January 15, 2020 Part One

Northern Kings Defeated


A lot has happened thus far...........
On the road to the promise land the children of Israel have lots to do.

It has been eight to nine days ( maybe a little longer) after crossing over the river Jordan.
There was no turning back. There was only one way....Forward.....We never get to go back.

I thank God for that. We all would have turn back looking at what is ahead. But with God Joshua finds peace, courage, and strength to endure.










Chapter 11
When Jabin King of Hazor heard of this, He sent word to Madon, to the Kings of Shimron an Akshaph, and to the northern Kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foot hills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittities, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots--a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.




The Lord said to Joshua, Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.



So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the waters of Merom and attacked them, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all they way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, until no survivors were left. Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed; He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.

At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms) Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.

Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds--except Hazor, which Joshua burned. he Israelite's carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed.

As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone all that the Lord commanded Moses. So Joshua took his entire land; the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foot hills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foot hills. from Mounta Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon.

He captured all their kings an put them to death. Joshua waged war against all the kings for a long time. Except the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelite's took them all in battle.

For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroyed them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

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. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.

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.


Notes
Lots of war
lots of war
lots of war

God is in the midst of the war.

God hardens the peoples hearts to attack Israel but God was going to let their enemies be defeated before them.

He tells Joshua he will give him the victory over those he went into battle against.

I notice the wars start small...for example:

It starts with Jericho. A small city along the wall of the land area. This news spreads to others.

It moves to King AI and his land.............They are defeated

It moves to five Kings and five lands .............they are defeated; this news spreads and more arise.


It moves to all the kings and all the lands. the bible says they were numbered like the sand on the sea. But Israel defeats them too....God gave them the victory

Now they have possession of the land....................
wow!!!
this is the promise land.

What a journey Joshua had. Do you think he ever felt discouraged as he defeat one person two more people showed up. He defeated three and a whole army showed up. I think sometimes our battles are like that. We think its over and then more show up. I have asked God at times when is it over? How long Lord? I love the courage of Joshua. I love the battle strength he had. I love how he keeps going forward.

As we journey through this year. We all have goals. find out the first step. Stay in prayer and conquer it. We wrestle not with flesh blood but with principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places, and rulers of darkness. So our journey is different: for example:

The devil fights us through principles:
Our war is not with people. Of course the enemy uses people but the idea is that he cannot get you to offend God by doing something to hurt your relationship with God.

1. He wants us to fight. That is why that person keeps talking about you. Its devil wanting you to stoop down and act ugly. So there becomes a blockage between you and God. He cant answer your prayers or help you. From the beginning God gave instructions and mankind fails to listen to them so we experience war in various ways. God has to help us out.  He sends out rude people but bless them do not curse them.
5. Joshua fights a natural battle; we fight a spiritual battle.
6. We hold to our principles taught to us by Jesus Christ.
7. In the old testament there is a lot of blood shed but today we do not shed blood we crucify our flesh that wants to shed blood.
8. But the book of Joshua is a story of victory.
9. It is amazing. Look at all they won.
10. We are in a war too but its a war in the soul.
Curse or bless,
love or hate,
honor or dishonor,
steal or work,
believe or doubt etc..................