To Joshua, time stood still, but in truth, before they knew it–God led Joshua and Israel through the land, and Israel defeated all its enemies. The land was cleared, the spoils divided, and it was time to divide the land. So, God gave Israel peace from war.
Since God was leading the campaign, Joshua could remain assured that there were no secret enemies or confused battle orders. He simply carried out God’s command and cleared the land. It was not easy, and the people were stretched to be their best, but they were provided for, protected, and prepared to be a free people in their own land. Joshua had become the shepherd warrior that God needed and used to lead Israel. The great news was now it was time to take a rest from war.
In our lives, as we follow the Lord, we will encounter trials, battles, and circumstances that will stretch us and push us to places we never thought we could or would go. In that, as we trust the Lord, we can see His hand of protection, provision, and preparation. Then one day, we will see that the time of war will be over, and we can enter a time of peace.
Peace time will be most critical in our journey. It is in the times of peace, that we can become complacent and self-confident. We lose our perspective and suddenly think we can handle life all on our own. We cannot!
We must continue to rely upon God in all times. Good or bad, in peace or at war; we can never fall back into the trap that allows us to become prideful, sinful, and insensitive to God’s leadership. Joshua knew that and led as a close follower of God all the days of his leadership. I pray daily that I will do the same.
God Bless You
So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 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.
21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.
23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.
Walking With God 