Joshua 10:16-27 Living not for the acceptance of men but for the approval of God

Joshua 10:16-27

During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua heard that they had been found, 18 he issued this command: “Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks, and place guards at the entrance to keep the kings inside. 19 The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down from the rear. Don’t give them a chance to get back to their towns, for the LORD your God has given you victory over them.”

20 So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and completely crushed the enemy. They totally wiped out the five armies except for a tiny remnant that managed to reach their fortified towns. 21 Then the Israelites returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to speak even a word against Israel.

22 Then Joshua said, “Remove the rocks covering the opening of the cave, and bring the five kings to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave- the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. 24 When they brought them out, Joshua told the commanders of his army, “Come and put your feet on the kings ‘necks.” And they did as they were told.

25 “Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies.” 26 Then Joshua killed each of the five kings and impaled them on five sharpened poles, where they hung until evening.

27 As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they covered the opening of the cave with a pile of large rocks, which remains to this very day.

Background

The days of Joshua were the days of desperation and war. The Israelites were then refugees and had to fight for their right to live. The Canaanites on the other hand were grotesquely evil: they sacrificed their children in honor of their gods, practiced sodomy, bestiality and the land began to vomit them out (Leviticus 18:25). God had commanded the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites to prevent the rest of the world from being corrupted (see Deuteronomy 9:5). However, God gave no such commandments today except to love our enemies. Jesus Himself while being tormented on the cross prayed for the Father to forgive His tormentors. While believers harbor the spirit of love and peace, we must remain resolute in making tough decisions that may not bode well with others. In today’s devotion, we learn to live by the call and approval of God and never to be distracted by fleshly sentiments and the agents of darkness.

Observation

Don’t give them a chance to get back to their towns, for the LORD your God has given you victory over them.

The Israelites continued in full swing to completely destroy the Amorites even though they were no longer an immediate threat to Israel and her allies. As the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah, Joshua moved to seal the cave with large stones and stationed guards by it. Joshua was not distracted by the capture of the kings but told his men, “The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down from the rear.” The goal was not to cripple but to wipe out the Amorites. Despite Israel’s relentless pursuit, a tiny remnant managed to reach their fortified towns and not all the enemies were slain. Nevertheless, Israel’s victory was no doubt convincing and the Israelites returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah.

Come and put your feet on the kings’ necks.

As the five armies were cut off by their roots, the five kings were now released to demonstrate Israel’s resolve to humiliate and destroy all her enemies. Joshua summoned the commanders of his army to place their feet on the necks of the five kings. This was an ancient custom that demonstrated dominance and resolve over the enemy. The psalmist wrote concerning the ultimate victory of Christ over the enemies of darkness,

The LORD (Father) said to my Lord (Son),
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem; you will rule over your enemies. Psalms 110:1-2

Joshua encouraged his commanders, “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies.” With that, they killed the kings and had their bodies hung on a tree. This symbolic moment was etched deeply into the minds of the warriors emboldening them; that no matter how numerous their enemies were none could stand against the advance of God’s people.

Truth

Believers must continue in full swing towards their ultimate goal and not be distracted by intermediate successes.

Our ultimate victory concerns God’s calling for our lives. The believer must not rest in complacence until he arrives at his destiny. People have a tendency to rest and pull back whenever they sense that danger has passed. We rest on our laurels unaware of the threats that lay ahead. Joshua commanded his troops to press on in full swing refusing to allow the capture of the kings to distract them from their ultimate mission. Some of us are leaders in our family, church and business. As parents, we supposed when our children have graduated from school, we have fulfilled our mission. Church leaders pat themselves on the back when they have in their opinion achieved a sizeable congregation. Business leaders dwell on the successes of the past refusing to embrace new models and ways of running their business. As parents, our work is never done until our children fulfill their destiny. As church leaders, our focus is not to grow numbers but to lead them into the mission field. As business leaders, we must continue to reinvent ourselves and help other business leaders succeed.

Christ has set the example for us, that even after He ascended into heaven and being appointed as the Lord of creation, He continued to work by interceding for believers on earth; Christ will not rest until every believer has accomplished his call on earth.

Believers must move with the authority of Christ and not be affected by the enemy’s threats and appearance.

Joshua instructed the commanders of the army to place their foot on the necks of the five kings and killed them. Imagine the power and the authority to be able to slay kings under foot. That is not to say that we must annihilate our opponents. The believer must stay dominant under all situations not be taken in by people’s threats, boastings and appearance. People sometimes use words, body language and dressing as a tool to inspire fear in their opponents.

To counter these strong-arm and oppressive tactics, we must shield our soul from their influence understanding that He (God) who is in you is greater than he (the devil) who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Encourage yourselves as Joshua encouraged his men, “Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged, … Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies.” We must distant ourselves from destructive and manipulative people and actively filter out their vicious comments. By declaring the truth concerning our position in Christ, we take authority over our situation and overcome the enemy.

Believers live not for the acceptance of men but for the approval of God.

Therefore, we must be principled and not let sentiments get in the way of our decision-making. The believer’s commitment to love and peace must be coupled with the truth and the ability to make difficult choices. The killing of the five kings was a difficult decision, one that was uncivilized and unchristian. However, it was at that time justifiable, as the Canaanites had committed grotesque sins against humanity. They had also rejected the possibility of making peace with God and with the Israelites by attacking Gibeon. Nevertheless, the execution of the five kings was a statement of Israel’s message to all inhabitants of Canaan to repent.

Some people let their sentiments get in the way of making the tough decisions of life. They remain nice and overly generous even when people were short changing them and their company. As a result their reputation suffer and problems become more difficult to solve as they pile up. Therefore, we must ask ourselves what is holding us back from upholding the standard of integrity and excellence? Do not let problems linger hoping that things will get better. But address it quickly in a manner that is surgical, kind and clear. By making a clean cut, we arrest cancer by its roots and set the stage for a prosperous future.

Application

1. Have you lost some of your drive and determination thinking that you have enough of it? Perhaps you are tired of the continual toil and wounds that accumulated over the years. God is not done with you but will raise you up for yet another mission. There is always another person that needed the gospel along the corridor. There is always someone who needed a listening ear. There is always someone who needed a healing touch. There is always grace to live another day and to bless someone.
2. Do you allow your personal sentiments to affect your decision-making such that you can no longer be objective? Your need to be perceived as being nice and affable can cause you to avoid making important decisions which can destroy you. Decisions are meant to be righteous as opposed to being nice. The decision maker can be kind, but the decision must always be principled and righteous resulting in prosperity. What decisions are currently sitting on your lap awaiting your righteous intervention? Perhaps, there are certain relationships that you need to make a clean break, certain employees that you need to let go, and certain truths that need to be said.

Dear Lord, create in me a heart that is kind and principled. Use me to bring righteousness into my family, church and workplace. Use me to speak the truth and restore trust to my community. I live not for the acceptance of men but for the approval of God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.