The Night the Sun Stood Still and Shone

O. T. #466  "The Night the Sun Stood Still and Shone"
February 24, 2015
Joshua 10-Part 2
So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Joshua 10:13b

LET IT GLOW

On our mission trip to Montana years ago, we experienced daylight beginning at 4a.m. How unusual it was for us. At home, our morning began at 6 a.m. We tried to block out the sun by covering the windows, but it still shone. To us, it seemed like the sun shone all the time, although it did not. Israel did experience a 24 hour sun shining. Want to read about it?

Do you recall that the Gibeonites made a peace treaty with Israel by way of deception? Then five local kings united and conspired to destroy them. The deceivers  asked those whom they deceived for help. So Joshua took his army to the city to help fight for them. Because the Lord discomfited the enemies, the Israelites had a great slaughter. However, there were more who died by the huge hailstones (probably larger than a basketball) than by the sword.

What was the Lord's next tactic? The one and only time Jehovah intervened with nature which He established, in such a way-THE SUN STOOD STILL OVER GIBEON AND THE MOON OVER THE VALLEY OF AJALON.
How long did it take for Israel to avenge their enemies? A whole day according to verse 13.

The slowing of the earth's normal rotation gave Joshua more time. Some unusual refraction of the sun's rays gave additional hours of light. Regardless of God's chosen method, the Bible is clear that the day was prolonged by a miracle, and that God's intervention turned the tide of battle for His people.(Life Application Study Bible)

Did you know this? The Book of Jashar (mentioned in 2 Sam.1:18 and Num. 21:14) was probably a collection of historical events put to music. It's title could be The book of the Righteous. Its contents were about the wars of Israel. Apparently a national epic, it recorded the event of the sun standing still and occurring during Joshua's lifetime. This helps validate such a miracle.

With the victory won at Gibeon, Joshua and the Israelites returned to camp Gilgal, according to verse 15. Don't you know the army's families had a story to hear that night? They, too, had experience such a phenomena and probably had questions.

Do we look for God to perform miracles in our life? We read of missionaries' stories of such, do we personally experience them?
Are we letting the Son of God shine in our life?

When you are faced with humanly impossible situations, God does the impossible (Luke 18:27). (Blackaby)


LET IT GROW

Wait, the war was not completed yet.

Falwell says, "Joshua now completes the mopping up operation of southern Palestine. The five kings who fought against the Giveonites banded together and hid in a cave. Joshua entombed them therein by rolling a great stone over the mouth of the cave while the Israelites pursued and defeated their armies."

When Joshua returned to the cave, he instructed his captains to bring the pagan kings out and put their feet upon the necks of these kings. (verse 24) This was a custom of that era. In verse 29-43 we read of other cities which Israel conquered. All their victories happened because they gave glory to their God who fought for them.

Do we give glory to God for our victories?

LET IT GO

Expect the unexpected from God.

Give God the glory for my victories.

Let the Son shine in my life.