“There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle” (Joshua 11:19).
TEXT — Joshua11:10-23
Message
Onetime prime minister of England, Ramsey MacDonald, was said to be discussing with another government official the possibility of lasting peace in the world. The official considered the PM’s viewpoint too idealistic and cynically remarked, “The desire for peace does not necessarily ensure it”. The PM admitted this but quipped, “Quite true. But neither does the desire for food satisfy your hunger, but at least it gets you started toward a restaurant”.
The peace move made by the Gibeonites alluded to in today’s text paid off eventually. Israel’s effort to possess the land of Canaan that was divinely willed to them did not come without stiff oppositions and wars. One of the notable wars they had to fight was with a confederacy of northern Canaan’s crowns headed by Jabin, king of Hazor. As happened in previous wars, God fought for Israel and discomfited all the hostile countries and handed Israel, under Joshua, a decisive victory. Even the Anakims (a race of giants) were routed and a remnant of them took refuge in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod, cities of the Philistines. Only the Gibeonites were spared because they pursued peace with Israel.
It pays to tread the path of peace at all times and everywhere. The pursuit of peace is generally misunderstood as a sign of weakness; but the Christian is enjoined to “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
True believers are not only followers of peace; they are also peacemakers. Their presence, words and actions help to douse, not inflame, quarrels, fights and uproars. We must equally observe what was said about Joshua’s obedience to divine instructions originally given to Moses. We cannot hope to have the Joshua kind of victory without absolute obedience to God’s word.
Thought for the day
The ultimate turning-point for lasting peace is knowing the Prince of peace
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
