THE FINAL VICTORY
Joshua 11:1-23
Introduction: Josuha 11 begins with an interesting statement in Joshua 11:1-5. This is an amazing statement considering what we read in several places the way God fought for Israel and their enemies were utterly destroyed. Look at Jos 2:10 (compare: Joshua 5:1; 9:1; 10:1) Each of these chapters begin with a similar statement (paraphrased), “Let’s go and get those Israelites”). The only thing man learns from history is that he learns nothing from history. This has been attributed to a lot of people (according to the Internet) but none of them know the true source, Ecclesiastes 3:15 (KJV) That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. The leaders of these nations are wanting to band together and evidently thinking that they can muster an army larger than Israel’s army. The only equation they leave out is that God is fighting for Israel.
We want to explore that concept this morning. We have been looking at how Joshua has strategically fought the battles of Canaan and taken the land that was promised and is ready to make the final conflict and gain the land that will be the inheritance of the people of Israel. Hopefully, we can learn a few lessons about the Christian life in the process of examining this passage.
Before we start, let me draw some important lessons from the pictures presented here. God has given us a beautiful blueprint of the mechanics of the victory we have in Christ. Alan Redpath calls this “The Fruit of Victory.” The final battle is about to be fought, and the chapter closes with an interesting statement in Joshua 11:23 (KJV) So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. [Emphasis added.] What is being stated here is the united action by Israel is coming to a stop. The enemy was totally routed and the battle won. Joshua is ready for some rest as are the people. We must not forget an important principle that we learn from the New Testament. Most teachers of the Bible will say that the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 (KJV) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel, was completed when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. The victory was complete. Satan was defeated but not yet vanquished until he is cast into the “lake of fire” (see: Rev. 20:10). This explains why we are told to put on the armour in Ephesians 6. Why are we told to “fight the good fight of faith?” (1 Tim. 6:12). Why did Paul say “I have fought a good fight?” (2 Tim. 4:7). Some say Satan was defeated completely when Jesus paid the penalty for sin on the cross. If that took place, why do we still have to fight the fight of faith? We do because the enemy is constantly infiltrating and operating as a gorilla style army. It is the same as when Israel found themselves coming to the place where the land “rested from war.” The campaign has been won, now it is a “mopping up” process to keep the enemy out.
Here is the application. Note in Joshua 11:23 the statement, “So Joshua took the whole land.” When a person comes to the place where they are ready to trust Christ and believe Him for eternal life then they can find peace and rest from war. When they become obedient to the commands of the word of God, they will find that the peace that comes only from God is theirs. You may need to experience this. Look at these verses:
Acts 10:36 (KJV) The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Philippians 4:7 (KJV) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Over and over again we are told what we find in 1 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (see 2Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; 6:23; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1Thess. 1:1; 2Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3; Heb. 13:20; 1Peter 1:2; 5:14; 2Peter 1:2; 2John 1:3).
Have you ever tried to understand the place where we are told that Jesus “sat down at the right hand of God?” Look at some verses with me:
Mark 16:19 (KJV) So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 (KJV) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 10:12 (KJV) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [Emphasis added.] Jesus has won the war, but the enemy has not been vanquished and removed from the affairs of man.
Yet there is one last verse we need to see in light of all of this and it will help us understand what is going on in Joshua 11 and the rest of Joshua. That is Romans 16:20 (KJV) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. There are those who say that Jesus has won the victory and there is no longer place for battle. That is totally false. We are still in battle although the war has been won. The enemy has not been put under our feet, YET! That is the lesson so many do not learn. There is the importance of believing and being obedient. Our Joshua, Jesus, won the battle but we need to claim our inheritance. Notice in Joshua 11:23 there is a reference to “inheritance?”
Look at => Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Compare Ephesians 1:14 (KJV) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. [Emphasis added.] Don’t miss the little word “until.”
- THE OPPOSITION, Joshua 11:1-5. Just as we saw in Joshua 10:1-5, where Adoni-zedek amassed a coalition army (sounds familiar today, even) that did not attack Israel, but Gibeon, who had made a treaty with Israel, we find Jabin, King of Hazor, doing the same thing. It is considered that Adoni-zedek was in the south and Jabin was in the north. Jabin amasses a vast army made up of the army of Jobab, king of Madon, the king of Shimron, and the king Achshaph (Joshua 11:1-2). Also, we learn in Joshua 11:3 the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusites, and finally the Hivite (Joshua 11:3). Now note Joshua 11:5 (KJV) And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. This military coalition is ready to attack Israel.
Let me give you an example of how the enemies of God’s truth operate. These are battles that attack the truth of God’s word. This example of this which took place in 2015. A battle was built around the surety of eternal hell. A fellow by the name of Rob Bell wrote a book that attempts to dispel the notion that there is eternal punishment for all who rejects Jesus Christ. The enemy has massed its troops and has a large army of those who are fighting for this belief. In fact, this has been gaining momentum for a long time. Even Billy Graham held to a form of this belief. It is the adage that surely God would not allow anyone into heaven who had not had the opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ. That would be cruel and against the attribute of God’s love. Folks, the enemy is gathering its troops and amassing its army. Satan wants you to be defeated and not gain your inheritance (which is earned, ). Have you ever wondered about the passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV) 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. [Emphasis added.] 1 Corinthians 15:50 (KJV) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Remember Romans 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 4:20 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
OUR INHERITANCE IS HERE: 1 Peter 1:4 (KJV) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. There is one aspect of our inheritance. We can lose some or all of it, yet we will still be saved and in heaven. This is stated in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15. You CANNOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION. 2 John 8 (KJV) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
- THE OPPORTUNITY, Joshua 11:6-9. The Lord tells Joshua in this section of our text that He will handle the enemy and, in the process, accomplish two tasks. First, he was to “hough” (to cut the hamstring) and “burn the chariots with fire” (Joshua 11:6) and God will deliver the enemy up to Joshua slain before Israel. The next thing that we find Joshua doing in defeating the enemy is twofold. (1) First, God was the source of their victory because He fought for Israel. Yet as we find in the rest of Joshua, the people had to chase the enemy out of their inheritance. An illustration of this is found in the place where we find that in Joshua 11:21-22 all the Anakims (the giants) were all chased out of the land, there was none left in the land. Yet when you come to Joshua 14:6-15 Caleb is given his inheritance, and it included Hebron. Look at Joshua 14:12 (cf. Judges 1:20 (KJV) And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.) Even though Joshua had defeated the Anakims they kept coming back. In fact, they are even still there when David appears. Listen, you will always find giants in the land trying to keep you from your inheritance. (2) Second, we have the responsibility to continue to fight and win our inheritance. That is seen in the next section.
- THE OBEDIENCE, Joshua 11:10-20. The obedience is significant here because Israel was not always ready to obey what God had said. Notice with me the statement in Joshua 11:15 (KJV) As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses. [Emphasis added.] Joshua left no stone unturned and no battle incomplete. Our Joshua has won the battle and sat down at the right hand of God. We will have that opportunity in eternity (not to sit at the right hand of God) but to be in His presence. There is an aspect of obedience we not overlook. There are two views of the battle in this life. One is the Calvinistic view that is almost a “fatalistic” view that says that all we have to do is trust Christ and He will win the victory on our part without our effort. The other is almost like it where the “Victorious Christian Life” is one of complete rest and not trusting the flesh. There is a truth in that but have you ever considered the places in the Bible where it talks about us fighting and striving against sin? Look at these places:
Hebrews 12:4 (KJV) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV) 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Folks we are in a battle. Just as we find in Joshua 11:8 (KJV) And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. God has fought for us and the enemy has been defeated. But note that God told Joshua “…for tomorrow about this time…” (Joshua 11:6). In like fashion we have the promise that God will fight for us but that does not release us from our responsibility of being obedient.
Have you done all that our Joshua has told us? Are you obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ and all that he has spoken? Have you done “all that was spoken…?”
- THE OCCUPATION, Joshua 11:21-23. We mean by “occupation” the possession of the land and occupying it as God had promised. It is now the inheritance of the people of Israel. God intended for Israel to occupy the land and receive their inheritance. If you read the rest of the book you find it is a description of how Joshua divided the land to the people. The people had the responsibility to establish their land and take it from the enemy.
Conclusion: Can I ask you a question? Do you have the victory? Are you giving ground to the enemy? Or are you taking land from the enemy? You see each time we yield to the flesh, the enemy take back a piece of land. That is why we are told in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (KJV) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. How are you doing in the Battle?
The Northern Campaign
The Southern Campaign
