What does Joshua 12:5 teach about God's power over earthly kingdoms and rulers? Verse Under the Microscope Joshua 12:5: “He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan, up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.” Backdrop: Why Og Mattered • Og king of Bashan was “one of the remnant of the Rephaim” (Deuteronomy 3:11)—a literal giant with an iron bed nearly 14 feet long. • His territory stretched from snow-capped Hermon to the fertile plains of Bashan, dotted with sixty fortified cities (Joshua 13:30). • To Israel, Og embodied unbeatable strength; to God, he was simply another king scheduled for defeat (Deuteronomy 3:2). God’s Power Displayed • Size does not intimidate the Almighty—He toppled a giant and his vast realm with ease. • Boundaries belong to God; verse 5’s geographic markers became Israel’s inheritance overnight. • God dethrones rulers: “He removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). • Every promise is kept literally; the land pledged to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) is delivered detail by detail. • Victory is total—cities, mountains, valleys, and borders all pass from Og’s hand to Israel’s because God said so (Joshua 12:6). Cemented by Other Scriptures • Psalm 2:2-4: “The kings of the earth take their stand… He who sits in the heavens laughs.” • Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.” • Isaiah 40:23: “He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.” • Revelation 19:16: Christ bears the name “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS,” proving God’s supremacy is eternal. Takeaways for Today • No government, ruler, or policy is beyond God’s jurisdiction or control. • Giants—whether political, cultural, or personal—fall when God acts on behalf of His people. • God’s promises are concrete and reliable; His Word stands unchanged across centuries. • Viewing global events through Scripture steadies faith; the hand that felled Og still rules history. • Obedient trust invites us to witness God’s power firsthand, just as Israel did on the plains of Bashan. |
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