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.” (Joshua 11:6 ESV)
When I was in 6th grade my biggest fear was a boy named Steve Beadle. He had been held back a couple of years, and he was aware of his superior size and fighting skills. Most mornings, He would wait for me when I disembarked from the school bus, demand my lunch money… and beat me up because I didn’t HAVE any lunch money.
Today my fears are different. It might seem they revolve more around financial matters, bananas potentially invading Kansas, and the fact that my body is gradually becoming a cyborg.
What is your greatest fear? You do not have to say it out loud. But consider it. What are you afraid of?
Joshua, leading the army of Israel into the Promised Land, was facing a consortium of enemies. These nations and Kings were the terrors of the ancient Middle East. They still sound a little frightening today. Jabin, King of Hazor. Johab King of Madon. The nations of Shimron, Achshaph, Arabah, Chinneroth, Naphoth-dor, and even Hermon of Mizpah (who admittedly sounds more like a nerd than a Mercenary-King.) More Biblically familiar nations like the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Canaanites were also lined up against Joshua. Scripture refers to them as a horde.
Maybe Joshua lost sleep. Maybe he floundered seeking a plan. Maybe he worried particularly about the enemy Super-weapon of the day: the Chariot. The enemy had them. Israel did not.
Do you know what Joshua would notice about those terrible nations of yesteryear? Every one of them is gone. They do not exist. Their horses and chariots destroyed. Their kingdoms now dust.
But God’s people are still around. We Christians are the heirs of Israel. We have survived, even flourished.
God’s words to Joshua were powerfully true and are proven on the map today.
God’s enemies do not last. God’s people are eternal.
Fear not, because God always wins.