What strategies did Joshua use to ensure victory, and how can we apply them? Verse Focus: Joshua 10:20 “After Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a very great slaughter until they were destroyed, and the few survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities,” Key Strategies Joshua Modeled • Total follow-through – Joshua did not stop halfway; he pursued until the enemy could no longer regroup. • Unified effort – “Joshua and the sons of Israel” acted together; no lone-ranger warfare. • Persistence beyond the initial miracle – God had hurled hailstones (10:11) and stopped the sun (10:13), yet Joshua still pressed on with ordinary obedience. • Allowing no safe havens – survivors were driven into walled cities where they could be dealt with later; no lingering threats were tolerated. • Confidence rooted in God’s earlier promise – “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand” (10:8). The promise fueled the strategy. Practical Takeaways for Today • Finish what God assigns. Partial obedience leaves pockets of resistance (compare 1 Samuel 15:3, 9). • Stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow believers; victory is a community project (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). • Keep moving after the miracle. God may intervene dramatically, but He still expects disciplined follow-through (Philippians 2:12-13). • Close every loophole the enemy could exploit—whether a sinful habit, toxic relationship, or compromising environment (Ephesians 4:27). • Lean on God’s promise first, strategy second. Plans succeed when grounded in His word (Proverbs 21:31). Related Scriptures That Reinforce the Lesson • Philippians 3:12-14—pressing on until the goal is reached. • Ephesians 6:10-18—spiritual armor for sustained battle. • Hebrews 10:36—perseverance receives the promise. • Galatians 6:9—don’t grow weary in doing good. Final Encouragement Joshua’s success flowed from a heart that believed God, acted immediately, and refused to quit. Follow the same pattern: trust the promise, engage with others, press the advantage, and finish the fight. |