Be strong and of a good courage

 Christ in all the scriptures

The land rested from war   Joshua 11v1-23

It is a sad fact of human history, that, from beginning to end of our existence there will always be war.  In the bible, conflict occurs as early as Genesis chapter 4, and continues to Revelation chapter 19 (a time yet future), when the battle to end all battles will take place.  We are not at peace with each other, for we are not at peace with God, and, until we are in harmony with God it will always be so.  It is interesting to note in Isaiah 9v1-7, that God's answer to all battles was a newborn baby, who will become the Prince of peace, and rule over a world of perfect and timeless justice.  What appears to be impossible to us, will be performed by the zeal of the Lord of hosts.

This narrative of Joshua's conflict and victory in Canaan, depicts, in miniature, the awesome victory of our heavenly Joshua (our Lord Jesus Christ-Joshua means Jehovah Saviour) when He brings peace and harmony to the world.  What was a local rest from war in the land of Israel, will be a universal peace that will last forever by the sovereign power of God.  Until then, there will be conflict, as Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace but a sword"-Matthew 10v34.  Until He comes again, wars will persist at all levels.  Only when God in the Highest is glorified, will there be peace on earth, and good will to men-Luke 2v14.  What is the ambition of everyone...that is a world living in harmony...will only be realised when the Prince of peace rules.  As Joshua did in Israel, so Jesus will do in the whole world.  There is coming a time when Jesus will bring global peace on earth for 1000 years...  It is written in Isaiah 2v2-4, 

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it...out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  And He shall judge among the nations and rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more".

The instruments of war will become the implements of food production; there will be no more conflicts of nations; the population will not train for war, since there will be none. This utopian period of peace will only be temporarily broken by one final rebellion, but it will be swiftly put down.  God has planned a universal and eternal harmony, as it is written-Ephesians 1v9/10

"...the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him".

This poor war torn world, ravaged by sin and lawlessness, by the grace and mercy of God, is destined for a time of peace and prosperity unimagined by the most ambitious minds.  And for those of mankind who are reconciled to God by marvellous grace, this state will continue forever.

In the meantime there will be conflict, and it will take many forms-- ideological, cultural, political, racial, doctrinal.  We are asked as Christians to stand firm for Divine truth, to expound it, to exemplify it, in the face of opposition.  Paul said that "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds"-2nd Corinthians 10v4,  Unlike Joshua we don't take up arms to fight a physical battle, but we do oppose the falsehoods, especially those which have become strongholds.  Their character is defined in the next verse, ""Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God..."-v5.  Human opinions and doctrines of men are against God, and they are to be exposed and opposed.  Their existence reveals a pride in human thoughts that exalts itself as a higher authority than God.  The way to oppose this is by obedience to Christ.  If a doctrine or practice is contrary to the teachings of Christ, they must be "cast down", that is diminished or even destroyed.  God forbid we condone strongholds of error.

A reading of Joshua chapter 11 reveals that the success of Israel on the battlefield was not due to their military prowess alone, but in their humble obedience to the Lord.

Joshua 11v9  "And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him"; 11v12, "...and he utterly destroyed them, as the Lord commanded Moses"; 11v15, "As the Lord commanded His servant Moses, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua ; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses; 11v20, no favour to the Canaanites as the Lord commanded Moses; 11v23, "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses".  Simple obedience to the word of the Lord was the secret of success, and it is the same for us in our time.  It takes courage to stand for God in this world, and so we find sprinkled throughout the book encouragements to be bold.

Joshua 1v6, "Be strong and of a good courage"; 1v7, "Only be thou strong and very courageous"; the same in 1v9 and 1v18.  Also Joshua to his men, "Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong and of a good courage".  11v6, "The Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them all slain before Israel".