Day 1 - Joshua 11

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
V.1-1.4 Many nations now hear of this strange invading army with super human things happening — like the sun and moon stopping in the sky for a whole day. So one king persuades them to join forces to get rid of this strange army. But they didn’t know that the Lord was directing the sea invaders! The Lord is mentioned four times. Notice (v. 12) they were doing exactly what Moses had been commanded to tell Joshua (Deut. 20:1717But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee: (Deuteronomy 20:17)).
V.16-23 Faithfulness in following the Lord’s directions brings victory after victory over the “long time” (v. 18), and leads to rest from war when God’s purposes are done. We Christians know from Hebrews 4:9-109There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9‑10) that our “rest from spiritual” battles will only be when we are taken to be with Christ in heaven.
V.20 This is because these enemies would not submit to God Who owns the whole world and all in it. (Read Dan. 4:1717This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17); Acts 17:2626And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (Acts 17:26)). Notice well the last sentence. This chapter is the end of the first section of the whole book. Joshua, up to this point has been a picture, for us believers, of Christ winning the great victory over Satan at the cross and bring us into ALL our blessings. Peace follows victories. What depends on Christ always succeeds; what depends on us shows us our weakness.