Faith for Daylight Miracles

Joshua 10:1–14 KJV 1900

1 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; 2 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. 3 Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. 8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. 9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, 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. 12 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.

Sermon Abstract: Joshua 10:1–15 reminds believers that faith in God’s promises empowers us to stand firm even when the battle is great and the odds seem overwhelming (v. 8; cf. Deuteronomy 20:1, Isaiah 41:10). Through Joshua’s courageous trust, we see that God responds to audacious prayers with divine intervention—even causing the sun to stand still (v. 13; cf. Jeremiah 32:17). This passage teaches us that when we walk in daily obedience and bold faith, God will fight for us (v. 14; cf. Exodus 14:14), giving us the victory in His perfect time.

Introduction: I remember reading the story of a young African missionary, serving in a war-torn region. One day, as rebel fighters advanced, she was given a chance to evacuate. Instead, she prayed. She told her mission board, “God didn’t call me here to run when trouble comes. He called me to trust Him for today.” That night, as enemy forces pressed in, a sudden, unexplainable rainstorm washed out the only passable road into the village. The rebels were stalled for days—and the missionary was spared. What was that? That was faith for the day. Not faith for next week. Not faith for next year. But faith to trust God right now—right in the face of the trouble you can see and the outcome you can’t. That kind of faith doesn’t always make sense to the world, but it always moves the hand of God.

That same kind of faith is what we witness in Joshua 10. But before we dive into the battle, let’s back up and understand the broader backdrop. The Book of Joshua is a powerful record of conquest, covenant, and courageous faith. It serves as the bridge between the wilderness wanderings under Moses and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land. Joshua, Moses’ successor, is not just a military leader—he’s a spiritual leader charged with fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:7). The book opens with God’s call to courage: “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6), and that theme echoes through every chapter. God didn’t just want the land possessed—He wanted a people who would live by faith, follow His Word, and reflect His glory.

By the time we reach chapter 10, Israel is deep into their campaign of conquest. Jericho has fallen by faith, Ai has been taken after repentance, and a covenant has been made—even if under deception—with the Gibeonites. Now, five Amorite kings rise up against Gibeon for aligning with Israel. Joshua could have said, “Let them fight their own battle.” But he doesn’t. He honors the covenant and steps into the conflict with a heart full of faith and a prayer that shook heaven and earth. What we read is a record of divine assistance, where the sun halts in the sky, hailstones fall from heaven, and God fights for His people.

And church, if we’re honest, we’ve all had days when life pressed in like five kings at once. Stress from the job, struggles at home, unexpected health crises, or financial setbacks—sometimes it feels like everything hits at the same time. In those moments, the question isn’t whether you go to church, carry a Bible, or sing in the choir. The real question is: do you have faith for the day? Faith that says, “God, I’m tired, but I’m trusting You. God, I don’t see the answer, but I’m following You. God, I don’t know how this ends, but I know You’re still in control.” Joshua 10 isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a holy invitation for every believer to trust God boldly, obey Him fully, and watch Him move miraculously, one day at a time.

I. Plan for Conspiracies (Joshua 10:1–5)

Every believer walking by courageous faith must accept this spiritual reality: favor attracts foes. The enemy doesn’t conspire against weakness—he conspires against witness. When God's favor is evident and His purpose is unfolding in your life, you can expect opposition to organize. In Joshua 10:1–5, five Amorite kings unite in a military alliance not because of what Israel had done wrong—but because of what Israel had done right. They weren’t attacking Gibeon for betrayal—they were attacking Gibeon because of alignment. And that’s a word for somebody today: your connection to what God is doing can make you a target of the enemy's tactics.

A. Endure Character Assassination (Joshua 10:1)

Joshua 10:1 KJV 1900

1 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

“…because it was told [Adoni-Zedek] how Gibeon had made peace with Israel…” (v. 1)

The attack was not just military—it was a message. The kings didn’t just want to destroy Gibeon, they wanted to make an example out of them. When people can’t discredit what God is doing in your life, they will try to discredit you. They will talk, twist, and target your name, just because you chose to trust God.

“Some people will hate you just for who you walk with!”

“Don’t let the whispers behind your back make you walk away from your breakthrough!”

“God’s favor on your life will frustrate folks who expected you to fail!”

Cross-References:

Nehemiah 4:1–3 “1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.”

Matthew 5:11 “11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

1 Peter 3:16 “16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

B. Expect Coordinated Resistance (Joshua 10:2-5)

Joshua 10:2–5 KJV 1900

2 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. 3 Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

“Therefore the five kings of the Amorites… gathered themselves together…” (v. 5)

We should never be shocked when our obedience to God incites enemies to organize. The enemy is not only crafty—he is collaborative. David speaks of his continual issues with confederate forces: (Psalm 27:2 “2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell.” ) These kings came from different cities but had a common agenda: stop the advancement of God’s people. They aligned their armies, resources, and strategy to oppose what they could not control.

“The devil doesn't mind if you shout on Sunday, as long as you sit still on Monday!”

“Sometimes the problem isn't position—it’s Spiritual progress!”

“The moment we start walking in purpose, the enemy starts working overtime!”

Cross-References:

Psalm 27:2 KJV 1900

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell.

Psalm 83:3 “3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, And consulted against thy hidden ones.”

Luke 22:2 “2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.”

Acts 4:26 “26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.”

Illustration:

In World War II, the Allied Forces used dummy tanks and fake airfields to confuse the enemy before D-Day. It was all a diversion to protect the real mission. Don’t be distracted by the devil’s diversions—stay focused on the mission God has assigned to your life. Conspiracies may form, but God’s plan will not fail.

II. Progress Confidently (Joshua 10:6–8)

When conspiracies arise, you don’t cower—you keep going. One of the clearest signs of courageous faith is not just how you pray in private, but how you press forward in public. Joshua teaches us that when God’s assignment is on your life, you don’t stand still in fear—you progress confidently in faith. In verses 6 through 8, the Gibeonites cry out for help. Joshua doesn’t hesitate—he moves swiftly, even though this wasn’t a battle he started. Because when God’s hand is on your journey, you don’t need to control the crisis—you just need to keep stepping with confidence.

A. Respond to Challenges (Joshua 10:6–7)

Joshua 10:6–7 KJV 1900

6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

“And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua... ‘Slack not thy hand...’ So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him…”

Notice: Joshua didn’t wait for perfect conditions—he moved in righteous conviction. He could’ve ignored the cry from Gibeon, justified inaction, or delayed the decision. But courageous leaders don’t pause when it’s time to protect. They respond with boldness, because when God gives you a role in the battle, He’s already given you a reason to believe.

Preaching Lines:

“Sometimes courage is not in the answer—it’s in the action!”

“You don’t need all the details to move—you just need a word from God!”

“Faith doesn’t freeze in the face of fear—it fights forward!”

Cross-References:

Proverbs 24:11 “11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, And those that are ready to be slain;”

Galatians 6:2 “2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

James 2:15–16 “15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

Luke 10:33 “33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,”

B. Rely on God’s Calling (Joshua 10:8)

Joshua 10:8 KJV 1900

8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

“And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand…”

What settles Joshua’s spirit is not military strategy—but divine certainty. God reminds him that the outcome is already secured. That’s not just encouragement—that’s confirmation. When you are called by God, every step you take in faith is backed by a word from heaven. That’s why Joshua could go to war without flinching—he wasn’t relying on his sword; he was resting in God’s spoken word.

“When God calls you, He equips you—and when He equips you, He goes before you!”

“Stop stressing over what God already settled!”

“If God gave the order, you don’t need to second-guess the outcome!”

Cross-References:

Isaiah 41:13 “13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, Saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Romans 8:30 “30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

2 Timothy 1:9 “9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

Hebrews 10:23 “23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

Illustration:

A young boy once asked a pilot mid-flight, “Aren’t you scared of flying through the clouds?” The pilot smiled and said, “No son—I can’t see the ground, but I trust my instruments, and I know who built the plane.” When life gets cloudy and challenges rise, we keep flying—not because we can see everything, but because we trust the God who’s already charted the course.

III. Pray Courageously (Joshua 10:12–14)

If you want to see God do the miraculous, you’ve got to be willing to pray the impossible. Joshua didn’t just swing his sword—he opened his mouth in faith. In the heat of battle, with daylight slipping away and the enemy still on the run, Joshua does something no general had ever done before—he asks God to pause the sun. And the text tells us, without apology or scientific explanation, God did it. When you live by courageous faith, you don’t just fight—you pray like heaven hears you, because it does.

A. Request Miracles (Joshua 10:12)

Joshua 10:12 KJV 1900

12 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.

“Then spake Joshua to the Lord… and he said… Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.”

Joshua didn’t whisper a safe prayer—he shouted a supernatural one. He wasn’t asking for a little more time; he was believing for a massive intervention. And God honored his boldness. Courageous prayers are not selfish—they’re strategic. They’re rooted in kingdom purpose and aimed at divine outcomes. Joshua wasn’t trying to impress Israel—he was trying to complete the mission.

“If you never ask big, don’t be surprised when you never see big!”

“Some of us are asking for crumbs when God’s got a table prepared!”

“Heaven still honors holy boldness!”

Cross-References:

John 14:13–14 “13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

James 5:17–18 “17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Mark 11:24 “24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Ephesians 3:20 “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

B. Remember the Manifestations of Your Prayers for Miracles (Joshua 10:13–14)

Joshua 10:13–14 KJV 1900

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.

“And the sun stood still… and there was no day like that before it or after it…”

This wasn’t just an answered prayer—it was a historic act of God. The writer of Joshua pauses to make sure we understand: this was not normal, and it wasn’t luck. It was the Lord listening to the voice of a man. And when God does the miraculous in response to prayer, you ought to remember it. Write it down. Testify about it. Tell your children. Because when you reflect on how God has moved, you’ll pray with more courage when you need Him to move again.

“Don’t ever forget what God did—because the memory of a miracle is fuel for your faith!”

“He didn’t stop the sun to be flashy—He did it to be faithful!”

“What God did then is proof of what He can still do now!”

Cross-References:

Deuteronomy 4:9 “9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;”

Psalm 77:11–14 “11 I will remember the works of the Lord: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is so great a God as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast declared thy strength among the people.”

Hebrews 13:8 “8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Malachi 3:6 “6 For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Sermon Close

During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, engineers were told it was impossible to span the East River with a suspension bridge of that scale. But Washington Roebling had a vision—one he couldn’t even physically complete himself after falling ill. From his sickbed, he gave instructions to his wife, who relayed every blueprint, every bolt, and every beam to the crew. The bridge was built—not because the man was strong, but because the vision never died. Likewise, some prayers aren’t answered because we’re strong, but because we dared to believe. And when God honors courageous prayers, generations walk across the bridge of your faith!

God still answers courageous faith. He still moves in impossible situations. He still honors bold obedience. He still performs miracles when His people pray with expectation.

You may not need the sun to stand still—but you do need time to be redeemed. You may not be facing five kings—but you are facing bills, battles, and burdens. You may not be holding a sword like Joshua—but you're still trying to hold your marriage, your mind, and your ministry together. But the same God that moved in Joshua’s day… is moving right now!

When conspiracies rise, keep your confidence. When enemies unite, keep your expectation. When fear creeps in, keep your focus. When time seems short, keep your trust.

Because the God we serve… Is the same yesterday… and today… and forever. The God we serve… still fights for His people. The God we serve… still hears bold prayers. The God we serve… still makes a way out of no way.

Somebody in this room knows He will… He will part Red Seas! He will shut lion’s mouths! He will quench fiery furnaces! He will walk with you through the valley! He will answer when you call! He will show up just in time!

Do I have a witness in here?

You don't need faith for the year—just faith for the day. You don’t need faith for next month—just faith for right now. Faith to take the next step. Faith to pray the next prayer. Faith to fight the next battle. Faith to believe that God is still in control!

And that’s why the old saints used to sing:

🎶 “Have faith in God, He’s on His throne, Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own; He cannot fail, He must prevail, Have faith in God, have faith in God!” 🎶

So I dare you today… Don’t shrink back. Don’t run away. Don’t give up. Stand strong. Step forward. Speak boldly. And watch God show up when you have… faith for the day!