Before we get into today’s episode, let me briefly summarize what we’ve talked about so far. God listened to the cries of Israel enslaved in Egypt and set up Moses as their leader to deliver them out of Moses. Moses delivered God’s will to King Pharaoh, but the king refused to let them go because it went against his benefits.
As a result, Egypt was stricken by the ten plagues, and he released them. By God’s power, Israel escaped from Egypt safe and sound. The first generation set out for the Promised Land but despite watching God’s numerous works, they hardened their hearts to the end, failing to have faith. They wandered in the wilderness and face death.
Yet, this doesn’t mean God’s covenant with Israel was gone. Their offspring, the second generation marched towards Canaan with Joshua being their head. Unlike their parents, the second generation possessed spiritual faith strong enough to take Canaan, having gone through trials in the wilderness. Joshua and the Israelites boldly marched in faith crossed the Jordan, and finally reached Canaan.
And, solely by God’s power, they gradually expanded their territory. First, at the center of Canaan, they destroyed Jericho which was like a gateway to Canaan and subsequently, they conquered the City of Ai. They defeated the united forced gathered in Gibeon to fight Israel and then quickly took over some major cities. Moment by moment, the almighty God was with the Israelites that were having battles. He even kindly instructed them on how to fight, manifesting marvelous works for them.
He stopped the flow of the overflowing Jordan River and made the thick wall of Jericho crumble down instantly. He sent down stones to destroy Israel’s enemies and even made the sun and the moon stop. Of course, it’s not that everything only went smoothly and favorably throughout their conquering battles.
When God was with them, Israel easily won victories, empowered by His wisdom and His amazing power. But, when He wasn’t with them, they went through various problems. While God was away from Israel on account of Achan’s sin, Israel suffered a painful defeat even in a small city. Also, when they hastily made a decision based on man’s thoughts, without asking God, they were deceived by the Gibeonnites, which disabled them from taking the land they were supposed to take.
Yet, going through such process, Joshua and the people solidified their faith and obedience and continued to take more of the Land. Following their battles in the central region to take over Jericho and Ai, they defeated the united forces of the southern region. And, without taking a break, they had to prepare for the next battle. We stopped right at this scene in the last session.
The history of Israel is not just about the events which took place thousands of years back but it closely relates to our lives today. Whether in doing secular business, accomplishing God’s work or whatever, we are not to forget that we’re in a spiritual battle.
Only if we win a spiritual battle against the enemy devil and evil spirits, we are blessed and healed and have our problems resolved. Israel won victories through God’s presence. Likewise, if God is with us, we’ll be prosperous in all affairs and victorious. The secrets to our victories and resolution of our problems are found in the Bible.
Reading the Bible, we shouldn’t consider those stories merely events that took place thousands of years back but the same kind of spiritual battles we’re going through. When Israel abided by the word of God, they experienced God’s work, enjoying victory all the time. But as they committed sins or failed to discern God’s will, God turned away from them. So, they suffered a bitter defeat. Looking at such scenes, we realize that how we can experience God’s work and lead a prosperous life and how we can have our heart’s wishes answered and take heaven, the Lord’s promise, by force.
God is alive, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He blesses and answers those who keep His commandments and seek Him wholeheartedly. Thus, whoever longs for the land flowing with milk and honey will be greatly inspired and empowered by the messages on the Conquest of Canaan. I pray in our Lord’s name that all of you’ll make these messages yours, come forth as warriors of faith like Joshua, and thereby take all the blessings God promised us.
Relying on the power of the almighty God, Israel had conquered cities in the central region including Jericho and then the southern region. The news quickly spread the tribes in the northern regions. Having been and vigilant and watchful against Israel, the tribes must’ve been shocked and alarmed. They desperately felt the need to unite as one and fight against Israel with all their might. Jabin, the king of one of the powerful cities, urgently contacted other cities nearby.
The Bible says, “he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were of the north in the hill country, and in the Arabah–south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and on the heights of Dor on the west– 3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.” Before long, each tribe came with their army.
Joshua 11:1-3
The Canaanite tribes united and formed united forces for a battle against Israel. Who do you think would win the battle? The united forces of many tribes versus a single nation of Israel? What was the outcome? Despite their strong unity, Israel defeated them in an instant. They won victory after victory. How did this happen?
It was because God was with them. No matter how strong their unity was, the victory went to where God was. The same goes for us. We shouldn’t just look at the reality and make confessions lacking faith like, “I lack knowledge and skills. I’m poor. But, that person has knowledge. He is rich and more skilled.” Instead, we are to say, “I’ll be prosperous in all things with God being with me. I’ll be blessed. With God’s presence, I’ll be prosperous in whatever I do.”
If you confess in faith, living in His word, nothing is impossible. The Canaanites came out with all their armies. They were numerous as the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.
On the contrary, going through many battles, Israel hadn’t rested properly and they had to deal with all these armies, having no ally or help whatsoever. If they relied only on their strength, they could’ve been frightened and discouraged. But again, God encouraged Joshua, promising victory.
God said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” No matter how great they were in number, no matter how many horses and chariots they had, those things didn’t ensure their victory in the battle.
Joshua 11:6
Just as David confessed, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands,” the outcome of a battle is up to the LORD God alone. Joshua and his army again got up the courage only by faith and attacked against the enemy forces camped at the waters of Merom. God entirely deliver them into the hand of Israel.
1 Samuel 17:47
Israel defeated the united forces of the Canaanites at once, not leaving a single person alive. As God commanded, they hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. They also burned Hazor, a powerful city which served as the leader of the united forces, thereby letting the Israelites know about God’s judgment. Joshua and Israel finished another major battle, conquering the northern region of Canaan as well.
With their victory in the battle against the kings of the northern region, Israel’s conquest battles ended in general. The Bible says, “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Thus the land had rest from war.” This was the moment Israel finally took possession of Canaan which the almighty LORD God promised them. It had taken quite a long time for that day to arrive.
Joshua 11:23
God promised Canaan to Abraham, the father of faith, and only after hundreds of years, in Moses’ time, that promise began to be fulfilled in a visible way. Even after Israel escaped Egypt with Moses, they had to spend 40 years in the wilderness and 7 years on the conquest battles until the promise was fully fulfilled.
If the first generation had demonstrated faith, they would’ve received the blessing of Canaan. Since they failed to have faith, the blessing was delayed. God’s promise is always accompanied by conditions. Only those who truly trust and obey Him can see His work. Some people wonder, “I learned that God is called God the Healer, but how come He doesn’t heal me?”
They misconceive that they pray with faith but God doesn’t answer. But in regard to healing as well, God clearly presented conditions. You are familiar with this verse, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”
Exodus 15:26
Namely, if we do what is right in His sight, not in people’s sight, and live by His words, no diseases would infiltrate. But some believers don’t reflect on themselves with the word of God, but they compare themselves to others, thinking they’re doing well. They think, ‘He used to be a church worker and have stronger faith. But now, I’m better.’ Even as they judge and condemn others with arrogance, they don’t realize about themselves. Because they just do what is right in their sight, they can’t be protected.
Among His commandments and statues, God didn’t tell us to keep only easy ones but all of them. We have to achieve spiritual love by which we can love even our enemies, turn our left cheek to a person who slaps us on our right cheek, give our coat to a person who wants to take our shirt, and offer to walk two miles when a person whom we hate suggests walking with him one mile. This is how we make peace. This is God’s goodness and righteousness.
Let’s say you argue or quarrel but you’re filled with ill-feelings and hatred. If only you see another person’s little fault, you’re quick to gossip about it. In doing so, you don’t think you hate anyone. But God cannot help but say you didn’t keep my commandment
because you’re not practicing the word of God, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But, if you keep all God’s commands and the words of truth, God will put none of the diseases upon us. Here, diseases refer to all diseases that exist in this world.
Namely, if we live by God’s will, not only will He heal us but keep any diseases from striking us. He is our Father God. But, if we neither do what is right in His sight nor keep His commandments, we have nothing to do with God’s promise of protecting us from diseases and healing us.
Of course, among people stricken from diseases are those who suffer from under God’s permission so that they can discover themselves like Job and come forth as more perfect people. Thus, we shouldn’t judge anyone. For God’s promise to be fulfilled, people who receive His promise should also satisfy the conditions for blessings according to their measure of faith.
As God promised the first generation the entry into Canaan, he presented conditions that they needed to have faith. And through Moses, God manifested great miracles and signs numerous times so that Israel could meet His conditions. He didn’t just tell them to believe. He did so showing them convincing evidences.
Nevertheless, the first generation who failed to have faith died in the wilderness, as a result, God’s promise was delayed. Eventually, in the following generation, the promise was fulfilled. Unlike their parents, they followed Joshua’s guidance in firm faith, ultimately taking the land flowing with milk and honey.
The Bible says, “Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.” Namely, they obeyed as God commanded, as Moses commanded. As Joshua himself showed faith and thorough obedience and the Israelites followed him well, God’s promised was fulfilled through them. We have to engrave this in mind.
When God gave us visions for the world evangelization and the grand sanctuary, he didn’t just tell us to believe. With great and amazing power to guarantee the shepherd, He’s always manifested numerous evidences of His being with us. And, He proclaimed that He would have the visions fulfilled through us, also with conditions.
God said that we have to achieve a pure and holy heart and that many of us have to reach the levels of spirit and whole spirit. If we do so, He promised that He Himself would fulfill all things because gold, silver, and all belong to Him. He also demonstrated God’s greatness through the shepherd’s power. Watching it, we would rejoice and confess our faith in His promise. But how many conditions have you satisfied to fulfill the promise? Didn’t God do what He said despite your perfect obedience. No way.
We’ve seen and experienced the great and astonishing evidences of the living God and His love which no one can see or experience elsewhere. Yet, we’ve fallen short of sanctification and spiritual faith required of us. But even now it’s not too late to achieve them. Then, His promise will be fulfilled wonderfully and mightily through us.
Israel did conquer God-promised Canaan, but that doesn’t mean all of their tasks were finished. It is true that the Land of Canaan was mostly under Israel’s governance, but still, there were tribes that hadn’t been destroyed. From then on, Israel had to drive out the remaining Canaanites and settle down, thereby taking full possession of the land. Joshua who’d engaged in long battles became an old man, but there were areas to conquer. So, God waged a different kind of battle.
God commanded that the areas of land which had been and would be conquered be allotted to each tribe in advance. Up until that point, all the tribes of Israel had been united in conquering the gentiles, but then, God commanded each tribe to take their own share by faith. Under Joshua’s guidance, Israel had won battles, but from then on, the victory for each tribe was up to their respective deeds of faith.
As they each took their land, depending on how they displayed spiritual faith, how they obeyed according to God’s will, the outcome of God’s promise would differ. Now, Joshua was about to distribute the land among the tribes. By the time the distribution began, there was a person insisting on his right. He claimed that more than 40 year back, God had already promised him a land, so he requested that the land be allotted to him first.
He was Caleb, the son of Jephuneh. You probably remember that only two of the twelve spies selected among the first generation to spy out Canaan Land made a confession of faith. Being instigated by the other ten spies who spoke out of their fleshly thoughts hostile to God, the congregation cried, complaining against God and Moses. But the two spies who confessed in faith tore their clothes in lament.
Although the entire first generation faced death in the wilderness for their disobedience, these two spies were promised that they would survive to enter Canaan. One of the two was Joshua, the leader of the second generation, and the other was Caleb who I’m just talking about. God said, “But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.”
Numbers 14:24
During the 40-year trial in the wilderness and the 7-year conquest battle, Caleb never forgot this promise. Usually, people forget the promises with passing of time. After they pray for a few months, a year, or a few years, they end up getting tired of waiting and forget about them.
Yet, Caleb didn’t forget the promise for over 40 years. He waited for the time, steadfastly praying. Finally, when the time came for the Canaan Land to be distributed, he quoted God’s promise, requesting that the land be given to him.
At this point, Caleb was not boasting of what he did in the past and pushing Joshua to give him the blessing. Neither was he emphasizing that he deserved his share as an elderly who’d long been Joshua’s side and greatly contributed to Israel’s victory in battles. Rather, what he said was an expression of his faith which had become firmer amidst the trials that had lasted over 40 years. He was also expressing his resolve to take the lead in making dedication for the fulfillment of God’s will.
Moreover, the area he requested was Hebron which hadn’t been conquered yet. Taking that land required them to have a fight from then on. The gentiles residing in the land were the sons of Anak. They were the robust people that once scared the ten spies and caused them to confess, “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes.”
Caleb didn’t ask for a region already conquered but relying on God’s promise, he requested Hebron which had been inhabited by the robust Anakites and required difficult battles to take over. A confession from this old general who had gone through a lot for many years is so inspiring.
“Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in.” Ordinary people would say, “Now that I’m aged 85, I am not the same person I was 45 years ago. No wonder I’m not as strong.” But, we find Caleb’s faith even greater than it was 45 years back. That’s why he was able to say like, “I am just as vigorous as I was 45 years ago. I am still as strong.” Caleb went on to say,
Joshua 14:10-11
“Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken.” Actually, his confession could’ve been better. He said, “perhaps the LORD will be with me.” It could’ve been more perfect without the word perhaps. God never breaks His promise even with passing of time.
Joshua 14:12
If only we keep His word, God makes sure to be with us. He does things ahead of us. He accomplishes things and resolves all our issues. Thus, we, Manmin, should confess like, “Even though the cities are great and fortified, because the LORD is with me, I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken.” How do you think Joshua felt as he heard Caleb’s confession of unchanging faith?
To Joshua, Caleb was a companion who’d long been with him through trials since the Exodus and also a friend in faith who’d shared joy and sorrow with him. And this Caleb spoke up first, ensured the word of God, and volunteered to take his inheritance. How moved Joshua must’ve been? Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as promised by God.
By faith, Caleb did drive away the robust Anakites by faith and took the fertile land as his inheritance and that of his offspring, thereby setting an example before the Israelites. Starting with Caleb, the distribution of the land began in earnest. In the next session, we’ll explore how the land was distributed among the Israelites and how each tribe took their land.