Joshua 15 The Allotment for Judah

Caleb's reward was allocated in the midst of Judah's allotment. There is a contrast between Caleb and his people and  Judah and its people. The main issue here is that Judah was not able to drive out the inhabitants of her land: the Jebusites. Just like the Anakim in the land given to Caleb (Hebron), the Jebusites were Canaanites - pagan polytheists who refused the God of Israel. But Caleb worked to drive the Anakim out and Judah did not.

Caleb was an exemplary warrior. He took his mission very seriously and did not settle half way. He devoted all of his life to the conquest of the promised land. When he took his portion as his reward, he had to fight the remnants of the Anakim (the giants of the land) to be able to enjoy his reward. In contrast, the people of Judah settled into their land (Jerusalem) and encountered the Jebusites, but could not drive them out of the land. Unfortunately, they coexisted in Jerusalem for many years. In light of God's command to take the land and drive out the enemy, Judah was complacent, lazy, even disobedient. Probably tired from previous campaigns.

My call is very much like Caleb's. I am to wage the battle of faith. It is a battle against sin, Satan, and the institutions of this world that stand against God. The establishment of God's kingdom upon the earth requires that I continue to fight. I cannot settle here and become complacent coexisting with God's enemies.  I must make every effort to drive the enemies out of the land. Am I giving it all it takes? Or am I becoming complacent with sin?

It is interesting to note that Caleb not only fought with all his might, but also granted many incentives for others to follow him. (He offered his daughter as a prize for conquering other Anakim. ) I should take the example of Caleb seriously and become an example to others myself. I must take great pains to give incentives to others to engage in the battle of faith as well. There is nothing more important than the establishment of God's kingdom upon earth, beginning with my own heart.

Lord, give me the strength to continue to wage the battle of faith. Revive my heart to follow you. Rekindle the flame of my passion for your kingdom. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

Joshua 11 Conquests in Northern Canaan

Joshua now moves to the north to subdue the remaining city-states in the promised land. Jabin, the king of Hazor calls in all the kings in the surrounding territories to join forces against Israel. They were a great horde, in number like the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. Military power in those days was determined by the number of warriors, the number of horses, and the number of chariots. The Canaanites had a great advantage over Israel on all three. But the Israelites were instructed not to fear!

Moses, wrote in the Law: "When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." (Deut.20:1) Israel was instructed not to amass horses, chariots, or soldiers throughout its history for one simple reason. God wanted them to trust him and not their resources. In Psalm 20:7 we are reminded: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7) 

The establishment of God's kingdom upon the earth is the battle of faith that I must wage in this world. It is a personal battle for the establishment of God's kingdom in my heart as well as a corporate battle for the establishment of God's kingdom in our communities. Many are the enemies of the kingdom and many are the resources available to them, but I am to trust in the Lord. I am not to fear their might against me because God has promised to fight for me and I am to depend on him. Am I really depending on God for this conquest? Or am I seeking comfort and strength in other things?

Because Joshua and the Israelites trusted in the Lord, they were able to subdue the Canaanites greater fighting power. They burned their chariots. They hamstrung (it seems to be a procedure by which they cut some tendons rendering them unfit for warfare) their horses. Even the Anakim were cut off from the land. These were the giants that instilled so much fear in the hearts of the 10 spies. Nothing is impossible with God. If God is for me, who can come against me?

Lord, fill my heart with trust in you. Don't allow me to put my trust in the things of this world, not even to fight the battle of faith. Search me and show me my dependencies. Try me and transform me to trust in you alone.