Chapter 10:20-43
After the great victory at Gibeon all the people returned in peace to Joshua at Makkedah. Then Joshua told them to bring out the five kings who had hid in the cave. When they had done so he told the captains of the men of war to put their feet on the necks of those kings to show that they had conquered them. It was an expression of the complete overthrow of all the power of Canaan by the Lord’s army. These Canaanitish kings had to bow to Israel and this act was meant to impress the people with this fact.
But it is well to remember that the power that overcame the Canaanites was the power of God. Were it not for that, no proud Amorite head would have bowed to Israel. May we not forget that only by the power of God, and when walking in obedience, can we as Christians expect to overcome the world and Satan.
Then Joshua repeated again the same words which at the beginning had stirred and encouraged them in the conflict. “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of a good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”
Afterward Joshua slew those kings and hanged them on five trees until the evening. Then at sundown he commanded them to be taken down and cast into the cave. And they covered up the mouth of the cave with great stones “which remain until this very day.”
Those five kings represent the power of the world of which Satan is prince. Our Joshua is Christ Jesus Himself, the risen Man in the heavenly places. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Rom. 8:3737Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37)), “because, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)). The complete conquest of Satan is near at hand for “the God of peace shall bruise [tread] Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:2020And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20).)
After those five kings had been conquered and slain, Israel marched triumphantly through the land. One city after another fell before Joshua and his armies—Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Debir—for “the Lord delivered them” into Israel’s hands, and so they took possession of the whole of the south country, with its hills, its valleys and its springs. Joshua smote all their kings;” he left none remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.” “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God fought for Israel.”
The secret of Joshua’s success was that he acted in implicit obedience to God— “as the Lord God of Israel commanded.” Thus God was with him and used him mightily. It was a very great conquest “at one time,” and surely this ought to stir us as soldiers of Jesus Christ to more faith and devotedness, to act in simple obedience to Him.
After the campaign was over, Joshua and all Israel returned to Gilgal, the place of circumcision. Gilgal for us is the cross of Christ, where self, the flesh, is put in the place of death. Perhaps there is no time more dangerous than after a victory, for if we are not watchful and humble, the flesh in us will begin to take pride in our success and glory in the triumphs of grace. Let us not forget to get “back to Gilgal” after each victory, and then the Lord can continue to use us for His glory, not for our own, as He used Joshua and Israel in the next chapter.
ML-10/09/1977