The Sufficiency Of God (Joshua 10:1-14)

The Sufficiency Of God (Joshua 10:1-14)

Soon Yean. July 15 2016


1) When faced with challenges. Joshua had negative emotions. The emotions of Joshua is implied inverse 8:  8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.

Also, at the beginning of Joshua in chapter 1. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Although Joshua had followed Moses for 40 years and was only one of the two men that God said will allow to enter into the Promised Land, the task ahead of him felt heavy and God had to assure him that God will be with him and that he can go in confidence and not be fearful. 

Joshua was not a perfect person, but he was a God follower and that makes the difference. God was able to make a miracle of making the sun stand still. 

For us, it is OK to feel the weight of our responsibilities and the challenges we face, be frightened and lose courage. However, we can trust that God is with us and from there, know that it is God who wins the battle and not us. 


2) The Promised Land is full of challenges. It had petty kings and warlords who refused to yield. It was promised by God to the Israelites, but they had to go in and take it, with God fighting for them. 

What is the Promised Land for us today? What are the challenges for us? The family and marriage are God’s Promised Land for us. Our place of business and employment are God’s Promised Land. 
Let us be bold warriors in the face of adversity to embrace the uncertainty, challenges in these areas. Let us work with God and see His power work in our lives despite our weak emotions and lack of courage. Then we can see the sufficiency of God not the sufficiency of self.  

After Note:

Interestingly in the next chapter, 11, God told Joshua, that AFTER the defeat of another group of petty kings and warlords, (not if they are defeated), God instructed Joshua to destroy the chariots and hamstring the horses rendering them useless. Why?

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.

Why did God not ask them to salvage these valuable assets but to devote them to destruction? It is not practical to do so. The sensible thing is to recycle them for the next battle. Why?

Because the battle belonged to the Lord!


The promised land was won by God. These are his to take. God will make it evident for Himself when we take over our Promised Lands, that it had very little to do with our cleverness, our competency, our strengths, but everything to do with Him.  


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