Joshua 10 (6)

So Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it. And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword—its king, all its cities, and all the people who werein it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were in it. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and they fought against it. And he took it and its king and all its cities; they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who were in it. He left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king. So Joshua conquered all the land: the mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded. And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon. All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. Joshua 10.36-43

Reflect.
1.  These reports all sound the same. Is there a reason for this? 

2.  What is your overall impression of this campaign? Was it effective? Did it achieve the purposes God held out to His people?

Think about it.
These reports of victories over cities and peoples all sound the same. They recount the victories without dwelling on details, highlighting any individual heroics, or mentioning any of the plunder acquired. The focus is on Israel’s overall progress in subduing the land of promise. The objective, and what the writer wants to keep in focus, is to bring the whole land under the rule of God’s people and Law, and so the action moves quickly from one victory to the next.

We note also the repeated mention of “all Israel with him” (vv. 36, 38, 43). Realizing the promises of God requires the combined and coordinated efforts of all the people, not just a few strong and charismatic leaders and their lieutenants or elite guard. This is a good reminder for church leaders. If we want our churches to realize their full potential as the Body of Christ, and to accomplish their assigned mission, we must enlist all the people in the work. 

The writer reminds us that Joshua was careful to do all that “the LORD God of Israel had commanded” (v. 40). There have been some blips and bumps along the way, but in the main, Joshua and the rulers and people of Israel have kept on course with the Lord’s agenda. We may trip or become distracted from our callings from time to time, but it is always important to return to God’s commandments and promises, make any necessary course corrections, and get on with the business of bringing ourselves and our Personal Mission Field increasingly in line with the gracious rule of King Jesus (Ps. 119.59, 60). God will be with us and will fight for us, if we will do so.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Israel was a people on a mission in this chapter. They moved swiftly from one objective to the next, following their leaders and keeping close to the commandments of God. Is this the way your church operates? Explain.

2.  Why was it so important that “all Israel” should be involved in these battles? What’s the lesson for us as the Lord’s people today? What is the lesson for your church?  

3.  The mission of Joshua and all Israel was driven by the promises of God. Do the promises of God factor into your church’s ministry activities? In what ways? 

“Likewise, it is especially the work of the Word of God to pull down the diabolical structures that the devil has built in the human soul. For, in everyone of us, that one raised up towers of pride and walls of self-exaltation. The Word of God overthrows and undermines these, so that justly, according to the apostle, we are made ‘the cultivation of God and the building of God,’ ‘set upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself the chief cornerstone, from whom the uniting of the edifice grows into a temple of God in the spirit.’” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

You have made me a member of Your Body, Lord, and as one of Your “all Israel” I…

Pray Psalm 126.
Ask God to give you a vision for revival – for yourself, your church, and your community – and then to show you how you can “sow” for that vision every day.

Psalm 126 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
When God restored our fortunes all, 
We were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, 
Made Him our constant song and theme.

Then the astonished nations said, 
“The Lord has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, 
Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!

Restore our fortunes, Lord our King!
Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing
Who sow while yet they weep and wail.

They who in tears of sorrow sow
And cast their seed on every hand, 
With joy shall reach their heav’nly home, 
And bring the harvest of their land.

T. M. Moore

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here. And when you order, we’ll send you a free copy of Bricks and Rungs: Poems on Calling.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).