Josh. 10-12
Note that when Israel went to fight on behalf of the people of Gibeon, who were attacked by the Amorites, they evidently did not make the same mistake that they made at Ai. Joshua 10:8 says, “And the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.’” This indicates to me that Joshua and the people of Israel sought God before making this move – something they neglected to do before attacking Ai the first time when God was not with them due to one man’s sin.
Luke 10:1-24
Jesus expanded His ministry. After His 12 apostles returned from their mission, Jesus sent out 72 others on the same kind of mission. They returned to Him, excited that even the demons were subject to them in His name. And who wouldn’t be? That is some powerful stuff! But Jesus gave them a humility check, reminding them that the power was not their own and that even having spirits subject to them did not gain them anything of value.
The true gift of value that had been given to them – and to us – is that their names are written in heaven. Salvation through Jesus is the real power and the true gift that we are given. I think we (at least I) far too often under-value this fact. How excited would we be at telling a tree to move from here to there and seeing it obey, or healing somebody off of their death bed, or commanding evil spirits? Jesus says this is nothing to rejoice in! But how excited do we get, how much do we rejoice in the knowledge that our names are written in God’s book of life?