Read the full passage here.
The end of Joshua 10 is very formulaic. We see, six times, the recording of victories for Joshua and the people over their enemies. They fight and triumph over Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. We see time and again that battles were won because the Lord gave them the victory, and at the end of the passage we read this:
“Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands,
for the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel”.
(10.42, NET, emphasis added)
We see the truth right there: this pretty epic military campaign of total success was only possible for Joshua and the people because the Lord God…fought for them. Their victory was only possible because God empowered it. Could Joshua have won without the Lord fighting for Him? Possibly, but nobody wins them all, do they? But, as we just read, Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands.
For you and for me, we can move through life in our own power and in our own strength trying to fight all our own battles. We might even win some. But, if we really want to experience life as God intended, if we really want to experience victory over the power of the world, the flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 2.1-3) then we need to submit and commit to the fact that the battle belongs to the Lord, and that He has already won it:
“He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
(Colossians 2.14-15, NET)
Through His death on the cross, Jesus has already triumphed over what was against us. It has been taken away for those that believe in who He is and what He has done. Your victory is right here, won on the cross by a Saviour who loves you. You can keep going trying to fight your own battles, or, you can claim the victory over what was against you in the name of Jesus.
James Travis 