20251202 [새벽묵상] 하나님의 뜻과 인간의 의지 | God's Will and Human Resolve (수/Josh 11:16~23)

11:16 여호수아가 이같이 그 온 땅 곧 산지와 온 네겝과 고센 온 땅과 평지와 아라바와 이스라엘 산지와 평지를 점령하였으니

11:17 곧 세일로 올라가는 할락 산에서부터 헤르몬 산 아래 레바논 골짜기의 바알갓까지라 그들의 왕들을 모두 잡아 쳐죽였으며

11:18 여호수아가 그 모든 왕들과 싸운 지가 오랫동안이라

11:19 기브온 주민 히위 족속 외에는 이스라엘 자손과 화친한 성읍이 하나도 없고 이스라엘 자손이 싸워서 다 점령하였으니

11:20 그들의 마음이 완악하여 이스라엘을 대적하여 싸우러 온 것은 여호와께서 그리하게 하신 것이라 그들을 진멸하여 바치게 하여 은혜를 입지 못하게 하시고 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하신 대로 그들을 멸하려 하심이었더라

16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

11:21 그 때에 여호수아가 가서 산지와 헤브론과 드빌과 아납과 유다 온 산지와 이스라엘의 온 산지에서 아낙 사람들을 멸절하고 그가 또 그들의 성읍들을 진멸하여 바쳤으므로

11:22 이스라엘 자손의 땅에는 아낙 사람들이 하나도 남지 아니하였고 가사와 가드와 아스돗에만 남았더라

21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.

11:23 이와 같이 여호수아가 여호와께서 모세에게 말씀하신 대로 그 온 땅을 점령하여 이스라엘 지파의 구분에 따라 기업으로 주매 그 땅에 전쟁이 그쳤더라

23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.

                   오늘 말씀은 드디어 이스라엘이 가나안 남방지역과 북방지역을 모두 정복하고 하나님께서 명령하신 가나안 정벌을 완료하였음을 말해주고 있습니다. 남방지역을 정벌할 때만 해도 “여호수아가 이 모든 왕들과 그들의 땅을 단번에 빼앗으니라”라는 10:42의 말씀처럼 순식간에 진행된 것 같은데 오늘 말씀 18절을 보니 이 가나안 전쟁이 꽤나 긴 시간 동안 진행 되었던 것을 알 수 있습니다. 하나님의 뜻으로 명령하신 일이지만 그 일들이 모두 완수되기까지는 이스라엘 백성들의 긴 순종의 시간이 필요했습니다. 때로 우리도 비슷한 상황에 놓이는 것 같습니다. 하나님께서 많은 일들을 이루셨고, 또, 하나님의 뜻은 반드시 이루어질 것을 압니다. 그런데 그 과정은 마치 우리의 의지력을 시험하시는 것 같은 기분이 들 때가 있지요. 오늘은 하나님의 뜻과 인간의 의지라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

[Introduction]

Today's passage announces the conclusion of the conquest of Canaan, detailing how Israel finally subdued both the Southern and Northern regions as commanded by God.

When the conquest of the Southern region was reported, Joshua 10:42 stated that "Joshua took all these kings and their lands at one time," giving the impression that the victory was swift and immediate. However, looking at verse 18 in our text today, we realize that the entire Canaanite war actually spanned a considerably long period.

Although the work was commanded by God and aligned with His will, its completion required an extended period of sustained obedience and effort from the Israelites.

Sometimes we find ourselves in similar situations. We know God has accomplished great things, and we are certain that His perfect will is going to be done. Yet, the process often feels like a test of our endurance and willpower.

Today, I want to share a message titled: God's Will and Human Resolve.

                  첫번째, 하나님의 뜻에 대해 이야기 해 보겠습니다. 하나님께서는 모세를 통하여 이스라엘 백성들에게 가나안 정벌을 명하셨습니다. 그것은 아브라함 때부터 약속하신 언약을 이루시기 위한 명령이었지요. 오늘 말씀의 16-17절은 여호수아가 그 명령대로 가나안 온 땅을 점령하였다는 것을 전하고 있습니다. 17절 말씀을 함께 읽겠습니다. “곧 세일로 올라가는 할락 산에서부터 헤르몬 산 아래 레바논 골짜기의 바알갓까지라 그들의 왕들을 모두 잡아 쳐죽였으며” 이 말씀은 10장의 요약과 유사하지만 남방지역만을 묘사한 10장과는 다르게 11장에서 정복한 북방 지역만을 말하는 것이 아니지요. 남방과 북방 모두를 아울러서 말하고 있습니다. “세일로 올라가는 할락 산”이 바로 남부의 핵심이며 “레바논 골짜기의 바알갓”이 북부의 핵심이기 때문입니다. 이렇게 하나님께서 가나안 온 땅을 이스라엘에게 주시겠다는 뜻은 여호수아를 통해 온전히 이루어졌습니다. 그것을 요약한 말씀이 바로 23절의 말씀입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “이와 같이 여호수아가 여호와께서 모세에게 말씀하신 대로 그 온 땅을 점령하여 이스라엘 지파의 구분에 따라 기업으로 주매 그 땅에 전쟁이 그쳤더라” 이 말씀은 종전의 선언입니다. 가나안 정복이 완료 되었다. 그래서 전쟁이 끝났다. 라고 알려주는 말씀이지요. 여기서 우리는 이와 같이라는 말씀에 주목 할 필요가 있습니다. 왜냐하면 이 말씀은 16-22절까지를 모두 요약하고 있는데 특별히 바로 앞의 21-22절이 아낙 자손이 진멸됨을 말하고 있기 때문입니다. 아낙 사람들이 누구입니까? 바로 광야 1세대가 가나안 정벌을 포기하게 했던 두려움의 대상입니다. 민수기 13:33을 제가 읽어보겠습니다. “거기서 네피림 후손인 아낙 자손의 거인들을 보았나니 우리는 스스로 보기에도 메뚜기 같으니 그들이 보기에도 그와 같았을 것이니라” 이 보고를 마지막으로 백성이 밤새도록 통곡하며 원망하였지요. 그런데 오늘 말씀 21-22절은 어떻습니까? 한 번 같이 읽어보겠습니다. “그 때에 여호수아가 가서 산지와 헤브론과 드빌과 아납과 유다 온 산지와 이스라엘의 온 산지에서 아낙 사람들을 멸절하고 그가 또 그들의 성읍들을 진멸하여 바쳤으므로 이스라엘 자손의 땅에는 아낙 사람들이 하나도 남지 아니하였고 가사와 가드와 아스돗에만 남았더라” 두려움의 대상이었던 강력한 거인족이었던 아낙 자손들도 하나님의 뜻 앞에서는 모두 진멸되고 말았습니다. 남은 자들은 블레셋의 땅인 가사와 가드, 아스돗에만 남았다고 하지요. 다윗과 싸웠던 골리앗이 바로 이 가드 사람입니다. 이 말씀을 통해서 알 수 있는 것은 모든 것이 결국 하나님의 뜻대로 이루어진다는 것입니다.

[Point 1: The Certainty of God's Will]

First, let us talk about the certainty of God's will.

God commanded the conquest of Canaan through Moses. This was the fulfillment of the covenant promise He made to Abraham long ago. Verses 16-17 of our text confirm that Joshua took the entire land of Canaan according to that command. Let’s read verse 17 together:

"from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death."

This statement is not just a summary of the North, but encompasses the entirety of the conquered land. Mount Halak toward Seir marks the extreme South, and Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon marks the extreme North. The will of God—to give the entire land of Canaan to Israel—was fully accomplished through Joshua.

This is summarized powerfully in verse 23. Let’s read it:

"So Joshua took the whole land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war."

This verse is a declaration of peace. The conquest of Canaan is complete; the war has ceased.

Here, we must pay attention to the phrase "just as." This phrase summarizes everything from verses 16 through 22, and specifically highlights the annihilation of the Anakim in verses 21-22.

Who were the Anakim? They were the giants who were the very source of fear that caused the first generation in the wilderness to give up the conquest. I will read Numbers 13:33: "We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." Following that report, the people wept all night and rebelled against God.

But what do verses 21-22 say? Let’s read them together:

"At that time Joshua went and eliminated the Anakites from the hill country of Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any remain."

The mighty race of giants, the very objects of paralyzing fear, were totally destroyed by the will of God. The few remnants were left only in the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Goliath, whom David later fought, was from Gath.

Through this, we clearly see that everything is ultimately fulfilled according to the will of God.

                   두번째, 인간의 의지에 대해서 말씀을 나누겠습니다. 분명 오늘의 말씀은 하나님의 약속이 성취되었음을 말하고 있지요. 그렇다면 그 과정은 어땠을까요? 하나님께서 약속하신 땅을 받은 것이니 순적하게 마치 물 흐르듯이 진행이 되었을까요? 오늘 말씀 18절을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “여호수아가 그 모든 왕들과 싸운지가 오랫동안이라” 분명 하나님으로부터 분명한 명령을 듣고 하나님이 행하시는 기적을 경험하며 승리를 해왔습니다. 우리 생각에는 하나님께서 함께하시니 파죽지세로 승리하였을 것 같지만 오늘 말씀은 그 기간이 오랫동안이다 라고 말하고 있습니다.  이를 통해 우리는 비록 하나님이 약속하신 일임에도 그 성취에는 하나님을 의지적으로 신뢰하는 인내가 필요함을 알 수 있습니다. 여호수아와 이스라엘이 전쟁을 치른 기간은 14:10의 45년이라는 기간에서 신명기 2:14의 38년의 광야기간을 빼면 7년으로 계산할 수 있지요. 하지만 7년이라는 단어를 사용하는 대신 여호수아의 기자는 굳이 ‘오랫동안이라’ 라고 적고 있습니다. 이는 그 7년의 시간이 실제로 그들에게 어떻게 느껴졌는지를 전하고 있는 것이지요. 하나님의 약속을 믿고 순종하는 일이라 할지라도 우리는 의지적으로 하나님의 때까지 기다려야 하는 것입니다. 그것이 비록 우리가 느끼기에 오랫동안 이라고 느껴진다 할지라도 말이지요. 그렇다면 하나님을 대적하는 인간의 의지는 어떨까요? 오늘 말씀 19절은 기브온 주민 외에는 화친한 성읍이 없어서 다 점령당했다고 말하고 있습니다. 그리고 그 이유를 20절에 이렇게 적고 있습니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “그들의 마음이 완악하여 이스라엘을 대적하여 싸우러 온 것은 여호와께서 그리하게 하신 것이라 그들을 진멸하여 바치게 하여 은혜를 입지 못하게 하시고 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하신 대로 그들을 멸하려 하심이었더라” 이 말씀은 어려운 말씀이지만 우리가 이 말씀을 통해서 분명하게 알 수 있는 것은 이들의 마음이 완악하여 이스라엘을 대적하였던 것 또한 하나님께서 그들을 멸하시려고 그렇게 하셨다는 것입니다. “그들을 진멸하여 바치게 하여” “그들을 멸하려 하심이었더라” 라는 두 번의 헤렘의 말씀은 이들을 향한 하나님의 뜻이 이미 정해졌음을 보여줍니다. 로마서1:20-25도 하나님께서 죄인들을 처벌하시는 방식 가운데 하나가 그들을 악함 가운데 내버려두는 것임을 말하고 있지요. 즉 이들은 자신의 의지로 이스라엘을 대적하였다고 생각할지 모르지만 이 또한 하나님의 뜻이 이루지기 위함임을 알 수 있습니다. 우리는 이를 통해 인간의 의지 또한 하나님의 뜻 안에 있음을 알 수 있지요. 즉 모든 것은 하나님의 뜻대로 이루어지는 것입니다.

[Point 2: The Necessity of Human Resolve]

Second, let us discuss the necessity of human resolve.

Today’s text affirms that God's promise was fulfilled. But what was the process like? Since they received the promised land from God, did the conquest proceed effortlessly, like water flowing downhill?

Let’s read verse 18:

"Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time."

They had received clear commands from God, experienced His miracles, and achieved victories. We might assume that with God on their side, they would sweep through the land in a swift campaign. Yet, the text explicitly says the period was "a long time."

The total duration of the war is estimated to be about seven years (45 years of Caleb's age in 14:10 minus 38 years in the wilderness, Dt 2:14). But instead of using the number seven, the narrator intentionally chose the phrase "a long time" (yamim rabim in Hebrew). This conveys how those seven years felt to them. Even when obeying and believing in God's promise, we must possess the resolve to wait patiently for God's timing, even if it feels like "a long time."

Now, what about the human resolve that resists God? Verse 19 mentions that only the Gibeonites made peace, and all other cities were captured. The reason for this is given in verse 20. Let's read it:

"For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses."

This is a challenging verse, but what we clearly understand is that their hearts were hardened to fight against Israel because God intended to destroy them. The two phrases "destroy them totally" (Herem) and "exterminating them" show that God's judgment upon them was already set. Romans 1:20-25 also speaks of God's method of punishing sinners by handing them over to their own wicked desires.

Thus, although these nations believed they were resisting Israel by their own will, their resistance was also part of God's larger plan for their destruction. We realize that even human resolve is ultimately contained within the overarching will of God. Everything works out according to God's will.

말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘 우리는 하나님의 뜻과 인간의 의지에 대해서 이야기했습니다. 하나님께서 뜻하신 일은 반드시 이루어 집니다. 때로 우리에게는 그것이 오랜 시간이 걸리는 것처럼 느껴질지 모르지만 우리는 하나님을 신뢰하고 의지적으로 기다려야 합니다. 또한 인간의 의지조차 하나님의 뜻 안에 있으니 어쩌면 우리는 하나님께 우리의 마음을 하나님의 뜻에 맞추어 달라고 기도해야할지 모르겠습니다. 결국 모든 것은 하나님의 뜻대로 이루어지기 때문입니다.

[Conclusion]

Today, we have discussed the will of God and human resolve. The work that God intends will surely be fulfilled. Although it may sometimes feel like it takes "a long time," we must intentionally trust and wait for God.

Since even human resolve is contained within God's will, perhaps we should pray that God would align our hearts and wills with His purpose. Ultimately, everything unfolds according to God's perfect will.