Setting – Israel is victorious over Jabin king of Hazor and his combined army with.
Content – King Jabin together with kings from other areas, fought against Israel (v. 4), “They came out, they and all their armies with them, {as} many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots”. God gave Israel victory over Jabin. Joshua killed Jabin and burned the city of Hazor; he only burned this city. Israel took the plunder from the other cites and killed every man (v. 14), “All the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They left no one who breathed”
Joshua also killed off the Anakim people (the giants in the Promise Land that Moses’ spies saw).
After this (v. 23), “…the land has rest from war”
Application – God used Israel to rid the land of those who didn’t call Him their God. These nations were sinful defiant nations. God didn’t need Israel to kill of these people; we see proof of this with Sodom and Gomorrah. But God wanted to see if Israel was faithful to His command, which was rid the land of everyone and they were.
God wants us to rely on His ability to “win the war”. God doesn’t need us to do His will, but He wants us to experience being used by Him. If we are faithfully available to Him and we present Him with a clean vessel, He can perform His will through us. Just as Israel experienced supernatural victories, we can experience the same thing. This doesn’t mean that we will get what we want. Israel experienced the victories by following God’s will. If Israel had it their way, they would rather have had God wipeout the people instead of having to go to war. By them following the will God, they received the Promise Land and the ability to live in peace.
Content – King Jabin together with kings from other areas, fought against Israel (v. 4), “They came out, they and all their armies with them, {as} many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots”. God gave Israel victory over Jabin. Joshua killed Jabin and burned the city of Hazor; he only burned this city. Israel took the plunder from the other cites and killed every man (v. 14), “All the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They left no one who breathed”
Joshua also killed off the Anakim people (the giants in the Promise Land that Moses’ spies saw).
After this (v. 23), “…the land has rest from war”
Application – God used Israel to rid the land of those who didn’t call Him their God. These nations were sinful defiant nations. God didn’t need Israel to kill of these people; we see proof of this with Sodom and Gomorrah. But God wanted to see if Israel was faithful to His command, which was rid the land of everyone and they were.
God wants us to rely on His ability to “win the war”. God doesn’t need us to do His will, but He wants us to experience being used by Him. If we are faithfully available to Him and we present Him with a clean vessel, He can perform His will through us. Just as Israel experienced supernatural victories, we can experience the same thing. This doesn’t mean that we will get what we want. Israel experienced the victories by following God’s will. If Israel had it their way, they would rather have had God wipeout the people instead of having to go to war. By them following the will God, they received the Promise Land and the ability to live in peace.
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