Joshua 10:29-35

²⁹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. ³⁰ The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. ³² The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. ³³ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.
³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. ³⁵ They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

Introduction

When someone challenges God’s character, and asks: “If God is love, why would He command killing people?” God never commanded killing for the sake of killing. God didn’t instruct Israel to conquer the world. God commanded Joshua and the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites to prevent Israel from imitating the Canaanite’s lifestyle.
God knows that the Canaanites have no desire to change their lifestyle. Actually, God has given the Canaanites a very long period of time to change their ways—more than 400 years when the Israelites were still in Egypt.
When the time was ripe, He sent the Israelites to destroy them. Humans may question God’s love in disagreement with God’s command. No need to defend God.

God’s command to destroy the wicked Canaanites reminds us of the coming Judgment Day. In Matthew 13:41, ³¹The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

Do you agree that the Son of Man is the same Christ who commanded Joshua and the Israelites to conquer Canaan and leave no survivors?

1. No Survivor

²⁹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. ³⁰ The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. ³² The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.

When Israel attacked their enemies, Joshua made it sure that no survivor is left alive. They were victorious because they believed that God made them victory even before the war. Are you interested how they took Lachish in the second day? It took them one day to defeat Libnah, and one day to defeat Lachish. How about that?
How far was Lachish to Libnah? (Approximately, 10 kilometers) It was not written if they have horses or donkeys. We can only imagine that they’ve travelled from one city to another on foot. If it was so, it’s a practical manifestation that God supplied their physical strength which may include persistence and desire to obey the Lord.
Israel learned their lesson that success of mission that God gave them rests on following God’s signal and instruction through their leader Joshua.

Spiritual Warfare

Is the church experiencing a challenging spiritual battle? Church leaders that God has established, confirmed through church election, and validated by the church By-laws have been despised and mocked lately. Such situation could mislead people but it’s also a practical testing how much knowledge of God and of Jesus as our Lord we’ve got.

It says in 2 Peter 1:2, ² Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Blaming others won’t add knowledge of God. God’s abundant grace and peace reveal our knowledge of God and Christ. Confusing moments are necessary events to check if we have grown in our knowledge of God and of Jesus as Lord.
Did Joshua experience peace to obey God? Did Joshua feel sorry that they totally destroyed their enemies, including young children or pregnant women?

2. Total Destruction

³³ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left. ³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. ³⁵ They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

When Horam king of Gezer came to help Lachish, it implies that those cities that Israel conquered had good partnership. The Bible did not mention how many people were living in one city but they called their leaders as king. It might not have huge population because they have conquered two cities in just one day.
It’s not mentioned about their time to rest or time to eat or cook their food. It does not mean that they did not eat or cook their food. The Bible presents Israel’s obedience to destroy their enemies. What can we learn from it?
The Lord did not instruct to destroy those who insult us or falsely testify against us. He instructed to love and pray for them. In 1 Peter 4:14, ¹⁴If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

When you are called to warn against ungodly practices and lifestyle, and you are insulted, that’s a blessing! Do you agree? When the Lord is active in our life, we cannot escape persecution. Whatever godly intention we have to warn against sin, there will always be those who oppose us. Well, it is easier to please God than to please people.

In 1 Peter 3:9, ⁹Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
God’s blessing is more explicit, when we bless those who insult us, really?
It’s easy to bless those who are good to us. It’s easy to pay back good for good. Jesus says that even sinners would do the same goodness to their fellow sinners.
The Lord reminds us in Matthew 5:46-47, 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Nurse

When patients are stubborn and racists, it makes nursing job tougher. Nursing job is great if patients are cooperative and respectful. Similarly, ministry is great when church members are respectful and cooperative.
Take courage! Christ has overcome the world. Your faithfulness will be rewarded. Keep seeking peace from the Spirit of Christ. In John 16:33, ³³“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

It says in 1 John 5:4-5, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Genuine believers, church leaders or ordinary members, will surely have trouble. Trouble in this world are necessary means to test ourselves if really have faith in Christ. Pray for those who make your life difficult so that their misguided zeal will turn to zeal for the Lord. Did you know that despising authority will be punished like Sodom?

In 2 Peter 2:6-10, ⁶ if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; ⁷ and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless ⁸ (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— ⁹ if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. ¹⁰ This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.

To despise means to scorn, insult, disregard, disrespectful.
Attitude toward authorities exhibits who deserve to be rescued or punished.
Are you guilty? Seek God’s forgiveness and cleansing of guilt, and filling of Christ’s Spirit.

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