Finish the Job

"Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah. It was told Joshua, saying, 'The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.' Joshua said, 'Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them, but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand.' It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter, until they were destroyed, and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities, that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel." Joshua 10.16-21

The sun stood still to give Joshua more time to defeat his enemies. Five kings brought their armies out against Israel, and five armies fled from the field. Their leaders hid themselves in a cave, and while capturing the leaders would have brought victory, God had commanded Israel to completely destroy their enemies. Joshua doesn't settle for victory, he does what God says. He has the cave sealed and places a guard there while the rest of the army finishes the job.

Israel pursues their enemies and slaughters them, when they are done they return to camp in peace. But it is not until the battle is over that they return to camp. They don't give their enemy time to regroup, they finish the job and then return victoriously.

Over the years I'm sure there are many times I haven't finished things when I should have. Right now I'm pursuing two master's degrees, and while I've turned everything in on time, I have not gotten things in as early as I would have liked. It has caused unnecessary stress in my life, and has cost me freedom that I could have had later.

Men, do you finish what you start, or do you leave things incompleted? Has an unfinished job ever come back to bite you? Have you started resting and celebrating too soon?

Earlier this month I shared about a wrestling match I should have won but my focus wasn't where it needed to be. That story could also fit here. I had a job to do, victory was mine, but I started to celebrate the victory too soon, and as a result never got it.

Joshua did not make that mistake. It really isn't that hard to appoint a new king to lead the army. Had Joshua allowed the armies to escape, being satisfied with having captured the kings, a new leader could have risen and led a second wave of attacks while Israel celebrated. But that isn't what he does. He posts a guard preventing the kings from escaping, and then finishes destroying the armies.

Let us not be men who leave things uncompleted. Let us finish the job, and then celebrate the peace we have won.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor