thorn removal

Joshua 10:28-39 (JDV)

Joshua 10:28 On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and struck it down with the sword, including its king. He completely destroyed it and everyone in it, leaving no survivors. So he treated the king of Makkedah as he had the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10:29 Joshua and all Israel with him crossed from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
Joshua 10:30 Yahveh also handed it and its king over to Israel. He struck it down, putting everyone in it to the sword, and left no survivors in it. He treated Libnah’s king as he had the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10:31 From Libnah, Joshua and all Israel with him crossed to Lachish. They laid siege to it and attacked it.
Joshua 10:32 Yahveh handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua captured it on the second day. He struck it down, putting everyone in it to the sword, just like he had done to Libnah.
Joshua 10:33 At that time King Horam of Gezer went to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.
Joshua 10:34 Then Joshua crossed from Lachish to Eglon and all Israel with him. They laid siege to it and attacked it.
Joshua 10:35 On that day they captured it and struck it down, putting everyone in it to the sword. He completely destroyed it that day, just like he had done to Lachish.
Joshua 10:36 Next, Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it.
Joshua 10:37 They captured it and struck down its king, all its villages, and everyone in it with the sword. He left no survivors, just like he had done at Eglon. He completely destroyed Hebron and everyone in it.
Joshua 10:38 Finally, Joshua turned toward Debir and attacked it. And all Israel was with him.
Joshua 10:39 He captured it – its king and all its villages. They struck them down with the sword and completely destroyed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. He treated Debir and its king as he had treated Hebron and as he had treated Libnah and its king.

thorn removal

Joshua’s goal was to obey God, not to win the favor of the surrounding nations. He knew that if he left any kings and kingdoms occupying the territory that God had given Israel, those nations would become thorns in the side of Israel. Thus, the campaign described in today’s text was God-ordained thorn removal.

Our mission today is not to destroy the nations around us, but to win them to Christ. The gospel of Christ is good news for them just as it is for us. But we can still learn from today’s text by seeking to fulfill our commission quickly and efficiently.

Lord give us a fervor to complete our mission to the nations.