So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.
Joshua 11:23

---

READ: Joshua 11:16–12:24

“Did you give 100% effort?” a coach asks his team. “Is that the best you can do?” a drill sergeant screams at his new recruits. “Did you deliver?” a manager asks her direct report. Three questions—all asking this: Did you give your all to complete the assignment?

Leaders rely on their people to follow orders and complete assignments. For Israel, God was at the top of the leadership pyramid, with Moses and then Joshua delivering God’s instructions. These men weren’t perfect leaders, but God used them to form the nation of Israel into a faithful people of God. Their assignment under Joshua’s leadership had been a lengthy, weighty one, as the text affirms: “Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time” (11:18). But when the last battle in northern Canaan was won, their mission was complete! “So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war” (11:23). Joshua gave his all to complete the mission.

Few things satisfy like a job well done. Think of the last big project you completed at home: cleaning out the garage, painting a room, or hitting “Send” to submit your tax returns. Even if you have more tasks waiting, completing a big project feels great. We often take a little break afterward, just as Israel did. Conquests completed, they entered a season of rest from war.

Hundreds of years later, near the time of his death, the apostle Paul referenced the concept of giving his all to complete the assignment God had given him. To his protege, Timothy, Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8).

A STORY OF THEN & NOW

He Finished Well | Karen B. | Willow South Barrington

My husband, Phil, was unforgettable. He had a shock of white hair, a quiet demeanor, and an inner strength that was palpable. He was the sort of man who remembered names and took time for people. Didn’t matter who you were—Phil knew your name and made time for you.

I’ve basically known Phil my entire life—we went to high school together and dated a bit in college—but it wasn’t until we reconnected at a high-school reunion that our lives together began. We had both married (and divorced) other people, and we each had three kids. My kids were teens when Phil became their dad.

We started attending Willow when my son, Michael, 21, invited us. Phil and I had both grown up Catholic, so Willow was quite a change from our previous church experience. When Phil saw a need for help with ticketing, he dove right in. (Back then, ticketing for Willow’s large-scale events like the musical, Jairus, played a huge role in helping people invite friends.) The sheer magnitude of ticketing was right up Phil’s alley. (He attended the volunteer training twice, just to make sure he got it right.) And he became Willow’s “Father Tickets” from that day on. Soon after that event, Willow’s accounting department hired him.

For 22 years, Phil served God faithfully by serving Willow well. Nothing could keep him from his accounting responsibilities. Even a major heart attack in 2011 only kept him from his desk for two weeks. He never missed a beat. He just rolled with things. When he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019, he never complained. No drama. Only calm. A surgery in October left him with a feeding tube, but once the tube was out, he was back at work, as meticulous as ever. We didn’t know his cancer was unbeatable until two weeks before Phil died. Right until the end, he never stopped being a role model. He never stopped loving and serving. He made sure my needs were taken care of. And on May 30, 2020, as I sat at his bedside in our home, these were his last words: “I’ve done everything I have to do. I’ve done everything I have to do.” And then, after a pause, he spoke his final word: “God.”

Phil and I were blessed with a true love story. We were married for 34 years. He served God, his church, and his family to the very end, and he finished well. His life was complete. I model every day after his example and the legacy he left behind: service, love, and dedication to God.

DID YOU KNOW?

Even though Joshua states he completed the entire assignment by taking “all the land,” we’ll soon read (Joshua 13) that plenty of battles still lay ahead. Sometimes a finish line isn’t a hard stop; rather, it’s a much-needed pause before the next big leg of the race.

A PRAYER

God, it’s tempting to give up on bone-wearying assignments—or to deliver half-hearted efforts. Help me complete the tasks before me—and honor You with my work. Amen.

FOR REFLECTION

What’s the last huge assignment you undertook—at church, work or home? What was its biggest challenge?

How do you refresh yourself in the midst of a big assignment? How do you celebrate when that assignment is complete?