All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11:5

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READ: Joshua 11:1–15

Runners train long and hard before ever stepping up to the starting line of an elite race like the Boston Marathon. The race itself, like all marathons, is 26.2 miles long, and its average race time in 2024 was 3:53. Running 26.2 miles requires significant endurance. Many runners invest twenty weeks or more in a purposeful training regimen to build their stamina. How satisfying it must feel to cross the finish line!

Joshua and the nation of Israel knew plenty about endurance. They had endured decades of wandering in the desert, and it had prepared them spiritually and physically: day after day, they’d learned God could be trusted to take care of their needs. Their bodies had been hardened by carrying all their belongings, scavenging for manna every morning, and hunting for quail every night.

After Israel’s 40 years of endurance training, crossing the Jordan River was like the start of a marathon—and the first leg of their years-long Canaan marathon went well. They won battle after battle in short order, completing their conquest of southern Canaan in less than a year. They rested in Gilgal for the winter, during which time the northern nations of Canaan united at the Waters of Merom to take on Israel together. Joshua and his army surprised them at Merom, and the real marathon of their war began. Scholars estimate (and Joshua 11:18 affirms) that those ensuing victories took several years to complete. The fighting had been brutal, but Israel’s endurance paid off. Joshua remained faithful to his assignment: “As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses” (11:15).

The author of Hebrews uses running imagery to convey the importance of endurance: “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1b–2a). As followers of Christ, our preparation isn’t about carb loads or proper running shoes; it’s about untangling ourselves from the sin in our lives. Our assignments from God likely don’t include physical battles against enemies, but they do require us to “throw off everything that hinders”—in order to endure.

A STORY OF THEN & NOW

Endurance Through a Hard Season | Mary Alice L. | Willow South Barrington

Shortly before a much-anticipated trip to Uganda to distribute 850 hygiene packs that my sewing group had worked on for months, I was diagnosed with cancer, and would require surgery. I remember telling my surgeon that I was disappointed that I had cancer, but I would be devastated if I had to cancel my trip. She agreed to push off my surgery until after my time in Uganda. Two days after returning home, I had the surgery, followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and a prescription for the daily maintenance pills I’d need to take for the next ten years. Our gracious God allowed only shortness of breath, limited strength, and the loss of my hair to be the side effects from my treatments.

As a retiree, these side effects were relatively easy to manage, especially with the blessing of a disability parking placard. What was far more difficult was battling my own cancer diagnosis while watching my beloved younger sister suffer from her own diagnosis of terminal cancer. Staying by her side at her home several days out of nearly every week gave me precious memories with her, but it was a lot to endure. By God’s grace, I was strong enough during my cancer treatment to continue serving God in all the ways that I enjoyed before my illness—as a small group leader and section leader.

I will be ever grateful to all those who prayed for my broken heart and supported me in countless ways throughout that challenging season. It is such a comfort to have the assurance that God not only walks with us in our struggles, but also helps us endure hard times by showering us with grace, love, peace, and eternal hope—often through the people He sends our way.

DID YOU KNOW?

Most English versions of Joshua 11:6b and 9b say that God instructed Joshua to “hamstring” the enemy’s horses. But the root word in Hebrew, “T’aker,” means to make sterile, to cut. Our English versions are taken from a Latin translation, which mistranslated this word to mean “hamstring.” It makes much more sense that God wanted Joshua to castrate those horses, making them too gentle to be battle horses but perfectly suitable for the plow or riding.

A PRAYER

God, it’s sometimes hard to persevere with the assignments I sense You’ve given me. Despite the challenges I face, help me “throw off the sin that entangles,” that I may endure. Amen.

FOR REFLECTION

What’s the longest distance you’ve ever run or walked? How did you prepare?

What assignment from God currently requires the most endurance from you? What can you “throw off” to run the race set before you?