Joshua 10:22-27 – The need to conquer the deeds of the flesh

In Joshua 10:22, we are told that Joshua ordered the five kings who hid in the cave in Makkedah to be brought before him. He then ordered the princes to put their feet on their necks. Why did he humiliate them like this before all of Israel?  It was done to assure the people that God would give them victory over all their enemies. It helped to enforce the message that in the same way that they had experienced victory over these five kings, they would also be granted victory over all their future enemies. However, they must not shrink away cowardly, but to confront each future enemy fearlessly.

Admit it or not, every one of us has some hidden enemies in our life. They are the opposing forces hidden in our life. The only two persons who know about them are probably the Lord and you, yourself. To overcome them and experience a sure victory you will need to confront them head-on. You need to drag it out of the closet of your life and put them before the Lord and boldly put your feet on them and command them to go in Jesus’ name. The Bible reminds us that if we regard iniquities in our life, God will not hear us. And we will find them as constant stumbling blocks in our life. Know for sure that the measure of victory we will experience always commensurate with the degree we dare to confront and deal with them. We need to know that there are no secret sins in our life that are hidden from God’s eye. It is true that He wants to help deal with each one so that they will no longer be a pest in our life.

One other lesson can be picked up from verses 26-27. It is the necessity to conquer our enemy. Joshua was seen here taking a bold step to ensure victory over these enemies forever. He ordered that they were put to death. It is true that in our flesh lies no good thing. The works of our flesh only deserve to be judged. If we want to walk victoriously before the Lord, it is imperative that we put to death the deeds of our flesh. It must be a daily affair if we are to walk in perpetual victory. Remember, total victory is gained when we live a self-denying life. Tuck the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 10:38-39 somewhere in our heart, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” And this we shall do with the help of the Spirit of God!