A Coalition Of The Willing

JOSHUA 10:1-11

Key Verse:
"Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel" (Joshua 10:4).

In November 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush, visiting Europefor a NATO summit, declared that, "Should Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him". Thereafter, the Bush administration briefly used the term "Coalition of the Willing" to refer to the forty-nine countries who supported, militarily or verbally, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent military presence in post-invasion Iraq since 2003. Alarmed over the news of the victories of Israel, at Jericho and Ai, and hearing of the Gibeonite's defection to Israel, Adonibezek, king of Jerusalem, persuaded four kings to join him in fighting against Gibeon. His strategy was to organize a coalition of willing and like- minded nations to stem the advancement of Israel into their territory. He believed that numbers will count in the battle and that punishing Gibeon will send the right message to other nations that they are a formidable force. But the Lord gave victory to Israel in the battle, casting hailstones from heaven upon those who trusted in their strength. From evidences in the Scriptures, Christians know that they are not just faced with one enemy. We face a coalition of evil forces that banded together in attempts to destroy us. Those enemies are commonly called "the world", "the flesh" and "the devil". The devil is the master strategist of the assault against us and sometimes attacks us openly, sometimes craftily, but always with an unerring sense of where our weaknesses lie. Together, the world, the flesh, and the devil make a tough combination, but for the saving intervention of Christ. Without God, victory against such an alliance is impossible. With God, victory is assured. Therefore, endeavour to always stand on the side of God to remain victorious.

Thought for the day: With God on our side, victory is assured.