Joshua 9:3-4 [W]hen the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse.
Gibeon was about nineteen miles from Israel’s camp, and they feared for their lives. They knew God had commanded Moses to wipe out everyone who lived in the land (Joshua 9:24, Deuteronomy 7:1-2), so they tricked Israel into making a treaty with them. They put on old clothes, took old bread, and pretended to come from far away. Remarkably, their deception worked.
The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath (Joshua 9:14-15).
When Israel learned that the Gibeonites lived nearby, they were upset with their leaders for being deceived. The Gibeonites were forced into hard labor, but they were allowed to live because of the oath.
The Gibeonites can be admired for their fear of God, and the resourceful way they saved their lives. But Israel’s leaders, including Joshua, are to be faulted for not seeking God in this matter. Whenever we have to make an important decision, we should seek God’s will through prayer, his word, and godly advisers (Proverbs 15:22). This is what Joshua failed to do, and he lost credibility because of it.
*****
Joshua 10:5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces.
In a collective effort to stop God’s people, five local kings combined armies. But Joshua wouldn’t be stopped and, after an all night march, he surprised the opposing armies with an early morning attack. Then God helped his people by hurling hail from heaven that killed more enemies than died by the sword.
But Joshua needed more time so he said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies . . . . There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being (Joshua 10:12-14).
Whoever heard Joshua command the sun and the moon to stand still must’ve wondered what he was thinking. Would a man control the movement of planets? Even Joshua may’ve been surprised by the words that came from his mouth.
This kind of faith can only come from above. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them (Mark 11:23), said Jesus. If God is going to do an extraordinary miracle, he can give his servants faith, and then do what they ask.
This miracle is so remarkable, in fact, that some have questioned it’s truthfulness. But if God can create everything out of nothing (Genesis 1:1), he can certainly lengthen a day. Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you (Jeremiah 32:17), wrote Jeremiah. And The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth (Acts 17:24), said Paul. God can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, wherever he wants, however he wants. Nothing is too hard for him.
We have further assurance of this account from Jesus Christ himself. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law (Luke 16:17), he said. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ must believe what Jesus taught, and Jesus taught the Bible is true. Whoever doesn’t believe the Bible, doesn’t fully believe in Jesus Christ.
*****
Joshua 22:4 [R]eturn to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
It took about seven years for Israel to conquer the Promised Land. Now it was time for the soldiers who settled east of the Jordan River to return to their homes. Before they crossed the river, however, they built an altar to the Lord as a reminder to their fellow Israelites that they all served the same God. But those on the west side of the river misunderstood the altar, and thought it was an act of rebellion against God. Out of holy zeal, they prepared for war. Thankfully, the confusion was dispelled, and civil war was narrowly avoided.
Zeal for God is good, but Satan can use it against us if we’re not careful. Misdirected zeal even led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death (Mark 14:64), wrote Mark. [T]hey are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge (Romans 10:2), wrote Paul. This has also been true of believers at times.
When Jesus wasn’t received by a Samaritan village, James and John said Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? But Jesus turned and rebuked them (Luke 9:54-55). James and John were zealous for the honor of Christ, but their zeal wasn’t Christian.
Even worse, in the eighteenth century, over a dozen women were hanged near Salem Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft. Common sense gave way to hysteria as ordinary people tried to do the will of God. Their actions led to wrongful deaths and harmed the cause of Christ. Zeal without knowledge, and knowledge without zeal, are equally harmful to the church. Christians should pray for godly ministers, whose zeal is based on knowledge.
Reflection and Review
What did Joshua do wrong when he negotiated with the Gibeonites?
Why should we believe that God stopped the sun for Joshua?
How can our zeal for God be misdirected?
Gibeon was about nineteen miles from Israel’s camp, and they feared for their lives. They knew God had commanded Moses to wipe out everyone who lived in the land (Joshua 9:24, Deuteronomy 7:1-2), so they tricked Israel into making a treaty with them. They put on old clothes, took old bread, and pretended to come from far away. Remarkably, their deception worked.
The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath (Joshua 9:14-15).
When Israel learned that the Gibeonites lived nearby, they were upset with their leaders for being deceived. The Gibeonites were forced into hard labor, but they were allowed to live because of the oath.
The Gibeonites can be admired for their fear of God, and the resourceful way they saved their lives. But Israel’s leaders, including Joshua, are to be faulted for not seeking God in this matter. Whenever we have to make an important decision, we should seek God’s will through prayer, his word, and godly advisers (Proverbs 15:22). This is what Joshua failed to do, and he lost credibility because of it.
*****
Joshua 10:5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces.
In a collective effort to stop God’s people, five local kings combined armies. But Joshua wouldn’t be stopped and, after an all night march, he surprised the opposing armies with an early morning attack. Then God helped his people by hurling hail from heaven that killed more enemies than died by the sword.
But Joshua needed more time so he said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies . . . . There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being (Joshua 10:12-14).
Whoever heard Joshua command the sun and the moon to stand still must’ve wondered what he was thinking. Would a man control the movement of planets? Even Joshua may’ve been surprised by the words that came from his mouth.
This kind of faith can only come from above. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them (Mark 11:23), said Jesus. If God is going to do an extraordinary miracle, he can give his servants faith, and then do what they ask.
This miracle is so remarkable, in fact, that some have questioned it’s truthfulness. But if God can create everything out of nothing (Genesis 1:1), he can certainly lengthen a day. Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you (Jeremiah 32:17), wrote Jeremiah. And The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth (Acts 17:24), said Paul. God can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, wherever he wants, however he wants. Nothing is too hard for him.
We have further assurance of this account from Jesus Christ himself. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law (Luke 16:17), he said. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ must believe what Jesus taught, and Jesus taught the Bible is true. Whoever doesn’t believe the Bible, doesn’t fully believe in Jesus Christ.
*****
Joshua 22:4 [R]eturn to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
It took about seven years for Israel to conquer the Promised Land. Now it was time for the soldiers who settled east of the Jordan River to return to their homes. Before they crossed the river, however, they built an altar to the Lord as a reminder to their fellow Israelites that they all served the same God. But those on the west side of the river misunderstood the altar, and thought it was an act of rebellion against God. Out of holy zeal, they prepared for war. Thankfully, the confusion was dispelled, and civil war was narrowly avoided.
Zeal for God is good, but Satan can use it against us if we’re not careful. Misdirected zeal even led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death (Mark 14:64), wrote Mark. [T]hey are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge (Romans 10:2), wrote Paul. This has also been true of believers at times.
When Jesus wasn’t received by a Samaritan village, James and John said Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? But Jesus turned and rebuked them (Luke 9:54-55). James and John were zealous for the honor of Christ, but their zeal wasn’t Christian.
Even worse, in the eighteenth century, over a dozen women were hanged near Salem Massachusetts, for the crime of witchcraft. Common sense gave way to hysteria as ordinary people tried to do the will of God. Their actions led to wrongful deaths and harmed the cause of Christ. Zeal without knowledge, and knowledge without zeal, are equally harmful to the church. Christians should pray for godly ministers, whose zeal is based on knowledge.
Reflection and Review
What did Joshua do wrong when he negotiated with the Gibeonites?
Why should we believe that God stopped the sun for Joshua?
How can our zeal for God be misdirected?