THE ENEMY IS UNDER YOUR FEET

These are the words Joshua spoke to the captains of his army following a great victory over the Amorites (Joshua 10:24-25). During this battle God had supernaturally delivered their enemies into their hands. He rained down hailstones upon them and caused the sun to stand still until they were able to defeat their enemies. Joshua and his army slaughtered the Amorites and those who had survived were running from them in fear.

The five kings of the Amorites were hiding in a cave and Joshua sealed it up and posted guards outside. Knowing the battle would not be won until they had pursued and totally annihilated their enemies, Joshua told his soldiers:

“But don’t stop! Pursue your enemies, attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand” (Joshua 10:19, NIV)

After they had totally consumed the army, the soldiers returned to Joshua and he instructed them to open the cave and bring the five kings to him. When they did this, he called all the men of Israel together and said to the captains of the army: “Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings.” This act was a sign of triumph over the conquered enemy. Joshua wanted the Israelites to see that God had caused them to be victorious and made their enemies subject unto them.

There, in the sight of all the men of Israel, the captains came forward and put their feet upon the necks of the five conquered kings. Joshua said to them:

“Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight” (Joshua 10:25)

Jesus has already conquered Satan and his principalities. At Calvary, He destroyed the works of Satan, stripped him of his power, and put His foot on his neck. He bruised Satan’s head in fulfillment of prophecy:

“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

Through this victory God gave us authority over all the power of the enemy and, like the captains in Joshua’s army who put their feet on the necks of their enemies, Christ wants us to put our feet on the necks of all our enemies. Jesus said,