The LORD Hardened Their Hearts - Joshua 11:20

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “there was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty of the book of Joshua we learn, “it was of the LORD to harden their hearts” where we read, 

For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The verse reads, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “for it was of the LORD” which means “because, since and on account that it, the following, existed from Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “to harden their hearts” or “to make strong, firm and resolute their, the people of the cities who were conquered by Israel’s, inner man, will, understanding and soul, ”, “that they should come against Israel” which means “so they, the people of the cities who were conquered by Israel, might encounter, befall and rise up in opposition to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “in battle” or “within fighting and war”. Joshua or the writer said Jehovah God was responsible for the resolute souls of the people who rose up in opposition to Israel which caused them to go to war with them. 

 

The verse continues, “… that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “that he might destroy them” which means “so he, Jehovah God, could exterminate and mutilate them, the people of the cities who were conquered by Israel” “utterly” or “thoroughly and completely”, “and that they” which means “and so they, the people of the cities who were conquered by Israel” “might have no favor” or “would be unable to possess supplication or grace”, “but that he might destroy them” which means “so he, Jehovah God, could exterminate and mutilate them, the people of the cities who were conquered by Israel”, “as the LORD” or “even and indeed like Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “commanded Moses” which means “charged and ordered Moses whose name means ‘drawn from’ and was the prophet, lawgiver and leader of the exodus”. Joshua or the writer said the people who opposed Israel had resolute souls as they rose up against “Israel” so Jehovah God would exterminate them completely even as He ordered Moses to do.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how Jehovah God caused the souls and minds of the people who rose up in opposition to “Israel” to be firm and resolute against them. This gave God the opportunity to completely exterminate them, and He gave “Joshua” and the army of “Israel” to carry out His will. God is a Holy God who hates sin because sins separates us from a personal relationship with Him and destroys our lives. (See Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16) For this reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and given His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and cleanse us from all unrighteousness as we confess our sins to Him. (See John 16:13; 1 John 1:9)

Next time we learn, “at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".