READING: Joshua 10:1-12:6
Yesterday we talked about the tension between praying and acting. We are to do both, while trusting the Lord to guide us. Today, we look at the tension between God’s doing something through us and our playing a role in the task. Note these corresponding verses in today’s reading:
- Joshua 10:8-10 “’Do not be afraid of them,’ the Lord said to Joshua, ‘for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.’ Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon.”
- Joshua 10:29-31 “Then Joshua and the Israelites went to Libnah and attacked it. There, too, the Lord gave them the town and its king. From Libnah, Joshua and the Israelites went to Lachish and attacked it. Here again, the Lord gave them Lachish.”
- Joshua 10:42 “Joshua conquered all these kings and their land in a single campaign, for the Lord, the God of Israel, was fighting for his people.”
- Joshua 11:7-8 “So Joshua and all his fighting men traveled to the water near Merom and attacked suddenly. And the Lord gave them victory over their enemies.”
The approach is clear: the Lord gave victory, but Joshua and his troops had to be in the battle. The Israelite forces attacked their enemies often by surprise, but the victory was no surprise to God; He was the one who went before them.
Our responsibility is to trust and do even while we do and trust as the Lord leads. In all cases, we serve the Victor.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Where do you need to trust God? or, where do you need to act on trust?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “God, grant me faith to follow You and wisdom to act.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Joshua 12:7-15:19
