It sounds like a science fiction movie doesn't it? Unlike Hollywood's imaginations, this really happened!
Joshua's armies could see victory but their strength was waning. After pulling an "all-nighter" marching 20 miles to the east, uphill no less, they had the element of surprise on their side. They surprised the enemy who had dismissed their strength or willingness to fight. However, God had promised the Israelites a victory -- He even went ahead of them, pelting the Amorites with large, deadly hailstones, killing many. Still there were plenty of enemy forces left for the Israelites to win the day -- but their strength was nearly gone. That had endured a series of battles and skirmishes. They were bloodied, bruised and their strength was waning.
So what did Joshua do? Did he sit down to take a breather since he had the enemy in his sights? Did he beg God to vanquish the enemy as He obviously could with hailstones or some other natural disaster? No, he did something not seen before.
In Joshua 10, the leader of the Israelites, the student of Moses, did a thing that Moses hadn't even dreamed of. He addressed the Lord, but commanded the sun and moon to stand still. Joshua didn't want the day to pass without sealing the victory; he didn't want to risk losing one man in battling in the dark. The passage says, "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's request was granted and historical texts from the Book of Jasher say that the sun delayed moving for about a full day. Joshua received an extra day! Have you endured a series of skirmishes? Do you have the enemy cornered but feel a little unsteady on your feet? Don't be afraid to ask God for the impossible. He'll move the sun and the moon to grant you victory!
Joshua's armies could see victory but their strength was waning. After pulling an "all-nighter" marching 20 miles to the east, uphill no less, they had the element of surprise on their side. They surprised the enemy who had dismissed their strength or willingness to fight. However, God had promised the Israelites a victory -- He even went ahead of them, pelting the Amorites with large, deadly hailstones, killing many. Still there were plenty of enemy forces left for the Israelites to win the day -- but their strength was nearly gone. That had endured a series of battles and skirmishes. They were bloodied, bruised and their strength was waning.
So what did Joshua do? Did he sit down to take a breather since he had the enemy in his sights? Did he beg God to vanquish the enemy as He obviously could with hailstones or some other natural disaster? No, he did something not seen before.
In Joshua 10, the leader of the Israelites, the student of Moses, did a thing that Moses hadn't even dreamed of. He addressed the Lord, but commanded the sun and moon to stand still. Joshua didn't want the day to pass without sealing the victory; he didn't want to risk losing one man in battling in the dark. The passage says, "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's request was granted and historical texts from the Book of Jasher say that the sun delayed moving for about a full day. Joshua received an extra day! Have you endured a series of skirmishes? Do you have the enemy cornered but feel a little unsteady on your feet? Don't be afraid to ask God for the impossible. He'll move the sun and the moon to grant you victory!
RSS Feed