When I first learned badminton back in primary school, I remember the coach saying “Keep your grip on the racket soft and loose until you hit the shuttle, or else you’ll lose power and speed in the swing!” Back then I was thinking how counterintuitive that sounded and how hard it was to keep a soft and loose grip when logic was telling you “holding tightly means I can hit harder.” I guess that applies to an increasingly countercultural Christian life too… It’s hard to be soft.

Joshua 11 begins with Jabin, king of Hazor, gathering the northern kingdoms against Israel, with an army ‘as numerous as the sand on the seashore’. A daunting and seemingly insurmountable confrontation awaited Joshua and the Israelites.

In light of this, the unwavering faithfulness of God was upon Israel as He encouraged Joshua. How comforting it must have been to hear these words from God: “Do not be afraid.” And, as though that was not enough (because we are all ‘kiasu’ and love certainty in our lives), God assures Joshua of victory by dictating the time, method and outcome of the battle with the Canaanites.

As God grants Israel victory after victory, one central theme became clear to me: wholehearted obedience in response to the promises of God. One cannot seek to claim the promises of God without first submitting wholeheartedly to Him. Being a worrier at heart, the number of times I struggled with submission can also be described as ‘sand on the seashore’. Even with each passing challenge and deliverance from God, I find myself falling back into the same struggle. Yet each time, I am constantly reminded of God’s love and faithfulness to those who seek and obey Him.

Following Joshua on his campaign, the righteousness of God is revealed as He destroys the remaining kingdoms. God hardened the hearts of the Canaanites so that He may destroy them without mercy. Wait a minute, did God intentionally create evil to justify His violence? Far from it! The hearts of the Canaanites were already hardened by sin when they turned away from God and towards idol worship. God merely gave them up to their own sinful ways. In doing so, He then passed righteous judgment upon them by destroying them. It is a sobering reminder that as much as God is all loving, He is also all holy and will not tolerate unfaithfulness.

As I reflect on the nature of our loving and faithful, yet righteous and holy God, I am reminded of the times in my life where I have experienced both. Times where God had worked for me to show me His love and provision. And times where I was forced to face my sins and turn back to Him with a heart of repentance. Looking back, I am grateful for these experiences as they reveal who God really is to me, as the Lord over my life.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I invite you to take time to assess your lives. Are you faithful like Joshua? Or have your hearts been hardened against God like the Canaanites? Our God is the promise keeper, the righteous judge, all loving and all Holy. Let us turn to Him and have our hearts softened towards Him, that we may learn to respond wholeheartedly in reverence and obedience.

Prayer: Dear Lord, our Creator and our Savior. How gracious are you to have extended your mercy to us that we may have a restored relationship and a renewed life through Christ Jesus. May we learn to live this life you have blessed us with as a disciple of Christ that is pleasing in your eyes. May we remain ever faithful and to submit ourselves before You to honor and glorify Your name. Amen.