Success in the Lord's Plan

Joshua 10:40-42
40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.

This passage is summing up all Joshua did to "clear out" the promised land for Israel. The key to this passage is two phrases: one in verse 40 and one in verse 42. The first phrase is "just as the Lord God of Israel commanded." And the second one is "because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel."

Oh how smoothly our Christian walk would go if we could use these two statements to begin and end the summary of anything we did. We ventured out on the Lord's leading and the success is because God did it. How often do we take actions based on our initiative and pray that God brings it to fruition? Or how many times have you received clear direction from the Lord, but tried to accomplish it with your own ideas and strength?

Chapter 9 of Joshua already showed us what happens when we rely on our own strength. Today's passage really shows that the best plan is to wait for God's initiative and rely on God's strength.