HIGHLIGHTS IN JOSHUA
Number 16
CHRISTIAN WARFARE
Joshua 17:12-18
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THE history of God's people in the Old Testament is meant to be an example to us. We read their history and learn concerning the progress and struggles which we may encounter in our Christian lives, and also we learn from the Old Testament saints concerning their victories as to how they were achieved, and from their failures what to avoid.

There is no doubt in the passage before us that Manasseh found that for them the possession of the land promised by God was not all strait forward and easy, but that they were faced with problems that made their spirits fear within them. Whether in the personal life of the believer, or in the work of the fellowship of the church, there are often similar experiences. The way forward and the way of growth in grace seems to be filled with difficulties we feel are beyond our strength and ability to cope with. As we read the struggle of the Manassites we can learn some valuable truths to help us.

SAINTS MUST BELIEVE IN VICTORY

For the Manassites, they faced the strength of the Canaanites. This power they could observe. They specially talk about the great number of the enemy and of their iron chariots which were a weapon far ahead of any comparable weapon that the Israelites had. This is a problem every saint has. The resources of the world are very tangible before our eyes, and because of this they take over our imaginations. There is no doubt that we should never under-estimate the power of the enemy or the temporal difficulties ahead of us. To do this leads to disaster. What we should also remember is that we are the people of God and the resources, power and wisdom of our God can never be matched by the enemy.

We can always rely on the power of God to give us the victory when we are walking in the will of God. The Manassites had no problem concerning the will of God, because he had promised the land. Thus they need not have had any fear of failing to possess the land they needed, because God's power was with them to give them the victory over their enemies. We are called to exercise faith. The powers against us are very real, even impossible to overcome with our human resources, but Jesus says have faith and go forward. Jesus in so many of his miracles asked people to believe and obey even though humanly speaking to obey seemed to be madness. One example of this is in John 2 when Jesus told the servants at the wedding to take the pitchers of water into the feast as wine. It was as they obeyed in faith that the miracle was performed and the water was changed into wine. It is in such faithful obedience that the Christian sees God work the victory for them.

SAINTS MUST REMEMBER THEIR RESOURCES

Christians should never be over confident. They should always realize that in their own strength they are no match for Satan and his power. The Manassites also needed to remembered that all the victories in possessing the promised land, came not from their own power and might, and they needed to realize that left with only their own human wisdom and strength, they would have achieved nothing, or at least very little.

Having said this the Saints must never forget their resources in God. The Israelites were God's people. God had a plan for them, and while they remained in that plan all the resources and power of God was engaged on their behalf to accomplish what God purposed and planned for them. The same is true for the believer in every age. God has an eternal plan for us. While the church and individual believers seek to remain in that plan and purpose, God is with us. We need to remember what this means. Joshua told the Manassites that they were very powerful (v17). This was nothing to do their own strength but what God had made them. The work God had begun in them he would continue for the sake of his eternal purpose. They needed to remember the unlimited power of God. This is always true for the Christian. We have unlimited power and resources available to us in God. It is true that we can't produce this power at our will and whenever we may desire. This would be both unsafe and unwise. However we are seeking to do the will and purpose of God, and so we may be sure that at every stage in the process forward, the power and wisdom we need will be given. Faith tells us we have no need to fear or fail to go forward.

SAINTS MUST NOT BE OVERCOME BY THE GREATNESS AND DIFFICULTY OF THE TASK

All these points are adding up to the same truth, but it is important to look at the truth from all angles so that we may fully understand it and hold to it. This point about Saints not being overcome by the difficulties ahead is thus very important to consider.

The difficulties are so tangible and concrete. Our failure and weakness is so real. God keeps us realizing this because in our weakness we become strong, because when we know our weakness we put our confidence more surely in God. Paul testifies to this in 2 Corinthians 1:9.

However while we are walking in faithful obedience with God all the resources and power of God is available for us. Where God guides and directs he has the resources available for the way ahead. This is true in the battle against the forces of evil. It is also true when the work of God seems to require temporal resources way beyond what humanly speaking we have available. It may be man-power that we lack and we can't see how the work we are called to do can be accomplished with the one or two workers available. God is able to make us fit for the task with our limited resources or he will provide the extra resources. This is also true if God calls us to do what requires far more money than the church is able to find either in the present or the future. He provides the money we need.

We must always realize the power of God. We must always realize that he will not fail in his purposes of redemption and for his church. We must remember that being in the will of God means that we are given the answer to all our prayers in connection with that will. We hold on to the fact that the resources which are ours in God are unlimited.

SAINTS NEED ENCOURAGEMENT

There was a tendency in the church 50 to 100 years ago to apply the social custom of the 'stiff upper lip' to the Christian in God's work. It was almost considered the greatest of sin to be frightened or to quail at the task ahead. If you expressed such fears you were immediately made to feel that you were failing God and were a lousy Christian. Weakness was despised, so believers were afraid to open their hearts to others in fear of the rebuke they would receive.

It is true that sometimes we need a firm push, but most often we need encouragement. Joshua gave encouragement to the Manassites. He gives them encouragement in verse 17, 18. He reminds them of the power they have in God. They are numerous and powerful. He assures them that the land they are looking to as supplying their need was the land which was theirs in the promise of God "You will have not only one allotment, but the forested hill country as well". He assures them they need not fear the iron chariots of the enemy because of the assured victory which was theirs under God.

A word of encouragement and hope is nearly always the medicine we need when we are overwhelmed with the difficulties we have to face and the failures we have suffered. It is sweet tasting medicine. It is a fallacy that only medicine that is bitter does any good. A word of encouragement sends the saint on his or her way with renewed strength and a song on the lips.

SAINTS MUST PRESERVE THE VISION

The Israelites, and this included the Manassites here, needed always to hold before them the vision of God's promise concerning the promised land, and God's future promise of the Messiah. While doing this they needed to remember all the ways God had preserved this vision alive in the past as he led his people through all trials and difficulties victoriously.

It was Bunyan in 'Pilgrim's Progress' who tells of Christian, at different times on his journey to the Celestial City, finding himself encouraged and revitalized by a renewed vision of the Celestial City, which was his goal. It is the remembrance and realization of what we are, and what we have, in Christ, together with the sure hope of heaven, that lifts up and sustains the Christian in the spiritual warfare - that is when things get difficult and the way ahead seems black, when we are overwhelmed by the difficulties and troubles that seem to press upon us, so that we may be tempted to look back. When the Israelites were in trouble in the wilderness and there was little or no food, they grumbled and looked back to what they called the flesh pots of Egypt. The antidote for this problem is to keep the vision alive.

The vision first of all is of the wonder of all that we have been blessed with in Christ. What lifts up the soul is the contemplation of Christ's great love expressed in the sacrifice he made to redeem us. How greatly Jesus must have loved me to bear my sin in his body of the cross. Then their is the amazing wonder of what Jesus provides us with in his love. It is complete and eternal forgiveness. We are accounted righteous before God forever. Forever clothed in God's righteousness that blots out all our sin, and makes us to be sanctified and holy and to be like God in this respect. Then there is our inheritance in Christ that we are called children of God, and inheritors of the Kingdom of God. We are blessed with all the rights and privileges which belong to Christ as the first born son. It is the vision of dwelling in the eternal love of God. This is experienced in various degrees of glory and blessing throughout our earthly lives until we gain the fullness in heaven.

Then there is the vision of the Celestial City - that is heavenly glory. This is the home Christ has promised. He said in John 14 he would come again and bring us to that place prepared for us in that heaven. It is so important for believers to have a lively expectation of heaven. This is nurtured by a lively sense of all that heaven will mean when we get there, not only of freedom from the sin, weaknesses and trials of this life, and not only of the riches of life in that heavenly living, but also of the supreme ecstasy of seeing Jesus and dwelling with him who has loved us and whom we love forever.

This vision which sustains and strengthens is not nurtured unless we make a point of nurturing it. It is not sufficient to remember our conversion and all that it meant to us. Nor is sufficient to remember all the ways God has blest us in the past. We must also, by using the means of grace, live in an ever present experience of the blessings of being justified, of Christ's continual presence, love and guidance, and of a rich sense of his purpose to bring us to his eternal glory.

SAINTS MUST LEARN THAT ADVANCE DOES NOT COME WITHOUT SOME PAIN AND STRUGGLE.

Lastly we need to remember what the Manassites found. Although they knew the promise of God. Although they knew some realization of this promise in the land they had obtained. Although they received all the encouragement which Joshua gave them, and knew God was with them and would give them the victory; yet in gaining the further fulfillment of the promise of land they had to engage in battle with the enemy. This could not be avoided.

We are secure in Christ. Our salvation and hope of heaven is sure because it is based on the perfect work of the Saviour for us. We know God is with us, and that he has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We know that his plan of good for us is sure and must be accomplished. Even though all this is true, the way ahead will not always be easy. We still have to struggle with an active devil against us. We still have the forces of the world engaged to bring us down. We still have the sinful flesh to mortify. We still are called to faith which means that only the next step is seen and beyond that we have to rest in faith in Jesus.

Sometimes the way ahead is marked by very severe temptation and labour for the Lord. Although God causes us from time to time to rest beside still waters, yet to go forward requires commitment and sacrifice. However if the vision is maintained and is living and clear, then we shall realize the truth that we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, and we are enabled to go forward with courage and confidence.