Joshua 12:12-16: a reflection

12the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

This passage is a list, king after king, of the rulers Israel defeated as God gave them the land: the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one, and so on down the list. Each entry marks a victory God had given, a promise fulfilled, an enemy overcome as Israel took possession of the land God had promised. The list is a record of God's faithfulness, one victory after another, each a testimony that God had done what he said, giving them the land king by king.

Notice what the list records: victory after victory that God had given. Each king named, each city taken, was a victory God had granted, a step in the fulfillment of his promise to give them the land. The list, dry as it may seem, is a record of God's faithfulness, one completed victory after another, each testifying that God had kept his word. Reading through it, one sees not merely a list of conquests, but a record of God's faithful keeping of his promise, victory by victory, king by king.

That kind of record is worth taking to heart, for it is good to recount, one by one, the things God has done. We can pass over God's faithfulness without recounting it, forgetting the many particular things he has done; but a list like this recounts God's victories one by one, each a testimony to his faithfulness. Take time to recount, one by one, the things God has done in your life, the deliverances, the provisions, the answered prayers, each a testimony to his faithfulness. Do not pass over God's faithfulness in vague generality; recount it particularly, one by one, as this list records God's victories king by king. A record of what God has done, recounted one by one, testifies to his faithfulness and strengthens our trust; recount God's works in your life particularly, as Israel's victories were recorded king by king, each a testimony that God had kept his word.

Lord, this passage is a list, king after king, of the rulers Israel defeated as you gave them the land: the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; and so on down the list. Each entry marks a victory you had given, a promise fulfilled, an enemy overcome as Israel took possession of the land you had promised. The list is a record of your faithfulness, one victory after another, each a testimony that you had done what you said. Show me what the list records: victory after victory that you had given. Each king named, each city taken, was a victory you had granted, a step in the fulfillment of your promise. The list, dry as it may seem, is a record of your faithfulness, one completed victory after another. Reading through it, one sees not merely a list of conquests, but a record of your faithful keeping of your promise. Take that kind of record to my heart, for it is good to recount, one by one, the things you have done. I can pass over your faithfulness without recounting it, forgetting the many particular things you have done; but a list like this recounts your victories one by one. Help me take time to recount, one by one, the things you have done in my life, the deliverances, the provisions, the answered prayers, each a testimony to your faithfulness. Keep me from passing over your faithfulness in vague generality; help me recount it particularly, Lord, one by one, as this list records your victories king by king.