Prophet and Warrior

The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Exodus 15:3

Exodus 15:1-3

1   Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

2   The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

3   The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Joshua 23:1 - 4

1      And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

2      And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

3   And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

3      Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

Moses the prophet

 

      Moses was the greatest prophet among the Israelites

      Joshua was the greatest warrior

John 9:28     Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

 John 9:29    We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

Who was Moses

 

      Moses was the great prophet of Israel

      He delivered Israelites from the slavery

      He lead them across the Red Sea

      He brought them into the desert

      He lead them through the desert

He brought down the laws of God to them

The Law

      Gentiles had no law

      They lives as they like

      But God’s people has Laws

      Rules and regulations to live according to the Holiness of God

Judges 21: 25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

       No King – no laws – anarchy

 Desert life

      Desert life was a life full of blessings

      Pillar Cloud – Pillar of fire - Water – Manna

Exodus 13:21   And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

 Cloud and fire is:

Ø  God’s presence

Ø  God’s guidance

Ø  God’s protection

Still desert life is:

      Desert life is life of wandering

      It is not God’s final plan

      God wants to give you a settled life

Rest after war

Joshua 11: 23     So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

2 Samuel 7:1       And it came to pass, when the king s(King David) at in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

      But Moses could not lead the people to rest and blessing

      Canaan is the land of blessing

      It is not blessed land but a land of blessings

Canaan is a land of:

      God and God alone

      God’s chosen people

      A land devoid of gentle people and gentle worship

      God is the king

      God’s law is the law of the land

      God’s way of life is the way of life of people

      No disease, no curse, no natural catastrophe

      Success in war – victory over enemies

      Total rest

      Only blessing

Canaan is a contrast to:

      It is a contrast to the land around where gentile gods are being worshiped

      But the land at present is under gentiles

      So it has to be conquered

 

Conquer : Fight : Defeat : Acquire The Land : Own The Land

A Warrior – Not a Prophet

To conquer land need a warrior – not a prophet

Prophet delivered from slavery

Prophet brought down God’s law

Prophet leads the people through the land – land of faith life

There is blessing – but :

1.      No final success – the war is not over

2.      The enemy is still present

3.      The promises and possessed and enjoyed by the enemy

4.      No rest – the war is not over

Rest comes only after the final triumph over the enemy

Rest on this Earth?

 It is possible in this life

J  Israelites enjoyed it

J  David achieved it

J  Jesus completed the war against Satan

Hebrew 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

 We too can achieve success

War is the only way

·      War is the only way to defeat the enemy and to chase out them

·      As long as we live mingled with the gentile gods we are not safe

Deuteronomy 7:1 - 5

1   When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

2   And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

3   Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

4   For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

5   But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. {their images: Heb. their statues, or, pillars}

 

So fight, defeat, conquer and chase the enemy away from the land

War needs warriors

 

v  War is a more serious affair

v  A small mistake will lead to destruction

So God warned Joshua:

Joshua 1: 6 - 8

6   Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. {unto this...: or, thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land, etc}

7   Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. {prosper: or, do wisely}

8   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. {have...: or, do wisely}

      So he cannot do according to the people

      He cannot do all things to please people

      He has to act according to His great commander

Joshua had a Great Commander

 

Joshua 5 : 13 - 15

13   And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14   And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? {captain: or, prince}

15   And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

 

Characteristics of a warrior

 

·         A Warrior is not a democratic person

·         Decisions are not made on the basis of his own fancy

·         Decisions are not made by considering the majority opinion

·         Decisions are left to the higher commander

·         A warrior obeys blindly the orders of his higher commander

 

§  Joshua never cared for majority opinion

§  Joshua followed the strategies shown to him by God

 

§  He never deviated left or right from God’s law

§  Deviations from law is dangerous to his life

God’s way to blessing is war

      Israelites were in slavery for more than 400 years

      God decided to solve the problem

§  God’s way is that of war not delegation, not compromises, not half way through

§  Only war

      He gives orders not requests

      He declares war with those who rejects His order

Exodus 4: 22, 23

22   And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

23   And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Professor Jacob Abraham
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