Joshua

Joshua 10: God fights for Israel

Begin in prayer

Before considering God’s victory over the kings who fought Israel, come before Him in prayer. Ask Him to show us His righteous power and our need for Christ.

Yahweh is a man of war. Yahweh is his name.

Exodus 15:3

Mighty God, open our eyes to understand what we read today. Help us see Your righteous power and look to Christ for mercy. Make us more like Jesus in trusting Your Word. Please bless our family as we pray and listen together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Five Amorite kings attack Gibeon because it has made peace with Israel, and Joshua marches all night from Gilgal to help. The LORD confuses the attackers and hurls down great stones from the sky, killing more than Israel kills with the sword. Joshua speaks to the LORD, the sun stands still, and the moon stays, for the LORD fights for Israel. The five kings hide in a cave, and Joshua has them brought out and put to death. Joshua destroys the cities and their inhabitants as the LORD commands. He takes these kings and their land because the LORD, the God of Israel, fights for Israel.

As you read Joshua 10, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God fights for Israel and gives Joshua victory over the kings.

Gibeon had made peace with Israel, so five Amorite kings joined together to attack it (verses 1 to 5). The men of Gibeon asked Joshua to come quickly and save them (verse 6). The LORD told Joshua not to fear, for He had given the kings into his hands (verse 8). Joshua marched all night from Gilgal, and the LORD confused the enemy and hurled great stones from the sky (verses 9 to 11). Joshua spoke to the LORD, and the sun stood still and the moon stayed for about a whole day (verses 12 and 13). The text says there was no day like it, when the LORD listened to a man and fought for Israel (verse 14). The five kings were put to death, and Joshua took the cities of the south (verses 26 and 28 to 39). God had said that the sin of the Amorites was not yet full (Genesis 15 verse 16). Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD fought for Israel (verse 42).

How does Joshua 10 show us that God fights for Israel and gives Joshua victory over the kings?

God fights for Israel at Gibeon.

Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and five Amorite kings came to attack it (verses 1 to 5). The Gibeonites asked Joshua to come quickly and save them, and he marched all night (verses 6 to 9). The LORD had told Joshua not to fear (verse 8). The LORD confused the enemy and hurled great stones from the sky (verses 10 and 11).

The sun stands still and the moon stays.

Joshua spoke to the LORD in the sight of Israel (verse 12). He said, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon”, and the sun stood still and the moon stayed (verses 12 and 13). The sun did not hurry to go down for about a whole day (verse 13). The text says there was no day like it, because the LORD listened to the voice of a man (verse 14).

God gives Joshua the kings and their land.

Joshua told his men to be strong and courageous, for the LORD would do the same to all their enemies (verse 25). Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD fought for Israel (verse 42). Jesus won a greater victory when He rose and broke the power of death (Hebrews 2 verses 14 and 15).

Memorise

There was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I seeking safety from judgment in Jesus alone?

Joshua called out to the LORD, and the sun stood still, for the LORD fought for Israel. When the LORD fights for His people, no enemy can stand. Jesus fought the greatest enemy of His people, sin and death, and He won (Hebrews 2 verses 14 and 15).

The fight was won at the cross. There Jesus bore the punishment that His people's sins deserved, and all that was needed for their rescue was done. He rose from the dead, and death has no hold on His people.

So please do not trust your own strength against your sin. Turn from it and come to Jesus. Those who trust Him are forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD fought for Israel at Gibeon, and that Jesus fought sin and death for His people. Parents, please explain verses 24 to 40, where kings and cities fall, as God's judgment then and no pattern for war today. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His power and justice, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so please welcome a short prayer from any who wish to offer one.

You shall not fear them; for Yahweh your God himself fights for you.”

Deuteronomy 3:22

Lord God, thank You that no king can overcome Your power. Your judgment is just. Please bring each of us to repent and believe in Jesus, who bore judgment for His people. Help our family trust Your Word this week, and teach us to seek peace with the people around us. Amen.