Joshua 10 - 12

So far we learned that Joshua led the Israelites across the river to the Promised Land.  The Israelites, by faith and obedience destroyed the city of Jericho by marching around the city wall 7 times as God commanded.  No one was spared except Rahab and her household.  We learned that God gives victory in the battles He calls us to fight.  We learned that all the spoils were to go to God, but Achan kept some for himself which angered God.  Because of that sin, God allowed the army of Ai to defeat Israel.  We then saw Joshua defeat Ai.  We saw the deception of the Gibeonites resulting in Joshua making a treaty with them. 

Joshua 10:1-15 – The Sun Stands Still       

The king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had destroyed Ai and Jericho and that he had made a treaty with Gibeonites.  Gibeon was a big important city with good fighting men.  The king asked the 5 kings of the Amorities to come and help him attack Gibeon.  Gibeonites sent word to Joshua for help.  Joshua sent his entire army.  (Joshua 10:1-7) God again told 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.

The Gibeonites went to Joshua for help.  Joshua had made a promise to them and he could not disappoint them now.  Who do you go to in time of trouble?  Joshua’s name means “the Lord is my Savior”.  We have a Savior and we can always go to him when we need help.  He has promised to help and will not disappoint us.

What promises have you made?

Do you keep your promises?        

What about the promises you made to your spouse at your wedding?       

When Joshua arrived, the enemy was taken by surprised.  The Lord kept His promise.  The Lord sent confusion on them and Israel defeated them.  They, of course fled and as they fled God hurled large hailstones on them from the sky. (Another miracle of God)  This killed more of them than Israel did by their swords. (Joshua 10:9-11)

The hailstorm signified that God’s hand was in the battle.  It showed that God’s work is greater than any man.

Joshua wanted God to be glorified.  He wanted a complete victory and needed more time.  He didn’t want the enemy to escape.  If night came, they might scatter and find hiding places.  So Joshua called upon God to stop the progress of time.  Joshua prayed to the Lord in the presence of Israel, “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.  So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nations avenged itself on its enemies.” – Joshua 10:12-13.  The sun stopped in the sky and didn’t go down for a full day.  “There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man.  Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” – Joshua 10:14.

Here is another miracle that shows God’s awesome power.  God extended the daylight hours so Israel could have a complete victory over the enemy.  God heard Joshua’s prayer to reverse the natural order.  He extended the hours of the day long enough so that Israel could finish the battle. 

God kept His promise of victory for Israel.  God listened to Joshua as he prayed and praised God.  He will keep His promises to you.  He will listen to you.  Praise God in all He is doing in your life and praise Him so others can hear.  That is a great witness for God.

There are several obvious miracles of God in this chapter; He stopped the sun and the moon by freezing the laws of physics; He threw confusion into the enemy; He hurled hailstone down from heaven killing the enemy.

What miracle has God done for you?

How do you give God the praises He deserves?

Do you praise Him in secret or for others to hear?

Principle:  The Lord’s power is not limited.

Lessons we learn:

We are to be honorable and keep our promises.

God keeps His promises.

We should continue to pray in all things.

God hears our prayers.

God answers our prayers sometimes in a miraculous way.

God is sovereign and His power is limitless.

Joshua 10:16-43; 11:1-23 – More Victories

The 5 kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah.  Joshua sent men to guard the cave so the kings could not return to their cities as Joshua and Israel kept pursuing the enemy.  Then the kings were brought to Joshua and killed and then hung on trees.  At evening they were taken down and put in the cave where they had been hiding and large rocks were placed at the mouth of the cave.  Joshua took Makkedah and its king and totally destroyed everyone leaving no survivors. (Joshua 10:16-28)

Principle: We must control, confront and conquer our enemies.

What do you have hidden in your cave?

Do you have some king in your life that needs to be killed?

The evil kings in your heart need to be put to death so they will not rise up to try to destroy you again and again.  These kings may be immorality, impurity, sensuality, lust, idolatry, jealousy, anger, disputes, drunkenness, carousing.  They need to be killed!  We need to pull out those kings and nail them to the cross.  God’s way of victory is through crucifixion.  “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” – Rom 6:11.

Joshua continued conquering the cities in southern Canaan.  He conquered Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, and Debir as the Lord handed them over to Israel.  He conquered from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon destroying everything and leaving no survivors as the Lord commanded.  They were all conquered because God of Israel fought for Israel.  Then Joshua and Israel returned to their camp at Gilgal. (Joshua 10:29-43). 

Joshua 11 tells us that word of Israel’s victories spread and now the northern kings wanted a fight with Israel.  These kings joined together to make war, but again the Lord told Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain.” – Joshua 11:1-6.  God had hardened the hearts of these kings to wage war against Israel so He might destroy them totally.  Again, Israel completely destroyed all these cities as the Lord commanded.  Joshua took the entire land and didn’t make treaties.    He destroyed the Anakites from the hill country.  Joshua destroyed the entire land as the Lord directed Moses and gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.  (Joshua 11:1-23).

The Anakites if you remember in Numbers 13 were to people the Israelites came across when they explored the land of Canaan they found that the Anakites who lived there were giants and very powerful.  I am sure by defeating them, it gave them much more trust in God and His Word that He is with them and would deliver them and they should not be afraid.

What questions or doubts do you struggle with as you see all this violence and destruction in these chapters?  Canaan was a heathen nation.  They were evil and wicked.  They knew about God, but corrupted and perverted His truth.  They were beyond saving.  God ordered their destruction because of the corrupting influence they would have if their false religious system was allowed to survive.  God didn’t want His people to be fall into their evil ways so they had to be destroyed. 

Joshua 12 – The List

We see in this chapter there is a list of all the kings and territories defeated by Israel.  There were 33 kings defeated.  Moses defeated the 1^st 2 kings Sihon and Og.  Joshua defeated 16 kings in the south and 15 kings in the north. 

I like to make lists.  Then when I cross something off, I see what I’ve done and feel good about my accomplishment.  This list helped the Israelites remember what God had done for them.  I think this list was also given to us to show that these events are real.  It shows God keeps His Word and is a Promise Keeper.

Principle:  We can defeat our enemies by relying on the Lord.

What are the spiritual enemies you are facing?

How much do you obey God’s Word in your daily life?

Do you take God at His Word and believe Him?

When are you tempted to compromise your Christian faith?

Next week we will continue to study more in the book of Joshua.  See you here.

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