SundayNovember 12, 2017 Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail:
Message # 12“The Book of Joshua” Text: Joshua 11-12
“Conquest and Rest”
INTRODUCTION: In II Peter 3:18 we read, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”By now, I trust, we have learned the Christian life is marked by increasing growth in grace.
No doubt some of us have had some tremendous battles, problems, or crisis to endure this week. We have found that in our own strength we have gone nowhere. Well, like Joshua of old,we need to learn to stand aside and let God fight our battles for us. One of the keys to victory, we are going to find, is to simplyREST IN THE LORD.
Joshua 11-12 introduces us to the final conquest by Israel of the land of Promise. In our study of this book, we have discovered after the crossing of the Jordan there were THREE battle campaigns.
First: There was the CENTRALcampaign, in chapters 6-8, where Joshua defeated the cities of Jericho and Ai.
Second: There was the SOUTHERNcampaign in Joshua 10.
Third: There was the NORTHERNcampaign found in chapters 11-12.
Admittedly these chapters and most of those to follow do not lend themselves readily to expository preaching. Yet we should not forget "All scripture is God breathed and profitable..." so we may be sure there are some lessons to be learned… even here.
Joshua 11 records the point at which UNITED ACTION in Canaan under the leadership of Joshua ceases. Now one may think it strange to read in Joshua 11:23, "... the land rested from war." and then over in Joshua 13:1 we read, "... there remaineth much land yet to be possessed."
There is a simple explanation. Once each tribe settled into their allotted area, it was necessary to then possess what was taken by the whole nation. Individually, each tribe was to apply the lessons it learned in the united warfare.
Unfortunately, some of the tribes received their allotted territories and instead of driving out the enemies of God, they settled down with them. As a result, we read from the books of Judges and the Old Testament books of History and Prophecy that the Israelites not only co-existed with these heathen nations, but they backslid into idolatry.
Let me pause to say, every truth you or I learn must be applied by faith into our personal lives or else it will mean nothing whatsoever.
The blessing and lesson can be LOST unless we reflect on what God has said and we then determine to work through that truth.
It is true that the victory of the cross isDECISIVE, but it is also true that one will experience only as much of that victory as we, by faith, appropriate personally.
Let me briefly take you through Joshua 11, so that I may get to the application of the message.
FIRST: In verses 1-5 we read,
“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, (2) 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, (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.”
Here we have the northern coalition of Kings. In verse 5 the place "the waters of Merom" is in the region we call the world's most famous battlefield, another name for it would be "the Plains of Esdraelon" or according to Revelation 16:16 "Armageddon." This is the place where the last decisive battle will be fought at the time of our Lord's return
Please notice again verse 4, “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.” I believe God put this here to show us the odds were against God's people. Since most of the Hebrews were shepherds and most of their foes were seasoned fighters, THIS WOULD BE MOST DISCOURAGING. Yet we have to remember with God we are on the side of victory.
SECOND:In verses 6-9 we read of the victory, “
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. (7) So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. (8) And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. (9) And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.”
Notice please verse 6. "... Be not afraid because of them." Again we have God reminding Joshua:
As He did in 1:5, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
As He did at Jericho in 6:2, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.”
As He did at the second battle at Ai in 8:1, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:”
As He did during the southern campaign in 10:8, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
What a tremendous boost to Joshua. God was saying JOSHUA, THE BATTLE IS MINE, THE VICTORY IS YOURS.
Perhaps you ask why did God want them to "hough or hamstring" the horses. God did not want Israel to form the habit of using cavalry troops. We are reminded in Psalms 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: BUT WE WILL REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD." Israel was to learn to DEPEND FOR VICTORY upon God and God alone.
THIRD: In verses 10-15 we have Joshua's Obedience,
“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. (11) 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. (12) And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. (13) But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn (14) And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. (15) 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.”
I contend that the key to spiritual victory is OBEDIENCE. If you say you love God, I will respond by asking, do you obey his word? We read in John 14:21, "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that love me..."
Fourth:In verses 16-20 we see the fate of the enemy,
“So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; (17) Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. (18) Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. (19) 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. Notice please verse 20, “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.”
Again, I must remind you less you misunderstand, God was not cruel in commanding the Canaanites be exterminated. God in His love had given these seven Canaanite nations over 400 years to repent; instead they had sunk deeper and deeper into the pit of corruption until there was no remedy. GOD DOES NOT TOLERATE SIN INDEFINITELY. The cup of their iniquity was now overflowing and the hour of their judgment was at hand. The point that needs to be made is this,
"The greatest nations in the world today including America) are by no means immune from God's punishing hand and neither is any individual who dares to sin deliberately against the will and purpose of the sovereign Lord."
FIFTH:In verses 21-23 we read of an incomplete victory,
“And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. (22) There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. (23) So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.”
In these verses we have mention of the destruction of the people of "Anakin." These were giants, yet in God's strength Joshua destroyed all their cities except Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
This was an unfortunate OVERSIGHTon Joshua's part. Remember, God said to Joshua to utterly wipe out these cities. But Joshua did not complete the task. Thus:
From Gad came Goliath, in David's day, to defy the armies of the living God.
From Judges 2 we read of the nation of Ashdod that led Israel astray, because they followed the gods of Baal and Astroth.
Many Christians are like these Israelites - they make a good start, but are satisfied with something less than God's best.
The ISRAELITES were satisfied with an incomplete victory over the Canaanites. CHRISTIANS are frequently satisfied with an incomplete victory over self and over sin.
The ISRAELITES came to look on the presence of the Canaanites in the land as normal. CHRISTIANS look on CARNAL, HALF-HEARTED CHRISTIAN LIVING, as the best they can expect of themselves.
We ought to examine ourselves in order to determine what "Canaanites" we have spared, the pet sins known only to ourselves and to God - lack of love, harmful attitudes, and provisions for the flesh. These things prevent our being what God wants us to be.
Throughout the book of Joshua, we have seen what the land of Canaan was to Israel, Christ is to us. In Joshua 11:23 we read,
“So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.”
Notice again the last phrase, "... and the land rested from war."
In Hebrews 1:3 we read of Jesus, "who ... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high." The Bible said that once Christ had finished Calvary, He sat down on the throne in glory. The victory at the cross over sin had been won.
Now when we think of the Savior sitting in the heavens we think of Him at rest. This was not a rest of EXHAUSTION; rather it was a rest of SATISFACTION.
Today our Lord sits in the heavenly places because the sacrifice of the cross has demonstrated to be SUFFICIENT and COMPLETE for your salvation and mine.
Here is the tremendous reality of all this.BY FAITH, YOU AND I NOW SHARE IN THAT REST. Remember what our lord said in Matthew 11:28-29.Here it is:
"Come unto me all you that labor and are burdened down, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, and you shall find rest unto your souls."
Now, what is this rest God is speaking of? Christ has sat down at the right hand of God the Father having completed the payment for sins at the cross. Satisfaction is now at rest.
Someone made this lengthy statement, "The restful Christian is one who lives his life above the storms with Jesus. Oh, he is sensitive to sorrow and to the troubles of other people, but he is able always to discern the wisdom of God. He is willing to trust the loving heart of God and therefore is able in the conflict to await the unfolding of God's plan. The Christian who is living there above the toil and traffic of daily life, who is constantly living in touch with the throne, is resting in Jesus. He is also the busiest man of all, going at such a speed you wonder that he doesn't break down. The only answer he can give is that as he has waited on the Lord he has exchanged his puny strength for the almighty energy of the Holy Spirit. Resting Christian, are you like that? I didn't say the lazy Christian, I said the RESTING Christian: busy, keen, always at work for the Master, while deep in his heart is peace that no storm, however unexpected, and no sorrow, however miserable and hard to bear, can ever disturb."
You ask, “How can I have that kind of rest?” In Joshua 11:23 we read, "... and the land rested from war." Please save your place here in Joshua 11 and turn with me to Hebrews 4 and follow as I read verses 1-11,
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (3) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (4) For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. (5) And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. (6) Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: (7) Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (8) For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
There are TWO things I believe the Holy Spirit would impress upon us today.
NUMBER 1:We have the rest of ASSURED FORGIVENESS.
We who have come to Calvary and heard the words, "It is finished;"
We who have read the words of Romans 8:33 which says, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"
We who have understood Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and by faith have believed.
Today we stand before God clothed in His righteousness FORGIVEN. Are you:
Always worried about your past sin?
Always wanting to drag it up and talk about it with somebody?
Always letting your past sin disturb you?