Joshua 9 to 11
Sun, Stand Still!
Joshua 9 to 11. Sun, Stand Still! Jericho had fallen, Ai had fallen, and the men of Gibeon had tricked Joshua into thinking they were from a far country, preferring servitude to death.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
Joshua 10:6-14, English Standard Version
Joshua 9 to 11
Sun, Stand Still!
Jericho had fallen, Ai had fallen, and the men of Gibeon had tricked Joshua into thinking they were from a far country, preferring servitude to death. The Armorite kings knew that they were next; their only hope was to band together to face the Israelites. Their plan was to go against Gibeon, because they had made a covenant with Israel. Strategically, it was a wise decision, but was it good enough?
When God fights for you, there is no force powerful enough to defeat you. When God fights against you, there is absolutely no hope of winning. Today's reading is a powerful example of that truth.
As the Armorite kings approached their city, the Gibeonites came to Joshua, pleading for help. Observe the hand of God in this amazing battle in the plains of Gibeon.
Joshua 9 to 11: Joshua 10:8-11
8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azrkak and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
Time, however, was running short; soon it would be dark. Joshua turned his face to God and said,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
Then what happened? Nothing is impossible for our God who created this world in which we live!
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, for there is no God like our God!
What lessons, then, can we learn from this narrative from Joshua 9 to 11?
Do you really want to be an enemy of God? It really is that simple, you know! Who will you serve? There really is no middle ground; we are servants of Christ or servants of Satan. Though, in our world today, Christians seem to be defeated by forces much more powerful than they, it is not the sun that will stand still, it is time itself that will cease!
You may say, "But I am not a great servant of God like Joshua, so how can I expect great things from God? Who am I that He would take any notice of me?"
That truly is the amazing thing! God of all gods, King of all kings, and Lord of all Lords, the Great Creator of the Universe, perfect in power, holiness, and goodness, notices me. He notices me! Who am I? I am nothing in this great world in which we live, and yet the God of the Universe listens to me and answers my prayers.
What is the greatest need of every single person: man, woman, and child who is alive in this world today? Our greatest need is Christ! We cannot stand before God because we are cloaked in sin and darkness, and yet Christ has gone to the cross and paid the debt of our sins. Our sins were cast upon Him so that even Christ was separated from God--for us!
Our hope is built in nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness. Go to Him and cry out to Him to save you now! Then you, too, can say:
"The battle is already won!"
Truly, there are no forces that can defeat this glorious God we serve. Only in Him is life everlasting!
Devotional Reflections from the Bible
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