Time for Battle (Joshua 10:6-8)
Last month we considered Joshua 10:1-5 and how Adoni-zedek’s fear of Joshua and Israel and their new peace with Gibeon led him to form a coalition of pagan kings to fight against God rather than seek God’s mercy. This month I would like to continue in the text and consider verses 6-8.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.”
7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”
(Jos. 10:6-8 ESV)
With the five-king coalition along with their armies encamped and making war against them, the men of Gibeon call out to Joshua for help. They say to Joshua, “do not relax your hand from you servants.” What they want is for Joshua to not go back on the covenant they made and to come to their aid. Please continue to protect us is essentially their cry and it is urgent. They plead with Joshua to, “come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” Joshua responds by leaving Gilgal with all the people of war and all the mighty men of valor.
In verse 8 the LORD speaks to Joshua and says, “Do not fear them for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” These words sound very similar to the words found in Joshua 1:5.
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (Jos. 1:5 ESV)
So, we see hear a great contrast between Joshua and the king of Jerusalem. The king feared greatly and relied on his own resources. On the other hand, Joshua is instructed to not fear and rely on the LORD.
Why?
God had given them into Joshua’s hands. He had a promise from God that not a man of them shall stand before him. The victory belonged to Joshua because God had given it to him. Now Joshua had to go and fight the battles, but he went with the promise of God. What we see here is the concept/idea of the already but not yet. God has given the five kings and their armies to Joshua (already), but Joshua must go and fight them to bring to fruition what God has already made certain (not yet).
Is it not the same with us? Has God not promised to conquer all our enemies? Has He not already conquered THE enemy, sin? YES, He has! THE enemy of your souls has been conquered now fear not and go to war against your enemy…sin. Christian, God has promised that He will complete the work He began in you. Now, in light of that promise, get busy fighting sin and putting it to death. Go to war with your sin and leave none standing. Slay every last one knowing that God fights for you in your battle against sin and when it is all said and done not one of them will be left standing.
By His Grace Alone,
Josh