Joshua 12:12-16: in context

The book of Joshua pauses to record a roll of the kings Israel defeated in taking the land: the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one; the king of Hormah, one; and on the list goes, king after king, city after city. It is a long tally of victories, each recorded separately. The conquest of the land came not in a single stroke but through this series of victories, one king at a time, each defeated in turn, until the tally was complete.

The long list of defeated kings, each counted one by one, shows how the conquest actually came: not all at once, in a single overwhelming victory, but progressively, king by king, city by city, victory by victory. The land was won through a series of battles, each obstacle overcome in turn, each king defeated separately, until the whole was taken. God gave the land, but he gave it gradually, through many victories, one at a time. This reflects how God's victories often come in our own lives. We might wish for a single, decisive victory that overcomes all our obstacles at once. But God often works as he worked in the conquest: progressively, one obstacle at a time, giving us victory over this and then that, each in turn, until the larger work is done. Little by little, God told Israel, I will drive them out before you. The victories come gradually, one at a time; and each single victory is God's doing, part of the larger deliverance he is working. This encourages us not to despise the small, single victories, and not to be discouraged that the whole is not won at once. Each victory God gives, over this obstacle, this sin, this difficulty, is worth recognizing as his doing, part of the progressive work by which he brings us through. We may wish for everything to be overcome at once; but God's way is often the roll of victories, one at a time, each recorded, each his gift. The conquest came king by king; and God's work in us often comes obstacle by obstacle, victory by victory. This calls us to recognize and give thanks for God's victories one at a time, and not to be discouraged that the whole is not won at once. The roll of defeated kings shows that the land was taken progressively, through many single victories, each God's doing; and God often works the same way in us, giving victory over one obstacle at a time rather than all at once. Let us not despise the single victories or grow discouraged that the whole is not yet won, but recognize each victory God gives as his doing, part of the larger deliverance he is working, giving thanks for each king defeated, each obstacle overcome, as God brings us progressively through, little by little, to the fullness of what he has for us.

Do I wish for a single, decisive victory that overcomes all my obstacles at once, and grow discouraged that the whole is not won immediately, or can the roll of defeated kings, showing that the land was taken progressively, victory by victory, each God's doing, teach me that God often works one obstacle at a time, so that I recognize and give thanks for each single victory he gives, not despising the small ones or losing heart that the whole is not yet won, but trusting the God who brings me through little by little?