The Lord is in the Details
#13 in Series: "Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future: A Study in the Book of Joshua"
Joshua 10:29–12:24
You have heard, and may have even used the phrase; The devil is in the details… That phrase seeks to express that there are often … difficulties, hardships, and unexpected problems that often arise in the details… In other words, when looking at the "big picture", things may look good – but when you get into the details … you begin to see the challenges, and the ignoring of those details can lead to failure…
What you may not know is that the phrase; The devil is in the details was a "perversion" of an older saying – God is in the details… That phrase seeks to convey the idea that God works in the details in carrying out His plan and purpose in a matter. God just doesn't give a "big picture", but He works in the details of producing that picture… The Lord God is in the details…
Our text today is rather lengthy, but captures for us a couple of significant details that we need to grasp and apply to our own lives – if we are to glean from our study of this book, what the Lord has for us…
I like Warren Wiersbe's summary of this section –
"This section of the book of Joshua summarizes Israel's conquest of the southern (10:29–43) and northern cities (11:1–15) in Palestine, and closes with a list of the names of some of the kings whom Israel defeated (11:16—12:24). Since there is probably a map of the conquest located in the back of your Bible, consult it as you read these chapters. Two things stand out in this record: It was the Lord who gave the victory (10:30, 32, 42; 11:6, 8), and Joshua obeyed the Lord by utterly destroying the enemy, just as Moses had commanded (11:9, 12, 15, 20). The only exception was Gibeon."
Our passage gets into the details of the rapid, comprehensive conquering of both the southern and northern regions of Canaan… The previous chapter detailed the battle Israel, and the Gibeonites fought against the five-king cotillion that came against Gibeon because of their alliance with Israel… The cities in the southern region, included Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir… In the north was Hazor, which was also taken. Our text details the conquering of 31 kings, and emphasises the requirement to be faithful to obey God's every command.
Our approach today will be to take a high-view observation. In other words, we are not taking time to re-read every verse and make comments on each one. Rather, we are going to observe some key principles that we see stated throughout the text. In fact, let me encourage you to read through chapter 21 over the coming days. We won't be reading every word in those chapters in the time we share together…
Let's begin with –
1. The Authority in God's Sovereignty
I don't mean to sound redundant here… What we're trying to clarify, is that God being God, has all RIGHTS to His power and authority!... Above Him there is NO other!
Before getting into the text, let's consider just a few passages that speak to the character of God!
First, think about those attributes about God that are unique to Him – He doesn't share them with any other. These are what theologians call incommunicable attributes of God… These are the "Omni" attributes.
● Omnipotence (All-Powerful)
God is all-powerful! Listen to –
Jeremiah 32:17
'Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,
This is a truth that should encourage every believer!
Next, consider –
● Omniscience (All-Knowing)
God knows everything!
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
Listen to the first six verses of Psalm 139 –
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
This should not only encourage every believer, but it should also … sober you to the reality that God sees and knows all!
Then there is –
● Omnipresence (Everywhere)
We can continue in Psalm 139 for this one –
Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
It is good to know that God is everywhere!...
There is another incommunicable attribute of God that should also encourage us all, and that is –
● Immutability (Unchanging)
God does not change! Now there are several passages in God's Word to illustrate this truth, but for time's sake, let's just consider –
Malachi 3:6
"For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Then there are those attributes of God that are communicable – that is He shares them – He produces them in people! These attributes include His –
● God is Love
1 John 4:16
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
God is love, and He expects His children to experience, and exhibit His love! In fact, Jesus said –
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
This should be the defining characteristic of every church – authentic, God-glorifying, edifying love!
Another attribute of God that is to be characteristic of His people, is –
● God is Holy
This is the idea that God is "set apart and pure"!... His holiness is constantly declared in heaven, and demonstrated on earth!
Isaiah 6:3
And one called out to another and said,
"Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory."
Revelation 4:8
And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."
Now we said these are communicable attributes. God's expects His children to reflect the same character –
1 Peter 1:16
because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
Another attribute God has, and develops in those He redeems, is
● God is Faithful and True
Listen to –
Revelation 19:11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
Psalm 33:4
For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
We certainly see the benefit when God's people reflect the same values in their lives! Oh that we would all be faithful and true – to who we are in Christ!
Next, we see that –
● God is Justice and Righteousness
God is the perfect Judge Who does what is right – always!
Deuteronomy 32:4
"The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.
Psalm 145:17
The Lord is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.
This is a truth about God that people want to ignore, if not flat out deny!... They want to think of God as being all-loving, and always … affirming whatever they … choose. But, the reality is – God is Just, and He will hold all accountable to His standard!
Psalm 96:13
Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.
Listen to one more attribute of God, that He also shares –
● God is Compassionate and Merciful
And we are all grateful that He is!... Listen to –
Psalm 103:13
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
The reality is, there is a lot more to the Lord than these attributes, and I suspect that we will understand Him better a thousand years from now, than we will a hundred years from now… You will never come to understand everything about Him Who is Infinite!...
What we need to take to heart, as we think through our text, is that … there is nothing wrong in anything that God does, because He always acts in accordance with His nature! He is Holy. He is Just. He is Righteous all together! And He is The Supreme Judge of all!
Let's pursue our text, and if you write in your Bible, underline the following references – the direct references to the Lord!
Our text begins with the summary of the battle against Libnah –
Joshua 10:29
Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.
Now note verse :30 –
Joshua 10:30
The Lord gave it also with its king into the hands of Israel, and he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor in it. Thus he did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Jump to verse :32 –
Joshua 10:32
The Lord gave Lachish into the hands of Israel;
Jump down to verse :40 –
Joshua 10:40
Thus Joshua struck all the land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings. He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.
Jump to verse :42 –
Joshua 10:42
Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
Let's turn to chapter 11, and I love this next reference to the Lord in our text. Look at –
Joshua 11:6
Then the Lord 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."
Jump to verse :8 –
Joshua 11:8
The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they defeated them, and pursued them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim and the valley of Mizpeh to the east; and they struck them until no survivor was left to them.
The Lord Himself is orchestrating the events in these chapters!... What we need to understand is that what God is doing here – is in no way a contradiction to His character!
Now, I want to turn the corner just a bit, and consider a point that goes hand-in-hand with God's authority and sovereignty… It is the truth concerning –
2. The Fulfillment of God's Plan
In fact, before we peruse our text for this point, listen what the Lord declares in –
Isaiah 46:8-10
8 "Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
9 "Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';
God accomplishes His plans!...
There is a summary statement in verse :14, and what follows is important for us to understand. Look at verses :14-15 –
Joshua 11:14-15
14 All the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They left no one who breathed. 15 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.
Before we go on – what was the commandment the Lord gave to Moses?...
Though we could turn to both the books of Exodus, and Deuteronomy, listen to just the first 11 verses of Deuteronomy 7 –
Deuteronomy 7:1-11
1 "When the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 2 and when the Lord your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. 3 Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. 5 But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
7 "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. 11 Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.
The point we should take from our text is that … all of this was God's idea! He is executing justice against people groups that have rebelled against Him!...
Jump to verse :18
Joshua 11:18-20
18 Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings. 19 There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle. 20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Look at the summary statement in verse :23 –
Joshua 11:23
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.
And again, it is the Lord Who commands this!... We aren't going to read all that is contained in chapters 12–21… Chapter 12 is the balance of our text today, and it contains the summary report of the Lord's deliverance of these kings into the hands of Israel…
Jump to verse :6 –
Joshua 12:6
Moses the servant of the Lord and the sons of Israel defeated them; and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a possession.
Of course, this is the report of what God did through Moses before he died, in the conquering of those on the east side of the Jordan… The point is – God's plan was … and is … being carried out!
The last verse tells us that –
Joshua 12:24b
… in all, thirty-one kings.
There is at least one more major point we should glean from this text. It is –
3. The Faithfulness of God's People
God chooses people to accomplish His will… There is no doubt that the Lord could have chosen any other means to bring justice to the Canaanites. After all, He the whole universe at His disposal to muster for His cause at any time!... We read in Genesis 19 how God rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah when He brought justice against them (Genesis 19:24)!... Earlier in Joshua 10, we read of when Joshua marched all night to go to battle alongside the Gibeonites against the five kings who waged war against the Gibeonites –
Joshua 10:10-12
10 And the Lord confounded them before Israel and … the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them … [which resulted in] more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
[We also read of the supernatural interruption of the solar system when]
"[The]O sun, [stood]stand still at Gibeon,
And [the]O moon in the valley of Aijalon."
… providing a doubling in daylight hours!
The point is – God chooses to include His people in the adjudication of His will – He is not dependent on people! In fact, He works with them – He works through them!
Look at –
Joshua 11:18-20
18 Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings. 19 There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle. 20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
God works through … faithful people!
He accomplished justice through the hands of the Israelites in the days of Moses and Joshua…
God worked through His people throughout the OT and NT. He works in and through His people today!
Listen to what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians. I like the NKJV of this –
Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)
For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
The Prophet Samuel had some choice words for Israel when they were insistent on having a king, when they were to be different than all other peoples – for God is their King!... They relented, but Samuel admonished them as to what should be their focus going forward… It is found in 1 Samuel 12. Listen to just a couple of statement he gave God's people –
1 Samuel 12:20
Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
He went on to say –
1 Samuel 12:24
Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
That is the word for us as well. You may be a soldier, a sailor – a pastor, or physician – you may be a teacher, technician, minister, or mechanic – whatever the calling God has for you – you are to be faithful to the Lord, His character, His will in every area of your life!
J. Hampton Keathley III – "Faithfulness, then, is not a matter of success or failure from the standpoint of results. If there is faithfulness, failure does not bring blame nor should it lead to a sense of guilt! Where there is faithfulness to discharge one duties regardless of the results there is success in God's sight. This points us to the true issue in our responsibility which is limited. We are to be faithful to the gifts, abilities, and opportunities God gives us and leave the results to Him."
He also said –
"The Scripture promises rewards for our service as a motivation for faithful ministry. And for the Christian, at least, this promise is true and guaranteed regardless of the apparent success or rewards received here in time. Sometimes it appears that doing what is right goes without obvious blessing or reward. Faithful service may not lead to recognition, a promotion, or the raise one counted on – maybe not even a thank you. And often, faithfulness, especially when it is to Christ and biblical principles, can lead to persecution. But as Christians we must never allow the absence of immediate reward or blessing to deter us from steadfast faithfulness… The promise of Scripture is that if we continue to be faithful to the Lord, we will eventually receive rewards for our efforts. If not in this life, definitely in the life to come (1 Cor. 15:58)."
And the golden nugget on this point –
"Biblically speaking, faith and faithfulness stand to each other as root and fruit."
Questions to Consider in Community Group
- The phrase "God is in the details" suggests intentionality – where do you see evidence of God working in the details of our text?
- What is an "incommunicable" attribute of God? (omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability) Which do you find most challenging or comforting, and why?
- Which is a "communicable" attribute of God? Which do you find most difficult to emulate in your life?
- How do we "reconcile" God's justice in these chapters (the destruction of the Canaanites) with His love and mercy?
- In Joshua 11:15, Joshua "left nothing undone" of what God commanded. What does complete obedience look like today, and why is it often difficult?
- The Israelites were instruments of God's plan. What does it mean for us to be used by God today, and how can we remain faithful in that role?
- Why do you think God chooses to work through people rather than acting independently, even though He has the power to do so?
- Looking at the overall conquest narrative, what warnings or lessons can we draw about partial obedience versus full obedience to God?
