Sunday, September 20 — Do Not Be Afraid

For six days we've walked toward one promise, complicated and costly — that God would give His people victory. Today the promise is kept, and it opens with the three words God has been saying to His people all along: do not be afraid.

Joshua 11:6-9, 16-23 — KJV

6 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. 8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. 9 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; 17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 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. 20 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 favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. 21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Joshua 11:6-9, 16-23 — WEB

6 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." 7 So Joshua came suddenly, with all the warriors, against them by the waters of Merom, and attacked them. 8 Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and chased them to great Sidon, and to Misrephoth Maim, and to the valley of Mizpah eastward. They struck them until they left them no one remaining. 9 Joshua did to them as Yahweh told him. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. 16 So Joshua captured all that land, the hill country, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel, and the lowland of the same; 17 from Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even to Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon. He took all their kings, struck them, and put them to death. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took all in battle. 20 For it was of Yahweh to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 21 Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel: Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. 22 There were none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, some remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Yahweh spoke to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land had rest from war.

Explanation

Here is where the whole week has been heading, and it opens exactly as it should. Facing that vast coalition with its horses and chariots, God says to Joshua, "Don't be afraid." It's the same word He gave through Moses in Deuteronomy 7, the same reassurance the disciples needed from Jesus in John 16. From first to last, God's word to His people staring down something bigger than themselves has been consistent: do not be afraid, for I am the one who delivers.

And He does. Yesterday's terrifying army is undone in a single verse: "Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel." Joshua hamstrings the horses and burns the chariots — deliberately destroying the very things Israel didn't have and might have been tempted to trust in going forward. The theme is simply "God Brings Victory," and the passage ends on one of the most beautiful phrases in the Old Testament: "Then the land had rest from war." After the long campaign, after the fear and the fighting, there is rest. The promise, complicated and hard-won, is finally kept.

We shouldn't rush past how complicated it is. This chapter includes utter destruction and even the sobering note that God "hardened their hearts." These are not easy verses, and faithful believers have long sat with them rather than tidied them up. But the lesson title, "God's Complicated Promise," invites exactly that honesty. The promise of a homeland for a landless people came through a history full of violence and hard providence — and yet the throughline is God's faithfulness to a people who could never have secured a home on their own.

Now bring the whole week together. Monday: you are chosen by grace, not merit. Tuesday: don't measure the obstacle, measure your God. Wednesday: Christ strengthens you in every circumstance. Thursday: our real warfare is spiritual, fought with God's weapons. Friday: Jesus has already overcome the world. Saturday: God fights for His people. And today: God brings the victory and gives His people rest. Joshua's conquest was a shadow; the substance came on Friday, at the cross, where Jesus won the war that mattered most and opened the way into a rest no army could ever seize.

That's the promise waiting for you. Not that life will be free of battles — it won't be. But that the God who told Joshua "do not be afraid" is fighting for you, has already overcome the world, and is leading you toward a rest that will last. The land had rest from war. In Christ, so will you.

Thought for the Day

God fought the battle, won the victory, and gives His people rest.

Reflection Question

Where do you most need to hear "do not be afraid" today — and to trust God for the rest He promises?

Prayer

Faithful God, all week You have said the same thing: do not be afraid, for I am the one who delivers. Thank You that the victory is Yours, won for me finally in Christ. Quiet my fears, and lead me into the rest You promise Your people. Where I am still fighting, remind me the outcome is already secure. I trust You to bring me home. Amen.

Today is Sunday school. We saved you a seat.