Do we believe and trust in a God that can do whatever he wants whenever he wants to?
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Sometimes the enemy is within. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.
Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon.“Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”
Then the five kings of the Amorites- the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon- joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”
So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua 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, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Joshua 10:1-15 (NIV)
When Seeking a Miracle
Remember God’s past faithfulness-
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Psalm 89:8 (NIV)
Clean up your act first
And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?
Joshua 7:7-8 (NIV)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10 (NIV)
Remember God is in charge of the outcomes, we are in charge of Faith
Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites.
Joshua 8:30-31a (NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Joshua was obedient to God’s plan and was blessed
You must ask for the Miracle
On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:
“Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
Joshua 10:12 (NIV)
“You do not have because you do not ask God.”
James 4:2b (NIV)
God’s Miracles are always to Glorify God!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
God’s Timing is Perfect!
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies…
Joshua 10:13a (NIV)