Joshua 10 VCL 12

Review

Joshua in chapter 9 made a covenant with the Gibeonites against what God had told him to do and now he can’t attack them but makes them servants in the tabernacle.

Israel has defeated the center of Canaan

Big Picture

We are reading Victorious Christian Living where the author explains to us that for us crossing over the Jordan in to the promise land is not going to heaven but our coming to salvation and walking with Jesus not only as our Savior but as our LORD.

Chapter 10 is a great picture of just that of Joshua getting his stride with the LORD after some victories and defeats.

First I want to contrast Moses and Joshua

Moses was a picture of the Law

John 1:17 NKJV

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

There is over 166 verses that Say “God spoke to Moses” and if you read those verses God was very specific with Moses in most of those verses

God gave Moses Manna, a cloud, a fire to follow all outside of the promise land

Joshua 1:8–9 NKJV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Paraphrase - enter in the promise land and go where you go and do what you want to do as long as it lines up with my Word and I will be with you!

We see Joshua now in the Promise land with no manna, no fire, no cloud to lead him, he make some mistakes but God would use these mistakes

What were His mistakes?

Story of Lance helping me in a counseling session with Absalom

Hearing from the LORD starts with first applying what we know to be true in His word

Joshua was not young and was not naive to the miracles of God nor the Word of God

We get a picture of God almost expects Joshua to be more mature

Joshua 7:10 NKJV

10 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?

Seems up to this point Joshua was almost unsure of himself as a leader

His mistakes were not leaning on what he knew the LORD told him and showed Him up to this point - Prayerlessness - devotionless at times

5 Kings come together

Joshua 10:1–5 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its 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, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has 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, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

The enemy will even turn on itself if they see that they are not towing the line and instead of attacking Israel they started to attack each other

Gibeonites send for help

Joshua 10:6 NKJV

6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.”

Joshua could use this as his out of a covenant

Joshua 9:15 NKJV

15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

How many of us scheme to our benefit?

Explain!

Joshua’s Response

Joshua 10:7–9 NKJV

7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.

From Gilgal to Gibeon is about 25 miles and 4000 foot ascent (average day of travel over even land with mixed company was about 20 miles a day) they were moving!

There was no scheming in Joshua he was going to keep his word even if it hurt!

Joshua moved right away!

Delayed obedience is disobedience!

How quickly do I respond to what God has put before me?

Joshua moved in faith knowing God’s promise to defeat everyone in the promise land even if it was 5 at a time not like Jericho and AI

Do I trust God at His promises even when I am out numbered or overwhelmed?

We read this as history but think of not knowing the ending like we know.

Would you question God and say Lord how about 1 at time why 5 at once?

God’s Response

Joshua 10:10–11 NKJV

10 So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Joshua moved in faith and we see God keep His promises!

Joshua’s faith is being built up right in front of us!

The Sun stood Still!

Joshua 10:12–15 NKJV

12 Then Joshua spoke 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 still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel. 15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Psalm 74:16 NKJV

16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.

There are many ancient cultures that have stories of either a long day or a long night depending on where in the world you were on that day

One Commentator said it is crazy that what I learned in my high school science class has already changed many times over but what I learned in my kindergarten Sunday school still remains true!

We see Joshua’s faith that has been built up unto this point now in action!

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

He verbalized his faith and was not afraid to do so!

Dealing with the 5 Kings

Joshua 10:16–27 NKJV

16 But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them. 19 And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand.” 20 Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities. 21 And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace. No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. 22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening. 27 So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.

Psalm 2:1–3 NKJV

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”

Psalm 110:1 NKJV

1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

1 Corinthians 15:25 NKJV

25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

Romans 16:20 NKJV

20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Do we deal kindly or harshly with the enemy?

Vs. 25 - Joshua is now repeating to the people the same encouragement that God was encouraging him in.

Application was bring an open door to share with others?

Joshua is growing in his role and growing in confidence in what God has promised Him to the point he now is sharing it with others

What power and authority God’s work brings in our lives!

Do you share with others the promises of God that He has fulfilled in your life?

Conquest of the Southern Kingdom

Joshua 10:28–43 NKJV

28 On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them—all the people who were in it. He let none remain. He also did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho. 29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah; and they fought against Libnah. 30 And the Lord also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword. He let none remain in it, but did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. 31 Then Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish; and they encamped against it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he left him none remaining. 34 From Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it and fought against it. 35 They took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; all the people who were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. 36 So Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it. 37 And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword—its king, all its cities, and all the people who were in it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were in it. 38 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and they fought against it. 39 And he took it and its king and all its cities; they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who were in it. He left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king. 40 So Joshua conquered all the land: the mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 41 And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

The enemy has a detailed plan against you do you have a strategy against the enemy?

Joshua had a plan - divide and conqueror -explain

We are to be aware of the enemies plan

2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV

11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.