God Fights for Israel (Joshua 10:1–15)
Sometimes life feels like a battle, and we wonder if we’re strong enough to keep going. In Joshua 10:1–15, we see how God stepped in to help His people during a real battle—and how He still helps us today.
A Problem for Gibeon
After Joshua and the Israelites defeated cities like Jericho and Ai, a nearby city called Gibeon made peace with them. This upset the other kings in the region. Five Amorite kings—leaders of powerful cities—were so angry that they joined forces to attack Gibeon.
Gibeon was now in trouble. They had made a treaty with Joshua, so they quickly sent messengers asking him for help.
Joshua Answers the Call
When Joshua heard Gibeon needed help, he didn’t hesitate. He gathered his army and marched all night to get there in time. God spoke to Joshua and said, “Do not be afraid of them. I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.”
With those words of comfort, Joshua knew God was with him. The battle ahead wasn’t just his to fight—God was leading the way.
God Fights the Battle
When Joshua and his men arrived, they surprised the Amorite armies. The Israelites fought bravely, but God also got involved in an amazing way. As the enemy tried to escape, God sent a huge hailstorm from the sky. The hailstones struck down more soldiers than the Israelites did with their swords!
This moment reminds us that God doesn’t just stand by and watch. He takes action to help His people.
The Sun Stands Still
As the battle continued, Joshua prayed one of the boldest prayers in the Bible. He asked God to make the sun stand still so the Israelites could finish the fight before nightfall.
And God did it. The sun stayed in the sky, and the battle continued until Israel won.
This miracle showed that nothing is too hard for God. He controls the heavens and the earth, and He listens when His people pray.
What We Can Learn
This story isn’t just about an old battle. It shows us some powerful truths:
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God keeps His promises. He told Joshua not to be afraid, and He helped them win.
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God fights for His people. He is with us in our struggles.
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Bold faith leads to big victories. Joshua prayed for something huge—and God answered.
No matter what you’re facing today, remember that you are not alone. The same God who made the sun stand still is still working in the lives of those who trust Him.
Joshua 10:1-15 (WEB)
10:1 Now when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them, 2 they were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me. Let’s strike Gibeon; for they have made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” 5 Therefore 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 themselves together and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Don’t abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us.”7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and the whole army with him, including all the mighty men of valor. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, “Don’t fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not a man of them will stand before you.”9 Joshua therefore came to them suddenly. He marched from Gilgal all night. 10 The LORD confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah. 11 As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, the LORD hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!”13 The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day. 14 There was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.15 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.