Why God's blessings can be dangerous (so burn the chariots!)

In today's episode, Bob & Linda explore one of the most overlooked spiritual tests in the Christian life: how to stay dependent on God in the midst of blessings.

Drawing from Joshua 11, they unpack the strange moment where God tells Israel to hamstring the horses and burn the enemy's chariots—the ancient equivalent of destroying tanks after a battle. Why would God command that? Because victories can be just as spiritually dangerous as trials.

Through personal stories—from unexpected financial provision, to early blogging years, to painful seasons of health challenges—Bob & Linda reflect on how easy it is to place trust in the "chariots" of modern life: savings accounts, credit cards, systems, friendships, therapy, comfort, or even spiritual routines.

This episode is an invitation to ask the Holy Spirit: "What chariot in my life have I started to rely on more than God?"

It's a vulnerable, practical conversation about dependence, provision, and the subtle ways our security can shift from the Lord to the blessings He provides.

(Scripture from NLT.)

Big Takeaways

• God sometimes blesses us with success—but the real test comes after the victory.
• "Chariots" today can be anything we lean on before we lean on God—money, strategies, credit cards, relationships, even good systems.
• Joshua's obedience protected Israel's dependence; Solomon's disobedience eroded his.
• Trusting God doesn't mean rejecting tools—it means refusing to let tools replace Him.
• Obedience may feel costly, but it leaves room for God's provision to be unmistakable.

Key Scriptures (NLT)

• Joshua 11 — God commands Israel to cripple the horses and burn the chariots.
• Psalm 20:7 — "Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God."
• Deuteronomy 17:16 — Instruction to future kings not to store up horses.
• Matthew 14 (referenced) — Jesus' exhausting day of grief, ministry, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, and praying through the night.

Highlighted Quotes from the Episode

• "Getting the blessing is one thing—keeping God at the center is another."
• "Some victories make you feel strong. God wants you to stay dependent."
• "You can have a blessed life and still miss what God is trying to form in you."
• "You're not called to trust the tool—only the One who provides it."
• "Ask the Holy Spirit: What chariot am I still holding onto?"

Timestamps

00:00 — The surprising test after a breakthrough

02:00 — Why did God tell Joshua to burn chariots?

04:15 — Dependence vs. self-reliance when life is going well

06:30 — Modern "chariots": money, comfort, systems, relationships

10:00 — A real inheritance story: when provision can become a trap

11:00 — Bob's personal story: the blog, losing his job, and losing their "income lifeline"

13:30 — How challenges can strengthen faith more than comfort

15:00 — Jesus' exhausting day: grief, ministry, storm

17:00 — Joshua vs. Solomon: a tale of two responses

20:00 — Is God asking you to lay something down?

25:00 — Guided prayer: "Lord, show me my chariots"

26:30 — Final verse + encouragement

Weekly Action Item

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal ONE "chariot" in your life—a place where you've subtly shifted trust from God to a tool, resource, or comfort.

Write it down and pray:

"Lord, show me how to surrender this and depend on You again."

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