When I first read through Joshua and other Old Testament books, I kind of nodded my head as I read, hurrying through the battles, figuring that I would forget most of it.
Through the supplemental information in my study Bible, sermons, and devotional readings, the relevance of the Bible to our lives is revealed.
As I continue through Joshua 10–and beyond—in my second reading of the Old Testament, I praise God for the various ways He brought victories, despite the often impossible odds in battles that only He could win.
Such is the case in Joshua 10 to 12. Particularly in this passage, we see the creative ways by which God wins battles:
Joshua 10:8-14 NIV
- “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.”
12 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.”
13 So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on[b] 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. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lordlistened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!”
Like the Israelites, we have enemies to face and difficulties to conquer. The fear and doubt by human standards prevent us from foreseeing a win. Sometimes the enemy is not the result of choice, like a health problem or a lost job, while other times, it is the discomfort of accepting a challenge that God presents so that our obedience will lead to His good plan for our lives. Doubt and pride are among our internal adversaries, as they were for God’s people long ago. Our worldly response is to reject or modify the challenge, disobeying God in the process.
It’s easy to miss what God’s victories in the Bible are telling us: Obey God, and trust that He will fight our battles.
We see this truth throughout the Old Testament. When God’s people are obedient, He hands the enemy over to them. He orchestrates circumstances that give the Israelites victory. Often the leaders were afraid to attack the pagan people that would infect God’s people with their idol worship and practices, or they would fail to destroy all of those people. Fear or laziness kept them from God’s best – it prevented them from moving into a beautiful chapter of life. They forgot, or they were not taught, the miracles that God had done in the past.
Knowing God requires studying the Bible well. It tells us who He is. Part of knowing Him and hearing from God requires us to consider what the Scriptures are telling us to do in our own lives.
God’s Victory for Me: The Defeat of Doubt
Near the end of 2024, with God’s help, I was deciding whether I could retire from my job at a large financial institution. My husband had been retired for seven years at that point, and we wanted to travel with our RV for longer periods of time. I had just turned 62, and my family enjoys longevity, so I worried about our money lasting. Even though I heard God telling me to just trust Him, I was hesitant to make the final decision. Retiring seemed like something too good to be true.
The enemy wasn’t a group of pagan adversaries; I was battling fear, afraid to march beyond my comfort zone. I imagine that many of you have had similar battles in different situations.
I had been praying about this, and God answered through sermons and devotional readings. I felt His presence and direction as I sang in worship, “I am fighting a battle You have already won”. Even a Facebook meme felt like His voice:
“The courage it takes to leave behind what’s not for you anymore is the same courage that will help you find your way to what is.”
What I rely on the most is God’s Word. My go-to verse:
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Our financial advisor confirmed that I was good to move on to a new chapter of life, but I thank God that He is the One who threw the final “hailstone” at my fear and doubt (Joshua 10:11).
What kind of battle can you ask God to conquer for you? How can I pray for you?
