FROM THE PULPIT
The Spirit of Jesus, Joshua the Warrior
Joshua was born for one task: Rout the enemies of Israel in Canaan. He and Caleb were the only two spies who thought this land of giants could be conquered 40 years earlier. Joshua, out of the lineage of Joseph, had the DNA, had the courage and had the confidence to lead the attack. To prepare for the battle of Jericho, after the crossing of the Jordan, one slight correction of the fighting men needed to be accomplished: Circumcision! That’s right, Joshua made knives of flint, and every fighting man severed his foreskin. None of the men born in the desert had been circumcised but now their time had come because God’s time had come. This army of Israel was now prepared for battle—tough, rugged, hearty, fearless—ready to follow their Captain—Joshua! Strength and courage were not lacking in Joshua. God was his supplier of anything that might be lacking. This mission given to Joshua was to be accomplished in full!
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon….. to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Jos 1:1-9 NIV)
Joshua fought in city by city, in camp by camp. Hand to hand combat with the sword, Joshua killed and conquered the kings of the south, the kings of the north until all 31 kings had been killed and defeated in Canaan: Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses…… Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive. (Jos 11:18-22 NIV)
God could have used a pandemic, a volcano, an earthquake to clean up Canaan. Instead, he chose a man, Joshua, to show mankind that power from the Almighty can be exercised thru a man on earth to accomplish God’s purposes. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand——In the strength of Joshua (Yeshua)!! (Eph 6:10-13 NIV)