[A Meditation on One Verse]

(Joshua 10:25) “Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.’”

God commands the Israelites to completely destroy all the tribes of Canaan. To our reason and emotions, this is a picture of God that is hard to understand, one that seems so cruel. That is why the scene in today’s text, where the army commanders stand with their feet on the necks of the five kings dragged from the cave, is not a welcome one. It looks like the image of an inhuman victor.

However, we must read this scene as the ‘picture language’ of that era. Placing a foot on a king’s neck was the most certain symbol of ‘complete conquest’ and ‘absolute sovereignty.’ In other words, this scene is a powerful visual declaration of how powerless the world’s forces, the powers of darkness surrounding us, are before God.

That is why, immediately after this symbolic act, Joshua shouts, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged!” And he adds the most important declaration: “This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” This is not a boast that ‘we’ won, but a declaration of faith that ‘the LORD’ has already won and will win in the future.

Through this picture language, God is saying: ‘Those enemies that frighten you are now nothing more than your footstool. I have already crushed their heads.’ Therefore, all the problems and situations we face today are merely a stage for God’s victory.

What, then, is ‘victory’ for us? It is to no longer be afraid, but to fully trust and love the God who fought for us. It is to enjoy true peace in that faith and love.

And so, we begin the day with this prayer:

”Lord, I believe that You have already crushed the necks of the kings of fear and despair within me at the cross. As Your light comes, all the darkness within me recedes, just as this morning has arrived.”

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(Daily Reading)

– Joshua 10:22-39