King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua conquered two great kingdoms and was about to absorb Gibeon (a kingdom of mighty men without a fight). He was greatly afraid. He sent messages to four kings and asked them to help him conquer Gibeon before they surrendered to Joshua. [1]
“The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua armies surprised the enemies. The Lord routed them. As they retreated, the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them, and they died. “There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.” [2]
The Lord will use a similar approach to the nations who war against Him before He returns: “And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” [3]
Joshua asked the Lord to cause the sun and moon to hold their positions until His enemies were defeated, and the Lord answered his prayer. “And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.” [4]
I remember being inspired to pray a type of Joshua’s prayer once when a co-laborer in Christ wanted to secure a teaching position in China. I prayed that the sun would not go down until he had a position even if we had to visit many universities. He got a position at the first stop. The Lord had directed our steps to the right place.
The Lord gave Joshua the victory. The five enemy kings fled to a cave. Joshua had a large stone rolled in front of the cave. What does this remind you of? Who else had a stone blocking an entrance? Jesus Christ! Joshua completed the mopping up operation of the defeated armies, then, he had his men roll the stone away. He had his captains place their feet on the necks of the kings, and then, said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” Afterward, Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees. Who else on a tree, but for our sin, not His own? Jesus Christ! Jesus defeated our greatest enemy: sin. [5]
Many more kings gathered against Joshua, but the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel.” The Lord did as He said. And the Lord said of Joshua, “He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.” [6] Like Jesus, he sought to fulfill all that God expected him to accomplish.
The Lord says that He hardened the hearts of His foes against His people so that He might destroy them. He even destroyed the giants in the land. None of them survived except the ones who were in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. [7]
The apostles told those who opposed Christ, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” [8]
It is only in Jesus that there is forgiveness of sin. It is only in Jesus that there is mercy and salvation from God. Those who know Jesus testify to this, and so does the Holy Spirit.
A leader named Gamaliel told those who arrested the apostles, “If this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” They agreed, and after beating the apostles, they released them. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus and continued to teach and preach Jesus as the Christ. [9]
The question is, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? They want to defy the Lordship of Christ and humiliate those who profess Him, but God laughs. God has declared His Son to be the King whom all should worship. “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [11]
[1] Joshua 10:1-5
[2] Joshua 10:8-11
[3] Revelation 16:21
[4] Joshua 10:12-14
[5] Joshua 10:15-27
[6] Joshua 11:1-8, 15
[7] Joshua 11:20-22
[8] Acts 5:30-33
[9] Acts 5:34-42
[10] Psalm 2
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