FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD COMPLETELY

PROCLAMATION

“And The Lord said unto Joshua, ‘Be not afraid because of them; for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel; Thou shall hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.’  So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them … and they fell upon them.  And The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel … And Joshua did unto them as The Lord bade him …”  Joshua 11:6-9 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  When Jabin, king of Hazor in the north, heard what Joshua and Israel had done to the southern kingdoms, he sent word to all of the kings of the northern kingdoms to join him against Israel. (Joshua 11:1-5)  The Lord God told Joshua not to be afraid because He was going to deliver them all into his hand.  So Joshua and his men of war attacked and defeated the armies of the northern kingdoms who had come against them.  He utterly destroyed them as The Lord had told him to do. (Joshua 11:6-9)  Then he proceeded to destroy all of the other cities to the north and all of the people therein.  The Israelites took all of the spoils of the cities and their cattle but they did not spare any of the people. (Joshua 11:10-14)  Joshua took control of all of the land that The Lord had promised Moses, and he gave it to Israel as an inheritance according to their tribal divisions and the land had rest from war. (Joshua 11:15-23)

 

APPLICATION

Joshua followed the directions which The Lord God had given to him.  He did not deviate from them at all.  Unfortunately for us, today many believers follow only parts of God’s Holy Word and only some of His commands.  We want Him to bless us but we do not want to obey His Word.  Jesus, The Christ, said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  He said, “… he that keeps My commandments loves Me and shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21)  The Lord does not want us to be halfheartedly for Him.  He wants nothing to do those who are “lukewarm” towards Him. (Revelation 3:16)  It is time for us to go “all in” and love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind. (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27)