Joshua’s response to God’s promise in Joshua 11:6 is obedience. He attacks the northern armies, kills their solders, and destroys the inhabitants of their cities. In this he does exactly what the Lord said (Joshua 11:9, Joshua 11:12, Joshua 11:15).

From Joshua and Israel’s actions we see something of the difference that God’s promises should make in the life of the believer. Knowing that victory is certain, Joshua does not simply sit back and wait for the Lord. He acts in the light of God’s promises. This is the way in which God’s sovereignty ought to influence our behaviour as Christians. Because God is in complete control, we have the confidence to take actions that are based on God’s promises.

Consider this example. If you were to run a race and you knew you would win, would you sit down as the starting gun goes off? No, you would run even harder, safe in the knowledge that victory is secure. You would have renewed energy, joy, and confidence. Knowledge of God’s promises is thus not a knowledge that should lead to fatalism and lethargy. It is a knowledge that should spur us into action.

Joshua is willing to do what God says even when it doesn’t make sense to him. When Israel came upon the Canaanite chariots and horses, they did not take them for themselves. Here was the most advanced weaponry of the day, it would have been so useful to Israel to use horses and chariots to chase down the remaining Canaanite soldiers. But because God had said they must be destroyed, there is no place for disobedience. Even though it might seem foolish to forsake these instruments of war, they walk by faith and not by sight. They aim to please God and therefore they hamstring the horses and burn the chariots.