When king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, heard that Joshua had conquered Jericho and Ai; and that Gibeon, had made a treaty with Joshua, he “greatly feared.” Joshua 10:1-2.
By looking at a map, the plan is clear. Divide and conquer.
Joshua had taken the middle section of the Promise Land.
Jerusalem was next. So, Adoni-Zedek formed a coalition
of four more kings and those five kings waged war against Gibeon. Joshua 10:3-5.
You may remember, the Gibeonites deceived Joshua into
thinking they were from a far away country, and thus, tricked them into the
treaty. Joshua 9:15-16.
So, the Gibeonites had to decide whose side they’re on.
Do they side with the five kings, and tell them they just tricked Joshua so they
didn’t end up like Jericho and Ai? Or, do they stand with Joshua, and face the wrath
of the five kings?
Whose side are you on?
They made the right decision. They sent word to Joshua.
Don’t forsake us, save us, help us. Joshua 10:6.
Did you know Joshua is the Old Testament name for
Jesus? They both mean, the Lord is Salvation.
Never will I leave or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1.
When Joshua heard the Gibeonites call for help he said,
“Ha! Serves you right, that’s what you get for tricking us!”
No. That’s not at all what he said.
He dropped what he was doing, rallied the troops, the
best of his men, and headed toward Gibeon. The very people that tricked him. The
ones that were doomed for destruction until they deceived Joshua into the
treaty. Now, he rushes to their aid. Joshua 10:7.
God does the same. For God soooo loved the world, He
gave His very best. John 3:16.
For the first time since the battle at Ai, Joshua 8:18, the Lord speaks up and tells Joshua not to fear. Joshua 10:8.
They marched all night, about ten hours, over fifteen miles
up hill, and came upon the enemy suddenly. Joshua 10:9.
The Lord stepped in and routed,
and killed and struck and cast down the enemy. Joshua 10:10-11.
The battle is the Lord’s.
There was more battle left than daylight, so Joshua
told the sun and moon to stand still…
And they did.
For about a whole day.
Unbelievable.
But believe it anyway.
It happened.
Joshua 10:12-14.
Writings of antiquity in almost every continent tell
of a long day, or perhaps, a long night.
Harvard Professor Pickering told of a missing day in
ancient calendars back in Joshua’s day.
As you know the heavens declare the glory of God, they
tell HIStory, speak of His handiwork. Psalm 19:1. Sailors have used the sky as
their guide. The wisemen found the Lord by reading the sky. University of
Maryland scientists studied the sky to assist in determining future placement
of satellites. The sun and moon and stars follow a pattern, so to know the
future they examined the past. And in so doing, they discovered something was
off, by about twenty-three hours and twenty minutes.
Is
this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of
heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13.
Could “about a whole day” be something like twenty-three
hours and twenty minutes?
Some claim the story about the twenty-three hours and
twenty minutes is just myth. But no matter. Let God be true and every man a
liar. Romans 3:4.
Oh, and Joshua
mentions that this is recorded in the book of Jasher. Have you ever read it?
No?
Neither have I.
That’s because we don’t know where it is. All we know
is what we see here in Joshua 10:13, and then, 2 Samuel 1:18–27, speaks of a song
of David, recorded in it. Thus, it appears to have been a book of songs and
poems highlighting the exploits of Israel.
In the meantime, the five kings who started this battle
snuck off and hid in a cave. They were discovered, and locked in the cave until
the battle was over. Then, they were taken out, executed, and thrown back into
the cave; where they remain, to this very day. Joshua 10:16-27.
When the dust settled and the sun finally set after
this longest day, all the cities that came against Gibeon, (the southern
section of the Promise Land), were utterly destroyed. Joshua 10:28-41.
Joshua took them all at one time, because
the Lord fought for them. Joshua 10:42. What seemed to be a disaster, turned
into a time saving catalyst. You see, Joshua had wasted time negotiating and
making peace with the Gibeonites. Like we may have wasted our lives pursuing
deals, and dreams, that had little to do with God’s plans and purpose.
But, all at once, all the enemies rose up, together,
to fight. And that offered the opportunity to win a major victory all at on
time; rather than little by little.
It’s never too late. God can redeem your time. He can restore
what we may see as wasted years. He can, and will, if we let Him, by surrendering
all to Him. If we surrender whatever time we have left on this planet, He can
do in a minute, what we’ve been trying to do for a lifetime.
Will you surrender? All?
The last verse says they returned to their
camp at Gilgal. Joshua 10:43.
That’s where it all began. Where they set up the
memorial stones, set themselves apart with circumcision; remembered the
Passover, tasted the good of the land; their first love of the Promise Land. Home.
He’s calling.
Will you return?
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