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Soon after Joshua had made peace
with the Gibeonites, the wicked kings of the Amorites heard of it, and
went to Gibeon to fight against it, because it had made peace with the
Israelites. The Gibeonites were very much frightened when they saw
these kings, and their armies, coming to fight them; but they knew where
to go for help; they sent to Joshua, and asked him to come and save them
from their enemies. When we
are in sorrow and danger, it is very pleasant to have kind friends to
comfort and help us; but there is only one Friend who has power always to
save us from all evil, and to fight for us against our worst enemies, the
enemies of our souls. Who is that Friend? It is the Lord Jesus
Christ; He is "a Friend at all times," and He tells us to call
upon Him in the time of trouble. Did
Joshua go to help the Gibeonites, or did he say he would do nothing for
people who had been so deceitful? No, Joshua had promised to be kind
to them, and he did not forget his promise now they were in trouble:
he went directly, and all his soldiers with him. He was right to go;
we ought always to be willing to help those who ask our help; and if
people have done wrong to us in time past, we should be ready to forgive
and forget all, and be kind to them when they are in sorrow. But
Joshua and his men of themselves could not do much; God alone could
conquer the enemy, and He promised He would. He said to Joshua,
"Fear not; for I am with thee." The
kings were soon conquered, and fled from the Israelites; and many of their
soldiers were killed with hail-stones, which God sent from heaven to
destroy the enemies of His people. God did a wonderful thing that
day: Joshua and the Israelites were many hours fighting, and they
feared darkness would come on, and then they would not know where to find
their enemies. But Joshua had great faith in God; he knew He could
do everything, and that He had promised to do great things for His people;
so Joshua asked God to do a very wonderful miracle then, a new miracle,
never seen before. What was it? Joshua spoke to the Lord, and
said, "Sun, stand thou still in Gibeon; and thou moon, in the valley
of Ajalon." Yes, because it was the will of God that they
should; it was His power, not Joshua's, that made them stand still, and He
gave the command in answer to Joshua's prayer. The sun and the moon
stayed as they were all that day; hour after hour passed, and the sun and
the moon were in the same place still, until all the enemies of Israel
were conquered. How wonderful God is! How great His power is,
and His kindness too, to His own people! We may safely trust Him in
all dangers, if we love and serve Him; but we must remember that He has
power to destroy His enemies, as well as to save His friends. The
wicked kings fled and hid in a cave; they thought Joshua could not find
them there; but they could not save themselves. Joshua soon heard
where they were, and he commanded his people to roll great stones to the
mouth of the cave to keep the kings in, till all his enemies were
conquered. And when the Israelites had finished fighting, Joshua
brought out the kings and slew them. The Amorites had long sinned
against God, and now they must be destroyed. God's enemies will all
perish at last. He waits a long time for them to repent and turn to
him; but if they will not, He will cast them away for ever. Then let
us pray God to make us His people; to give us new hearts, and to help us,
by His Holy Spirit, to love and serve Him. And then we shall be safe
and happy, and have God for our friend for ever.
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