IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Do Not Fear, God is Leading the Fight

Date: Jul. 11, 2017

Passage

Joshua 10:1-15  (ESV)

As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

12 At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

  “Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
    and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13   And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
    until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

15 So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 10:8

And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”

1. The Lord drew the enemy out (1-6)

The city of Gibeon was powerful with strong fighters. The Amorite kings depended on the Gibeonite cities to stand as a military buffer zone. But now they had made a treaty with the Israelites. These kings decided to invade them, and they pled for protection from Joshua. This made conquering the Amorites easier for they would gather together in one battlefield, drawn out of the hills. God prepared the victory for his people in his wisdom.

2. God helps in miraculous ways (7-15)

Joshua's army marched to Gibeon. God assured them of victory with a brilliant strategy. Joshua struck by surprise after an all-night march. The Lord sent huge hailstones that killed many. Joshua prayed for an extended day, so the army could completely defeat them. God answered his prayer. God fights for his people in miraculous ways.

Prayer: Lord, your power is great. You are the giver of every victory. Lead us Lord; we will follow.

One Word: Don't be afraid, God is fighting for us

Daily Bread

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

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Intro Daily

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references