“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33).
Joshua, the servant of the Most High God was rewarded for his courage and fidelity when he gave a good report of the Land of Canaan (Num. 14:6-10). He was commissioned, ordained, and charged with the responsibilities of Moses’ office (Num. 27:18-23, Deut. 1:38, Deut. 3:28, Deut. 31:3, Deut. 31:7, Deut. 31:23, Deut. 34:9). He also was divinely inspired (Num. 27:18, Deut. 34:9).
Joshua successfully led the people into the land of Canaan (Joshua 1:1-18, Joshua 2:1-24, Joshua 3:1-17, Joshua 4:1-24, Acts 7:45, Heb. 4:8). He renewed circumcision for the children of Israel, re-established the Passover, and met the captain of the host of God and worshipped him (Joshua 5:1-15).
Joshua besieged and captured Jericho (Joshua, chapter 6), then Ai (Joshua, chapter 7 & 8) and made a treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:3-27). It is at this point that our account of the Israelites’ battles with the kings of the cities of Canaan opens in Joshua 10:1-42.
With the exception of the Gibeonites, not one nation in Canaan made peace with the Israelites (Joshua 11:19). The nations of Canaan’s refusal to make peace with Israel was caused by the Lord hardening their hearts, because he ordained that all of the inhabitants would be destroyed (Joshua 11:20) or driven out of the land (Deut. 7:20; Joshua 24:12).
Why did the Lord not harden the Gibeonites’ hearts? The Gibeonites were given understanding of God’s prophecy that he would destroy all the nations in Canaan, and so they feared the Lord (Joshua 9:24). The Lord made them serve the Israelite and to serve God’s altar (Joshua 9:27). Later, king Saul determined to destroy them, but God took up for the Gibeonites against king Saul (2 Samuel 21:1-4).
Notice how that in the following events, no man saw God’s work, but God fully controlled everything that happened. Israel was plagued because of sin in the camp. Achan had stolen the cursed thing (a wedge or idol of gold). When one man in Israel did not keep his part of the covenant, there was sin in the camp, which caused God not to fight for them (Joshua 7:11-13).
However, once the sin was purged and the Israelites determined to obey, Joshua and the armies of God were soon able to conquer the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon in one day (Joshua 10:7-15).
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.
Did anyone see the hand of the Lord working that day? They obviously saw what happened, but what evidence was provided to show what caused it to happen? God prophesied through Moses that he would be the one to make it happen, though his hand was hidden (Isaiah 45:15).
And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (Deuteronomy 20:3-4).
For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee (Deuteronomy 23:14).
Should we acknowledge that God truly is working all things together after the counsel of his own will (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:12)?
Two Christian hymns apply to today’s study: Onward Christian Soldiers and Be Strong and Courageous (a medley of encouragement for Christians to fight the good fight—1 Tim. 6:12).
–Beth Johnson