Day 1,028: Joshua 12- Rest

Now these are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, with all the Arabah eastward: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead, 3 and the Arabah to the Sea of Chinneroth eastward, and in the direction of Beth-jeshimoth, to the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, southward to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah; 4 and Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei 5 and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan to the boundary of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and over half of Gilead to the boundary of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the people of Israel defeated them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Kings Defeated by Joshua7 And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments, 8 in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites): 9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; 17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; 18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; 23 the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Galilee, one; 24 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.

Meditation
Being busy to be busy is not a virtue. Rest is a gift of grace from which gratitude and generosity thrive and glory flows. The gift of grace has been stated: “And the land had rest from war” (11:23). The picture of grace is now painted, an invitation to all who trust in the power of God’s work.
 
Rest looks like knowing God has been faithful to bring you to this point (1-6): The story of conquering the land is paused to provide a summary of kings conquered by Israel. The first section focuses on the geographical territory “toward the sunrise,” that is, east. God gave victory under Moses, faithful to bring Israel to the promise land and provide. Rest knows that God has been faithful and, by implication, knows God will continue to be faithful.
 
Rest looks like knowing God has defeated the enemy (7-24): God has been faithfully working in this generation, too. Under Joshua there have been 31 kings defeated, a true turning point for progress in settling into God’s promises. Where there was hostility, idolatry, and evil through enemy strongholds there is now peace, blessing, and goodness through experiencing the spoils of the victory of God. Rest is secure knowing the enemy has no more authority.
 
For Joshua and Israel, there is land to still be distributed and settled. For the Christian, we have already been transferred into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:12-14) and are invited to rest in Him. God has been faithful to this point. The enemy has been defeated.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Why is it important for the people to pause and note what rest looks like?
 
-Do you receive God’s invitation to rest in His faithfulness, knowing the enemy is defeated? Why or why not?
 
-How can you celebrate God’s faithfulness and victory through resting in His gracious invitation? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise…7 And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan…