Joshua 11:1-5: a reflection

1When Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, 2and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill country, in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, 3to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4They went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. 5All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.

As Israel advances, a great coalition of kings gathers against them, a vast array: They went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. The opposition assembled against God's people was overwhelming in size, a multitude like the sand of the sea, more than could be counted, armed with horses and chariots Israel did not have. To human eyes, the sheer size of the enemy was daunting, an overwhelming force massed against them.

Notice the overwhelming size of the opposition: a multitude like the sand of the seashore. The enemy was not a small force but a vast coalition, armies beyond counting, with horses and chariots, massed against Israel. To human eyes, the size of it was daunting; who could stand against so great a multitude? Yet the size of the opposition, however overwhelming to human reckoning, did not daunt the God who would deliver them. God is not intimidated by numbers; the vast array that overwhelms our eyes is nothing before him. What looks overwhelming to us is not overwhelming to God.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be daunted by the size of the opposition we face, forgetting that God is not. When the opposition against us looks overwhelming, vast, beyond our strength to meet, we can be daunted by its sheer size, as Israel might have been by the multitude like the sand; but God is not intimidated by numbers, and the array that overwhelms our eyes is nothing before him. Do not be daunted by the size of the opposition you face, as though its vastness could overwhelm God; what looks overwhelming to you is nothing before him. Trust the God who is not intimidated by the size of the opposition, however overwhelming it looks to you, as the coalition against Israel was vast as the sand of the sea yet no match for God; for God is not daunted by numbers, and the vast array that overwhelms our eyes cannot overwhelm the God who fights for his people.

Lord, as Israel advances, a great coalition of kings gathers against them, a vast array: they went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. The opposition assembled against your people was overwhelming in size, a multitude like the sand of the sea, more than could be counted. To human eyes, the sheer size of the enemy was daunting. Show me the overwhelming size of the opposition: a multitude like the sand of the seashore. The enemy was not a small force but a vast coalition, armies beyond counting, with horses and chariots. To human eyes, the size of it was daunting; who could stand against so great a multitude? Yet the size of the opposition, however overwhelming to human reckoning, did not daunt the God who would deliver them. You are not intimidated by numbers; the vast array that overwhelms my eyes is nothing before you. Take that to my heart, for I too can be daunted by the size of the opposition I face, forgetting that you are not. When the opposition against me looks overwhelming, vast, beyond my strength to meet, I can be daunted by its sheer size; but you are not intimidated by numbers. Keep me from being daunted by the size of the opposition I face, Lord, as though its vastness could overwhelm you; what looks overwhelming to me is nothing before you. Help me trust you, who are not intimidated by the size of the opposition, however overwhelming it looks to me.