Joshua 8:24-29
...For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyedall who lived in Ai. But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua. So Joshua burned Aiand made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.
In this passage, holding out the javelin wasn't just a signal, but also a proclamation of victory. Joshua must have learned this principle of spiritual warfare from Moses. In Exodus 17:11, when Israelites were fighting the Amalekites, Moses prayed on the mountain; whenever he held his hand up, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. The arms of Moses felt tired, so Aaron and Hur had to hold his arms up until end of the day.
The hands of Moses represent hands of prayer. He knew that he was in spiritual warfare, so he had to keep his hands of prayer up to proclaim and to uplift the battle. Why did God want Moses to keep his hands up? He didn't intentionally want Moses to suffer, but He wanted to teach us that in a spiritual warfare, everyone must work with Him. From the perspective of victory, God is already victorious and He can easily wipe out anyone who tries to resist Him. That, however, is not the principle of God's work. If we depart from the Lord, we can do nothing; but from the Lord's perspective, if He's separated from us, He also would choose to do nothing. That's how much He values working with us!
Joshua understands the meaning of spiritual warfare. When he was fighting in the town of Ai, he lifted the javelin in his hand; not just for a moment, but he kept it up until he was completely victorious! Lifting his hand means several things. First, it was his proclamation; he lifted his hand to proclaim that the Lord is victorious, and in the Lord he will always be victorious. Second, it was his faith; he deeply believed that it was a spiritual battle. God is the general of the army of Israel, and the key of victory in a war completely lies in God. Third, his prayer; he continued to pray and uplifted God's work. The reason why many Christians have unsuccessful prayer life is not because God doesn't listen to their prayer, but because they put their hands down too early, not have prayed continuously. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all Lord's people." May God put the spirit of continuous prayer into our hearts, so that we may experience His victory in every spiritual warfare!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, may you ignite us with the fire of the Holy Spirit! Grant us faith so that we may continuously depend on the Holy Spirit with prayer in every spiritual battle in our life, until we experience the victory that you have promised. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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