Joshua 11

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Northern Campaign and a Summary of the Seven Year Conquest

BACKGROUND NOTES

What was Joshua's strategy in attacking the coalition of kings during the northern campaign?
Throughout the whole conquest, only three cities were burned. The rest of the cities were taken over and inhabited by the children of Israel. Which three cities were burned?
What was God's rod of judgment against the hard-hearted Canaanites?
How long did the conquest last?
Recall the giant/grasshopper complex. What made the difference?
The land rested from war. Did that mean that all the land was possessed by Israel?

Joshua decided to attack them with a pre-emptive strike before the enemy was fully organized. He attacked them in the hill country and completely demobilized them, crippling their horses and burning their chariots. He attacked Hazor, the largest city in Israel at that time. Hazor controlled the whole northern half of the land of Canaan.
Jericho, Ai and Hazor.
Israel was brought in as God's rod of judgment. God had given the Canaanites plenty of time to repent and change their ways, but they would not. They hardened their hearts against God.
About seven years.
Israel no longer feared the giants nor did they see themselves as grasshoppers because their eyes were now on the Lord. It was a matter of perspective.
No. The Lord said to Joshua, "There remains much land yet to be possessed." According to the Book of the Judges, we know that enemy forces continued to exist in the land.

The enemy opposition in Joshua represents spiritual opposition today. Just as the northern coalition of pagan enemy forces outnumbered and outclassed the army of Israel, so the spiritual opposition we face in the world today appears to be superior to the small Christian community. There is a tendency to be scared because we are in the minority, but God is with us and He has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Israel trusted in the Lord, not in a captured cavalry or their own military strength. See Psalm 20:7. Are you trusting God with the victory?
Do you fear giants that you face in spiritual warfare? What about the fear of losing your job, or the fear of dying, or the fear of loneliness, or security in your old age? Those can be giants to keep you from enjoying your blessings in Christ. There are no giants that cannot be brought down by faith. Be faithful and watch God work.

Have you come to the place in your Christian life where the control of sin and spiritual opposition is no longer overwhelming? Are you resting in Christ in the land of spiritual blessings? The major battles of the world, the flesh and the devil have been fought and won. See Romans 6:14.

"The Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of the enemy forces, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain to Israel." (Joshua 11:6)
"It was of the Lord who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, that He might utterly destroy them. (Joshua 11:20)
"So Joshua took the entire land and gave it as an inheritance according to their tribes. Then the land rested from war." (Joshua 11:23)