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Longest Day, The

Joshua 10

Introduction: There is a movie with the above title. It about the invasion of Normandy . We realize every day is made up of 24 hours. Some times we wish there were more hours in a day and other times we wish the day would end sooner. However, every day is the same length except for one day in the Bible. It was longer than 24 hours, it was the day the sun stood still.

I) During the 40 Year Wandering

A) Israel had numerous military victories

1. King Sihon of Heshbon, Deut. 2.26,33, 34

2. King Og of Bashan in Deut. 3.1,3, 5-6 describes the totality of Israel ’s victory.

3.Cannanites defeated at Hormah, Numbers 21.1-3

4.  Israel dwelt in the cities of the Amorites, Numbers 21.31

5. The Midianites defeated in Numbers 31.1-11 (five kings in v. 8)

B) These events were being observed

1. The people in Canaan knew some of what was happening, Joshua 2.2

2. The people heard of God power and were afraid, Joshua 2.8-11

C) Israel crosses the Jordan River during the flood season, Joshua 3.15.

1. Common for the river to be un-crossable during this time of the year.

2. The people thought this would at least slow down Israel and give them time to prepare.

II) More Military Victories

A) Jericho falls in just 7 days, Joshua 6

1. How do you defeat an enemy that can make your walls fall down?

2. Total destruction of the city.

B) AI eventually falls, Joshua 7 & 8

1. The defeat of Israel in the first battle was because of their unfaithfulness to God.

2. Once they took care of the sin in the camp they took care of AI

C) Treaty with Gibeonites, Joshua 9

1. Gibeonites realized they would not be able to defeat Israel .

2. Israel into in a treaty against God’s desires.

III) Five Kings Enter Into An Alliance Against Israel

A) King of Jerusalem , Hebron , Jarmuth, Lachish , and Eglon

1. They were 5 Amorites Kings, v. 5

2. Remember the promise to Abraham in Genesis 15.16 “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete”.

3. Individually they would fall but perhaps as a group they could win

4. They attack Gibeon, v. 6 and Gibeon calls for help from Israel .

5. God tells Joshua to go for I have delivered them to you, v. 8; they march all night, v. 9

6. God sends large hail stones to strike the enemy, v. 11

B) The sun stood still, vv. 12-13

1. No other day like it

2. Why? In order to give Israel more time to defeat their enemies

3. God wanted Israel to fight and a complete victory.

IV) Lessons to Learn

A) Fear holds us back

1. 40 years earlier at Kadesh Barnea , Israel was afraid and refused to enter Canaan , Deut. 1

2. Now they were destroying those very same cities.

3. Fear leads to rebellion which causes us to sin against God.

            a. I can’t do that

            b. What will people say?

4. It is fear that causes some people to not admit their sins. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband because he was afraid of being found out, 2 Samuel 11.

5. Now the people of the land were afraid.

B) Man can not stand up against God

1. The alliance of five kings could not over come the power of God.

2. The word of God is powerful, Hebrews 4.12

3. We can not out vote it, ignore it, or change it; without being crushed by it, Psalm 2.

            a. Caiaphas and Annias in the New Testament plotted against Jesus           and delivered Him up to Pilate, Matthew 26.3.

            b. Pilate had Him crucified, Acts 3.13-16.

4. Yet the kingdom was established on the Day of Pentecost.

5. People persecuted the church but it kept on growing.

C) Always listen to God first

1. Joshua did not just take off and go to battle. God told him to go to battle.

            a. Perhaps Joshua learned his lesson with the Gibeonites in chapter 9

            b. They did not ask counsel of God, Joshua 9.14

2. Presumptuous sins will cause many to be lost, Psalm 19.13

3. David presumed he could move the ark on a cart, he was wrong, 2 Samuel 6.

4. King Uzziah presumed he could go into the temple and offer a sacrifice, he was wrong, 2 Chron. 26.16-20

D) God can deliver us if we do what He says in the way He says when He says

1. It is not a question of God’s power; He created the heavens and the earth. He can make the sun stand still.

2. It is a matter of His will. What does God want us to do? 2 Peter 3.9.

            a. God will keep His word and not contradict it, Hebrews 6.18.

            b. He will save those that do His will, Matthew 12.50.

Conclusion: Added day light can be a great blessing if we use it properly. What would you do if today was 24 hours longer? What if you had two more hours each day? Go bike riding, clean  house, mow the  yard, etc. What if at the end of your life you had one more day to do what  you wish?

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