Joshua 10.
AROUSED to concerted action by the repeated victories of the people of Israel, and incensed at the Gibeonites because of their having sought and obtained peace with them, the kings of the Amorites attacked Gibeon. At once the people of the city sent a message to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal by the Jordan, and said, “Slack not thy hand from thy servants;” “come up to us quickly and save us and help us.” Such a request could not be denied, and Joshua went up from Gilgal with all the people of war and the mighty men of valor. Approaching through the night, they surprised the enemy in the morning, and were delivered into Joshua’s hand by God. The Gibeonites were relieved, but of far greater moment was the utter destruction of the power of the enemy.
So fearful was the destruction, that we are reminded of the judgments which will fall upon this world after the Church of God is taken away, descriptions of which are given in the book of Revelation. One thing is clear: no mercy is shown when the judgment day dawns; the day for mercy is past, its opportunities disregarded.
Reader, you must meet God; there is no escape. Seek Him now, as He delights to make Himself known, as a Saviour; there is none beside Him. Jesus, the spotless lamb of God came into the world to save sinners.
It was a day of fearful carnage when not only through Joshua’s army, but by direct intervention from heaven the power of God was exerted to crush the united kings. Joshua spoke to God, and at his word the powerful rays of the sun were reduced (the command to the sun to “stand still” is properly “be silent”) so that the earth revolved at half speed, and a day of unequalled length occurred. This is one of the miracles of the Bible at which infidels have scoffed, but that it was well known at the time the book of Joshua was written is shown by the reference to a book of Jasher in verse 13, evidently a commonly known record, though not inspired. Although the humble believer accepts what the Word of God says without thought or care whether the more or less fabled histories men have compiled, it is interesting to know that Chinese, Egyptian and Greek records refer to a day of extraordinary length at this time.
The latter part of this chapter tells of the continued victories of Joshua. One by one the cities of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and its surrounding towns, and Debir, fall and the whole southern portion of the land at least, is conquered.
The chapter closes with Joshua and all Israel. back at Gilgal, the abiding memorial of (loath as the end of the natural man, place where the heap of stones from the river bed told of life out of death. Happy it is for every child of God if he retrace his steps constantly to the place of which Gilgal is the type—death with Christ, resurrection with Him beyond the grave, and “always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus” (2 Cor. 4: 10).
ML 08/02/1925