God Aids The Israelites

God Aids the Israelites

Q: What stood still until the Israelites had defeated their enemies?

• a. the horses and chariots
• b. the soldiers
• c. the sun

God stepped in and performed many miracles for the Israelites. He did four just to help them take the Promised Land. First, God parted the Jordan River so the Israelites could cross on dry land (see Joshua 3). Second, God made the walls of Jericho tumble to the ground (see Joshua 6). Third, God threw hail at the enemies of Israel and killed more of them than the Israelite warriors did. Fourth, God had the sun stay in the sky until a battle was over so the Israelites could fight in sunlight, not the dark.

You can find all kinds of scientific “proof” about why the sun stayed still or why this couldn’t have happened. You can read books that point out it’s the earth’s rotation that makes the sun appear to rise and set, so the sun doesn’t really move at all. It is debated whether or not God caused the earth to actually stop rotating.

But all that isn’t really important. God created the earth and the sun. If he wants the sun to shine all night, then it will happen. There doesn’t have to be any more explanation than God made it so.

God created everything. He set it all in motion. He can control stars, planets, weather, or anything else he chooses. He granted Joshua’s request by making the sun stay in the sky until the battle was won. This was just one more piece of evidence that he was with his people.

For You

God is in control of all things. He may not do the same miracles he did in Old Testament times, but he will still work on your behalf if you ask him to. What do you need God’s help with today?

Answer: c

The sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.   Joshua 10:13

(The Whole Story: Joshua 10:1-15)