Title:- Dreadnought
Job 38:22,23 “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?"
God here refers clearly to the secret stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction. In this case it would appear to be hail, large enough and hard enough to kill thousands of armoured men. Like it or not, God has these terrible armaments in
prepared storage.It was the large metropolis of Gibeon that by subtle subterfuge, had tricked Joshua and his leaders into making a peace treaty with them. Those destined for dispatch had by deceit, successfully secured their life and their protection. However, in return for their wily treachery, a confederacy of five Caananite kings marched upon Gibeon with a terrible judgment to deliver to them. In response, Gibeon sends out a distress call to Joshua, who in return, runs by night, yomping and ascending over 4000 feet of terrible terrain, to bring them both their redemption and their rescue. The purpose of the their fellow countrymen coming against them was that if the five Canaanite kings had wreaked vengeance upon Gibeon, it would surely stop any other attempt to make peace with the Israelite invader, despite the fact that Israel of course, were not commanded to make peace but to make war! I am assuming also that after raising Gibeon to the ground the coalition of then but five kings would have grown substantially, drawing more people to their banners and have followed on with a powerful and united uprising and marching against Israel. I wonder as well, if at that point it would not be unreasonable to assume that supernatural and demonic aid would have been summoned on their part to fight against the God of Israel? For the text seems to infer that the appearance of such a confident confederacy, was a dreadful force for Joshua to deal with.
Never the less, the clash of arms goes well for Israel and the collapsed five king Canaanite confederacy flees in defeat before them, only to meet with the smart weapons of God's pounding artillery falling upon their heads, and upon their heads alone! We read in Joshua 10:11 'And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.
I remember my visit to Her Majesties Submarine 'Dreadnought' in Faslane, Scotland, sometime in the late 1970's. This first nuclear submarine of the British fleet was by then looking old and very well worn. Yet its name still carried the intent of this once new class of submarine. 'Dreadnought', fear nothing, be not afraid. So God comes to Joshua and in the face of this cruel confederacy, this dreadful display of armed animals, He says in Joshua 10:8-9 “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Get it? 'Dreadnought!Joshua needed to learn three things.
Firstly, that though great demands were to be placed upon him and his troops, God's provision was greater than these piled up pressures.
Secondly, that although the odds were seemingly stacked against him, God was greater than the odds and the odd fellows of obstinate hate he now faced.
Lastly, Joshua had to see that when they were in covenant and obedient relationship with God, that God Himself would engage His secret forces and weapons against his enemies. “Therefore general Joshua” says God, “Dreadnought!"
Listen:- “Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31
Pray:- Lord, help me to keep so in Your way that You would then keep and kick my enemies out of my way. In Jesus name I pray, amen!
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