Joshua 10:1-15

Rejoice in God’s Providence

What is Providence?

Providence is the governing power of God that oversees his creation and works out his plans for it.

Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs Providence: God Governs This World

“God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions” (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q.11).

The Bible does not reveal explicitly why God made the world, but we know that nothing happens in it apart from his loving care and concern.

Jesus said, “Not one Sparrow will not fall to ground apart from your Father.” He is talking about the preserving and governing of God over his creation.

3 Reasons to Rejoice in God’s Providence

I. The servants of the Lord is under His protection and care.

The Lord has to protect his people from their enemies...

A. The Alliance of 5 Canaanite Nations Vowed to Attack Gibeon (vv.1-5)

Joshua 10:3–4 NASB95

Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron and to Piram king of Jarmuth and to Japhia king of Lachish and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, and let us attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel.”

The 5 kings joined forces to attack Gibeon because Gibeon made peace with Israel.

B. The Gibeonites call for Rescue(vv. 6)

Joshua 10:6 NASB95

Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.”

Gibeon sent a message to Joshua asking for HELP, to defend them from the 5 Kings.

But because Gibeon has a COVENANT with Israel, Gibeon is by extension, under the care of Israel.

GOD had protected Israel many times…the same protection was extended to Gibeon, through Israel.

Illustration:

Remember your salvation my brothers and sisters - Like the Gibeonites, we were enemies of God, we were supposed to be thrown into Hell for our rejection of God. But through the mercies and grace of God, He gave us his beloved Son, Jesus the Christ.

Now, Like the Gibeonites, we are now recipient of the blessing of eternal life through Jesus Christ under the new covenant - through His blood we were forgiven.

Luke 22:19–20 NASB95

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

New Covenant = Blood poured out (sacrificed) for the forgiveness of sins.

How wonderful is the grace of God!

God is still able to turn a curse into a blessing.

Though it is usually true that the natural consequences of sin must run their course, the grace of God can not only forgive but also overrule mistakes and often bring blessings out of sins and failures.

II. Divine Providence and Human Responsibility works together in harmony

A. The Response of God - Divine Providence (vv. 7-15)

- God gave permission for Joshua and Israel to fight the 5 Kings (v.8)

Joshua 10:8 NASB95

The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.”

this was probably after Joshua CONSULTED the LORD.

God’s Providence in Disarming the enemies

Joshua 10:10 NASB95

And the Lord confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

confounded - confusion, panic,

rendering the enemies unable to fight, much like the story of Gideon.

God’s Providence by controlling nature to do his bidding.

Joshua 10:11 NASB95

As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

large stones - hailstones from heaven

God killed more than the swords of the Israelites.

The victory was the supernatural work of God.

Joshua 10:14 NASB95

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

B. The Response of Joshua - Human Responsibility (v.9)

Joshua 10:9 NASB95

So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.

they walked for 35 kilometers, uphill…they must be very tired and will be ineffective if they fought the armies of the 5 kings face to face.

Joshua 10:12 NASB95

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”

Joshua prayed for God to intervene once again - extending the day for the battle to be completed.

Prayer of Faith to the Sovereign God

Joshua commanded the sun and moon and they obeyed…

Was it because of Joshua’s faith? Or

Was it because of God’s faithfulness?

My answer to this is both!

Joshua had faith in the power and faithfulness of God. He held on the truth of God’s truth when God said in verse 8.

Joshua’s prayer is aligned to the will and the Word of God.

When our prayer is aligned to the will and the Word of God - miracle happens.

You see, Divine Providence and Human Responsibility works in harmony

Illustration:

Gaining the Victory before the Battle

The reason why many fail in the battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.

R.A Torrey

III. God fights for His People

Joshua 10:14 NASB95

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

Spiritual Warfare

God is not passive from his creation but dynamically involved in all that he has made.

In the past, this activity was seen in the history of Israel and in the ministry of Jesus Christ. In the present, God’s activity can be seen in the life of believers and of the church.

God’s Providence in Empowering the Believers

A. God is actively working in every believer:

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NASB95

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (temptations - carnality, immorality, lust, greed…)

B. God is active in the church

Philippians 2:13 NASB95

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

C. Jesus will not stop fighting for His Bride - the Church

Lexham Survey of Theology Providence

It is because we believe in this providence that we can find the strength to trust God even when things go badly for us in this world. The Christian life is a spiritual struggle, but in Christ we know that we have the victory over it and that he will keep us safe to the end.