SCRIPTURE: JOSHUA 10
BIBLE VERSES:
“The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” (Joshua 10:8)
“On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.” (Joshua 10:12-15)
THE SUN STANDS STILL (vs. 1-16)
When Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and Jericho and that people of Gibeon had made a treaty with Israel, he united 4 kings: Hojam-king of Hebron, Piram-king of Jarmuth, Japhia-king of Lachish and Debir-king of Eglon together to help him attack Gibeon. The five kings joined forces against Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent words to Joshua to save them. So Joshua marched up from Gilgal and the Lord assured him of victory. The Lord confused the enemies and the israelites defeated them. The Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky and people died of hailstone exceed those being killed by swords of the Israelites.
Joshua requested the Lord to let the sun stand still and the moon stop to delay going down about a full day. The Joshua returned with all Israelites to the camp at Gilga.
FIVE AMORITE KINGS KILLED (vs. 16-28)
The five kings fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah. Joshua told their men to roll large rocks up to the most of the cave and post some men to guard it. Then they pursue the enemies and destroyed them completely. Then Joshua brought the five kings our of the cave struck and killed them. He hang them on the trees until evening. Then they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they placed large rock at the mouth of the cave. That day, Joshua took Makkedah and did to him as he had done to the king of Jericho. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.
SOUTHERN CITIES CONQUERED (vs. 29-43)
Cities being conquered are:
- Lachish
- Libnah
- Gezer
- Eglon
- Hebron
- Debir
- Negev
- Kadesh Barnea
- Gaza
- Goshen
- Gibeon
Joshua took the cities, subdued the whole region, leaving no survivors and totally destroyed all the inhabitants. Then he returned with all Israelites to the camp at Gilgal.
THOUGHTS:
When Joshua needed more time to fight the battles, God kept the sun and the mor stay in answer to his prayer. The Lod prolonged the day and God turned the tide of battle for His people to victory. When you need God’s help, pray to him and experience the tremendous power of prayer.
The God who empowered Joshua will protect and win victories for us. He will keep us with our present and future needs. He gives us hope to withstand the struggles that lie ahead.
All of Israel’s victories came from God. When we are successful, do not take all the credit and glory for ourselves. We should give God the credit and praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness.