Sometimes we tend to believe that passion does not respect boundaries, that those who passionately promote a cause disregard plans, policies, or rules.
But such was not the case with Joshua. Joshua listened to the commandments of God, not just those he had heard personally, but those instructions of God delivered through Moses. Read the requirements for worship outlined by Moses in Deut 27.1-12, and then see how Joshua honors them in Josh 8.30-35. The war was carried out according to the instructions of Moses to Israel; Deut 20 is echoed in the actions of Joshua reported in Josh 11.10-14. Ultimately, the historian records in verse 15:
"As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses."
So we ought to conform our passion to God's will by showing obedience to one of the commands of Moses applying still to us today:
"In the future, when your child asks you, 'What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees, and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?' tell him, 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.'" Deut 6.20-21
When our children ask us questions about our faith, let's tell them the story of God's people, and glorify God's mighty and saving hand.
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