“UNFINISHED BUSINESS”

Joshua 10:15-27

The Basketball Court Effect…

The Battle Belongs to the LORD“The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into

your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” (Joshua 10:8)

“As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.”

(Joshua 10:11)

“The LORD fought for Israel!” , לישראל נלחם יהוה כי(Joshua 10:14)

The Battle Continues… The 5 kings hid in a cave at Makkedah (v. 16) Joshua reminds the people of God’s promise (v. 19) No one dared to threaten Israel (v. 21)

- -- , לשנו- את לאיש ישראל לבני חרץ לא Joshua ordered the kings out of the cave (v. 22)

Joshua again reminds the people of God’s promise (v. 25)

Joshua kills the kingsand hangs them on a tree (vv. 25-26)

“If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body

is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight.

Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on

a tree is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the

LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”

(Deuteronomy 21:22–23)

WHAT ABOUT VIOLENCE?

“Why would God use violence, or even condone violence, to carry out his purposes in the land?”

The wrong question? “What prevented these people from knowing the God of Israel?” i.e. Rahab

The Justice of God God always does and commands what is morally right and fair.

“Happy Life—Peaceful Death” Mentality

The worst thing that could ever happen to a human being is to have all of these things and NOT accept the Lord.

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NIV)

Spiritual Comparison

The 5 Kings Provoke/Incite the community of God

(10:1) The problem multiplied (10:5) No negotiations (10:5) Defeated but did not surrender (10:16) Hid in Darkness (10:16-18, 22)

Sin… Sin rises up against the community of God Sin starts small, swells & gathers others unto

itself Sin does not strive to negotiate Sin suffers defeat but does not quit Sin will hide in darkness until it is put to death

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things

above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things

above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with

Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear

with him in glory.”

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual

immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of

these, the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:1–6).

How to handle unfinished business?

Joshua Joshua encouraged the community

to deal with the issue at hand, v 19; 25

Joshua brought the leaders that sought their death out into the light, v. 23

Joshua remembered that the battle was fought and the victory was obtained through trust in the Lord. v. 25

He completely eliminated those that sought to destroy him. v. 26

Believers in Jesus Encounter our struggles face to face

Bring destructive behavior into the light

Victory obtained through God

Completely eliminate that which destroys our relationship with God.

The acceptable place for violence (so to

speak) in the life of a believer is in one’s

spiritual life, when one encounters unfinished

business that must be destroyed.