Israel's enemies get bigger and bigger
I noticed that more kings and their armies joined forces to attack Israel. Israel's enemies keeps getting bigger and bigger!! vs 4 'they came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.'
From chapter 1-chapter 11, we see that the battles that Israelites faced got bigger and more advanced as they progressed.
For us, our battles or challenges in our walk of faith increase with each step. Oh, the importance of hiding God's Word deep in our hearts! When we overcome these challenges, they become a springboard for what we face in the future. Failures when overcomed, make us stronger!
Again in this chapter, we see God's faithfulness and confirmation of His promises. They learnt lessons such as: keeping their hearts pure and obeying and listening to God's Word.
Joshua taught the Israelites the importance of listening and obeying God's Words/Voice. Only when they did the latter, were their battles won.
vs 23 'So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.'
In the end of the chapter we see that the land was divided for each tribe. This would mean that each tribe will need to fight their own little battles. The whole land was captured. Yet, not every small town and village had been conquered and occupied. That was up to each individual tribe to do in the land that was apportioned to them. Joshua had taught them what they needed to do. They would need to apply what they had learned to acquire or keep it.
This just reminded me of what Jesus has done. He already defeated the enemy and conquered the land, but He also calls us into battle to gain what is ours!
