God is always more ready to accomplish His plan than we are to participate in it (Joshua 11:20). God has a whole set of plans to quickly and effectively complete His plans. God, though, fights differently than man. Training to win requires that we do things God’s ways. We need to trust Him. If we rely on our methods, we will surely fail. They failed at the battle of Ai not only because of Achan’s greed but because Joshua did not pray and seek God’s will.

God already has His plans on how to eliminate these enemies. These main campaigns lasted seven long years. The Lord records three major campaigns. The enemy would use any trick to get their way. The Gibeonites deceived Israel.

Other kingdoms ganged up on them. Although the battles almost always seemed a sure defeat for Israel, God led the Israelites to victory each time through their faithful leader of Joshua. These battles surprisingly only comprise 4 of the 22 chapters in Joshua. The victory was always certain. God's people only needed to learn how to do things God's ways, no matter how threatening the enemy seemed to be. Don’t be afraid; just obey!

We often get confused between winning the battle and winning the fight (war). Our shortsightedness causes us focus on our self-interests. The real war is how one lives after the so-called battles are won. The most dangerous times are after victories are won. And it is precisely here that the Israelites failed.

The Lord had them divide up the land. The point of this exercise was to prepare each tribe to live under the Lord’s leadership. Up to this point, they relied on Joshua’s faith to win. Now. they had to rely on their own faith. If they trusted Him and obeyed His Word, they would do well. If not, they would bring trouble into their future. Once they received their inheritance, they were responsible to clear off the many enemies still hanging about (see Judges 1).