Scripture: Joshua 11:23; Hebrews 4:1-11

Chapter eleven tells us about the northern campaign and how Joshua drove out the northern nations and their mighty armies. This chapter marks the end of united action against the inhabitants of the land. King Hazor organized a tremendous army to challenge Joshua and his troops. Joshua came upon them suddenly at the waters of Merom and soon Hazor and Hazor's armies were history. Every one of the kings was exterminated in a relatively short time. It initiates a fresh start for the people of Israel.

Joshua took the entire land. 23a All thirty-one kings listed in the next chapter were decisively broken. Joshua made war with them a long time. However, just because the war was over, does not mean that there was nothing more to do. Now Israel must possess their possession.

Joshua gave the land as an inheritance. 23b The victory was complete! The remaining chapters in the book describe how Joshua apportioned the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua gave it for an inheritance but whether they received it or not depended on their own individual faith to go in and possess it. This is the "Law of Appropriation." It's one thing to have an inheritance but it is quite another matter to occupy it for in your own practice. Each individual tribe must go in and claim ownership of their inheritance and drive out the enemy in their own region. Philippians 3:12-14.

This is true of our salvation. The Lord provided redemption by going to the cross and offering his soul an expiation for sin. Each of us must personally appropriate it by faith to make it our own. Many people don't understand this principle. "He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become the sons of God." John 1:11,12. The same principle is emphasized in Romans 10:9,10,13 "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Salvation must be a personal, act of appropriation by Grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8,9. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.

This is also true of our spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:3-13. They are all immediate for our enjoyment but unless we take them for ourselves they will mean nothing.

Finally, Joshua rested the land from war. 23c the war was over. The Israeli army eliminated all united action of the enemy. Joshua gave them rest from wandering and warfare. The war was over but individual battles remained. Christ won the war at the cross over sin and death. However, Satan is till active so life for the believer involves one crisis after another. Romans 7:15-23.

Hebrews 4:1-11 gives us a wonderful insight into the rest that Joshua gave to the people of Israel. Joshua's rest was limited. "For if Joshua had given them rest God would not have spoken about another day." 4:8. There are four different kinds of rest in this chapter. There is Creation rest, when God rested from his work on the seventh day. Then there is the Sabbath rest that God gave to humanity a day of rest from the workweek. Joshua provided Canaan rest when the war for the land was terminated. Hebrews explains the Remaining rest for the people of God. This is the rest God gives us when we are obedient to the Word of God. It comes when we are dependent, watchful, and prayerful in the things that comes our way. We rest in our labors while we serve the Lord, just as God did from His at the time of creation.

Alan Redpath said, "The rest God gives us does not make us insensitive to sorrow or to troubles of others, makes us always able to discern God's wisdom and to trust His loving heart. We are therefore, able, in the conflict, to wait the unfolding of the divine plan. The resting Christian is busy, keen, always at work for the Master, while deep in his heart is peace that no storm, however unexpected-and no sorrow, however hard to bear can ever disturb."

This is the rest that remains for the people of God. Does it make any sense to us today? Of course, there is the rest of heaven when we lay aside our troubles and labors and we rest in glory with Christ. 1 Thess. 4:13-17.

Herein is the fruit of victory. Let us be obedient to the Word of God; Let us be prayerful, watchful, and dependent on the Lord. He will give us strength in every battle. Then, we will experience the rest that remains for the people of God. Is this really possible? How can I enjoy this coveted rest?

Listen to what Jeremiah tells us. "This is what the Lord says; Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jer. 6:16

The ancient paths are the scriptures written so long ago. Read Psalms 37:1-7,23,24. Matthew 11:28,29. The rest that remains for the people of God is the fruit of victory. Joshua never gave the people this kind of repose. It all comes through a greater than Joshua, the Lord Jesus Christ.