Feature Story

Joshua, Moses' successor, led the Israelites to the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey. They crossed the Jordan River with faith, circumcised themselves at Gilgal, and conquered the city of Jericho according to the method of God. But they failed to conquer the city of Ai at first due to Achan's sins. After resolving the sin-related problem they conquered Ai. Joshua built an altar to God and offered a sacrifice at Mount Ebal. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses had given command at first to bless the people of Israel. Then they conquered Canaan with God's ways in earnest. (Joshua chapters 8-12)




* Lessons to be learned from the incident with Gibeon

As said in Joshua chapter 9, the Israelites conquered the city of Ai which was located in the central part of Canaan. Hearing the news, the different clans in Canaan were afraid and tried to find a solution. The Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites agreed to form a united force to fight against the nation of Israel. The Hivites, who dwelt northwest of Jerusalem in Gibeon, chose to secure a peace treaty rather than to fight against them because they saw God was with the sons of Israel.

Actually, God commanded the people of Israel to totally conquer and annihilate all the people in the land of Canaan. As written in Deuteronomy 7:1-4 God commanded that the Israelites make no covenant with the Canaanites, show no favor to them, and intermarry with none of them. He gave such commands because of the fear that the nation of Israel might become stained by the sins that prevailed in Canaan. But if the people who were well distanced from Canaan wanted to serve and have peace with Israel, God said it was OK to have peace with them.

One day some of the inhabitants of Gibeon came to Joshua in disguise and asked for a peace treaty with them. They said they were from a distant country and they came for a peace treaty upon hearing about the fame of God and the Israelites. As evidence of being from a distant land they showed that the bread they had brought was now moldy and their clothes, shoes, and wineskins were worn out.

Joshua accepted that they were not from the land of Canaan and he made the peace treaty with them without asking God or carefully examining the case. Three days later the Israelites came to know the truth that these people were Hivites who were dwelling in Gibeon. The consequence was that they had to give the Hivites the lands of Gibeon, which they were supposed to conquer. Because Israel had already made an oath before God, Joshua let them live and instead made them serve the Israelites as hewers of wood and drawers of water.

What are the lessons to be learned from the incident of Gibeon? Joshua had already made the mistake of not asking God's will when attacking the city of Ai. However, Joshua made the same kind of mistake again by following the opinions of others without asking God's will. If he had asked God's will before he made the peace treaty he wouldn't have been deceived. Here, we should realize how important it is that anything that we do must be done by first realizing God's will and then following it, whether the matter is big or small. We also should keep in mind how important our words from lips are.

* Joshua caused the sun and the moon to stand still and conquered the southern part of Canaan

The southern Canaanites heard the news that the people of Gibeon entered into a peace treaty with Israel just to survive. When this news reached the five kings of the Amorites, they formed an alliance and attacked Gibeon. As recorded in Joshua chapter 10, the Gibeonites asked Israel for help. The allied forces of the Amorites could be a big problem to Israel, but at the same time it could also be a great opportunity. This is because if they destroyed the allied forces, they could gain many cities at one time.

So, they moved quickly overnight and launched a surprise attack against the Amorite kings. The allied armies of the Amorites were unable to retaliate and were defeated. They began to run away and Israel chased after them. At this moment, God did something amazing for the Israelites. Suddenly, large hailstones began to fall on them from heaven. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

If the night's darkness came, it would be easy for the remaining enemy force to hide, so they had to quickly finish the battle while the sun was up. At that moment, Joshua showed great faith to fulfill God's command. By relying on God, who controls everything, Joshua commanded the sun and the moon in the sky to stand still as recorded in Joshua 10:12. God guaranteed his word. In the end, Joshua and Israel chased after and defeated the army. The Israelites finally conquered the people in the southern part of Canaan.

From a common sense point of view it is impossible for the sun and the moon to stand still because the order of natural law, which is running perfectly in God's providence in the universe, cannot just be broken. But, there is nothing impossible by the power of God the Almighty. Of course, God doesn't just stop the sun and the moon any time He feels like it. But if it is necessary to fulfill the providence of God and the children of God show spiritual faith, God can do even greater things than stopping the sun and the moon!

When Joshua used his own thoughts and put his own theory into practice, he was deceived and he made mistakes. But, when he asked for the counsel of God and obeyed His will, he could even manifest the awesome work of stopping the sun and the moon. Likewise, if we also look up to the almighty God alone and march on with faith and with positive confessions of faith, we can be guided to prosperity. Namely, unimaginable works of God can take place through us.

* The Israelites defeated many allied enemy forces and conquered the northern part of Canaan

The news that Israel had conquered the allied armies in the southern portion of Canaan by the power of the almighty God spread quickly to the people in the northern part. Now they felt a great need among themselves to unite in a stand against Israel as written in Joshua chapter 11. Hazor was one of the north's strongest the cities. The king sent his messengers to his neighboring countries and formed an allied force against Israel. When they all came out with their armies, their number was like 'the sands on a beach'. The nation of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for a long time and they had now also fought many battles. They might have been discouraged and even fearful if they had relied on their soldiers and their strength.

But this time too, God promised them a victory and encouraged Joshua. With the promise of victory, Joshua and army of the nation of Israel launched a surprise attack without any hesitation as soon as they received the word of God. The allied forces had camped near the water, and though they believed in their military power, they were thrown into great confusion.

Israel defeated the allied armies of Canaanites all at one time without leaving any survivors. As God commanded, they hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. Also, they burned the great city Hazor, which functioned as a unified command center for the allied forces. By doing so the punishment of God was given to the Canaanites. They then also conquered the other cities one by one. This is how they finished another great battle. Continuing victories in the central and southern parts of the Canaan Land, they went on to conquer the northern part, and it was the end of a significant chapter in the conquest of Canaan.

"… He (Joshua) said in the sight of Israel, 'O sun, stand still at Gibeon, and O moon in the valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies…" (Joshua 10:12-13)