[image by Matt Nelson]
It is crucial that we let the Lord fight our battles for He is always victorious. In Joshua 10, there is an amazing account of Joshua praying and God responding to his prayer. Joshua prayed that the sun and moon would stand still as they battled the Amorites. God answered Joshua prayer and caused the sun moon to stop their movement. The sun and moon were two of Canaan’s most prominent gods. God’s victory over the Amorites revealed that their worship of the creation instead of the Creator was futile. The answer to Joshua prayer demonstrated that our sovereign God has all power over His creation.
On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the LORD answered such a prayer. Surely the LORD fought for Israel that day! Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal.
Joshua 10:12-15 NLT
We don’t understand how God accomplished this amazing miracle; but we do know that the Lord did this miracle in response to Joshua’s believing prayer. We are laborers together with God as He invites us to join Him in advancing His kingdom.
- Art Groomes
- Associate Director