Joshua
chapter 10 contains details of the most successful military victory
of all time. It also is a clear picture of the final battle that
will come in the last days. The chapter begins, “Now
Adoni-Zedeck, King of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and
totally destroyed it… as he had done with Jericho… and that the
people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel“.
What an amazing picture; Adoni-Zedeck means “the Lord of
Righteousness”, Joshua is the same name as Jesus and Gibeon is the
Gentiles who did not earn their salvation, but were protected by a
promise. This self-proclaimed Lord of Righteousness is anything but
righteous. Remember, part of the purpose of destroying the people of
Canaan was God judging their extreme wickedness in idol worship. So
the king of Jerusalem appealed to 4 other kings, “Come
up and help me attack Gibeon because it made peace with Joshua and
the Israelites“.
“The
five kings of the Amorites… joined forces… and took position
against Gibeon and attacked it.”
Next we read, “The
Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua… Do not abandon your servants.
Come up to us quickly and save us!”
There is no hesitation. The next verse says, “So
Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army“.
The Gibeonites do not try to fight the enemy themselves, but
instead, with humility call on Joshua. Right now, we are in the
midst of a spiritual battle that we cannot win on our own. When the
Enemy attacks, call on the Name of the Lord. He is faithful!
“After
an all night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise…
defeated them in a great victory“.
“As
they fled Israel… the Lord hurled large hailstones down from the
sky“.
Then, in the heat of the battle Joshua prays, “O
sun, stand still over Gibeon“,
and we read, “The
sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down for a
full day… surely the Lord was fighting for Israel“.
I don’t know how God accomplished this, but I believe it was His
very presence that brightened the sky. Matthew 17:2 describes the
transfiguration of Jesus: “His
face shown like the sun and His clothes became as white as light“.
The result, however, is the utter destruction of the enemy. While
still in pursuit of the fleeing armies, Joshua heard the five kings
were hiding in a cave. Rather than stop the battle he orders, “Roll
large rocks up to the mouth of the cave… but don’t stop! Pursue
your enemies“.
“So
Joshua and the army of Israel destroyed them completely.”
Only after the armies are defeated does Joshua come and deal with
the five kings. “Open
the mouth of the cave and bring the five kings to me“.
Next he tells the commander of the army, “Put
your feet on the neck of the kings“.
Joshua continues, “Do
not be afraid or discouraged… this is what the Lord will do to all
the enemies you are going to fight. Then Joshua struck and killed
the kings.”
As an interesting side note, not once in the chapter do we read the
Gibeonites fought any of the battle. It seems they were wise enough
to completely give that battle over to the Lord.
The
rest of the chapter details the destruction of all the southern
cities. In each of the cities, “The
Lord gave the city and its king over to Israel… he left no
survivors there… they totally destroyed everyone who breathed“.
The chapter ends, “All
these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign because
the Lord, the God of Israel fought for Israel“.
In the book of Revelation, during the last days, we see Jesus Christ
on the throne of God. We see the believers as a great multitude from
every nation, tribe and people standing before the throne in heaven.
And we see on earth the great battle and judgment. There are the
people of Israel and the armies of the anti-Christ. There will be no
one standing on the sidelines of this battle. Matthew chapter 23
discusses the end times and warns, “So
you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour
when you do not expect him“.
Are you ready?