Joshua 10: It Is Finished

Today I'm reading Joshua.  It is sweet to find that my bleeding heart is no longer completely repulsed by what God commands the Israelites to do in the Promised Land, but in awe of His might and holiness.  No doubt, it is still hard to watch as the enemy is given into Joshua's hand time and time again, as the Israelites hang men on trees until evening, as Achan is stoned to death even after telling the truth, but all of it is evidence of the Lord's radical faithfulness to His own and to His glory. 

Joshua chapter ten is blowing my mind!  In verses 8-10 with regard to the approaching Amorites, the text reads,

"The Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands.  Not a man of them shall stand before you.'  So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.  And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah."

Joshua was called not to fear because God had already given his enemies into his hands and had already promised victory.  Joshua acts--and it's the promise that gives him the confidence to do so.  It's the Lord, though, who throws the enemy into a panic while Israel pursues them.   Many more die from the Lord's hail than by Israel's sword, so while the Israelites have the privilege and responsibility of fighting with and for the Lord, He won for them!  They were called to battle, called not to fear, and called to be strong and courageous, but not without assurance that Almighty God was on their side.  Had they disobeyed the Lord's call, their promised blessings would likely have been further delayed, as we've already seen in Exodus and Numbers; delayed, but never thwarted.  In verses 18 and 19, the Lord again indicates that He's already given the enemy into Israel's hand, and presents this as the very reason for them to pursue and attack, confident that victory will be theirs.  

All of this is so encouraging, because it's the same for us.  There is hardly ever an imperative command from the Lord without an indicative statement about who He is, what He has done and will do, and who His people are in Him.  In Titus 2 we're told, "The grace of God has appeared...training us" to renounce ungodliness and to pursue holiness.  It's His grace that trains us!  The confidence that He has already won the battle breathes life and courage into us!  We still have to rise up and fight, but it's the banner that reads "It is finished" and the truth that death has lost its sting because of Christ's coming that give us the strength and desire and joy to press on.  Hallelujah!