The importance of right leadership, who hear from and obey the Lord, in times of conflict.
The Book of Joshua tells of a series of battles that Israel had to fight before they could take their inheritance in the land of Canaan. Believers today face similar circumstances.
29 THEN JOSHUA AND ALL ISRAEL WITH HIM moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. Joshua 10
The remainder of this chapter tells us of a series of five battles that Israel fought against Canaanite cities. Every one begins with this phrase, ‘Joshua and all Israel with him’. Joshua was God’s chosen leader for Israel during this time of great conflict. Israel could not afford to lose even one battle or they would have been destroyed by enemies and its still the same today! Israel had to stay united under Joshua, their enemies were all around them. They couldn’t afford quarrels and differences of opinion (how quick we all are to offer opinions), they had to stay united, with no separations or divisions. In doing this the Lord gave them victory after victory and they conquered the whole southern part of the land.
When the northern kings heard about the victories that Israel had inflicted they decided to greatly increase the stakes in battle. They decided to throw everything at Israel by amassing a huge confederation of armies against them.
11 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to … 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots – a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
The Lord again encouraged Joshua, telling him,
6 The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain.’
Joshua and Israel did conquer the whole northern confederation and totally destroyed them.
15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
The chain of command is laid out for us in detail; the Lord told Moses, Moses told Joshua and Joshua with Israel did it. In battle there are only commands, not suggestions and they have to be obeyed.
I would say at this time that we are somewhere between the victories of the southern Kingdom, the enemy/world rulers have sustained some big losses and the total defeat of the northern Kingdom. The major lesson in all this is that THE HARDER THE ENEMY FIGHTS, THE GREATER THEIR LOSSES!
The Lord has chosen leaders today and following them in unity will bring about victory for His people. Hallelujah
God bless and keep you today.