How does Joshua 11:22 connect to God's command in Deuteronomy 7:1-2? The Command Given: Deuteronomy 7:1-2 • “When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations… seven nations larger and stronger than you … you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.” (Deuteronomy 7:1-2) • The directive is crystal clear: Israel is to eliminate every pocket of resistance so that no pagan influence survives to lure them into idolatry (cf. Deuteronomy 7:3-5). The Campaign Carried Out: Joshua 11:22 • “No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did any remain.” (Joshua 11:22) • Earlier in the same chapter: “Joshua left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:15). Connecting the Two Passages 1. Fulfillment in Principle • Joshua’s sweeping conquest removed the Anakim—a fearsome giant clan—and every other fortified Canaanite stronghold from the heartland of Israel. • This obedience aligns with the mandate of Deuteronomy 7:1-2: eradicate the nations so Israel can serve Yahweh exclusively. 2. Remaining Pockets Allowed by Providence • Joshua 11:22 records three Philistine cities where Anakim survived. While the conquest was thorough, God permitted a remnant along the coastal fringe. • Joshua 13:1-3 notes territory still to be possessed; Judges 1 describes lingering Canaanites. The narrative shows that Israel must keep walking in obedience generation after generation. 3. Long-Term Lessons • Those surviving Anakim reappear in Israel’s story—most famously Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17:4). The clashes of David’s day trace back to the small remnant left after Joshua 11:22. • Israel learns that incomplete obedience invites future battles, yet God remains faithful to empower victory whenever His people trust Him (Joshua 23:6-13). Why the Connection Matters Today • God’s Word stands: what He commands in Deuteronomy is executed in Joshua, underscoring His integrity and Israel’s responsibility. • Partial obedience may look successful in the short term, but stray remnants of sin or compromise can rise later with giant-sized consequences (Hebrews 12:1). • Joshua 11:22 encourages believers to finish the work God assigns, taking every area captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Key Takeaways • Deuteronomy 7:1-2 sets the divine standard; Joshua 11:22 records its substantial, though not total, completion. • The small exceptions become vivid reminders that God’s people must persevere in wholehearted obedience. • Scripture’s harmony—from Moses to Joshua to David—underscores that God’s directives are consistent, literal, and perfectly reliable. |
    |