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.”

Wow!

I think this is the “gist” of the statement. “AFTER God gave Israel such another dramatic victory … not a soul would say a word against the Jews!”

“None,” using the negative particle (an adverb to us) “lo,” meaning “without an exception!” NOT a single person!(Talk about the “fear of God” being upon a Nation!)

“Moved,” the verb, translates “charatzs,” meaning “to cut, sharpen,” even “to main!” Yes, human tongues can be that destructive! (Remember … “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21)

And the noun “tongue” is “lashon,” that part of the human body that equips one with the capability of speech. It is also in Scripture (the Old Testament) translated “language” 10 times and “wedge” 2 times (a sermon within itself, the tongue being able to drive “wedges” so easily). Furthermore “lashon” is rendered “flame” one time! And “babbler” once as well!

Wow!

Then “against” is spelled “le” in Hebrew, a little preposition meaning “in regard to,” thus … no negative speech directed toward God’s people! (God shut some mouths, didn’t He?)

And “any” is the noun “iysh,” not a “person.” (Literally, not a “man,” since the army has been primarily in focus, most recently anyway.)

And the people here called “children of Israel,” are surely a special Nation, this exact expression (this string of words) being found 644 times in the Bible!

God built a nation in the Old Testament!

He is building a body in the New Testament, a bride!

Not a word!

And what is our Lesson today?

Maybe we too (as Christians) had better be more careful in talking “against” any one of God’s little children!

Mercy!

Here’s a promise too for the saints of God, when criticized severely. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and EVERY TONGUE THAT SHALL ARISE AGAINST THEE IN JUDGMENT thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

(“Be careful little tongue what you say …” Does anyone remember that little song from Sunday School. I certainly do … years ago!)