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When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

² “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, ³ from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites ⁴ on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites; ⁵ the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

⁶ “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, ⁷ and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.” (NIV)

‘“You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

This short passage resonates with me, because I am very much aware of the advancing years. I am now in my 70th year, and some people reading this will no doubt say, ‘That’s not old at all.’ Comparatively speaking, maybe not. But 69 isn’t young!

But this also resonates with my heart. I must not now allow myself to simply ‘coast’, just because I’m a pensioner. Spiritually, there is much ground to be taken. I want to spend the rest of my days pressing on and pressing in. Don’t you? There will always be land ‘to be possessed’ while we are in this world. How we can serve may change, but may the desire to serve always burn in our hearts. We can trust the Lord who has led us this far, to show us the works He still has for us to do.

‘Unlike some elderly people, Joshua lived in the future and not in the past. He had a job to do, and he wanted to complete it before he died. He was not satisfied to defeat thirty-one kings. He urged the tribes to possess the land they had conquered and claim it for the Lord.

No matter how much God has enabled you to accomplish in life, there is always much more land to possess. In the Christian life, we never stand still; we either go forward or backward. The challenge to the believer is Hebrews 6:1: ”Let us go on!” ‘ (Warren Wiersbe).

”The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
¹³ planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
¹⁵ proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15, NIV)

In the next chapter we are going to meet yet another inspiring ‘senior’!

These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah:

² Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.

He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. ³ He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.

⁴ And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

⁵ He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

⁶ Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.

⁷ Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. ⁸ The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings:

(NIV)

‘Joshua 12 is a summary chapter in the Bible that lists the 31 kings and territories conquered by the Israelites under Moses and Joshua, marking the end of the initial conquest. It acts as a comprehensive record of victory, highlighting God’s faithfulness in fulfilling promises to give them land on both sides of the Jordan River.’

Verses 1-6 highlight the victories, under Moses, over the kings Sihon and Og on the east side of Jordan. This land was subsequently given to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Verses 7-24 list 31 kings defeated by Joshua, west of the Jordan River, in an area stretching from Lebanon to the desert.

This chapter also serves as a transition, concluding the stories of battle, and setting up the next phase: the dividing of the land among the various tribes.

There are two clear takeaways:

• God is faithful to keep His promises. He kept them to the Israelites; He will keep them to us.
• God wants to give us comprehensive victory in our on-going battle against sin, but we can only be victorious in His strength, not our own.

     ‘The deepest blessings of the spiritual life cannot be won or held in the strength of our own purpose, even though it be a holy and earnest one. These things can be ours only in so far as we abide in Christ, in whom our inheritance is vested, and from whom we receive it as we need, by faith. We can hold nothing apart from abiding fellowship with Jesus. And this is our privilege. Let us lift our hearts to the blessed Spirit, asking that He would reveal to us that which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, but which God hath prepared for those that love Him.’ F.B. Meyer

When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, ² and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; ³ to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivitesbelow Hermon in the region of Mizpah. ⁴ They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. ⁵ All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

⁶ The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstringtheir horses and burn their chariots.”

⁷ So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, ⁸ and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. ⁹ Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.

¹⁰ At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) ¹¹ Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself.

¹² Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. ¹³ Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. ¹⁴ The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. ¹⁵ As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.

¹⁶ So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country,all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, ¹⁷ from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. ¹⁸ Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. ¹⁹ Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. ²⁰ For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

²¹ At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debirand Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. ²² No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.

²³ So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. (NIV)

Back to ‘Joshua’ today…

This victory marked a major milestone in the taking of the Promised Land. We also see that ‘the conquests were not instantaneous but part of a multi-year campaign.’

The David versus Goliath theme is repeated throughout the Bible. God’s people regularly find themselves up against overwhelming odds in this world, but ‘one with God’ is always ‘a majority’. It’s been said that this passage ‘Teaches reliance on God rather than trusting in technological or military superiority.’

‘It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.’ Psalm 118:8

For our purposes, let us note that obedience to God and His clear Word is the only pathway of blessing and ‘success’. It is not the route to an easy life, but it is the only true way to flourish in this world.

‘God assures us before the battle (11:6), fights for us during the battle (11:8), and commands us after the battle (11:9,15). How we follow orders after the victory is as important as what we do before the battle begins.’ Warren W. Wiersbe.

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple,praising God. (NIV)

Lord Jesus, we ask that you will lift up your hands over each one of us. We crave your blessing. We desire everything you want to give to us. We know we cannot live life alone; we cannot do without you. We cannot serve your mission in the world without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, inspire in us a deeper worship, ever- increasing praise, and overflowing joy. Enable us to see you as you are: high and lifted up over everything. We are so small, but give us eyes to see your immeasurable bigness. Cause us to see your glory, for your glory. Amen.

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (NIV)

Jesus seems to say, in effect:

• Look back and remember the Word: Remember the Word I spoke to you (see e.g.18:31-34), and remember the Word prophesied in every section of your Old Testament. See that the Word I spoke to you tallies with the Old Testament Scriptures. (Note that in order for disciples to ”understand the Scriptures” Jesus must do a work in their/our ”minds”). ‘ Christ’s scholars never learn above their bibles in this world; but they need to be learning still more and more out of their bibles, and to grow more ready and mighty in the scriptures. That we may have right thoughts of Christ, and have our mistakes concerning him rectified, there needs no more than to be made to understand the scriptures.’ Matthew Henry;
• Look forward and receive power. These men were going to be witnesses to Jesus all over the world, and ”in his name” they were going to preach forgiveness of sins through repentance. For this they would need help, and it would be given. They were going to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. These words prepares the way for the continuing story in ‘Acts’ (see Acts 1:4,5,8). The Holy Ghost gave them a holy go!

 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence. (NIV)

‘He had promised that after his resurrection he would see them in Galilee; but so desirous was he to see them, and satisfy them, that he anticipated the appointment and sees them at Jerusalem. Note, Christ is often better than his word, but never worse.‘ Matthew Henry

Henry also makes the important point that in Jesus’ greeting of peace, He was showing that He did not hold anything against Peter for his denials, nor against the disciples for their running away. They really could live in peace.

But what we think about Jesus will affect how we feel (37). The two on the Emmaus road, and the eleven disciples, had come to the conclusion that Jesus was alive (34,35). Yet here they all thought they were seeing ”a ghost” (37). Even though Jesus had said to them, ”Peace be with you” (36), they were ”startled and frightened” (37). This shows that we can live well below the level of our privileges; that we can fail to experience all that is possible for us. It makes us realise that the flowering of faith can be fragile. Although Jesus went on to show them His scars (40), we have the rather puzzling statement that ”they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement” (41). Jesus actually had to do the very physical act of eating to show them He was not some sort of spectre.

PRAYER: Lord, you have given me a Bible full of ‘exceeding great and precious promises’, yet I confess I so regularly live as though they have no bearing on my situation. Please forgive me; have mercy on my weakness. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight.

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (NIV)

‘ Thus do they not so much compare notes as compare hearts, in the review of the sermon Christ had preached to them. They found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher. It made things very plain and clear to them; and, which was more, brought a divine heat with a divine light into their souls, such as put their hearts into a glow, and kindled a holy fire of pious and devout affections in them.’ Matthew Henry

Warren Wiersbe says that the mourners became missionaries. These two dejected people were revitalised by their fellowship with Jesus and His personal ministry of the Word. The burning heart gives a person the ‘get up and go’ they need to change their plans and follow the Lord in a new direction. These two had done the long walk from Jerusalem and, it seems, had no intention of travelling any further that night. But how different they were when they realised that Jesus was alive. On that return trip, my guess is they felt like they had wings on their heels. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they received further confirmation of what they by now deeply knew. So the two, and the eleven, were able to strengthen each other in the faith. This mutual edifying should be a part of every Christian gathering.

PRAYER: Lord, whenever, wherever my heart may be cold, I ask that by your presence and truth you will set it ablaze with love for you

 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. (NIV)

There was something in Jesus’ breaking of the bread that struck a chord with them (35). Perhaps they saw the marks of the nails in His Hands? I don’t know. But I was thinking, as I read these verses, that we have to receive what Jesus has done for us. He wants to ‘give’ to us the broken bread of His body; the benefits of His atoning sacrifice. Every time we take communion, eating the bread and drinking the wine, receiving it inside ourselves, we physically recognise our need of Jesus within. What He has done for us is objective fact outside of ourselves, but only when we take His gift inside ourselves do we receive the benefits.

I was also thinking that our own meal tables can be sacramental. When we share hospitality with others, prayerfully asking Jesus to be present – to bless our guests, and the food (however simple) and the conversation – who can say what He will do with this? The space of hospitality may also become the place of revelation