Hamstring Their Horses And Burn Their Chariots
All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, and to the northern kings who were in the mountains . . .
They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots -- a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. . . .The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."
. . . and the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them . . . until no survivors were left. Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua 10:42-11:9
When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, and to the northern kings who were in the mountains . . .
They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots -- a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. . . .The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."
. . . and the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them . . . until no survivors were left. Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua 10:42-11:9
Hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.
God had won numerous victories for Joshua and the Israelites. Joshua was no doubt a brilliant military commander and fighter but God was the source of his victory, "because the LORD, the God of Israel fought for Israel." All Israel depended on were their swords and the Presence of God. They had neither chariots nor horses to fight with. Joshua was about to embark on another military campaign and God gave him a curious instruction: When you defeat your enemies, hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.
When a horse is hamstrung, it simply means it is crippled in the legs and can no longer be used in battle. God was saying to Joshua: I have been the source of all your victories, not horses and chariots. I do not want you to start depending on horses and chariots so hamstring the horses and burn the chariots. Joshua responded in obedience. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua's response meant he had absolute faith that God would fight for Israel.
You see: The Presence of God with you is better than thousands of horses and chariots. David knew this secret so he wrote in Psalm 20, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm." Trusting in our horses and chariots means we trust in our own strength and abilities and do not rely fully on God. Can I encourage you not to depend on yourself but solely on God?
When you hamstring your horses and burn your chariots, it is an expression of total faith in God and it releases the horses and chariots of heaven to fight for you and give you victory.
So, hamstring your horses and burn your chariots and depend solely on God.
God had won numerous victories for Joshua and the Israelites. Joshua was no doubt a brilliant military commander and fighter but God was the source of his victory, "because the LORD, the God of Israel fought for Israel." All Israel depended on were their swords and the Presence of God. They had neither chariots nor horses to fight with. Joshua was about to embark on another military campaign and God gave him a curious instruction: When you defeat your enemies, hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.
When a horse is hamstrung, it simply means it is crippled in the legs and can no longer be used in battle. God was saying to Joshua: I have been the source of all your victories, not horses and chariots. I do not want you to start depending on horses and chariots so hamstring the horses and burn the chariots. Joshua responded in obedience. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua's response meant he had absolute faith that God would fight for Israel.
You see: The Presence of God with you is better than thousands of horses and chariots. David knew this secret so he wrote in Psalm 20, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm." Trusting in our horses and chariots means we trust in our own strength and abilities and do not rely fully on God. Can I encourage you not to depend on yourself but solely on God?
When you hamstring your horses and burn your chariots, it is an expression of total faith in God and it releases the horses and chariots of heaven to fight for you and give you victory.
So, hamstring your horses and burn your chariots and depend solely on God.
Prayer: Father, you are the source of my strength and victory. Please help me to hamstring every horse and burn every chariot in my life so that I can be fully dependent on you. Amen.