Text: Deuteronomy 7:1, 2, 26; Matthew 18:1-4

Rather than following the list of nations in our Old Testament text that were devoted to destruction, we are tracking the battle strategy of Joshua as Israel conquered the land that would flow with milk and honey. Their three phase battle plan began in the central area of the land (Joshua 6-8), dropped south (Joshua 9, 10), and then moved north (Joshua 11). The southern campaign waged war against the Amorites, and from last week, we saw how the Lord routed the enemy; both by the direct involvement with hailstones from heaven, and indirect involvement in lengthening the day for the ground troops to complete the victory.

In application we learned Sunday night that the word Amorite means “mountain people, renowned” and thus represents the spirit of self-exaltation that we must devote to destruction. The word for Amorite in Hebrew comes from another Hebrew word, amar, which means, “to utter, to say”; this implies that people influenced by Amorite spirits are those who want their name uttered or mentioned; they are fame-seekers, seekers of human glory and greatness. And we recognize that no one is immune from the “attack” of this spirit as even the apostles argued who would be the greatest amongst them (cf. Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 22:24-26).

Jesus had given the disciples the battle plan for defeating this enemy earlier (cf. Matthew 18:1-4) and focused His illustration, and thus His plan, with one word: humility. “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4 ESV). Our Lord then modeled the strategy, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). In His humiliation He gave us the completed weapon for victory over the desire to be great.

Today follow the words of Peter to battle the Amorite spirit, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV). Become as a little child and devote to destruction any desire for fame, glory, or greatness.