RPG Adults
JOSHUA ENTERED THE WAR WITH THE FIVE KINGS
LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 12
Joshua 10:1-21
Matthew 5:13-16
“Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on an hill
cannot be hid.”
JOSHUA ENTERED THE WAR WITH THE FIVE KINGS
The men of Gibeon informed Joshua of the imminent attack on their city by the five kings and asked for help. Israel was obliged to assist Gibeon because of their league. In effect, Israel entered the war. On one hand, they were defending the Gibeonites and, on the other, they were fighting to possess the land that God had promised them.
God told Joshua that He would deliver those kings into his hand. This was an encouragement that helped him fight with confidence. God discomfited the enemies before Israel. They were slain with a great slaughter in Gibeon and were chased all the way to Bethhoron and to Azekah and Mekkedah. God then sent a great hailstorm. The huge hailstones were capable of killing the people. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom Israel slew with the sword.
The miracles of God continued to be manifested: “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. 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” (Josh 10:12-13). Besides the literal assistance that God rendered to Israel, these miracles gave greater confidence to Joshua. He fought and chased away the Canaanites. God was fulfilling what He had promised them. When they withdrew to their camp, they were sure of having their own land at last.
Joshua looked to God for guidance in the next phase of the conquest.
THOUGHT: The sovereign hand of God is in every activity of man.
PRAYER: Father, may I bear an honest testimony for Thee.