Celebrating Your Wins | Body Builders, Pt. 5
The victories God gives you are not just about you. Someone watching you needs to see what’s possible through God. - Pastor Bryan Carter
Joshua 12:1-24 NIV
1 These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah:
2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.
He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. 3 He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee[a] to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.
4 And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashan to the border of the people of Geshur and Maakah, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession.
7 Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. 8 The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings:
9 the king of Jericho one
the king of Ai (near 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 Akshaph 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 Naphoth Dor) one
the king of Goyim in Gilgal one
24 the king of Tirzah one
thirty-one kings in all.
When Pastor EK Bailey completed his cancer treatment at MD Anderson in Houston, TX, he rang a bell to celebrate the completion of his treatment. The bell ringing is not only important to the person doing it but also to the people still being treated. It encourages those still on their journey.
In this chapter of Joshua, The Israelites celebrate God's faithfulness by ringing their own bell. The book of Joshua is about how the Israelites came to possess the land promised to Abraham in Genesis.
There are two sets of wins:
The East side wins
The West side wins
It Didn’t Start with Us
The East side wins start with Moses’ wins in the first six verses. Before the writer gets to Joshua’s victories, he starts with what God did through Moses.
This is a reminder that things don’t start with us, but somebody paved the way. We have to realize that there were generations before us whose shoulders we stand on.
The work didn’t start with you. Some people fought battles you didn’t have to fight.
Moses’ work was for a season. So is ours. We don’t know how long that season will be.
Lessons from the text:
1. Pause and Celebrate Your Wins
The beginning of the book of Joshua moves quickly. Then in this chapter, God pauses and lists out the names of the kings and victories.
Many of us are moving so fast that we drive by God’s blessings. We’re so focused on the next thing that we miss what God has already done.
In the midst of your ambitions and your vision boards, take some time to reflect.
Thank the Lord for what He’s done.
2. Be precise
The author makes a list of the 31 names. Some of the cities are big. Some are small. All of them went on the list.
Some of our victories are big... everyone saw what God did in your life. He healed you.
Some are smaller... you made one decision that you can thank God for. He got you from point A to point B.
We have to learn how to count all of them. Praise God for all He has done.
3. The List is Prolific
The God of yesterday is the God of today, but He’s far too creative to do it the same way. In each battle, God uses a different method for their victory.
God doesn’t always work the same way. Your victories won’t all look the same.
Just because something doesn’t happen how you wanted it to doesn’t mean God forgot about you. Put iit in God’s hands and let Him work it out.
4. Be Patient
When you read the list of victories, it might seem like it happened overnight. Scholars suggest that it took 7 years.
Some victories may take a week. Others may take a few years.
But God is a God worth waiting for. Trust Him.
5. Wins are Both Public and Private
There are 31 cities on the list. 15 of them are specifically mentioned in chapters 6 through 11. The other 16 aren’t described.
This helps us understand that there are some public battles you’ll go through. People will see what you go through and see how God gives you the victory.
Then there are private battles you go through that nobody sees. Those battles still go on the list.
Some people might not understand why you praise God the way you do. That’s because they didn’t see those battles and how good God has been to you.
Reflection Questions:
Reflect on the people who have come before you and helped you get to where you are today.
What are three victories you would put on your list?
Are there victories in your life, big or small, that you’ve overlooked or rushed past without thanking God?
Who in your life might be encouraged by seeing God’s faithfulness in your story, and how can you share it with them?