Joshua 10 John Lasken

Spiritual Resurrection and Gathering for Worship

The spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you. This verse is not just a promise that we're going to be resurrected just as the Lord was, but this is a promise for us now that we can experience a spiritual resurrection and that's why we meet daily.

That's why we're here this morning to gather to worship and praise him because of the new life that we have in Christ because of the spirit making us alive and that's why we gather to worship him. So let's pray.

Finally, we just bow our hearts before you. We look unto you Lord the author and the finish of our faith. We pray as we look unto you and praise you and worship you. Lord that the cares and the concerns that are on our hearts and minds would fall away as we look upon your character and your holiness.

Lord we pray for these ministries that we lift them up to you and pray you go before us and prepare the way that you work in people's hearts and their minds to prepare them for the gospel. We pray for lives to be changed Lord.

We pray for children to be saved. We pray for the pastor's book Lord for your anointing upon that book that it would make an impact on the church. And for all these ministries Lord we pray for your will above all things for your wisdom and your leading and your blessing that we would be changed and conformed into your image.

Let me pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Praise God. Let's all stand together and worship. That we.

Empty Worship and the Holiness of God

Often have when we're singing in worship. You are exalted. We just said that multiple times. You are exalted. There was a point in time in Israel's history when the prophet Isaiah is sent to give a message to the people.

And.

In part the message addressed empty worship. To the extent that the Lord had Israel proclaim to the people even when you pray I will not listen. There's a difference between prayer.

That is a.

Repetition of words and prayer that swells up from the heart and ascends to the throne of God. You are exalted. Now we sit here and we stand here and we sing these words. The question is why do we believe he's exalted?

Another song we sang today that you are not a God who's created. You are the self-existent.

You are Yahweh.

That word was so significant that in the Old Testament they couldn't even say it. But yet there are times where we become almost comfortable. Almost almost too comfortable. It's not a it's not it's not a bad thing to say you are exalted but it is a great thing to say you are exalted and then have something that comes up behind it.

You are exalted because I saw your hand or you are exalted because I felt you. You are exalted because of who you are. Today in we're going to be in Joshua 10. And there is a because that is so powerful that to say you are exalted almost is not enough.

The the nation is going to be in conflict and God's going to fight for them and then God's going to make all of these amazing proclamations. The concept of having someone or something that's your protector that that you can count on that you can trust to the end is is a powerful thought.

I think of a little toddler who perhaps is alongside a swimming pool for the first time. Now they have absolutely no idea what's there. It looks different and maybe mom and dad are already in the pool and and it might be coming up somewhere halfway up their stomach or something like that and they're saying jump in I got you.

And I I think of what that must look like for the first time for a little toddler. I'm used to seeing mom or dad completely and now I'm only seeing this much what happened to the rest of them and and I'm being told to jump in.

And the little child jumps. Why? Because they know they know that mom or dad has got their back, that they're protected. That is a powerful thing. This is this is going to be our God. We'll see in a in a few minutes.

There was a movie that came out a while ago called The Blind Side.

The.

The background behind that starts with a guy by the name of Lawrence Taylor. He was a defenseman on the New York Giants who made a who made a science made an art of getting through the offensive line and going after the quarterback from his backside.

See a quarterback's getting ready to make a pass and he can't really see behind him. That's called the blind side and he made an art of getting to the quarterback and making quarterback pancakes sometimes injuries, unfortunately.

So the story talks about this individual by the name of Michael Orr who he's described as being quick as a hiccup and strong as a bull.

And.

He was encouraged to play football and he played left tackle because guys like Lawrence Taylor were going after the blind side of the quarterback. If you could have somebody quick as a hiccup strong as a bull who could stop that rush you could protect the quarterback.

So guys like Michael Orr would be the protector from the from the blind side. Today's passage we're in in Joshua chapter 10 and one particular verse. I'm switching to my reading glasses. I apologize. One of the particular verses of encouragement to the people and to us in verse 25.

Joshua said to them do not be afraid or dismayed be strong and courageous for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight. Joshua is given an encouragement and he passes it on to the people because God is the one to be depended on.

He is exalted. He is he is the ultimate. Moses was in the wilderness.

Now.

Earlier he was protected from birth from from being killed. He grew up in Pharaoh's palace. He was privileged as a youth and then he was placed in power as a young man, but all this went away in an instant when Moses saw an Israeli being abused by an Egyptian guard and he killed the Egyptian and so he fled for his life into the wilderness.

The things that he had received from the world the accolades the privileges the power and everything else had disappeared and now in in the wilderness he encounters a very unusual sight a bush that is on fire but not being consumed.

And he approaches and God says remove your sandals for the very place where you are is holy and he does and God has a message and he has a task for Moses to go to Pharaoh to let my people go and Moses says I'm, I'm not the guy.

How can I possibly do this and God encourages him and so now Moses is going to go and he says uh, but but what what should I say to the people? How can I how can I assure them? And in exodus 3 God said to Moses I am who I am and he said say to this people of Israel I am has sent me to you.

God also said to Moses say this to the people of Israel the Lord the God of your fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Jacob has sent me to you. This is my name forever and thus I am to be remembered through all generations.

I am is the one who's got Moses back. I am is the one who's going to give Moses the strength the power the very words that are to be said. Now as we fast forward Moses goes to the court and he proclaims God's word but Moses heart is hardened and there is plague after plague after plague and and pharaoh refuses to listen until finally the last is that unless there is blood on the lintel and on the doorposts of the land that is slain the firstborn in every house will be killed and so the angel of death came and the people of Israel were protected because of the blood but not so for the Egyptians and so pharaoh says just go just go well, then pharaoh's heart was hardened and he goes after them and so after the passover and after the deliverance then after their departure comes the red sea and comes challenge again, but God protects them because I am is the one who is the protector of all and so he parts the sea then the nation goes through but they're not so the Egyptians.

They are killed they go to Mount Sinai and they get the words then there's a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by the day to guard them as I am Takes them on the way and they finally reach the promised land at Kadesh Barnea they're told to send spies one from each tribe and they go in and they wander through this land for 40 days and They come back with this amazing news, this is the most amazing all-inclusive you guys have ever seen.

Let's go well, sort of they said the land flows with milk and honey, but They're giants and we're grasshoppers. We can't can't do it except for Joshua and Caleb. And so now we have another 40 years as the people wander and that generation Dies until they come to Shittim and a camp on the east side of the River Jordan.

God tells Joshua only be strong and very Courageous being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant has commanded you do not turn from it to the right Hand or to the left that you may have good success wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. Your way will be made prosperous. You will have good success. Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous?

Do not be frightened do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you. That great protector Yahweh. I am the Lord God is with you. Wherever you go and so they enter the land. God departs the water again this time in the river and while they're there the land is.

There's there's dangers and there's opposition. In fact, there are those who have opposed God who must be put to death. They must be judged and so the people go into the land to take the land for for God and and there are dangers.

But there's protection and there are times of obedience and blessing. There are times of disobedience. Then there's time of judgment, but we now get to Joshua chapter 10 where we are today now six weeks ago I was up here and we spoke out of Joshua 9.

Many of your Bibles will talk about Joshua 9 as the great Gibeonite deception. It's where Joshua is going after the Canaanites and the Canaanites are afraid and one of the clans the Gibeonites. It instead of standing with the world culture.

They seek protection under Joshua in front of the God of Israel and Yes, they do they deceive they do but here's the thing. The nation of Canaan was under the judgment of Haram. They were to be killed.

They were to be completely eliminated because of their obstinance against God. But these people the Gibeonites wanted to be associated with the God of Israel. By the way, we've seen this before Rahab she was a Canaanite woman and she stood in opposition to the culture of the day and stood by and Gave information and helped God's people.

God judges the heart. He always does and so when the heart is soft to God. The Gibeonites their approach we can challenge it but their heart was judged by God and so they made an alliance With the nation and so at this point in time as we go into chapter 10 There are kings in the land and they understand the reputation of the God of Israel and how he fought for them at Jericho and how he fought for them at Ai and the Stories of the Red Sea and the stories of the River Jordan and the stories on the other side of the river.

They knew all of this the reputation of how God has fought and gone before and with his people. They also realized that there now was this alliance with Gibeon and Gibeon who prior to this had been one of them.

And in fact, it says that Gibeon was one of the greatest of the cities and there's an alliance. And Israel right now is not with Gibeon they're over by the River Jordan that's some 25 miles away. But the nations in the land are in distress.

And so now they start to make alliances and they start to make plans. Because there's a threat to them and they need to deal with it. Dear Lord as we turn to your word today We recognize the truth that your people Are protected by you are watched by you that there are not to fear because you go with them.

But we recognize Lord the dangers in the land Lord. We see the nation Israel we see the people of Gibeon and we see how the world is going to stand in opposition to them. Father as we open your word as we consider it teach us how to rely on you we pray in Jesus name Joshua 10 starting in verse 1 as soon as Adonai 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 Adonai Zedek King of Jerusalem said oh him King of Hebron to Piram King of Jarmath to Japhia King of Lachish to Dabir King of Eglon saying come up to me.

Then help me. Let us strike Gibeon for it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel. So here's the scene the people of Israel have been having success. Jericho has fallen AI has fallen and now Gibeon has chosen to be an alliance with Israel because of the God of Israel and so these people Hear and they fear Gibeon has made an alliance.

And this upsets the people of the land you see when God intervenes the world is going to react. When people side themselves with God the world will react and We're seeing that in this passage how Gibeon who had been part of the brethren of the Canaanites Is now standing alongside Israel and so they are now a threat and the world will attack.

What are they doing? Well, they're eliminating the impact of Gibeon. They cannot abide how Gibeon would stand alongside God and so they're going to seek to eliminate him. Probably they're also seeking to discourage anybody else who might be considering going down that path as well.

It won't go well for you and so they want to discourage anybody else who might stand alongside those who stand with God and Maybe they're weakening Israel's Chances for when they finally attack and so the alliance is made.

The forces are amassed and Gibeon is the target not Israel. Gibeon is the target and what's got to happen is cancel Gibeon. That sounds too familiar today. Gibeon must be canceled. We have to eliminate.

Let's join all of our forces together and get rid of this Gibeon thing that's going on. Maybe this will also weaken Israel. See Gibeon had gone against the world culture. They had acknowledged the God of Israel.

They had even abandoned their prior identity. You remember the story from chapter 9 how Gibeon Attempting To protect themselves. They said no. No, no, we're not from here. See our clothes how worn they are see how bread how moldy it is.

Our wineskins are about to fall apart. We're some we're from some faraway land. We're not part of these people have mercy on us. Gibeon had denied their world culture and their world culture was not happy about this.

And so their attack was going to be on Gibeon and they were going to go after them. Any pursuit any pursuit of God is against the world culture. The story of human History has God's redemptive plan written all through it as we read scripture.

But in addition there is this reality of Satan. Satan who stood as one of the highest angels who decided against God and said I will make myself like the most High. Satan who is banished to earth. Satan who makes it his agenda to cancel anything God.

So that he can be raised in a position of preeminence. Cancel Gibeon. Anybody who stands for God for his church today is in the crosshairs of The attack and it seems like we're caught in the middle. And yes, we are.

Anyone who stands on the side of God is a target against today's culture against Satan. And in this King in this case against the five Kings. Psalm 85 speaks of those who stand in opposition to God and it says in verse 5 of Psalm 83.

For they conspire with one accord. Against you they make a covenant. The world is united in its assault on God and in this case Gibeon is the one that's in the crosshairs starting in verse 6 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 Emirates who dwell in the hill country Are gathered against us. Going back to Chapter 9 we understood this alliance that was made between Israel with Gilgal.

It's called a vassal relationship. And so the greater is in a bonded position to protect the lesser and in this case Israel is in a bonded position to stand up in defense of Gilgal so Gilgal comes. I'm sorry Gibeon comes and says come quickly and help us.

So Joshua went out from Gilgal he and all the people of war with him and all the mighty men of valor. It was time for Joshua to take a stand. The battle is not against them at this point in time. The battle is against Gibeon.

But Gibeon is in a relationship and Gibeon has proclaimed their alliance and their desire towards Yahweh. And so it is time for Israel to stand up. This would be the greatest challenge. They've ever had five kings in alliance against them at the same time.

And so Joshua prepares and he musters all the people. All the mighty men. This is an all-in response by Joshua and so God responds in verse 8. And the Lord said to Joshua do not fear them. How many times in the Old Testament?

Jeff has told us do not fear shows up. I believe it's 366 easy to remember one for every day of the year plus the leap day. Do not fear this is God, this is the God he is not a God created. He is God the creator of all and when he says do not fear.

There's a lot of comfort behind that because he's got your backside. He says do not fear. I have given them into your hands not of man of them shall stand. Against you now catch that also. I have given them into your hands.

There is an exhortation of action on our part. The world stands against us and the world would counter against us and God says don't fear because I'm with you. But brothers and sisters we are still to go forward and we are still to be part of this of this battle.

The battle belongs to the Lord, but he's going to use us. No man can stand before you. Joshua has to take action, but it's God. Who's gonna give the victory? Verse 9. Joshua takes his people and they march all night now.

Where they are in? Gilgal to where they got to go is over mountains and it's like a 25 mile march. And they march all night and they get there and they come upon the Kings. Suddenly then the Lord threw them into panic them the Kings.

The Lord threw the Kings into panic before Israel he struck them with a blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horn and struck them as far as Ezekiah and Mecada and they fled before Israel and while they were going down the ascent of Beth Horn.

The Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as as it Ezekiah and they died. There were more who died because of hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. God takes control and he puts fear in the hearts of these five kings who would think they could stand up against Gibeon because well, they're Gibeon.

They're not standing against Israel. Well, God will protect those who stand on his side. And so God throws hailstones down. Unless you miss this. This is a protracted battle. They're going to be going from Beth Horn to Azekah.

It's a valley. It's not mountains, but we're talking 25 miles give or take.

Now.

Trained military men Probably can proceed about four miles an hour. Most average people maybe three miles an hour we're talking somewhere between six and eight hours of These people fleeing from before Israel and God is following them all the way with hailstones.

This is going on for a long time. This is a battle and this battle belongs to the Lord but Catch this also there were more who died of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. It does not say that Israel stood by and watched.

Israel is taking part in this battle because there are those who are killed with the sword. And so Israel is all in and Israel is taking part in this. Gibeon had a choice to make as this was coming about the five kings are coming.

I Believe that Gibeon had the choice to say, you know brothers we were wrong my bad. We do not want to stand with Israel anymore now would that have changed. I don't know. But let's fast forward into the time of Isaiah in chapter 36 Sennacherib is the king of Assyria and and they're encamped in Lachish they've been defeating city after city after city in Judah and Jerusalem is now the big target and again remember Satan get rid of anything God.

Get rid of anything God so he can be like the Most High Jerusalem is that last Bastion and so they've had all these successes. And now they're gonna go up to Jerusalem and they're gonna attack and Sennacherib sends his Reb Saka Which is his field general and he goes by the wall and he says make your peace with me.

And come out to me. This is tempting. There's danger out there and the Reb Shaka is saying make your peace with me come out to me then each one of you will eat his own vine and Each one of his own fig tree and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern until I come and take you away to a land like your own a land of grain and wine a land of bread and vineyards just Compromise and come with me and make peace with me.

That's what the world chooses to tell you compromise. Make peace with me and life will be good. But Gilgal does not do this. Gilgal turns to Joshua. Because he knows that the God of Joshua the God of Israel is Yahweh and that's the place where he needs to turn.

Starting at verse 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 son stand still at Gibeon and Moon in the Valley of Aijalon.

There are a couple of lessons in this particular passage. One is what happens when leaders deal with faith? Joshua is in the middle of a battle. It's going well. But he hollers out loud To the Lord in the sight of Israel it says we're all could hear son stand still Moon in the Valley of Aijalon.

He's putting it all on the line. Things could go pretty bad for him here if it doesn't happen. Now, but Joshua had already experienced the power of God at Jericho in a day He knew that God had put fear in the hearts of the Kings.

He knew that through Rahab and in the midst of battle. He has seen God's Intervention, but here he is right now with courage in the middle of battles yelling to the Lord son stand still.

Moon.

In the Valley of Aijalon. With conviction. Faith when leaders. When godly leaders lead with faith. Things happen. Second Corinthians 5 7 gives us some insight into the concepts of a godly leader. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God.

A godly leader is chosen by God and a godly leader walks with God. He who has given us the spirit as a guarantee. A godly leader is confident because of God because of the Holy Spirit. We are always of good courage.

A godly leader has courage because he knows that he walks with God. We know that while we were at home in the body We were away from the Lord. A godly leader chooses to put his focus on the kingdom of God.

Not on the things of the world for we walk by faith. And not by sight. A godly leader has faith son. Stand still. This is a godly leader a man of faith. Now here's the second interesting thing.

This.

Account Sun stand still. A Gibeon moon in the Valley of Aijalon and the Sun stood still and The moon stopped. Until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. What happened now from their perspective at that time?

Everything is very human centric world centric. The Sun is going around the world. Well, we know from Galileo. It's actually everything is still and the earth is rotating. That's why we see the Sun rise in the east and set at the west.

Joshua's calling to the Creator. Joshua is calling out to him who creates and sustains all things. Psalm 95 for the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth and the heights of the mountain also are his and he was.

11 says faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen and so Joshua calls out to this God and so what happened? The earth stopped. Now there are those who try to dismiss this with some explanation like an eclipse or clouds.

But it goes on to say that there has never been a day like this ever. Before when the Lord heeded the words of man and the Lord stepped in this happened the world stopped spinning. This is a powerful moment.

What didn't happen the earth at the equator? The circumference of the earth at the equator is Approximately 24 ,000 miles. The earth rotates on its axis in 24 hours. Somebody do the math. How fast are you moving right now?

Thousand miles an hour. You didn't even know it. Did you you're going a thousand miles an hour at this moment in time. Joshua calls out Sun. Stand still and God did it. The earth stopped rotating. You would have gone from a thousand miles an hour to zero.

In an instant without a seatbelt no airbag. Nothing happened to anybody. Except the earth stopped. The oceans Going a thousand miles an hour. Stopped. But all the water didn't slush to one side and great tidal waves.

It just stopped. There is something called centripetal force. You're sitting very comfortably in your seat. Over the years. I said a little deeper in my seat as my scale goes higher and higher. But there's something called gravity and it is the attraction of two objects towards each other.

That's what draws us To what we know is earth but the force 32 feet squared is Countermeasured by what's called centripetal force. We're rotating a Thousand miles an hour, which is a force outward and God has designed our world.

So that the resultant of the vectors of I'm using big words. The resultant of the centripetal force versus the gravitational force makes you feel very comfortable as you are. Guess what? The earth stopped rotating at a thousand miles an hour and all that was left was gravitation.

And we don't record that. Everybody was squashed like a bug because of the force of gravity. Why were people not disrupted because they went from a thousand miles an hour to zero. Why did the oceans stay still?

Even though they went from a thousand miles to nothing and didn't solution. Great title words. Why did the people not get squashed because centripetal force isn't there. God is the answer. He is the creator of all this is one of the most amazing miracles.

I read in in Scripture. I read about God parting the Red Sea. I read about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I read of the miracles and I'm amazed at my God. He is exalted. He is not a God created.

He is the God who is the creator. He is the God who holds everything in his hands. And so here we have Joshua saying Son stand still. He wouldn't have known the impact of what he was saying, but God did.

And so he did it. He stopped the earth and when he did that he did it in such a way that there was no impact. From going from revolving around to not. This is our God. This is the God who has Joshua's.

Back.

It says never was there a day like this. The Lord heeded God's call and fought for his people. Now here's an extra side light to this. For the people of the land the Amorites. The Sun and the moon were the great deities.

Who just took control of the Sun and the moon. I got news for you it wasn't them it was Yahweh and in great great faith. Joshua says Sun and moon stand still and Yahweh made it happen. And on that day there was a great fear.

The battle continues. Verse 16 these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makeda. And it was told to Joshua the five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makeda and Joshua said roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them.

But do not stay there pursue your enemies attack their rear guard. The five kings were found by the way Makeda another 25 miles. So we're 50 miles away from Gibeon, but they found him. That's not a surprise to me in a cave hiding and that's not a surprise and so they trapped him with stones.

Continued the assault and eventually they're going to deal with these kings and we get to the ultimate words of encouragement that God gives to Joshua to give to his people in verse 25 and Joshua said to them do not be afraid or dismayed be strong and courageous.

For thus says the Lord he will do to your enemies. Against whom you fight? He will do To your enemies as he has done today. Those are the words of encouragement for us also.

There there are.

Forces in our culture today to cancel anything God and the attack might not be on you specifically. But it is out there. We need to stand up. We need to stand up and be accountable. We need to have the faith of a Joshua who could yell son stand still with full conviction that God would do it and so the conquest continues starting in in Starting in verse 28.

They're gonna go from Makeda. They're gonna go down to Libna and from Libna. They're going to go to Horehem and to Lachish and to Hebron and to Debir. And I find it I find it encouraging that all of these Conquests are listed because it's also includes Kadesh Barnea.

You remember Kadesh Barnea? From some 40 some odd years earlier. When they did not see God they saw giants and grasshoppers. If you look at Exodus 3 and The path that the spies take for 40 days There's a strong parallel not complete.

But there is a strong parallel on the path that these spies take to this battle that's listed in Joshua 10. What happened to the Giants? They're still there. What happened to the grasshoppers? Israel is no more powerful than they were before.

What's the difference God? You see Israel is no longer looking at the people in the land who are by the way Giants as an opposition or Some obstacle they are listening to the encouragement of God. Do not be afraid.

Do not be dismayed be of courage. I am with you. I will fight for you. And so the Nation of Israel successfully has The conquest in the southern nation and it's not because of who they are. It's because of who their God is.

Joshua and his nation are in a conquest to occupy a land that was promised years earlier to Abraham that they would have. Now since that time of promise there were 400 years of captivity there was a failure at Kadesh Barnea.

There was 40 years of judgment in the wilderness as a generation died. But then as they approached the River Jordan God tells Joshua don't be afraid. I'm going with you. I'm going before you. Psalm 46 1 teaches us.

God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble now Israel faced Giants, yes, they did but there was God and Israel was going to be confronted with powerful alliances. Yes, they were but there was God.

Israel was even going to have failures, but there was always God and as Joshua encouraged the nation with words I want to encourage you with these same words. Do not be afraid or Dismayed be strong Courageous for this Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.

Amen.

Trusting the Lord and Doing Good

As we go be encouraged by these words coming from a psalm of David in Psalm 37.

Trust in the Lord and do good so that thou wilt dwelt in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart commit thy way Unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass.

Amen.