Joshua 11:1

Joshua 11:1 says, And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,  A new alliance was forming against Joshua and Israel as a result of their success so far.  Other people had heard about the power of Israel because of their God, but they still thought that if they united that they could defeat them.  The people of the world today often unite in an attempt to defeat God's people, but this is only true if they feel that we are a threat to them.  Verse two states, And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,  Then verse three adds, And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.  This was an even bigger alliance than the first one.  We as Christians should not be surprised if the enemy gets larger as we defeat the first one.  Satan is not going to give up easily in his quest to defeat the people of God.  If we are not under attack, it may be that we aren't doing anything to threaten the people of the world.  If we lose the little wars in our life, their may never be a big one.  Verse four declares, And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many  A multitude like the sands of the sea with all their chariots and horses went out to fight against the people of Israel.  It wasn't really just the people of Israel that they would be fighting though, but it was the God of Israel, the only true and living God, that they were to be fighting against.  When we encounter enemies in the world today, we must make sure that we are following God's guidance and are living by His power if we are going to be successful.  Verse five states, And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.  These armies were united against Israel.  We may at times look around us and see an enemy that looks too big to defeat, but we must simply continue to put our faith in God. knowing that He has never failed us in the past and never will today or in the future.  Verse six declares, 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. God spoke to Joshua and told him to not be afraid, that tomorrow He was going to deliver the enemy to Joshua in defeat.  When confronted with an enemy, whether big or small, we must simply listen to what God tells us to do.  Verse seven adds, So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.  Joshua and the army of Israel fought the enemy by the waters of Merom.  We are told that they came upon them suddenly.  If we are fighting against the enemies of God, there is no reason to delay.  Verse eight proclaims, 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.  Joshua and the army of Israel did not defeat the enemy, but God did.  The army of Israel chased them for a long way, then they destroyed them all.  It is not enough that we just chase away the enemies of God for awhile, but we must destroy them out of our lives.  The enemy may not be an actual army, but it may be a temptation to stray away from God's will.  I believe that unless we destroy the temptation completely that it will come back, stronger than ever.  Verse eleven concludes, And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.  Like Joshua, we must do what God directs us to do in our lives today if we are to successfully follow Him.  Joshua did not act on his on in any of this, but always acted under the leadership of God.