God’s Fight, Not Ours

GETTING STARTED

Violence in the Bible can be very difficult to understand, especially when God has commanded it. The Old Testament shows the power of God and that, while he is patient and long-suffering, he will not abide idolatry and sin forever. In Genesis 15, God had promised Abram that his descendants would return to the land he had promised to them, but only when the time for the punishment of the Amorites (the people inhabiting the land) was right.

In today’s passage, God fulfills his promise to give the Promised Land to the Israelites while simultaneously using the Israelite’s obedience to bring justice to people who had violently opposed him for over 400 years

  • What sin in your life have you failed to eradicate, hoping that God will allow it indefinitely?

READ THE WORD: JOSHUA 10:28-43 (ESV)

28 As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.30 And the Lord gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it 37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it 39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.

40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. How thoroughly did Joshua destroy each of the cities that the Israelites entered? Whose instructions was he following (vs. 40)?
  2. What does the fact that Joshua destroyed everything that could be destroyed in each city tell you about Joshua’s willingness to be obedient to God?
  3. In verse 42, what is the reason that Joshua was able to destroy all of the enemies?
  4. Were these cities and their kings the enemies of Joshua, God, or both?
  5. Where in your life do you need to obediently follow God, trusting him to fight your battles for you?

RESPOND TO GOD

Violence in the Bible can seem daunting in light of the fact of the fullness of God’s love being carried out by Jesus Christ. What is important to notice in the passages about God’s wrath and violence is that it is always carried out against people who have chosen to be enemies of God. In verses 30 and 32, we can see the significance of God being the one who gave these lands by which Israel was victorious against the nations. God used the Israelites to bring justice and judgment to the nations AND to secure the land he had promised to the Israelites.

  • Pray that God will help you realize how powerful he is, and that he will use your obedience to further his plans.