Joshua 10:1 – 15 “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.”
The Gibeonites made peace with Israel; however, the other Amorite cities had already been calling for a coordinated attack on the Israelites. When the word went out that Gibeon had caved in and made a treaty, the other Amorite groups were incensed and terrified at the same time. Five Amorite kings banded together to deal with Gibeon, following which they intended to attack the Israelites. The Gibeonites now appealed to Joshua to honor his treaty and deliver them from this attack. While Joshua had been hasty in his treaty – making, God was using this as an opportunity to conclusively deal with the Amorites. It is possible that had the Amorites not mounted an attack, Joshua might have dithered about attacking them. But now Joshua had no choice, and God was about to do more miracles. Two major weather events happened nearly simultaneously: one of the earliest recorded solar eclipses and a fierce hailstorm.
Did the sun really stand still? The Times of Israel says this: “Cambridge researchers announced Monday that they have pinpointed the date of the biblical account of Joshua stopping the sun — which they claim is the day of the oldest eclipse ever recorded — to October 30, 1207 BCE, exactly 3,224 years ago. https://www.timesofisrael.com/3224-years-later-scientists-see-first-ever-recorded-eclipse-in-joshuas-battle/ But if this was a solar eclipse, it would have to have been an abnormally lengthy one, since most eclipses last only a few minutes. Joshua ordered the sun to stand over Gibeon to the east while the moon stood over the Valley of Aijalon, to the west. Personally, I feel God did miracles. This is the same God who parted the Red Sea and dammed up the Jordan River when it was in flood. What’s one or two more miracles after those events?
APPLICATION: God is our Redeemer, and many times He redeems our mistakes by arranging events. Even though Joshua had made a major mistake in making a treaty with the Gibeonites, God still used that treaty to impel Joshua to fight the Amorites. God did not reject Joshua for that mistake but honored him for fulfilling his commitment to the people of Gibeon. God also did miracles for Joshua and the Israelites.
Three of God’s most amazing qualities are His mercy, His grace, and His faithfulness in keeping promises. We don’t deserve any of the good things that God provides for us daily, but yet He gives us life and breath and blessings to enjoy. Joshua and the Israelites didn’t deserve God’s mercy and His grace; however, just as Joshua had promised to protect the Gibeonites, God also had promised Joshua that He would be with Joshua wherever Joshua went. God promised Joshua that as He had been with Moses, so He would be with Joshua. When Joshua needed more daylight and more assistance, God gave it.
Do you feel as if you are trapped in a corner with no way out? Perhaps a work situation has turned sour. Perhaps friends have failed you. Perhaps you were counting on someone to help you, only to find that they now have changed their minds. There is no doubt that sooner or later, people will fail you because they are only human. But God will never fail you. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do in your situation. Perhaps God has already designed a way out, and you have only to ask Him for Him to show you.
PRAYER: Father God, help! Many of us feel caught in situations that we never anticipated. We don’t know which way to turn. We may not have anybody we can trust. Lord, You know our needs. Come to our aid and help us to see Your Perfect Will for our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
February 22, 2022 at 3:55 am
A Very Good Devotional! God’s Mercy is a greater miracle than the sun standing still! God Bless you both! Martin
February 22, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Great sermon as always. Who was the native American that stopped the sun, Geronimo? Too bad the other tribes dithered and did not help him. The very same sun did not hide him from his enemies. i did not think about Joshua not wanting to fight the five cities independently later, and that this forced him to do it with the bounty of a five city win for the effort. I did not look at it that way.