Joshua 10

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Joshua 10:12-14, On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.  The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

The battle continues.  The kings of that region have banded together to fight against the Israelites but this is no real match.  The one true God stood firmly on the side of the Israelites and that will make all the difference.

Today's focus verses have to do with the Israelites' battle against the Amorites.  The Amorites were the people of what is now central and northern Syria.  Their language was similar to the Hebrews but that's where the similarity ends.  They were a powerful people, had big fortified cities, but they were pagan, worshiping many different gods. 

On the day of battle, Joshua wants to finish the fighting in a single day.  He asks the Lord to make the sun stand still and continue providing enough light to complete the battle in that same day.  He speaks to the Lord, in front of all Israel, to make the sun stop setting.  Scripture says that God allowed the sun to delay its setting for about a full day. 

It was interesting in the commentaries for this passage, there is much discussion about whether or not this "sun standing still" was plausible.  Could this actually occur or maybe there is some other scientific explanation?  I think that is missing the point.  God is God and has the power to act supernaturally, outside the laws of science.  All miracles demonstrate that.  Please don't get too caught up in the scientific aspect of the narrative.

What I find most amazing is that Joshua asked God to do this and God did it.  He listened to Joshua.  Friends, God listens to you.  God listens to individual human beings.  On this side of the cross, you can go boldly before the throne of grace.  You can ask largely of God.  That doesn't mean that a miracle will always occur but know that a miracle is not out of the realm of possibility.  But even if God doesn't do a miracle in your situation, God is actively at work in your life and he listens to your voice. 

How have you seen God at work in your life this week? 

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, We trust you.  We trust in your power.  When we don't believe, help our unbelief.  More of you, Jesus, and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.