Joshua 10, part 1

Review- Gibeonite issue

As we begin today we need to revisit how we got to our current story. Remember that in chapter 9 these Gibeonites tricked Joshua and Israel into making a treaty with Israel. They pulled it off in a number of ways: Does anyone recall what they did?

pretended to be from a far country

they brought moldy bread and old cracked wineskins

worn out sandal’s

made no mention of recent victories at Ai and Jericho

appealed to the “flesh”. Offering to be servants of Israel.

I fact they lived only 3 days journey away. Does anyone recall what Israel forgot to do? Pray..they trusted their flesh and didn’t take counsel from God on the matter.

We discussed the implications of bad decisions and being people of our word.

One of the major issues we confront when we have missed up is that of complications resulting from bad decisions.

Vs 1 - 6 Gibeonite complications

In this first section we see the Canaanite nations getting stirred up and afraid of Israel and deciding to take it out on Gibeon. Gibeon now calls out for help from Joshua and Israel.

When we look closely at these first verses we see some interesting things.

5 stronghold cities were joining to fight against Israel.

The leader is Adoni Zedek the king of Jerusalem. The name Adoni Zedek means “lord of Righteousness”. I have spoken often about how the book of Joshua parallels the book of Revelation. This Adoni Zedek is a type of who? Anti Christ. (As an aside the name is similar to Melchizedek meaning King of Righteousness.)

Gibeon was not just some weak little city. It was regarded as a great city, a Royal City, all it’s men were mighty.

Courson comments that the Kind of Hebron was a mediocre King because he was just Ho-hum, (Hoham).

Gibeon begs Joshua for immediate help in light of their covenant.

Vs 6 The Problems facing Israel

Joshua was confronted by a physical problem and a moral dilemma as well.

First, Gibeon was 25 miles away from Gilgal (the camp of Israel) and was some 3,300 feet in elevation above Gilgal.

Secondly, the covenant only agreed to not destroy the Gibeonites. It said nothing of protecting them from out side threats.

Implications, not going to their aid what would rid them of an agreement from an deceptive contract.

It would take a lot of effort to get to the Gibeonites and they probably they were not obligated to help.

But Joshua being a type of our Jesus reacts as a Jesus always does.

Vs 7 - 15, Supernatural Victory

Notice, that Joshua doesn’t sleep on it or take his time responding as we might. He and the army of Israel marches all night, the full 25 miles on a 3,300 foot incline, to rescue the Gibeonites.

Notice God’s familiar promise to Joshua; to not fear them and further, “that not a man would stand before him”.

Vs 9 gives the impression that no one expected Israel to respond and if they did not that quickly “having marched all night”. How long would it take you to hike up hill for 25 miles and then be ready for battle?

The battle details are what most focus on moving forward as they are nothing but miraculous.

We will be covering vs 12- 14 in detail in a week or so but for now we will just touch on them.

Vs 10, note “the Lord routed them before Israel”.

These 5 great cities are running from Israel back down hill. The LORD cast down great hailstones from heaven.

More were killed by the hailstones than Israel.

Hailstones two word are used “eben” stone and “barad” hailstones. So this could indicate meteorites. But the interesting fact here is that they only hit the enemy. God is a great marksman. We saw a similar miracle in the 10 plagues in Egypt where on the Egyptians were effected by plague 4 (flies) through 10. Plague 7 - Fiery Hail .

By application our Lord Jesus always comes when we call. He doesn’t consider that these are self made problems or we don’t deserve help. He immediately comes. He is always faithful. What a friend we have in Jesus!

Another application, is that of the Gibeonites. Once they joined in relationship to the Living God they were attacked. What is admirable about them is that they were not afraid to ask for help.

How often do we through a “pity party” and believe a lie that our self made problems are beyond God’s help and we don’t deserve it.

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

Verses 12 - 15 are simply amazing. We will discuss the implications and possibilities in the next few weeks. But for now let’s just consider what is written. The text says there has been no day like it before or after. So to say this is sort of a figure of speech or an allegory will not fly here.

We will look at the physics and possible ways this could happen.

But before moving on lets look at some keys to this victory and apply them to out lives.

First, Joshua believed the Word of God. Vs 8 “..I have delivered all..”

Second, Joshua did his best. He immediately responded to the call for help even though it was really hard.

James 2:27 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Thirdly, Joshua calls on God. Literally, he spoke to the Lord and said “sun stand still”. There is a truth to publicly speaking out loud as in , confessing with out mouth and believing with our heart. It takes faith and courage to speak out, but without faith it is impossible to please God.

Vs 16 -28 The 5 kings executed

Here we see more parallels to Revelation. In that the Kings hid in the caves.

 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

V18 Joshua rolls stones over the cave so as to deal with the Kings later and finish the job.

v24 -25 Joshua demonstrates ultimate victory by putting his foot and the feet of the captains of the army on the necks of the Kings.

Joshua then give to his people what God had given to him. “

V28 Our great King was also put in a cave and a stone was rolled over it, but He is not there to this day!

Vs 29 - 43 Conquest of the South

Joshua takes Makkedah and all the 5 cities, except Jerusalem, and many others one by one with the edge of the sword. (Word of God).

V40 - 43 So Joshua conquered all the land.