Joshua 10:12-14 "Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. (13) And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. (14) And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel."
I cannot leave Joshua without including this event that took place in his life.
Five kings of the Amorites had gathered themselves together to go against the
people of Gibeon. The Gibeonites had tricked the people of Israel to make a
covenant with them. When the king of Jerusalem heard of this, he called the
other kings together to go up against them. This was before the time when
Israel had inhabited Jerusalem. It was still a city of the Canaanites. When the
league of nations went against the Gibeonites, they called for Joshua to send
help unto them. They gathered together against the nations and began to fight.
There were two great miracles that took place in this battle. God assured
Joshua that the battle belonged to Israel and not to fear them. Then the first
miracle took place. "And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel,
and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones
from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died
with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the
sword." (Joshua 10:11) The Lord intervened on behalf of Israel.
Then the second miracle took place. There was still a job to do in defeating
the kings of Canaan. The enemy began to flee as the day was coming to an end.
Joshua, being the great man of faith, called upon the Lord to cause the sun to
stand still. He knew they would need daylight in order to defeat the enemy. The
Canaanites were much more familiar with the land than the army of Israel. There
were many places for them to hide under the cover of darkness. Joshua
understood this and asked the Lord to divinely intervene one more time. In the
boldness of God's grace and mercy, Joshua spoke: "Sun, stand thou still
upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still,
and the moon stayed." The sun stood still in its place! God allowed the
light to remain in order for the people of Israel to avenge themselves upon
their enemies. "And there was no day like that before it or after
it." God is Great! God is Good!
I love this account in the book of Joshua because it assures me that our God
will supply every need that we have in order to live a victorious life. Lord,
please help me to walk in the Light of your glorious presence that I might
experience daily victories in my life. "But my God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best-
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.