Take Two: Joshua 11, Proverbs 3

Chapter 11 continues to chronicle the events of conquering the land. A couple of things of interest struck me (pun intended!).

In Josh 11:6 God promises, "I will deliver all of them slain...". In Josh 11:7, it is Joshua and the warriors who do the slaying. God promised the victory but the labor continued to be the responsibility of the people. Sometimes we see the promises of God and think that God will work while we remain passive. There are times when God tells us to stand back and watch...or when He just does something that we observe. We do not have a difficult time seeing God's hand in these circumstances. This, however, is not the only way God works. As here in Joshua, God also works through us. Even if the victory is a result of God's power and our obedience, He gets credit for accomplishing the task!

So, who earned the money to send your kid to college? God provided. Who put food on the table? God provided. Who saved you from the wreck on the Interstate? (Not your super driving skills only...) God provided!

Josh 11:12 states that Joshua's actions were now beginning to come from what Moses had instructed...not just what God spoke to Him one-to-one. Here is the point: In Joshua's mind...there is no difference in God's Word to Moses or God's Word to him. Joshua respected the recorded instructions given to Moses as being just as authoritative as what He received personally.

Josh 11:22 records a statement of possession change. It is not the land of those who had inhabited it...but is the land of the sons of Israel. The section ends in Josh 11:23 with the phrase, "Thus the land had rest from war."

Proverbs 3:33 is the takeaway. The wicked are cursed by the Lord whether they realize it or not. The righteous are blessed by the Lord whether they realize it or not. There is a reality of our existence and status with God that sometimes eludes us. Sometimes we experience trials, even though we are righteous and act rigtheously. We wonder, "Why is this happening? Why am I not being blessed of God when I do as I do?" In truth...we are being blessed. We may not realize it or feel it but truth is truth just the same. We may be overlooking the grace God blesses us with to endure the trial and magnify Him in the process. We may be unaware of how bad things could be for us...and yet we are blessed with only the trials we have.

Grace,