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Joshua 11 “Look for God's Strategies”

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Joshua 11 “Look for God's Strategies” Joshua 11 “Look for God’s strategies” Proposition: Joshua was a great military strategist yet he was led by the Holy Spirit. Living the Spirit-filled life doesn’t mean we don’t plan or organise life, it just needs to be led by God. We have had a month break from the book of Joshua – a book that is a picture, a metaphor for the Spirit-filled life - to focus on missions both local and overseas. For those of you who are new to the church I will give you a quick recap. The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years. Egypt is an illustration of, or a metaphor for, the world in biblical prophecy and is also a literal place. They were saved by the blood that was placed on the doorposts of their homes that first Passover night, just as you and I are saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus, His blood. And they were set free and led by Moses when they cried out in desperation to the Lord to be saved. The New Testament says that all those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 1 Corinthians tells us that when they passed through the Red Sea that was an illustration of our baptism, a picture of NT baptism of the time you and I first chose to follow Jesus and die to self and live for Him. They were on their way to the Promised Land but then in the dessert their faith collapsed. Of the spies sent into the Promised Land only Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report, the other spies’ stories of giants and fortresses just terrified the Israelites. And because of their lack of faith they just wandered around in the dessert for 40 years kicking sand and swatting flies. Only Joshua and Caleb were to survive of that faithless generation. Many of us were like these people. We were on our way to the Promised Land, the Spirit-filled life, a land that flows with milk and honey but then something happens and our faith faints and we get comfortable with a form of Christianity that lacks power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. We go back to some of our old habits and we too end up kicking sand, swatting flies and eating dust. But the Lord has another plan to take us to the Jordan river for a second baptism. And you know from our story that historically as they stepped into the flooding river the waters parted miraculously. This picture speaks of the second baptism that all Christians need, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And once Joshua and the nation passed through this second baptism they entered the Promised Land, and land full of grapes as big as bowling balls, a fulfilling life. But please note that the Promised Land, the Spirit-filled life is not heaven, there are still giants to fight, battles to be won, victories to be had; but now we are equipped to be overcomers. And now as we return to the historical account of Joshua’s battles we are in the Promised Land and we begin to see just how much of a military genius, of a military strategist Joshua - which translates into Jesus in the NT - really is. In Chapter 10 we saw Joshua lead the army to supernaturally conquer all the Southern kingdoms. He then ignores the kingdoms to the west and east and pushes through to attack the Northern kingdoms of Canaan. I have been told that this is the first time that anyone ever used the strategy of divide and conquer historically. Joshua, a military man, gets on his knees and prays. God gives him a strategy from which he then develops a detailed plan: divide and conquer. I often come across people who say, we don’t prepare anything, we just go with the flow, and somehow that is meant to be more spiritual. I would disagree with that. God will begin to speak to me about a sermon, about who to visit, about a vision He has for my family or for my health well in advance of me having to speak about that issue or make decisions around it. God has divine strategies to bless you and to lead you into the Promised Land, but you start on your knees and then apply your business skills and management skills, never the other way around. As we turn to Joshua 11 this morning be mindful of this one military fact. Joshua was the man who set the unique fighting style of the Israeli army that still impacts the way they fight today. Unlike other generals of his time or those that had gone before, Joshua’s style of fighting always involved Stealth, speed and a great knowledge of the terrain that he was to fight in. The same is true of the Israeli army ever since, just think back to the 6-day war in 1967 or the raid at Entebbe. 1 The Israeli forces have followed Joshua’s military style but they have forgotten what made Joshua so special; his amazing military strategies flowed out of his prayer life. Prayer first, strategies second. So we see the start of the Northern campaign. Joshua Captures Towns in the North 11 King Jabin of Hazor heard about Joshua’s victories, so he sent messages to many nearby kings and asked them to join him in fighting Israel. He sent these messages to King Jobab of Madon, the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, 2 the kings in the northern hill country and in the Jordan River valley south of Lake Galilee,[a] and the kings in the foothills and in Naphath-Dor to the west. 3 He sent messages to the Canaanite kings in the east and the west, to the Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, and Jebusite kings in the hill country, and to the Hivite kings in the region of Mizpah, near the foot of Mount Hermon.[b] 4-5 The kings and their armies went to Merom Pond,[c] where they set up camp, and got ready to fight Israel. It seemed as though there were more soldiers and horses and chariots than there are grains of sand on a beach. For those of you who study Bible prophecy, I want you to notice where Merom Pond is. It’s located in the valley of Megiddo. Have you heard that name before from the book of Revelation? These armies gather to fight Joshua who has been promised victory by God in the valley of Megiddo, just as they will one day after the Millennium to fight our Joshua in the valley of Megiddo, only that fight will be called Armageddon. The Jewish historian Josephus, who reported on ancient historical events, wrote that at this battle there were in the opposing camp 300,000 infantry, 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 chariots. Now in that day men on horses and chariot warfare was the new and virtually unbeatable way of fighting. This was a terrifying horde of soldiers convinced that they could defeat that Joshua just as in the end times the kingdoms of this world will unite in the same place madly believing that they can defeat our Joshua, Jesus. 6 The LORD told Joshua: Don’t let them frighten you! I’ll help you defeat them, and by this time tomorrow they will be dead. When you attack, the first thing you have to do is to cripple their horses. Then after the battle is over,[d] burn their chariots. For those of you who love horses, this is a bit of an awful story. They Israelites didn’t kill the horses, they somehow cut the horses’ hamstrings so they could still walk and eat but could not carry a soldier into battle or pull a chariot anymore. Remember that Joshua started the Israeli style of fighting - Stealth, speed and a knowledge of the terrain. 7 Joshua and his army made a surprise attack against the enemy camp at Merom Pond[e] 8-9 and crippled the enemies' horses.[f] Joshua followed the LORD’s instructions, and the LORD helped Israel defeat the enemy. The Israelite army even chased enemy soldiers as far as Misrephoth-Maim to the northwest,[g] the city of Sidon to the north, and Mizpeh Valley to the northeast.[h] None of the enemy soldiers escaped alive. The Israelites came back after the battle and burned the enemy’s chariots. Stealth, speed and a knowledge of the terrain. Joshua did fully what God had commanded and an amazing victory was theirs. Let’s jump down to 21-23: 21 During this same time, Joshua and his army killed the Anakim[k] from the northern and southern hill country. They also destroyed the towns where the Anakim had lived, including Hebron, Debir, and Anab. 22 There were not any Anakim left in the regions where the Israelites lived, although there were still some in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.[l] 23 That’s how Joshua captured the land, just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and Joshua divided it up among the tribes. Finally, there was peace in the land. 2 I just want to explain for a minute who the Anakim people were before we make this passage very, very practical for you and for me. Whenever you see an im in a Hebrew name it is plural in its application. For instance, some will say to you that the first name used for God in the OT was Jehovah.
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