the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Joshua 11:1-11
At Gibeon, in ch. 10, the alliance of the kings of the South was cut to pieces. Now the North of the country gathers a vast company of people around Jabin, king of Hazor, to make war against Israel. "All these kings were met together" (v. 5). "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed", Psalms 2 announces, speaking of a future time.
What does the LORD say to Joshua? "Be not afraid because of them . . . I will deliver them up all slain before Israel" (v. 6). And the victory is followed by slaughter in which no one is spared. It is hard for us to understand these terrible judgments. Are we not disciples of a Master who exhorts us thus: "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you . . . "? (Luke 6:27). Are we not children of a Father who exhorts us: "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink . . . "? (Romans 12:20). But if there is a time for grace (our time), there will be equally a time for wrath. It will come upon those who reject grace. The judgment of the Canaanites, after centuries of forbearance on God’s part, illustrates the point in a most solemn way.
