It's an epic battle, the one described in chapter eleven, when the kings of Hazor, Madon, Shimron, Achshaph, and the rest came against Joshua and the Israelites: the Bible describes it as a great horde like the sand on the seashore, gathering against them. Did you notice that the Israelites did not have to pursue these battles, but that they ended up coming to them? The neighboring kings of a recently conquered region gets word of what has happened, and they send out to every ally they might have to make war against the Israelites. And then they get routed in battle. God had been clear from the get-go that He would give this land over to them to fulfill the promise to their forefathers (ch.1) and each time He commanded to devote all the people to destruction. I couldn't help but wonder what the aftermath of such a war looked like. What did they do with all their bodies? If the mighty men made a great horde, then imagine how many women and children were left behind also to be dealt with: it says over and over again that not were left breathing.
It's quite the human toll. And it makes me sad. Not because I think it was wrong or mistaken to devote these people to destruction: God is just and right in all He does and I can trust Him for that. But that there were so many people so stubborn and willful and disobedient before the Lord, who loved their sin and loved their own ways, that the only alternative was to exact their judgment against them. It will be like that in the last days, too (2 Timothy 3, Revelation 9:20-21). A huge human toll has been paid for the sin in this world. Sin is an ugly thing; it hurts other people, and it hurts us. And yet we [human beings] seem to prefer it to being subject to the Master. This really leads me to pray: for people, for myself, for wisdom to know how and when to share the Word, to have the courage and strength to do it. Will you pray with me?
Tomorrow's Reading: Joshua 12:1-13:7
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