The Battle Belongs to God. Throughout these chapters, we see in incredible detail how the Hebrews (Habiru?) overcame the odds to take the Promised Land. We even see the same account from the point of view of the Canaanites. (In historical context, all the lands of Canaan were subject kingdoms to the Pharaoh of Egypt at this time. So the "kings" of the cities of the Canaanites in Joshua will be described as "mayors" in the Amarna letters, and the Pharaoh will be addressed there as the king.) Look at how Abdi-Heba, overseeing Jerusalem in the wake of the curious absence of its rightful leader (Joshua 10:1-28), describes the situation in Canaan to Pharaoh:
"Message of Abdi-Heba [to the Pharaoh], your servant. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, seven times and seven times... I am not a mayor [of Jerusalem]; I am a soldier of the king, my lord... May the king give thought to his land: the land of the king is lost... the Habiru have taken the very cities of the king. Not a single mayor remains to the king, my lord; all are lost. Behold, Turbazu was slain in the city gate of Silu. The king did nothing. Behold, servants who were joined to the Habiru smote Zimredda of Lakisu, and Yaptih-Hadda was slain in the city gate of Silu. The king did nothing... May the king provide for his land and may he see to it that archers come out to his land. If there are no archers this year, all the lands of the king, my lord, are lost... all the mayors are lost."
-Abdi-Heba, acting mayor(?) of Jerusalem, to the Pharaoh, Amarna Tablets EA 288
The situation as described in Joshua seems incredibly difficult for Israel, but when we look at it in historical context, the situation was even more miraculous. Not only were the cities of the Canaanites overcome, but Pharaoh and the Egyptians were simultaneously held at bay and somehow kept from intervening. (Abdi-Heba's unanswered letters, found neatly stored in the remains of the Egyptian administrative center at Amarna, become increasingly desperate as they remain ignored.)
There are no odds that are too difficult for God. When we see what must be done, we should move forward by asking God for wisdom. And we should trust that God, who knows the 1,000 variables in the situation that we could never know, is handling more than we know.
RESPOND | WHAT IS OUR PART?
How can we respond in our worship, attitude, and actions? In our attitude I believe we can be enabled to have greater boldness as we pursue the purpose of God in our lives. The same God that helped Israel to take the land also watches over you and me.
PRAY | HOW DOES THIS LEAD US TO CONNECT WITH GOD?
For the last few days, we've explored a few different formats for prayer. I liked this one so much that I wanted to use it again.
C = Confess. Confess your trust in God, and your need for him.
A = Ask. Ask God to move--there is nothing that he can't do.
L = Love. Thank God for the many ways that he shown his providential grace.
L = Listen. Ask God to bring to mind a necessary word (thought, Scripture, idea) for you today.
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