Turning Spiritual Wimps Into Warriors
I’m attracted back to the biblical book of Joshua time and time again. And there’s no more exciting scene for wimps who want to be warriors than the battle in Joshua 10.
Joshua hadn’t planned to fight this battle. However, he feels obligated to defend the Gibeonites, even though they deceived him. They arrived one day with old, ragged clothes, worn-out shoes, and moldy food and told Joshua, “We have come from a distant land and want to make peace with you.”
Without consulting the Lord, Joshua thought that sounds fine since they’re far out of the way. So he officially made peace with them. Then he found out they lived just over the hill.
Joshua Kept His Word
All the nations around the Promised Land get angry with these Gibeonites for making peace with an enemy. They make war with them and the Gibeonites call to Joshua for help, “Come and defend us like you promised. We’re partners now.” So Joshua set forth with his army.
Part of the battle includes a storm of hailstones with intense black clouds crashing together. Finally, the sun breaks out. Joshua looks around and knows if he can keep up the intensity of battle, he can defeat the Amorites coming against him. All Joshua needs is a very long day. He doesn’t want that sun going down. So, in the presence of all Israel, he calls out, “Sun, stand still!” And the sun stays. A dramatic scene.
But Science Says
A skeptic can say, “Obviously there are errors in the bible. The sun doesn’t stand still. He could have shouted out, ‘Earth, stop rotating.’” Modern science does reveal the earth rotates. But the Bible speaks phenomenologically, that is, as we see the earth, so it can speak to every generation. When by a lake have you ever asked anyone, “Let’s go watch the earth rotate?” No, you say, “Let’s go watch the sun set.” That’s what it seems to our eyes as well as to the Israelis.
But Joshua said, “Sun, stand still!” and the earth stopped. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen power like that, especially coming from a mere mortal. In comparison to Joshua, most of us look like wimps. Through a warrior like Joshua we can learn a lot about spiritual power and maybe cure us from being spiritual wimps.
Holy Spirit Power
In Acts 1:8 Jesus says you and I will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. But most of us spend most our lives sitting in the upper room waiting.
Jesus said we could move mountains and many of us have trouble moving our bodies out of bed on Sunday mornings. Jesus stilled the storm, and we can’t still the kids. Elijah called down fire from heaven and we’re lucky to get the charcoal barbecue going. Moses crossed the Red Sea on dry land and we think we’ve had a good day if we cross the parking lot to the mall. Peter spoke and the lame man danced. We speak and people fall asleep. Paul commanded the demons to flee, and we can’t steer a stray dog out of the yard.
But we know it shouldn’t be that way. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
Joshua 10 is a short course for turning spiritual wimps into warriors.
1.) Joshua faced a problem.
Joshua made a promise in haste. Choices matter. And now the Amorites attacked the Gibeonites. Joshua must fight alongside them. Integrity was demanded of him despite his lack of wisdom. Hopefully, we will be wiser. But doing the right thing also brings problems and conflicts.
Daniel’s commitment to God brought conflict when he wouldn’t bow before the king’s image. Elijah triggered the wrath of Jezebel and Ahab and he hid in a cave. John the Baptist called out the sin of Herod and got thrown in prison. Spiritual wimps don’t need power. You don’t need power to coast or go downhill.
Joshua had a problem. The combined forces of the Amorites attacked the Gibeonites. But he also possessed something better.
2.) Joshua had a promise.
The Lord said, “Do not fear them for I have given them into your hands. Not one of them shall stand before you” (Joshua 10:8).
Fear is a natural reaction when we feel wimpy and weak. It diminishes growing a powerful spiritual life. Fear internalizes selfish thinking, “You’re going to fail,” and “You’re going to look foolish.” Fear says, “God might not follow through.” After all, what if God isn’t really in this?
Sometimes I think Jesus’ prime message to us is “Fear not!” Over and over Jesus repeats these words. When you and I face problems and we feel like we’re completely out of power, the Lord says, “Do not be afraid!”
3.) Joshua pushed his army to the limit.
Joshua 10:9 may seem insignificant. “And Joshua came upon them suddenly after an all-night march.”
God just promised them total victory. So, what does Joshua do? Does he go to the troops and tell them, “Don’t worry, fellows, there’s nothing to it.” No, he says, “Troops, we’re going to march uphill twenty-five miles in the dead of night.” Joshua pushes his troops to the limit of strength, body, and mind. Fighting an enemy without and straining all strength within. He holds nothing back.
Some of us think God made promises and we just sit and wait for Him to do things. But God wants us to do our part. He inspired Joshua to forge those men full armor uphill in the dark of night. A very tough hike. Perseverance needed.
The life of power isn’t easy. Moses’ father-in-law told him, “You’re working too hard. You’re up early in the morning and labor until late at night. You’re about worn out.” In the New Testament Paul chronicles that he’s been beaten, shipwrecked, left for dead, as well as many other struggles.
For wimps to become warriors, sometimes you’ve got to march all night up the hill. A problem comes along and God supplies a promise. Then we prompt others or ourselves to the total end of physical limits before we’re ready for divine power. And there’s another thing to remember.
4.) God’s always active.
Verse 10 & 11, “The Lord confused them and slew them with a great slaughter.”
The hailstones came and killed many of the enemy. God entered the battle in His own timing with His own method. He doesn’t intend we fight our battles alone. When we have a problem thrust upon us because of doing His will, when we’ve pushed ourselves to the limit and hang onto His promises, He enters the battle.
Now, some people can say, “Well, isn’t that an amazing coincidence the hailstorm and all that confusion hit right when Joshua needed it.” Yes, and this amazing hailstone was bigoted. Did you notice it only strikes Amorites? No Israelis hit. God entered the battle. That’s the exciting part. No lucky break here at all. It’s providence.
5.) The proclamation.
Joshua demonstrates exclusive focus on God’s desired result. God told him, “You’re going to slay all those people.” He’s going to use Joshua to carry out His judgment on that nation. Joshua knew exactly what he was doing. He didn’t aim to defeat these Amorites for his own honor. He entered God’s battle, to accomplish God’s results, when he made the command, “Sun, stand still!”
I believe he did this as a holy reaction rather than a premeditated response. Most acts of power happen that way in the midst of a spiritual battle. I don’t think Joshua told his army leaders, “Hey, here’s the plan. We’re going to march up the hill and surround them. The Lord will send hailstones. Then in the middle of the day I’ll stop the sun and we’ll finish the battle.” I don’t think the thought of this miracle ever entered his mind once until the moment he looked up at the sun. God prompted him.
We receive power when we receive the Holy Spirit, when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We use that power whenever we preach the gospel.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).
We also can have power in the midst of fearful battles when we call out for God’s help.
Spiritual wimps—sometimes that includes me and you.
How can we have a more powerful Christian life?
We don’t need to look for problems. But we seek to obey God’s Word and accept the results. Then we can take our fears to the Lord because real problems can make us afraid. And we review God’s promises. And then we ask Him what He wants us to do. That may require a hard task that strains your strength and resources. I’m not sure lazy Christians ever lead a powerful life.
Then we need to recognize God’s action. His direct intervention in the battle will give Him glory as we pursue with perseverance God’s desired result to the end.
Am I hinting that you or I might be in a spot where we call down fire from heaven? Am I suggesting we might be the ones in the lion’s den when the mouths are closed? Will we ever slip our feet over the edge of a boat and try walking on water? Am I daring to say the day will come when you or I could proclaim the gospel and hundreds or thousands are saved? Will some of us stand up in a beginning Philosophy class and confute the wisdom of the world? Or will we pray at a meeting for God’s healing and the lame walk or the blind see?
I am saying that you and I don’t have to spend the rest of our lives being spiritual wimps. And perhaps the day may come when someone we know faces a situation so dramatic that they must demand something as big as, “Sun, stand still!” Amen and Amen.
Stephen Bly
Circa 1990s
Hailstorm Image by Tobias Hämmer from Pixabay
Choices Yes or No Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Fighting Fire Against Water Image by Iván Tamás from Pixabay
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“Spiritual Wimps” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.
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