Joshua 19

Bible Passage:  Joshua 19

Is it time to relax at the dead sea?

I am one who hardly watches TV and do not chase after local channel soap operas. The only shows I watch on TV are History Channel, Discovery Channel and Nat Geo.  Most of the time I spend on is History Channel.

Few months back there was a program called Battle Plan and it is about military strategy and study into historic battles during WWI, WWII, Vietnam War, Korea War etc. In this program, there will be experts analyzing and comparing two battles of different eras in terms of their success, tactics, errors etc. It will also have a battle plan matrix and compares the commander’s tactical decision and analyze if his decisions and military assets have fulfilled all the criteria to ensure that the battle is a success. It is pretty interesting for people who like military strategies and war history.

God’s battle plan for the Israelites was Siege and Annihilation. The plan was to besiege all the cities in Canaan and destroy every living thing in them. The Lord God was the commander of the Israelite army and Joshua was the 2^nd in charge. The mission orders were plain and direct and at times ridiculous to the unbelieving. In God’s battle plan of Siege and Annihilation, it requires total obedience of the Israelite soldiers and faith in their commander.

In this battle, it is not about the weapons or training or fortification or physical stature of the soldiers or tactics that decides the victor, but it is through faith in God and subjection to the command of God that results in victory. God, the commander will inflict destruction on the land once His Commands have been dutifully followed. In preceding chapters we read that God indeed helped the Israelites and they had victories upon victories upon their enemies.

However, in Joshua 19, there seems to be a stand still or deceleration in this siege and annihilation battle plan of God. As the people were dividing the lands and living in them, there remains land and cities that have yet to be totally overrun and destroyed. (Joshua 13:1) The Israelite soldiers were getting too comfortable and getting lethargic in completing God’s battle plan.

So much so that we read that Dan could not completely take over the inheritance they were allocated for. They even met with fierce opposition and in the process gave up their attack on these cities and swapped targets. (Joshua 19:47) Did they consult God in such tactical decisions? How come they could not destroy those cities that were allocated to them? Is not God the commander who fights for them?

At the beginning the Israelites came in big droves and the ark of God was in their midst as they destroyed the cities before them. The inhabitants were so afraid of them that their hearts melted and their will to resist evaporated. Subsequently when the Israelites settled down, their numerical advantage was divided as they were allocated lands.

Dan, being one of the smallest tribe in Israel would not have such a large pool of fighting fit soldiers. Was it because they considered their numbers and felt that it was difficult to overcome the cities before them? Was it because they lacked the faith in God and the leadership of Joshua (who was very old then) to complete the battle plan of God?

Not only Dan faltered in occupying all the cities, other tribes also faced problems when Joshua was not by their side. In the end the Israelites did not wholly follow God’s battle plan and carried out Siege and Conquer battle plan instead of Siege and Annihilation battle plan. In (Judges 1: 27-36), it is stated that there were still remnants of cities that were not destroyed and even those cities that were besieged and lost to the Israelites, some were not totally annihilated.

The Israelites instead enslaved them like how they were enslaved by the Egyptians 40 plus years ago. We will discuss about the consequences of their disobedience when we read Judges.

As Christian soldiers today, is our zeal for God momentary? Have we slackened in our faith and become lethargic in attending services, building our family altar and doing church work? Are we like the Israelite soldiers who have become too comfortable with the good life they were in, settled down and forgot about the command of the Lord?

Also have we trained ourselves in the faith such that we can be independent and not depend too much on our leaders? The people of Dan failed to destroy the cities when Joshua was not with them and they even took matters in their own hands. Lastly, are we following Jesus’ battle plan of preaching the gospel to save souls?

On the 25^th to 27^th July we have our Mid Year Evangelistic Services at TK. Are we geared up and prepared to give out invitation flyers and invite our friends and relatives for this service? May the Lord Jesus give all of us the courage to invite our friends and relatives for this important service and may He open the door of salvation to them.