#DailyDevotion Don’t You Want God To Fight All Your Battles

July 4

Josh 10:1–25

Jos 10:8  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.”…11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword…24 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks.  (25)  And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

A constant refrain from the Lord to the Israelites, “Do not fear them.” The Lord had promised the land and its possession to the Israelites. Now he is given their armies and peoples into Joshua’s hands. The Lord fights for Israel! He had said as much earlier here: Exo 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

So the Lord throws their enemies into confusion. On top of that he rains down large hailstones and kills more of Israel’s enemies than they do with the sword. But there are lot of Canaanites yet to be destroyed so Joshua ask the Lord for more daylight and the Lord answers his prayer. Joshua brings the defeated kings before him and has his men put their feet on their necks to demonstrate Israel’s defeat of them and their forces. Throughout the campaign they have a word to remember as they go into battle, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

Now we as Christians are not called to take up arms in this way. Our weapons are the Word of God and prayer. We are not to take vengeance upon our enemies or nations. We are not called to take countries over with violence but with the peace, mercy and love that is ours in Christ Jesus. We need not fear the nations or what they may do to us. Jesus said, Mat 10:28-31 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.. (31)  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

And yet there is a great end-time battle coming. Another Joshua leads the battle. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord in the flesh who fought for Joshua and the Israelites. He and his angels shall come and remove all wickedness from the earth by the sword of his mouth. In the meantime our battles are not against flesh and blood but power and principalities in the air. But we not fear them either. At the resurrection, Jesus has put his foot on their necks and removed their power to harm you. We should remember what Joshua said, “be strong and courageous. For the Lord will do to all your enemies whom you fight.”
O Lord, do be our captain and fight all our battles that we may rest in you. Amen.