Hardened Hearts of Hazor
Joshua 11:20
For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Another great chapter, showing once again what Joshua was made of, as he "left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses." This also echoes Egypt and the hardened hearts there.
Whose hearts are these? That's an epic in itself. Chapter 10 is a story of conquests, which, when Jabin of Hazor heard about them, inspired him to assemble a huge army, "as numerous as the sand on the seashore." Interesting that it compares the army to the same sand Israel was often compared to. That might suggest it was an army in every way equal to Israel.
To summarize, Joshua totally destroyed them all. They tried to retreat, but Israel chased them down and killed them. Every enemy was killed--all of them--and much plunder was taken. Only Hazor was burned. As the victory and destruction concludes, the reason is given. God hardened their hearts, the hearts of that army numerous as sand, those kings full of belligerence. Their ambitions to destroy Israel brought them out into the open, in direct opposition to the God of Israel, so that they might meet God's capital punishment.
This makes me think of present-day Israel as well. There are no shortage of hardened hearts these days, and in the fullness of time may God's justice prevail.
For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Another great chapter, showing once again what Joshua was made of, as he "left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses." This also echoes Egypt and the hardened hearts there.
Whose hearts are these? That's an epic in itself. Chapter 10 is a story of conquests, which, when Jabin of Hazor heard about them, inspired him to assemble a huge army, "as numerous as the sand on the seashore." Interesting that it compares the army to the same sand Israel was often compared to. That might suggest it was an army in every way equal to Israel.
To summarize, Joshua totally destroyed them all. They tried to retreat, but Israel chased them down and killed them. Every enemy was killed--all of them--and much plunder was taken. Only Hazor was burned. As the victory and destruction concludes, the reason is given. God hardened their hearts, the hearts of that army numerous as sand, those kings full of belligerence. Their ambitions to destroy Israel brought them out into the open, in direct opposition to the God of Israel, so that they might meet God's capital punishment.
This makes me think of present-day Israel as well. There are no shortage of hardened hearts these days, and in the fullness of time may God's justice prevail.
posted by ruthees @ 1:27 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home