Peace

"Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings. There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle... So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Thus the land had rest from war." -Joshua 11.18-19, 23

Joshua fought a long time with the kings that lived in the land God had promised Abraham's descendants. Only the Gibeonites made peace with Israel, through deception, but every other city was conquered in the long and hard fought campaign. Israel crossed the Jordan after forty years of wandering the wilderness, seven years and thirty-one kings later they finally have possession of the land, and the land had rest from war.

Battle was the only way to take the land. It was an exceedingly good place, but it was inhabited, and those who lived there were not willing to give it up. If Israel was going to take possession of it, they would have to fight for it. The few chapters where Joshua's victories are recorded make it seem like only a few weeks, months at most. But looking at time frames from Joshua 14 and Deuteronomy 2 show that this was a seven year endeavor. This was a long, hard fought, at times discouraging, conquest, but finally it came to an end. The battles will eventually end, and we will have peace and be able to enjoy what we have won.

I think of The Lord of the Rings. I don't have a lot of time to play video games, but one that I love is called Aragorn's Quest, it's a kids game, but it tells the story of The Lord of the Rings from the point of view of Samwise Gamgee reading the red book written by Frodo to his children. You play through the highlights of the story as Aragorn, but inbetween you are playing as Frodo Gamgee, Sam's son. You run through the Shire learning the skills required in the rest of the game. It shows a time of peace and celebration after a hard fought victory.

Wars don't last forever. In the midst of struggle it might seem eternal, but it isn't. God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous because he had a long and difficult task ahead of him, but it was a task that would one day be completed. War would end, and Israel would have rest from war and peace.

Men, if you are engaged in a battle, stand strong. Endure it knowing that it will not last forever. The war will end, and if we are faithful and obedient to God, we will stand victoriously at the end. There will come a time when the enemies are defeated, and we will know peace. War does not last forever, so be strong and courageous, fighting to the end, and you will have peace.

Let us be men who are resolved to stand firm to the end. Let us achieve victory and in that find rest from war and peace.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor