Today's Reading: Joshua 10:1-15

Joshua 10:14 (ESV)"There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel."

Sitting on the school bus, I scrunched down hoping no one would notice me. My school was notorious for fights, and I was picked on more days than not. Since I was outnumbered, let's just say that running and hiding were my best options.

The Gibeonites were in such a situation. As part of their self-protection plan, they deceitfully made an alliance with the Israelites. (Joshua 10:1) Thinking the Gibeonites were a people far away, the Israelites signed a peace treaty with them. (Joshua 9:22) Then King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem formed a coalition of five Amorite kings to lay siege to Israel. (Joshua 10:2-5)

Joshua stood up for the Gibeonites, but really it was God who fought for both the Israelites and the Gibeonites. God handed the kings over to the Israelites (Joshua 10:8) and "threw them into a panic before Israel" (Joshua 10:10). More died from hailstones than by the sword. (Joshua 10:11) Then Joshua asked God to make the sun and moon stand still, and God did so. (Joshua 10:12-13)

Joshua's bold request for the sun and moon to stand still was a spiritual witness. The sun and moon represented omens of fortune or demise to the Ancient Near Eastern culture. This miracle was a sign to the Amorites that there is one true, living God who is well able to defend His own.

Joshua's request was practical. Gibeon was a city of hills, situated in a valley, which meant the sun would have been blocked by surrounding hills later in the day.

Joshua's request was supernatural, trumping science and the order of creation. Joshua relied on God to save — not false religion, others or his own strength.

In the character of Joshua, we catch a glimpse of Christ. Both names, "Joshua" in Greek and "Jesus" in Hebrew, mean "Yahweh saves." Joshua was a leader and commander, and so is Christ. (Isaiah 55:4) Joshua conquered the enemies of God's people, and Jesus conquered death. (2 Timothy 1:10) Joshua brought God's people into the land of Canaan, and Jesus brings us to the heavenly Canaan for all eternity. (Hebrews 11:16) Joshua was raised up to save God's people, and Jesus saves us. (John 3:17) Joshua's rest was temporary. (Joshua 22:4) Jesus' rest lasts forever. (Hebrews 4:8)

As followers of Jesus, we know God fights for us. God knows what we need before we even ask. He is not limited in His ability to save. (Exodus 14:14) Our requests for help can be massive or practical. But the goal of our requests is to be a witness to the world.

Looking back, I see how God fought for me when I was a shy little girl afraid to get off that bus. One day when I was threatened by a group, someone stood in front of me and said, "You have to go through me to get to her." End of story. Friends, the enemy must go through God first to get to us. Our best offense is God's defense.

Prayer: God, You are my Defender. Help me to stop worrying or relying on anything but You in the seemingly impossible moments of my life. You are my God, and nothing is too difficult for You.