I couldn't find a picture like the one I drew in my notes, so I've graced you with my limited art skills below (LOL):
You'd be surprised but Joshua 11 is actually a love story. It's CRAZY to see it that way with all the fighting, killing, and war but if you know God and the Holy Spirit and ask him to help you see it, its there. Read Joshua 11 HERE
The arrogance of the kings mentioned in 11 brought annihilation on their people. By cursing God's people (Israel), they brought curses on themselves. God fought for Israel in the south and when the others found out this was happening they charged toward the Israelis (like a moth to a flame) and drove themselves into destruction. Joshua 6: Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel as dead men. Then you must cripple their horses and burn their chariots.” And then Joshua 16-20:
Moral of the story? If you keep saying no, God will eventually hand you over to destruction - to the life you want to live without him. Don't test him to see how many "no's" he will accept. You don't know when enough is enough with him so practice saying yes and live life with him.
As I said at the beginning of this post, love is the theme of this chapter. It can be hard to find between all the killing, destruction, and battle victory but if you have a living relationship with God, you'll be able to see it. He saved the land for HIS people by sacrificing the people who devoted their lives to destruction. A lust for blood, battle, and possession turned out to be a love story of God saving this land for his people. Israel was driven by the desire to obey and take possession of the land but through the journey found a deeper connection with God. They were able to see how deep his love ran for them by trusting him to fight for them. By needing him and relying on him for everything. Pastor Dad (my dad *praught* on Sunday) compared it to relationships where at first you find someone attractive - you're loony with thoughts about this person and your want for him/her consumes your mind. This flesh level attraction can become a spiritual connection - a spirit led desire. When God has designed two people for each other, there's an intangible element of connection formed by love. These two people are no longer driven by their flesh driven desire but by the need to feel connected and loved in every way. This need can be fulfilled by the sanctity of marriage when a God given gift allows two to become one spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
You might be wondering what would make God want to wipe out several nations. Well, if you've ever loved someone who continues making bad choices and you keep hoping and praying for them to turn around and they never do, you understand how God feels about these people. It's sad. It's heartbreaking. And then for God to have to wipe them out and start over because they wouldn't listen is devastating. If you've ever been around kids, you soon learn that discipline = love. If you love the kids in your life, you discipline them for their own safety. You teach them what's right and wrong so they can live long, healthy lives full of love. You might even find yourself saying, "I can't let you live like this anymore" and take drastic measures to reform his/her behavior. God was doing this but in the good ole' Old Testament style of dramatics and finality. It was a sacrifice for the safety of his own people - his children. These other nations were a danger to themselves and to others and had to be destroyed (kind of like a rabid animal).
God wanted love to come down so he found a people that said, "Yes, Lord!" He wanted a people who were willing to take out nations that repeatedly said, "No!" Through his people, God took possession of the land for his purpose. God can show YOU how great a love he has for you if you choose him. Choose life, love, and light! Say, "Yes, Lord! Now what's the question?"
The arrogance of the kings mentioned in 11 brought annihilation on their people. By cursing God's people (Israel), they brought curses on themselves. God fought for Israel in the south and when the others found out this was happening they charged toward the Israelis (like a moth to a flame) and drove themselves into destruction. Joshua 6: Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel as dead men. Then you must cripple their horses and burn their chariots.” And then Joshua 16-20:
So Joshua conquered the entire region—the hill country, the entire Negev, the whole area around the town of Goshen, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley,[d] the mountains of Israel, and the Galilean foothills. 17 The Israelite territory now extended all the way from Mount Halak, which leads up to Seir in the south, as far north as Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon in the valley of Lebanon. Joshua killed all the kings of those territories, 18 waging war for a long time to accomplish this. 19 No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon. All the others were defeated. 20 For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Moral of the story? If you keep saying no, God will eventually hand you over to destruction - to the life you want to live without him. Don't test him to see how many "no's" he will accept. You don't know when enough is enough with him so practice saying yes and live life with him.
As I said at the beginning of this post, love is the theme of this chapter. It can be hard to find between all the killing, destruction, and battle victory but if you have a living relationship with God, you'll be able to see it. He saved the land for HIS people by sacrificing the people who devoted their lives to destruction. A lust for blood, battle, and possession turned out to be a love story of God saving this land for his people. Israel was driven by the desire to obey and take possession of the land but through the journey found a deeper connection with God. They were able to see how deep his love ran for them by trusting him to fight for them. By needing him and relying on him for everything. Pastor Dad (my dad *praught* on Sunday) compared it to relationships where at first you find someone attractive - you're loony with thoughts about this person and your want for him/her consumes your mind. This flesh level attraction can become a spiritual connection - a spirit led desire. When God has designed two people for each other, there's an intangible element of connection formed by love. These two people are no longer driven by their flesh driven desire but by the need to feel connected and loved in every way. This need can be fulfilled by the sanctity of marriage when a God given gift allows two to become one spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
You might be wondering what would make God want to wipe out several nations. Well, if you've ever loved someone who continues making bad choices and you keep hoping and praying for them to turn around and they never do, you understand how God feels about these people. It's sad. It's heartbreaking. And then for God to have to wipe them out and start over because they wouldn't listen is devastating. If you've ever been around kids, you soon learn that discipline = love. If you love the kids in your life, you discipline them for their own safety. You teach them what's right and wrong so they can live long, healthy lives full of love. You might even find yourself saying, "I can't let you live like this anymore" and take drastic measures to reform his/her behavior. God was doing this but in the good ole' Old Testament style of dramatics and finality. It was a sacrifice for the safety of his own people - his children. These other nations were a danger to themselves and to others and had to be destroyed (kind of like a rabid animal).
God wanted love to come down so he found a people that said, "Yes, Lord!" He wanted a people who were willing to take out nations that repeatedly said, "No!" Through his people, God took possession of the land for his purpose. God can show YOU how great a love he has for you if you choose him. Choose life, love, and light! Say, "Yes, Lord! Now what's the question?"
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