"JUDGMENT IN THE CONQUEST"

 "For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that the might utterly destroy them"
 JOSHUA 11:20a

  In less than three chapters of Scripture we have seen Israel move from a mere foothold in the Land of Promise to possession of "all this land." But the brevity of the account of  Israel's conquest is no indication of the actual duration of the war the nation fights. Indeed, the author of the book here tells us that "Joshua made war a long time" with the kings of Canaan, some commentators believe that several years pass before Israel subdues all the Canaanites in the land. In truth, God had told Israel that the conquest would not be achieved overnight. He had said that He would drive the Canaanites out, but it would happen "'little by little"' (Ex.23:30) so that heavy warfare would not devastate the land . Thus, even the lenghty time it takes to achieve the conquest is an expression of God's goodness and grace. And in the end, with God's overwhelming help, Joshua does take all the land. Yes, some Canaanites remain, as we will see, but Israel has the upper hand now. The Canaanites are reduced, demoralized, and defeated.

      The primary reason for the lenght of the conquest is the stubborness of the Cannatines' hearts. We're told in tiday's passage that no city within the land, with the notable exception of Gibeon, makes peace with Israel. As Matthew Henry notes, "they never so much as desired conditions of peace." And the Holy Spirit here reveaks the reason for this pride of heart the Cannanites are hardened by God. These sinful, immoral, idolatrous people had a time of Grace. After all, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived among them, worshiping the one true God (Gen.12:6-7). But they not turn from their evil ways and their opportunity for repentance passed (Gen.15:16). Therefore, God brings the decendant of the patriarchs back to Canaan as instrument of Judgement. To achieve His purpose, He does with the Canaanites as He did with Pharaoh (Ex.10:1) to effect His people's release from Egypt and to bring Judgment on their slavemasters: He hardened theirs hearts so they will not repent. He withdraws His Spirit and gives them over to their sin. Thus, the Canaanites relentlessly attack Israel, even though each battle is fresh evidence that fighting is futile. They prefer to fight and die rather than serve and live. And so God's Judgment falls upon them.