I was at a prayer meeting on Saturday and a verse was read from the book of Joshua which caught my attention. Until that moment, I had never looked at it closely and had never linked it to another passage in the Gospels.
Before going any further, let me remind you that in hermeneutics*, when a fact is mentioned two times or more in the Bible, it carries a particular importance – “At the mouth (on the evidence) of two or three witnesses shall the matter be made sure” (Deut 19.15). And this is even more so when the fact is repeated in both the Old and the New Testament. In such a situation, it basically becomes a perpetual law.
After the fall of Adam and Eve, GOD cursed the serpent, saying: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen 3:15).
Centuries later, by GOD’s grace, Joshua had just won a war against a coalition of five kings. He turned to his generals and told them: "Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings… Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." The guys obeyed, put their feet on the kings’ necks and Joshua struck them to death. Then, he hanged them on trees; let their bodies hung until evening**; threw them into a cave and set large stones against the mouth thereof (Jos 10:24-27).
Joshua was so ruthless because he knew that this war was not just a natural one: it was essentially a spiritual warfare. Indeed, these kings were actually the physical representatives of certain spiritual entities: the princes of darkness (Eph 6:12). And death by hanging was a curse (Gal 3:13).
Finally, there is another witness in the New Testament. Jesus sent some disciples on an errand and they came back rejoicing that even the demons were subject to them in His name! Jesus replied saying: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” Lk. 10:17-19.
When do you think that Satan fell from heaven? It was definitely not while the disciples were fulfilling their mission; but way before, sometime in eternity. It is written indeed: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” Rev 12:7-9.
The demons are subject to us since eternity, GOD has long decided that their fate and that of their master is to be under our feet. The books of Genesis, Joshua and Luke remind us that all our combats are pre-recorded; they are not a live broadcast. GOD has already fought for us. Satan has already been thrown down. Demons have already been publicly put to shame on the Cross and we wage war from a position of victory. We are seated in Christ in heavenly places. We are in a position of domination and in the highest possible position. We war from above; and when we look down, we can see the enemy under our feet!
GOD bless you and strengthen your hands in the battle. Have a great week.
*Hermeneutics is the science of the interpretation of sacred books and ancient texts.
** Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it (Col 2:15).
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