January 8 - Joshua 10:29-43

January 8 - Joshua 10:29-43

29  Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.  30  And the LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. 31  Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it.  32  And the LORD gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah. 33  Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.

34  Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it.  35  And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish. 36  Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it  37  and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it. 38  Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it  39  and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king. 40  So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded.  41  And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.  42  And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.  43  Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

 

Indeed Joshua 10 can be identified as a series of victories the Israelites experienced in the south with the five kings.  It also demonstrates the power of Joshua’s prayers and how God is our warrior.

 

Prayer is a powerful tool.  How is you utilizing prayer in your life? 

 

Just as we yearn to hear from our own children, God longs to hear from us as well.  Surrender yourself to prayer throughout each day.  Take time to praise God for His goodness and extravagant love, look for ways God blesses you every day, and work to understand how God is our constant warrior.      

 

Heavenly Father, as I read these verses I am struck by how obedient Joshua was.  He had personally witnessed and suffered the consequences for disobedience and knew how important it was for him to be completely obedient.  Not only did God give such instructions, Joshua knew it would be better for the children of Israel and all involved short term and long term.  How often I look only at the short term impact and forget that Your plan is eternal.  Help me view things from Your perspective.  Help me be an obedient child and follow You blindly.  I know lack of obedience is due to lack of faith, and I have faith, but I have to admit, not enough.  Please help me have complete faith in You.  You have increased my love for You, not please grow my faith.  I know I deserve, yet You command us to ask.

 

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!