"Then Joshua turned back at that time, and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms. They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire." -Joshua 11.10-11
In the midst of a battle Israel is pursuing and destroying a defeated enemy. As they do they pass by Hazor, another city. Once they have finished the battle, Joshua turns back and takes Hazor. He cannot leave an enemy city within the land they have already taken, otherwise they are fighting enemies on two fronts. And if there is a traitor within they can be subtly destroyed. Joshua does not make that mistake, he finishes the current battle, and then turns around to cover his back.
Think what an enemy behind you can do. A few years ago there was a movie called The Eagle that told the story of a lost Roman legion and how the commanders son goes in search of their symbol of honor. On his journey he encounters one of his father's soldiers who is now living among the people of Britain. He tells them how the legion fell. They were marching through a forest and the enemy began to pick soldiers off from the back, one by one. They were looking for open ground to use their battle tactics, but after a while they stopped marching and turned to fight them. They stood back to back and engaged in battle.
Men, we must cover our backs. We cannot leave anything behind us that can rise up and attack us. We cannot leave an opportunity for an enemy to subtly strike. If we leave an enemy alive behind the lines, everything falls apart.
Let us be men who cover our backs. Let us deal with things as they come up, never pushing them to the side and forgetting about them in the desire to advance. Let us turn back when we must so that we are not taken out down the road.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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