The Land Had Rest From War

Happy New Year!

Jan. 6

Read: Joshua 11:21-23

The Land Had Rest From War

“And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country…There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain…And the land had rest from war.” (v. portions 21-23)

If you are reading the book of Joshua through from the beginning up until this passage, you can’t help but let out a sigh of relief when you read verse 23: “And the land had rest from war.” This is what we all long for in some way or another: PEACE. It dawned on me the other day that - technically speaking - we have not known peace or “rest from war” for a very long time as humanity. My children have never lived in a world “at rest from war”. Whether it is “The War on Terror”, or the war in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Ukraine and Russia, or now Israel and Hamas… the point is that the world/humanity has had a front seat to war for a long time. I think we could all agree that having a little “rest from war” would be a nice thing … right?

Here is the truth: Peace and rest will always be short-lived or temporary as long as sin and the devil remain. Not to mention, as long as the Devil has those whom he has enslaved as well as those who have actively given in to that enslavement and aligned with him… there will be cosmic war… spiritual war. Remember what Jesus said: “on earth as it is in heaven”. The earthly world will always play out spiritual truths from the spiritual realm. This spiritual battle between the enemies of YHWH and those loyal to God Most High will always work its way out on earth… and often time in the form of WAR, Jesus came to conquer sin, death, and the devil and to free those whom the Lord has called from every tribe, tongue and nation to himself. (cf. Rev. 5:9) Jesus has come to conquer his enemies and one day the people of God WILL experience a land which has rest from war. Until then, we long for peace as we press back agains the outworking of sin, death, and the Devil in this world… in short… we are in war.

The Anakim were giants. (Deut, 2:21, Num 13:28,29, etc.)  They were the byproduct of aligning with the Devil and those rebellious spiritual forces at war with God. (cf. Gen. 6, 2 Peter 2:4-10, Jude 1:6 etc.)  They were evil. God had “devoted them to destruction”. (ie. Joshua 6:17-21) Joshua ran them out of the land EXCEPT for a small area or pocket of towns that would one day become a Philistine stronghold. Who would one day come from that very city where these giants were allowed to retreat to? Who is from the city of Gath? None other than Goliath, the most famous giant of all! (1 Sam. 17:4) When sin, death, and the devil are allowed to remain… even if it is only in one small corner of the proverbial land … any rest from war or peace experienced will come to an end. Anakim or “evil giants” do not just leave people alone or mind their own business after being run out of “the land”. They will come back with a vengeance. Remember this. There is no true rest or peace without the work of Christ and the power of God Most High. God is working through his people to bring about HIS rest and peace. As much as we long for “rest from war” - and one day we will have it - while the giants remain there will be a battle. Just as with Joshua, the Lord is with us in this battle. We need not be afraid. When we experience pockets of “rest from war” - may we give thanks… these are gifts from God… reminders of the ETERNAL REST we will one day have as those who are in Christ Jesus. Love you guys. - JDP