Daily Thought

In response to Joshua’s prayer, the Lord enabled Israel to achieve a spectacular victory. God’s miraculous intervention coupled with the energy of Joshua and his army made the day of victory so memorable that ‘there was no day like that before it or after it’, v. 14. It was cherished in the national memory and recorded in the ‘book of Jasher’, v. 13. That book is now lost and was never part of holy scripture.

The newly formed treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites was the immediate cause of this battle. The king of Jerusalem was so thoroughly alarmed to find that the area to the north of his kingdom was in league with the invaders, that he joined with four other kings to attack the strategic city of Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent requests for help to Joshua, and he responded promptly and effectively.

However, Joshua only moved into action after receiving the divine promise of victory, v. 8. Such assurance did not stop him doing his best and using his skill and energy as a commander. He moved his army into position through a night-time march, surprising the enemy and routing them. Israel was greatly helped as the Lord intervened in two ways; first, with hailstones which killed many of the enemies, v. 11, and second, by responding to Joshua’s prayer and making the sun stand still, v. 13.

Many have tried to explain this phenomenon of the sun standing still, while others have tried to discount it altogether. It was certainly a spectacular event which defies any scientific explanation, and that is the essential nature of a miracle. A miracle works outside the laws of nature and even works against them. Such a miracle, by its very nature, can only be performed by almighty God who transcends His creation. Such a miracle was the result of prayer, and a great victory was gained for Israel. Thus, the Lord had listened to the voice Joshua, had fought for Israel, and had delivered their enemies into their hands, vv. 14, 19.