June 23, 2023

Are You Marked by Faithfulness?

Joshua 11 - 12

Rhodes Hamilton
Friday's Devo

June 23, 2023

Friday's Devo

June 23, 2023

Friday's Devo

June 23, 2023

Friday's Devo

June 23, 2023

Big Idea

God's definition of success is faithfulness.

Key Verse | Joshua 11:15

Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Joshua 11 - 12

Conquests in Northern Canaan

1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, 3 to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

6 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” 7 So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them by the waters of Merom and fell upon them. 8 And the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel, who struck them and chased them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. And they struck them until he left none remaining. 9 And Joshua did to them just as the LORD said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.

10 And Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; 1 11:11 That is, setting apart (devoting) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 12, 20, 21 there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua captured, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded. 13 But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned. 14 And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the people of Israel took for their plunder. But every person they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed. 15 Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

16 So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. And he captured all their kings and struck them and put them to death. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle. 20 For it was the LORD's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

21 And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

Kings Defeated by Moses

1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, with all the Arabah eastward: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead, 3 and the Arabah to the Sea of Chinneroth eastward, and in the direction of Beth-jeshimoth, to the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, southward to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah; 4 and Og 2 12:4 Septuagint; Hebrew the boundary of Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei 5 and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan to the boundary of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and over half of Gilead to the boundary of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the people of Israel defeated them. And Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Kings Defeated by Joshua

7 And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments, 8 in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites): 9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; 10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; 17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; 18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; 21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; 23 the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Galilee, 3 12:23 Septuagint; Hebrew Gilgal one; 24 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.

Footnotes

[1] 11:11 That is, setting apart (devoting) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 12, 20, 21
[2] 12:4 Septuagint; Hebrew the boundary of Og
[3] 12:23 Septuagint; Hebrew Gilgal

"Hardening of hearts? How do we understand Joshua 11:20?"

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Joshua 11 - 12

Here, under the leadership of Joshua, the Jewish people are still fighting, and we see another example of the faithfulness of Joshua and the people. From the previous chapters of Joshua, we know that the Israelites have been fighting (and defeating) other kingdoms. What do they do in Joshua 11? They keep fighting because there is another group of kingdoms to defeat. They must have been exhausted and needing rest, but they do not question God and proceed to faithfully carry out His commands. They are again victorious.

Joshua 12 lists 31 kings whose territories the Israelites had conquered and taken as the Promised Land. How did that happen? Because in Joshua 11:15 God commanded it: "Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses."

The Bible tells us that God is faithful:

  1. "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3);
  2. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9); and
  3. "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations." (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Here, the Israelites were fully faithful to God, and their victories followed.

As much as I've been told that God is faithful to His believers, I still struggle with fully trusting Him even though I have personal experiences that tell me otherwise. The time when I struggled with an unknown career path and feelings of failure—God was faithful. When we faced health issues for an unborn child—God was faithful. I have many examples of times when God has been faithful, yet I still struggle to trust His plans. In these chapters, we see the Israelites being fully faithful even though they were tired and had already fought a series of battles.  Ultimately, their utmost faithfulness resulted in the Promised Land.

This month's memory verse

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

– 1 Corinthians 15:58

Discussion Questions

1. Joshua 12 lists 31 kingdoms that the Israelites defeated.  Can you list 31 times or situations when you have trusted God?

2. When you are tired and worn down, what helps you remain focused on God's goodness and His truths?

3. What are the situations or circumstances in your life when that cloud of doubt seeps in?

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

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Hugh Stephenson

Many years ago I heard this story- A man who was unable to read was a church janitor being paid minimum wage. The head priest, (who didn’t know his janitor was illiterate), was leaving on an extended trip and left a long list of tasks for the janitor to complete while he was away. Being unable to read the janitor did not know the note was for him and did not read it…because he could not. When the priest returned and saw the list completely undone, he fired the janitor. Unfair? Just wait. The janitor knew God gave him gifts, skills, and talents. So he set up a janitorial services company. As business grew, he hired many members of his community. Over a period of several years the janitor built a very successful business and a substantial income. A friend, noting his success, said, “Your success is amazing. Your business acumen is substantial. And all with no formal education and with out the ability to read. Just imagine what would have happened if you had an education and were literate.” The man said, “I have imagined that. If I could read, I’d still be a church janitor earning minimum wage.” The reason I have always liked this story is that it conveys the great interworking of God’s sovereignty and the free will of man. SO many times I have lamented that this or that happened or did not happen. The Spirit often takes me back to this story and similar ones. Q1-Q3 A message several years ago said, paraphrasing…”I know of nothing tougher than being a parent of a prodigal child that is a non-believer." I am quite confident that the thousands who have come through Prodigal the last 13+ years would agree. So have I trusted God 31 times? The way that I have learned to trust God is twofold- 1. His Word His Spirit and His people. 2. Having prodigal children that are non-believers and being unable to do anything about it. Trust comes because there is no other choice. So how many times have I trusted Him? How many hours, and even days, are in the 10+ years since Amy and I joined Prodigal. Like the janitor, many friends have said something like, “Wow Hugh, you guys have such a story. What if you never had prodigal children?” I always point out that if we had no prodigal children, I’d still be sitting in my old church in the back pew each Sunday being hung over and completely lost. And damned. I am thankful for all that God has given me and how He continues to purify me, (1 Peter 1:7). I would not trade the last 10 years of trial, adversity, suffering, sleepless nights, seemingly endless worry, fights, arguments etc etc etc for ANY change in circumstances or any material blessing. And why not? Because now I know for CERTAIN that God’s promises are true- John 15:10-11, Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 11:28-30
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Hugh Stephenson

So I ask myself, what’s behind Joshua’s and Caleb’s obedience? If asked, what would they say about Kadesh-Barnea and the cowardice displayed by their fellow spies? A 38-year delay in receiving God’s promise because 10 knuckle-heads didn’t trust God. Seem harsh? 38 years?!?!?! The desert over the Promised Land. Dirt, rocks, and goats over milk and honey? Yet…God was in their presence and provided very single thing for them that they could possibly need. Sadly, the 38-year period was a purification of the people who didn’t not trust God even though they had seen one supernatural event after another. I bet you Joshua would say he wouldn’t change anything.
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Hugh Stephenson

One scholar posits that Joshua 11:23 is the key verse win the whole book. “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.” So how important is obedience anyway? And how does it equip and prepare me for spiritual warfare? “The secret of Joshua's remarkable success, from the human viewpoint, was his consistent obedience to the LORD (v. 15). We too will experience victory over our spiritual enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil—to the extent that we do God's will as He has revealed that in His Word.” “This…concludes the record of the conquest of the land (chs. 1—12), Joshua's first major responsibility. He was now able to divide the land among the Israelites (chs. 13—21), his second great work (Joshua 1:6).” God’s power and Joshua’s obedience to God’s sovereignty and His plan combined with his own skill as a leader and a warrior did this- -brought the people into the Land of Promise -showed them obedience and trust -brought them into possession of God’s promises -gave them a priceless inheritance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sound familiar? “Joshua's conquest of the land anticipated the work of Jesus Christ. -Both men defeated the enemies of their people. Both men had names that mean "God saves." -Both victories were long in coming and were preceded by Israel's apostasy. -Both victories were God's work through human instruments. -Both victories only occurred because of trust and obedience. -And both victories made possible an inheritance and rest for God's people.”
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Michael Sisson

Re: Jos 11:11 Jos 11:11 (NASB) They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And >>>he burned Hazor with fire.<<< Canaanite Hazor was a leading city in its day. It is estimated to have had a population of 20,000 at the time of Joshua’s conquest of the city; ten times the size of Jerusalem. Archaeologically, Hazor is important today for what it says about the veracity of the biblical account. Modern excavations have revealed evidence of the city’s sudden and violent destruction in Joshua’s day (1550-1400 BC) including: huge jars of scorched wheat, charred cedar beams, collapsed ceilings, and the targeting of cultic items and spaces (Dt 12:3). Perhaps due in part to its large stores of olive oil, so great was Hazor’s conflagration the bricks of its buildings have been found fused together due to the extreme heat. Hazor remains an active archaeological site still under excavation; the largest in Israel. You can read about its history and volunteer at the following site: http://www.hazor-excavations.org/the-history-of-hazor/ Re: Jos 11:20 Jos 11:20 (NASB) >>>For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle<<< in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Re: Jos 11:22 Jos 11:22 (NASB) >>>There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel<<<; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained. Anakim = Giants. See Num 13:33. Re: Jos 12:24 Jos 12:24 (NASB) the king of Tirzah, one: >>>in all, thirty-one kings.<<< See Dt 7:24.
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Michael Scaman

It's important to think back on what God has done. Psalm 56:9 "Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me." God isn't 'for' just anyone but in the new covenant all God's wrath was taken against believers on the cross. And in the new covenant Jer 32:40 "I will never turn from doing you good. I will ypu My Spirit in you and you will never turn from following Me". When I am tired and worn down I sometimes read Psalm 102 The prayer of the afflicted with he pours out his soul to God where this is a bug key change in the Psalms and sometimes you cry before you praise. I also think of Elihu's statement near the end of JOb. Job 36:15 He rescues the afflicted in their affliction and delivers them by their adversity.
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Sue Bohlin

Thank you, Rhodes! It's a small observation, but it's not the first time I've seen this: almost every chapter has mention of a king or kings in the Promised Land, but never among the Israelites. Joshua acts like a king but he's not; he's the faithful servant of Yahweh, who leads the people to the glory of God . . . who is the REAL King of Israel. But who has a king who is invisible and doesn't talk out loud? That will get the people in trouble in the future. But for right now, the nation is thriving under God as King, and it's a beautiful thing. The devo today is about faithfulness, which reminds me of one of my favorite stories. When Mother Teresa was on her way to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, a reporter asked her, "Mother Teresa, you work with some of the poorest and sickest people in Calcutta, which is a hugely populous city. You can't possibly hope to make a dent in the number of poor and sick. Why do you keep doing what you're doing, when you can't see any success in your work?" She answered, "Because God has not called us to success but to faithfulness." I calligraphed and framed this quote for my husband when he was deeply discouraged in a difficult Ph.D. program, and he looked at it every day, reminding himself to "just be faithful, Ray." When the Southern Poverty Law Center slimed us at Probe Ministries as a hate group because we (mainly I) continue to speak about the goodness of God's design and intention for human sexuality, I reminded myself that the goal is being found faithful. That's how we get to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
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Amy Lowther

1. In no particular order, one time is making new friends. Another time is getting new jobs. A third time is moving from town to town. A fourth time is when studying for standardized tests. A fifth time is when completing standardized tests and passing them. A sixth time is when I volunteer at church. A seventh time is when I teach. An eighth time is when I pay bills. A ninth time is when I set my budget. A tenth time is when I shop. An eleventh time is when I workout. A twelfth time is when I organize my home. A thirteenth time is when I complete Bible study lessons. A fourteenth time is when I asked about Regen and signed up for Regen. A fifteenth time is what I experienced as I completed the entire Regen process. A sixteenth time is when I pay for anything using a credit card. A seventeenth time is when I pray. An eighteenth time is when I pray for others. A nineteenth time is when I go on water slides and roller coasters at amusement parks. A twentieth time is as I prepare meals. A twenty first time is when I eat. A twenty second time was the ice storms of Dallas. A twenty third time was the tornado of 2019. A twenty fourth time was buying a new car. A twenty fifth time was volunteering at Children’s Health. A twenty sixth time was resuming life after getting robbed. A twenty seventh time was resuming life after getting mugged. A twenty eighth time was taking a trip to Minneapolis for the Final Four of basketball on frequent flyer miles. A twenty ninth time is sharing stories with my birth parents every day. A thirtieth time is in any decision I make. A thirty first time is in seeing life everyday. 2. I can remember God’s truth and goodness when I am tired because of what I studied and learned in the Bible and what I learned at service on Sundays. 3. There can be doubts at anytime in anything, but God helps me to be confident and strong so doubts get eliminated.
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Michael Scaman

Hebron is where Abram lived near the Oak of mamre at first then over time it changed to plural with the great oaks of mamre. It was conquered and then some say maybe re-conquored later in the book of Judges. There is disagreement on that.
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Victoria Becker

I absolutely love your prompt for Question 1! 31 feels like a large/intimidating number, but in reality that is just a tiny segment of the times God has worked behind the scenes in our lives as we trust Him. Excited to work on my list now.