14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel.
Oops! Even Joshua [the great leader that he was becoming] neglected the most important thing - to inquire of the LORD when making important decisions like this one. Now the "ruse" is solidified and out of his hands. But God comes to his aid and to that of all Israel. Joshua regains his boldness and trusts the LORD to do a mighty and supernatural work. And... GOD comes through - with a work of great WONDER!
Joshua 10:6-15
6 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."
7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 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."
9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
13 , a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. [all emphasis added]
Oh, what God will go and do for us. He loves us so much and He is Who He says He is and He can certainly do what He says He can do. He came through with the WONDER of impossibilities on this day. He can do it for me and for you... even when we blow it.
Joshua was God's man. We can ask ourselves, am I God's man [woman]? If our hearts are right with Him - He will see us through anything! His promise in Joshua 1 - to "be with us and never forsake us" stands as true today as it did in Joshua's day!
Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Embracing Real JOY]
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