More War (Part A)

A reoccurring theme with Joshua his obedience.

Joshua says again in verse nine did to them as Yahweh had told him want to be that guy all the time.

Sometimes I can get it. Sometimes it's easy sometimes a surprising sometimes just become part of me, but then there are other times I want to be that guy all the time and I want God to know that I want to be that guy and I know he does and I reassured by the this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua.

Please stay with us after today's message here. More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 7. Now here's Pastor Rick in Joshua chapter 11 with a brand-new message called unwanted but needed Joshua chapter 11 in the 10th chapter we read in the ninth verse. Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly having marched all night from Gill gal and what stands out to me is that forced march of almost 20 miles, much of it uphill.

At the end of that forced march when you would be exhausted. You still had to fight for your life and I think you know we get weary so easily in life force marching to the battle. We forget that woman get to the battle was supposed actually battle. That's what goes with war and these are the lessons that have been preserved for us in illustration and type and their very very beneficial if applied. Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly it says will get to chapter 11 and 12. But this sudden strike doctrine that he lived out, no hesitation. His army always with him uphill struggles just to get to the fights, no shortcuts, no rest and forward all he got a victory so there's something at the end. It's not just hard work. There is victory. There are there all the blessings and we know this by faith.

And that's why we keep plowing forward. We know we don't want to go to hell. We know enough about helping know that's not the option for us.

We know enough about heaven to say, that's where I'm going. That's where I want to go and whatever it takes to get there from here is the route I'll take that's my forced march will part of some out here in Joshua 11. Will we get the northern campaign, the already fighting in the central section of the promised land to the south. Now he's going to fight in the north and the fights going to come to him by the time we get Midway through this chapter or about midway historian will chronicle will summarize the battle for us and then we get to chapter 12, which will wrap up that section still to come on the allotments and that will be very beneficial.

Some of the lessons we get from this trick of the people of God from the wilderness into the promised land and then and then into the book of Judges, which is the sequel to Josh Welling numbers we found out what happens when God's people are afraid of giants when they are afraid to engage the enemy. They've sent to be to engage and that is of course the numbers 14 and they were sentenced to 40 years trekking in the wilderness from John from Joshua's book, we learn what happens when God's people will engage the enemy when they will march all night to get to the fight that's in Joshua 23 verse three just just quickly you have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you, for Yahweh your God is he who has fork for you. That's what happens when we go about our business as believers, not losing sight of that as he gets you know we get sidetracked with other things in life that compete for our passion. You can't serve two masters. Not well you will love the one you will come to hate the other is a conflict of interest is not put so much heart. We have to share. We have to learn how to balance this and go about these things the right way and so as far as Christians governing our passions when we are said to use our heads, our noggins just Jesus told us we talked about that last Wednesdays and you know the people of the world a very shrewd date they think their way through problems we Christians are supposed to do this to an Judges we learn what happens when God's people change sides no longer fighting God's battles they've joined the opposition there like a people without a king.

Each man doing his own thing and so here in this now, 11th chapter where we will see the war continues and this does no miracles. While there are the still be the ask the accident actions of God but the son will not be the sun and the moon will continue to do what they do on schedule without interruption, as in chapter 10, and the hailstones will not join the battle. This will be sword fighting all the way through verse one of chapter 11 and it came to pass, when Jaden king of Hazel or heard these things that he sent and you can read those names will anyway to the King of Chevron. They always get one in to the king of access to verse two and to the kings who were from the north in the mountains and the plane of chin or in the low land and in the heights of door on the west.

So what is going on here is the Kings, the King of Hazel are mainly is the leader of this pack does like add-on IC deck did in chapter 10 at a noisy deck.

You know Lord of justice is what his name means of, or Lord of the pagan god of this and alternate he got all of the southern sheiks and kings together and said the Jews are in the land. They've taken out Bethel and AI in Jericho give me on his trailer over to them we going to attack Gibeon and the people of God under Joshua Marshall and I got to the battle and wipe them out. This of course was God turning a bad situation into a better situation because of Gibeon's deceit. These people came against Gibeon, which means they came out into the open so Joshua could get his swords on them or hear J band Jaden king of Hazel are he's doing the same thing that add-on IC deck did in the South. He's getting all the sheiks and kings together and he's going to amass his gigantic Army seems to be a more formidable force than what Joshua met in the South against Z deck and door.

He mentions rent while he mentions chin are often verse two. That's the ancient name for the Sea of Galilee and that that region and then door or goes all the way to the West to to the Mediterranean Sea, verse three now to the Canaanites and the Easton and in the West, Amorite, the Hittite has read the Jebusite in the mountains and hit right below her mom in the land of Mizpah. So Joshua was the listing all the territories and the getting ready to meet him on the battlefield in this enormous gang fight and there are many places in the Bible that have similar names or the same name with the not the same place will come across a few in this section but I don't know of a bother to comment because not like tonight. Going Ms. Araiza. We reset Ms. but you can look it up anyway. Verse four so they went out they and all their armies with them as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude with very many horses and chariots and so this multitude that everybody is coming against the Jews, you know you read about the numbers of the forces of under Joshua's command, and express a lot we going to need them all and though they will never subdue the land entirely like they were commanded to and in my earlier years as a Christian I kinda held that against them secretly in on a 60 grew them. It wasn't some passion but letting me take them all out like they were told they would doing so well. Well, I've had over 30 years to do with my flesh to cast out those things that I don't like about me. Neither does God. And it's a flight so I'm not is judgmental of them as I used to be because I see my own self is the promised land and that sense and how difficult it is to overcome the giants in the land.

The enemies the chariots all over archers and everything else they have to throw throw at us and I know that each one of us can identify with this well.

Here again, having all the targets gathering before him target rich environment you can say that when while unused like it did when I was working construction and I would go to a new job really good job would finish it because the building with your part was done and you have to go down to the union hall usually and sit around today called you and sent you to another job. When I would go get sent to another job. It wasn't another target rich environment for meis to preach the gospel. That's how I viewed it. One outstanding time.

I remember the Lord arrived at the job and I support what we have here today who we going to preach to today and as I walked on site. There was someone I preach to another job working on the truck.

It's I was hoping God would send you here so I don't know. 25 years later church gets the email from him since the same me Rick. That worked in an and so deceased Phyllis Christian he still loves the Lord is listening online as he should be. As everybody should be. So my Mike and I, went off on that because that's what they do and the unit does another environment of opportunity with the enemies forces are coming into range and for us is not to slaughter anyone is to go against the lies to win souls so we should be excited, fresh me, and this is what was going on here.

AW Turgeon says the man who hates his sins too much will get into trouble with those who do not hate sin enough leave at the toes or to always say something. Is that why didn't I think of that. But if you hate your sin and the other guy donate his sense of what you annoy him as well.

Christ was was a walking sermon and hear the Jews coming into the promised land because they were right with God as a people and the inhabitants the Canaanites look loosely at all the peoples there then you hate theirs and they love their St. Paul had to deal with this and so many ways that you know men would say you know before I came to Christ in Corinth.

My wife was not affectionate towards me.

I could go to the temple and make up for.

Paul said stop holding yourselves from one another but see had to deal with all the junk from the Gentile world. This is one snippet while in Corinth, many of the people change sides. They were converted. They came to Christ.

If you did here to Rahab and family.

Some of the Gibeonites, but most of them. They were offended and they were going to fight to the death and that is what they did and so back to all of these targets here together.

God sends his people into harms way because there is an objective. It is worth it. And these are massive armies meeting on the field.

It's going be ugly. Verse five and when all these kings had met together, they came in camp together at the waters of mirror on fight against Israel. They been fighting against Israel. Ever since verse six and a bunny pause minute. There's a lot of stuff to comment on these other verses but my mom going to skip over most projects, for example. Example stuff we leave out neuron's is one of the candidate mountains in Israel for the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus went up on a high mountain, and that is one of the candidates with location. Tony really wasn't much verse, verse six now, but Yahweh said to Joshua. Do not be afraid because of them for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire all.

Evidently Joshua was concerned.

He knew these forces and amassed against him and they had chariots of mechanized warfare was now confronting up the first time he had to deal with chariots. What what can infantry alone do against them like sending infantry against tanks today is chariots. It wasn't like you know then her voice 01 Guyana chariot. There were big cherries. They could have the 023 men on in the middle archers in men with lances.

They could be really a problem. Cut right through infantry. He also had learned from AAI that past victories were no guarantee of another victory. Just because he knew there were other factors involved which emerged out of the whole thing with NAI with a consenting and Joshua not being aware of it being devastated by the whole thing and so he wasn't taking anything for granted and God comes along and says do not be afraid again be no reason to tell her not to be afraid. Leslie was afraid Joshua had sought great military victory is already in Egypt coming out of Egypt are Pharaoh's army had drowned in the sea and there they were. The Bible says the next morning. There they were on the shore dead the Amalekites. He fought with them and Aaron and the man name her held up the arms of Baroness R. Saha in August, giant kings of people on the east side of Jordan Jews conquered them. Jericho AI Bethel and the south. The southern campaign and now he is facing the northern campaign and he is not cocky is not saying I got this one is this not a mock faith were fighting the battles of the Lord. He is absolutely dependent on God, even though he is actually fighting the battles of the Lord is not letting it go to his head and not only had he saw a witness God vanquished the enemy. He saw miracles the parting of Yum surf the Sea of Reeds wing of the Red Sea saw that part he saw the Jordan part then the hailstones in the sun and the moon extend the day but he's not saying forgot to do.

No miracle today. You just name and claimant brother not is not operating presumptuously at all. And now, this is again the largest, most organized advanced army in Canaan that he has faced these chariots and stuff.

He will beat them here, but they'll still be in the land, and other places and they will cause problems for others will get to that latter chapters of Joshua. But for the first time as if the infantry is facing the chariots, but for those chariots, I would've been a soldier.

Kind of a thing. Cavalry not Calvary but Cabell re-soldiers on horses.

The Canaanite armies lightly did not have them.

That would've been helpful and even if they did they had to still face them and these are well armed troops coming against them as there are well armed things that come against us and we we know it very well. The next verse tells us that God's words to Joshua well received. But before we get to the next verse he says hamstring their horses. God does. I have a difficulty not with the humanitarian role or animal thing. Let me board was start well you got a sale should hamstring the horses because I do not want you to defeat the Army on the battlefield and anyone who's got gotten away from other places not involve common gravels horses and use them against you again nor do I want you to take the horses and start having chariots in your army. Deuteronomy 20 when you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them were Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and later he will give directions. Deuteronomy 17 that the kings of Israel were not to amass horses and they were to remain dependent on God. Of course they didn't do well there, especially Solomon, but the landing of the horses. I don't know enough about horses and I tried to research this and I just can't get an answer that I'm satisfied so I'm thinking if you hamstring the horse you might as well kill it and he can still walk. Is he strong enough to plow still does he have any function does it take longer to kill the horse than to hamstring the horse. Maybe some of you can stop horsing around and tell me these things. I don't know so I know that the. The Hebrew word means to root up to dig down to believe that using the sense of hamstringing the horse cutting those rear tendons so that they cannot be uses warhorses.

I don't know if the are still then suitable for labor or not. So that's that's where it is and if you sell I just looked it up on the Internet and found that I'm going to hate you for that. Anyway prove it is his and burn their chariots with fire destroy their ability to wage war. Jesus said if your right hand offend you cut it off right. I pluck it out and send your take extreme measures to counteract these things because they're that fierce is not saying maim yourself up at all and and even if you were you cut your right hand off the left hand but even a cut that one off with. Remember, they are sleepy.

Remember they are sleeping. Her seven so Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of marijuana and attack them in some areas again comes upon them suddenly at the sky about who want to be against him that he just is motivated by God's assurance got I'm good look. I told you back with Moses. I was going to be with you. Now you're here, Moses is not your the leader I'm going to be with you and and Joshua says IRA goes off with an and he's striking right away.

Suddenly that washes them that were ready with this milling around, you know, putting little tassels on the chariot rearview mirrors and stuff like that and and here he comes with his army.

We read about him doing the same kind of stuff suddenly coming on you enemy at the Jordan, he rose up early comes to the Jordan.

In chapter 3 and chapter 6 early.

He gets up to cross the Jordan Jericho on the seventh day when it was time to take those walls down.

The Bible tells us Joshua got up early and we covered this once abundant merits covering again when Aiken had sinned and it was time to deal with that Joshua got up early early tells us each time that AI when he defeated AI after dealing with Aiken give Jan to deal with Gibby on the get up early and then here in Maryland. Chapter 11 he had the habit of facing a difficult and unpleasant task with this resolute steel that we want is just okay is grab the bull by the horns and right until his neck breaks and if he pains me I'm going to resist.

Make preparation for more resistance. That's the kind of man Joshua was. We are better off when we know these things, even if were not that strong. We can be stronger than what we would've otherwise been verse eight Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel who defeated them and chased them to the greatest side onto the brook of Ms. riffraff and to the Valley of Mizpah East where they attacked them until they left none of them remaining. Well Ms. roof means hot Springs and is interesting to know there are hot springs in the land. I want to live in that neighborhood is having cold water all the time sis doesn't do it anyway is advancing.

Remember there's a lot of blood going on here. They're not killing people with paperclips that using's that would become hard to… Sword warfare very ugly verse nine so Joshua did to them as Yahweh had told him he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots fire in the reoccurring theme with Joshua is obedience. Joshua is a says, again in verse nine did to them as Yahweh had told him I want to be that guy all the time. Sometimes I can get it. Sometimes it's easy sometimes it's surprising sometimes just become part of me, but then there are other times I want to be that guy all the time and I want God to know that I want to be that guy and I know he does and I reassured by that verse 10, Joshua turned back at that time into Hazel and struck its king with the sword for Hazel was formally the head of all those kingdoms. Verse 11 and they struck all the people who work in and it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them.

There were none left breathing. Then he burned Hazel or with fire. And so the violence that is necessary to this large. The dominant forces of sin and that is what he does. He breaks the back of sin.

Israel the promised land is a land bridge that connects Asia to Africa and a lot of traffic cuts through their and a lot of influence and the people that lived in this promised land. They they were grotesque when it came to sin got itemize many of their sins in Leviticus and Deuteronomy and reminded the Jews I'm putting them out as a judgment for their behavior and I'll do the same for you reviewed all watchers, which he did do God has said that still the earth today. You know, if you don't listen you going to big to be dealt with and will come to some of that little bit. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia.

If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio in iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. You could also follow the links and cross reference radio.com. Glad we were able to spend time with you today due to next time to continue learning from the book of Joshua right here on cross reference radio