Joshua 10:40-43 (ESV)
So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded. And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
The key to understanding the first ten chapters of Joshua is found in the end of the above passage. It reads that Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, “... because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.” In this section we read how they defeated Jericho simply by walking around the city and yelling with loud voices. Imagine that strategy today with our soldiers and warriors. Imagine in basic training you were given a training segment on “yelling” at the enemy. This is what happens when God is leading the fight. Throughout this section we read how Joshua defeats their enemies. The only two times it didn’t work was with the Ai and Gibeon. With Ai they went up presumptuously and not knowing that one of their own had brought sin in the camp from the previous battle at Jericho. The other, Gibeon, was a failure to consult God. So, in this total record of conquest the only time they failed is when they did not go with God or consult God. The times they succeeded they sought God’s direction and power. Lesson learned!! Without God we fail. With God leading the way and fighting out battle, we have success.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
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