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With this issue of Tabletalk, we have been trying to draw some lessons from the taking of Canaan by the children of Israel. We do not see these historical events as mere history, but as redemptive history, of the utmost importance in helping us to understand who Jesus is and what He has called us to do. We have argued already that just as Israel was called to conquer Canaan, so we are called to conquer the whole world.

That’s a big job. But there have been men and nations that have come pretty close. Alexander the Great conquered the known world before he was 30 years old. Rome had about the same measure of success. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the British Empire, on which it was said that the sun never set, covered 40 percent of the world’s landmass. But no one, no nation, has ever conquered the entire world.

It is a daunting task we face. We not only are surrounded by enemies, but in some way we are still in ourselves enemies to the army of Christ. We can’t even master the reign of sin in our own lives. It is, however, only more sinful to wave the white flag over this seemingly impossible mission.

We will do it not because of our great strength. We will do it not because of our great goodness. We will do it not because of our great numbers. We will do it because of our great King.

Joshua, no doubt, had his doubts. He commanded a rag-tag band of people who had spent 40 years as desert nomads. Before that they had been slaves for centuries. He had no earthly reason to believe that he would have any success.

However, he did have a heavenly reason. “ ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go’ ” (Josh. 1:9). This theme appears over and over again in the drama of redemption. God was with Noah, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. He was with Joseph and with Moses, and now He would be with Joshua. Because He was with David, we read, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4a).

And He is with us, too. We have a bigger task, but we have a risen Savior who promised us, as we conquer with His Gospel, discipling the nations, “ ‘Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ ” (Matt. 28:20b).

It is a grand and terror-striking task. We are harassed, attacked, and martyred. But He is a grand and terror-striking Lord, who always keeps His promises. He is indeed with us, now and until the consummation of His kingdom, when all the world will bow to the one and only true King. Be bold and strong.

Promises and a Charge

The Time Is at Hand

Keep Reading Conquering the World

From the January 2001 Issue
Jan 2001 Issue