Conquest & Commitment
Open Your Bible
Joshua 8:1-35, Exodus 20:22-24, Hebrews 8:8-12
BY Rebecca Faires
When I landed my first job, I was just three credits short of my bachelor’s degree—just a little chemistry course. So I walked in my graduation ceremony, threw my hat in the air, and planned to sort out the nagging little detail of those three little credits at a community college… later. After all, my degree was ninety-eight percent finished, and such a little thing hardly seemed important. I was pretty much a college graduate, and no one would care about all the nuts and bolts involved with my degree. Oh, but they did care. To my boss, it was less a matter of what percentage of the degree was finished and more a literal desire to see my actual diploma.
Obedience matters. Actual black-and-white, toe-the-line obedience matters. In an age of self-worship, the notion of true obedience is an offense, making it a neglected virtue. We like to assert independent thought and maintain our autonomous individualism. But God is absolutely clear: He commands our obedience. It bears mentioning that God can require our faithfulness because He is actually God. Indiscriminate or blind obedience to earthly authorities can be at odds with what God asks of us. Petty, earthly rulers have the limited power God grants them, but our first allegiance is always with the King who sits on the eternal throne (Psalm 9:7).
The first defeat at Ai was the result of the disobedience of one man, Achan. As with Adam and Eve, however, his self-serving theft undid an entire people. Shiny things are tempting, but God had called His people to do more than just lay hold of territorial possession; they were to establish a culture rooted in His covenant with them. The conquest wasn’t about stuff—it was about culture. He was their God, and they were His people. And so Joshua instructed them as such:
“Follow the LORD’s command—
see that you do as I have ordered you” (Joshua 8:8).
The conquest of the land was built upon covenantal relationship. God wasn’t just giving earthly land-grants or stocks and shares in the gold market. He was doing something altogether different. He was calling His people to take dominion, as He had called Adam to take dominion. They were to remove idolatry from the land and be a people who honored God’s statutes and commandments.
Mercifully—though the lesson of obedience was costly—God restored the set-apartness of His people. They were called back to Ai, to this time be obedient to everything God commanded. Before, they had tried to go out in their own strength and had failed. But when they obeyed, they gained victory.
Disobedience undermines our fitness for the work of God’s kingdom. We cannot expect to see victory in our lives if we dally in disobedience. Still, God is merciful, and because of His great mercy, we can once again return to Him, making His word our joy and His command our delight (Psalm 119:16).
70 thoughts on "Conquest & Commitment"
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Today’s reading struck me with how God called Joshua and the people make to a place where they have failed before. The first time, they weren’t obedient, didn’t seek His direction, acted out of self-importance. After facing the consequences of their sin, God calls them to return and fight the battle again- His way- the only way. This really met me where I am as God is calling me to prepare to be married again. I fought that battle before on my own terms and failed. Now God is calling me back there on His terms. Being obedient in this season is an hourly (if not minute-by-minute) struggle to refocus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy instead of being bogged down in the fears and what-ifs. The major difference between the two battles: God’s calling and presence from beginning to end. May our obedience be an act of worship worthy of our King!
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I can’t find the show notes from last night’s podcast.
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Does my obedience indicate a set-apartness for the Lord.
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Victory is gained through obedience to God. This reminds me of an incident that the Lord called me to obey in the context of marriage. There were once battles raging. My husband refused to learn bible or grow in the word, he chose to be “lukewarm” in his walk, and I just had enough. Strife, conflicts were present and I fought it my way. Just like the initial battle of Ai that 36 men died, I also failed with some damage. And guess what, for the same reason, due to hidden sin. The “gold and silver hidden under the tent floor” that God called out was my precious pride hidden under my marriage tent. He gave me solution through this verse, “Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over WITHOUT WORDS by the behavior of their wives” (1 Peter 3:1). God showed me “Without words” is the way I should win my husband back- no nagging, no complaining, no condemning using scriptures, the “silent marching” around Jericho for 6 days straight. I did, and I saw victory. I learnt that God’s simple instruction can change critical circumstances around. His instructions are NOT to be overlooked to the smallest detail. It is full of wisdom and clever solutions that bring life to “dead” situations. I hope this might help someone going through a marriage battle.
Thank you Tina for the update on Kane, how powerful God works! I am rejoicing with you, and I love the beautiful story of obedience you shared. It takes humility on our part and humility comes before honor. Please keep your amazing stories coming.
Bless you all dear SRT sisters. Obey the Lord and you will see victory.
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God loves us and He requires obedience. He will not leave us. However, He will teach us and discipline us. Follow His lead he knows what is best for all of us.
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Thank you❤️
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It has just dawned on me that the word obedience/ disobedience doesn’t just apply to children. It just hit me that I am disobedient to God almost daily and never looked at it in that way. Wow what an awakening. God is so amazing how He gently nudged me just now and let me see that it’s very much applies to me.
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It’s not often that I sense God ask something BIG of me. But, the little, constant steps of obedience over years add up. I forget that. I’m thinking of how He’s called me to a long season of helping aging parents and supporting ill family members while navigating hard family dynamics. I haven’t wanted the job, to be honest. I wanted something splashier to do for God. How funny is that? God knows best and He placed me within the circumstances I am in for His glory and for my good and the good of others.
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