Story of Divide/Conquer
Talk Thru the Bible – Old Testament
Story of Divide/Conquer
2 Timothy 2:2 – Hear, Entrust, Teach, Multiply!
Three Talk Thru the Bible lessons are associated with the book of Joshua. Moses introduces us to Joshua in Exodus 17:9. Later, we discover that Joshua had been with Moses as a young man, and Joshua served him (Exodus 24:13, Numbers 11:28). Joshua distinguished himself along with Caleb from the overall population through his determination to take the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:16, 14:6,38).
What was it about Cannan that the ten spies were so afraid of that did not produce terror in Joshua and Caleb? The simple answer most people are comfortable with is “they trusted God.” While true, there is more to it than that. Understanding the background information on this question unravels many mysteries throughout the entire Bible.
Giants In The Land
Despite the riches and wealth of the Promised Land, there were also giants in the walled cities. Two relevant passages shed light on the identity of the giants.
Genesis 6:4 – The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men of old, men of renown.
Numbers 13:32b-33 – The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.
Behind the Curtains
Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua experienced both a physical and a spiritual world. They are undeniably linked together. Then, as now, Satan (a spiritual entity) rules this physical world through his demonic under-lords.
A war initially broke out in heaven between God and Satan. Cast out of heaven; Satan extended his conflict with God in the physical world. He is the undisputed ruler of our world from Creation to this day.
Meeting Satan “head on” in the Garden of Eden, God promised that one day Someone from the Seed of the Woman (Eve) would defeat Satan and those who followed him forever. The strange account of Genesis 6:1-4 reveals Satan’s counter-attack, attempting to thwart God’s ultimate plan through a virgin woman. How? Via the fallen sons of God (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:4). The Nephilim are the result.*
Having a good translation of the Bible is essential to:
- properly observing what happened,
- interpreting the results, and
- applying biblical principles.
Deuteronomy 32:8-9 demonstrates this truth.
“When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind,
He fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob his allotted heritage.” – ESV
Most modern translations have unknowingly adopted a different translation.
“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of man,
He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.” – NASV
Joshua Knew the Enemy
Joshua understood who was behind the walls of the Canaanite cities Israel would attack. The Nephilim were the product of the fallen sons of God and human women. While the boundaries of the world’s nations fixed according to the number of the sons of God at the Tower of Babel, according to Deuteronomy 32:8-9, the Promised Land belonged to Him, and He was giving it to Israel forever, just as He promised Abraham.
The cultic practices of the nations who served “other gods” were and are still utterly repugnant to God and those who serve Him. This is why God ordered Israel to destroy the nations occupying the land promised to her.
Deuteronomy 20:17 – Only in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that they may not teach you the detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you will not sin against the Lord your God.
This lesson covers Joshua 1:1-12:24, detailing the twenty years it took Israel to occupy the land. We will discuss chapters 13-24 in the next lesson.
*See What Really Happened at the Tower of Babel – Dr. Michael Heiser, Logos Bible Software
Talk Thru the Bible – OT Lessons
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Read Joshua 6:1-11:23
- Joshua’s army split Canaan down the middle, attacking Jericho first. The Lord commanded Israel to destroy everything that breathed living in the walled cities of the land. The death sentence included all of the people and the animals.
- The people of these cities served other gods. The worship activities of the Canaanites included temple prostitution, bestiality, and child sacrifice. This is why God demanded their destruction.
- In Israel, God was carving out territory among all the pagan nations where He alone would rule. The Lord differentiated Himself and His people from the depravity of the nations’ gods and those who served them.
Points To Ponder
- Memorize Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
- How do you identify what areas of your life leave no room for compromise with others and when compromise may be the best course of action?
- God is love. But when most people read about the conquest of Canaan and God’s demands that Israel destroy every living thing, they see God as angry, as unjust. Explain how you would reconcile these apparent contradictions to someone struggling with these thoughts.
- What areas of your life do others see contradictions/compromises between what they hear you say and see what you do?
Make an “I will” Statement.
- Based on your Divide/Conquer study, what will you think, say, or do differently starting today?
- Who will you tell your “I will” statement to that will hold you accountable.
