Joshua 10 - 12

Click on the Scripture above to read Joshua 10-12!

Today, you are reading one of the most amazing stories of the Bible! Like the famous Napolean Bonaparte and Alexander the Great who we read about so often in our history books, Joshua courageously leads his army to some incredible military victories! But Joshua had an edge that Napoleon and Alexander didn't have! He had the foreknowledge of God's spoken promise! God promised Moses and Joshua that He would fight these battles for them, and that He would help them wipe out every inhabitant who wasn't voluntarily willing to leave in an attempt to spare their own lives.

Out of this story (which runs through all 3 chapters), we learn some provocative insights about our God and our relationship with Him! Here are a few of those insights:

1) The battle is won or lost BEFORE the battle ever starts! One can only imagine the courage Joshua must have had knowing the outcome of all the battles BEFOREHAND! God encouraged Joshua with this statement in 10:8, "Do not be afraid of them...for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you." In fact, notice what God does beyond the elements of human ability:

- He "threw them into a panic" (vs.10)
- He "destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven" (vs.11)
- He answered Joshua's prayer whereas "the sun stood still" (vs.13)

We'll talk more about the sun standing still, but what I want us to focus on is two things:
A) We are NEVER alone in our battles! B) We MUST always remember that the battle is won BEFORE it's fought!

Let me give you an example! When I'm invited to speak at a church, I know that there will be forces at work that I cannot see. From the Bible, we learn that the angels of Heaven and the demons are in a constant battle over men's souls. There is a battle raging every time a preacher gets up to preach, especially if that preacher is one who is preaching the Word of God! So, realizing this incredible truth, I spend time with God in prayer BEFORE I enter the battle. It's during prayer or as the result of prayer that God lays on my heart the message He wants me to present to an audience. It's through prayer that I ask for God's help. It's through prayer that God communicates to me His support. When I know I've spent time with God and He's answered me, I can boldy enter into a pulpit knowing that the battle over men's hearts is won! That doesn't mean everyone will respond positively to the message, but it does mean that God will get the victory somehow!

What battles do you feel you're fighting? What forces are you up against? My advice is to run to your prayer closet and pray! Continue praying until you feel you've connected with God.

And, know this too! God has already given us MANY promises about life! Knowing His Word and knowing these promises are what give many mature Christians the boldness and courage to keep fighting, even when the battle seems overwhelming. Remember, the battle is won in the prayer closet! It's won BEFORE you enter the battle!

2) It's amazing what God will do for us...if only we'll ask! One of the most remarkable and controversial passages in Scripture is Joshua 10:12-14. Joshua, in his quest to finish off the remaining enemy forces, prayed to God and asked Him to do something that defies nature! He asked Him to "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon." Amazingly enough, God did it! The Bible records, "the sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since when the Lord answered such a prayer."

Several modern interpretations of the story have been suggested:
- Some say that no miracle happened and it's only poetic license.
- Others say that a solar eclipse took place.
- Still, some scientists say that something actually did take place long ago!

As a Christian, we know that anything is possible with God. God did the same sort of thing for King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:9-11. Hezekiah asked God to show him a sign that he would regain his health by causing "the shadow to move back ten steps backwards (5-6 hours) on the sundial of Ahaz." God did it!

Even Jesus showed us some incredible miracles - the blind made to see, the deaf made to hear, the lame to walk, and brought people back to life after being dead for days! Jesus said in Matthew 21:21, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith...you can say to this mountain 'Go throw yourself into the sea' and it would be done."
We have a miracle working God! Are you allowing God to work miracles in your life? If not, where is your faith? How "BIG" is our God to you? Is He as BIG and POWERFUL in your mind as BIG and POWERFUL as He reveals Himself in the Bible? "Houston, we have a problem!"

3) People can be their own worst enemy! God gave Joshua the command to allow people to willingly leave the land. Sadly, in 11:19, it says, "No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon." Instead of realizing the fact that "God was fighting for them" (remember Rahab told Israel they knew that!), they stubbornly and pridefully stood their ground and it cost them their lives!

According to 12:24, Israel fought 31 kings and kingdoms...and WON! Sadly, the command from God was to completely wipe out anyone who wouldn't voluntarily leave. God did NOT want the Israelites to be corrupted by these pagan people - just like what happened in Moab before they entered the Promised Land. Therefore, we read these harsh words:

- "they totally wiped out five armies" - 10:20
- "leaving no survivors" - 10:28
- "leaving no survivors" - 10:30
- "killed everyone in it" - 10:32
- "leaving no survivors" - 10:33
- "killed everyone in it" - 10:35
- "completely destroyed the population" - 10:37
- "completely destroyed everyone" - 10:39
- "leaving no survivors" - 10:40
- "not a single person was spared" - 11:11
- "but they killed all the people, leaving no survivors" - 11:14

God's patience had run out with these pagan people. He gave them the opportunity to voluntarily leave, but they refused and trusted in their ability or their own gods to protect them.

Here's an incredible truth - 1 person + God = Invincibility!

Hope you got something out of today's lesson. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!