The Story of Joshua and Israel
After the Israelites crossed Jordan, Joshua sent spies to Jericho. Rahab told the spies everybody is terrified of Israel because of how God delivered them from Pharoah at the Red Sea. God instructed the Israelites not to take any of the loot found in Jericho. The Israelites took the city of Jericho. However, Archan, an Israelite, disobeyed the Lord's instructions.
After taking Jericho, the Israelite prepared to take the cit of Ai. Joshua only sent three thousand men to take Ai because it was smaller than Jericho and should have been easy to take. They lost. Why were the Israelites not successful in taking Ai? Answer: God did not go!
When Joshua cried to God (on his face before the Lord) about their defeat at Ai, God told him, "Get up off your face. Somebody sinned, and lied about it too. I will not stay with you unless you get rid of this sin. You cannot win until you deal with this sin." (Joshua 7:10-13) The Israelites then dealt with the sin that was in their camp. After removing the sin, they took the city of Ai -- for God was with them. (Joshua 8)
Adoni-zedek and four other kings attacked Gibeon, the servants of Israel. Five armies combined. God said, "Don't be afraid." Israel fought the enemy until they ran down the hill. The Israelites chased them. God sent hailstones from heaven and rained on them all the way down the hill. More of the enemy died from the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites. Israel never lost a man! God gave Israel rest and peace.
What We Can Learn from the Story of Joshua and Israel
As born again believers, our warfare is not a natural one, but a spiritual one. We do not fight flesh and blood. We fight principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:13) We fight using prayer, praise, and the Word of God....and our weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds! (2 Corinthians 10:4)
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He will fight for born again believers too, just as he fought for Israel! But we must keep sin out of the way. Paul says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) God our Heavenly Father gave His Son, Jesus, Who died for us. Shall He not therefore give us all things freely (Romans 8:32) -- including the battle? That is why we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) God fights the battle!
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Who shall stand against the people of the Lord? No one!
|
