Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of Joshua
by Max Frazier, Jr.

MORE BATTLES TO FIGHT
Joshua 11

It must have seemed to Joshua and the armies of Israel, that there was no end to the battles which had to be fought before the land was conquered. First, there had been Jericho, followed by Ai. Then it was the battle at Gibeon, followed by victories at Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir (all recorded for us in chapter ten).

I believe that one of the greatest temptations for Joshua and his troops was to relax and to enjoy the fruits of the Promised Land before the enemy had been entirely defeated. They had been fighting for quite some time, and I am sure, after the great victories which they had just experienced in southern Canaan, that someone did not say something like this, "Let's quit all this battle stuff and let's settle down and enjoy ourselves for awhile. We deserve some rest and relaxation." Oh the dangers when we relax when God says we should be fighting. Oh the dangers when we engage in compromise when God says we should be engaged in conflict.

Now, Joshua became aware of a coalition of forces which threatened them from the northern regions of the Promised Land. This would not be an easy task because Joshua and his forces would be greatly outnumbered. But, they also remembered that God was on their side. And, although the numbers were against them there at the waters of Merom, Joshua and his army were nevertheless successful. It was because the Lord was fighting for them.

God is never the author of defeat. God has never known defeat. Paul assured the Romans that what Joshua had proven centuries previously was still true: Since God is for us, who can stand against us? No one in Canaan and no one in our lives either. Now these victories did not come automatically. They came only as Joshua was obedient to the will and plan of God. Like Joshua of old, I can be more than a conqueror if I fully obey the Lord.

Finally, verse 23 records that the land had rest from war. What a great thought - rest from battle. The Lord knows how weary the battle can become so He planned for a time of rest for Israel. The land was not totally conquered yet, but the big battles were over.

So it is in my life. God provides that time of "rest from battle." Oh, I still know that there are enemies to fight, but I praise God for those times of retreat from the battlefield. There my soul is refreshed in the Lord and I am ready for new battles and new victories.

Father, we long for those times of rest from the battle. We long for those times of refreshing which come when we are in the presence of the Lord. We are thankful for those moments of sweet fellowship with You when our hearts are recharged for the warfare which still lies before us. It is after those moments that we realize that indeed we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. We give You praise for these precious times. Amen.

Joshua 10 Return to Table of Contents Joshua 12