1 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,400 If it's in the city here, Joshua. 2 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:19,400 Joshua is now the leader of the Israelites Moses has passed the 3 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,600 torch on to him and now they are in pursuit to take the land of 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,400 Canaan after all. That's what God promised them. 5 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,700 When he said I'm going to, you're going to be my people. 6 00:00:27,700 --> 00:00:31,700 I'm going to give you this land, so they departed Egypt from that 7 00:00:31,700 --> 00:00:33,800 slavery. But they're in the wilderness 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,000 there for a while. But eventually now they come to 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:43,500 the land of Canaan here and so when they, when they crossed the 10 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:46,500 Jordan River, as they as they came across Cross the Jordan 11 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:52,300 River, the first city hear that they took was Jericho and we all 12 00:00:52,300 --> 00:00:55,500 know the story of them marching around Jericho and all that. 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,000 And finally, on that, on that seventh day, the walls came 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,900 tumbling down and they fell in word. 15 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:04,599 And the people of Israel were able to take Jericho. 16 00:01:05,099 --> 00:01:09,500 And, and so from there, they saw the power of God on display. 17 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,700 And, I mean, they had see the power of God on display before 18 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:15,600 that, they had even crossed the Jordan River. 19 00:01:16,300 --> 00:01:21,100 And by the crossing of the Red Sea, The Parting of the Red Sea. 20 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:25,000 But this gave them, this gave them great Victory, they felt 21 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,400 God's presence and they saw that he was faithful to his promise 22 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,800 to give this this land. And so what they did now is that 23 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,400 after they conquered Jericho, the next one on the map for them 24 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,300 was to attack Ai and so they go over there and they began to 25 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:44,800 attack AI but there's a huge problem. 26 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:51,100 They lose. And the reason why they lose is 27 00:01:51,100 --> 00:01:56,200 because of one man, Aiken, who had taken the spoils from their 28 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,800 battle here in Jericho and because of his sin, the entire 29 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,100 nation lost the battle here at aii. 30 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:08,500 Now, this sin was found out and he was punished because of that. 31 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:12,300 And then after he was, he was punished by being stoned to 32 00:02:12,300 --> 00:02:15,000 death. And now, after that had been 33 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,600 that have been done the Lord. Now tells Joshua, I want you to 34 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,400 go and fight against AI again this time. 35 00:02:22,500 --> 00:02:26,300 I'm going to give you Victory. And that is that's exactly what 36 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:28,300 happened. All the inhabitants of a, i 37 00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:31,300 perished, just as the Lord had promised them. 38 00:02:31,300 --> 00:02:33,900 That happens in Joshua chapter 8. 39 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:37,100 Washed away. Now, from this bit from the 40 00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:41,700 victories of them, taking Jericho and take it away, I will 41 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:47,800 word was beginning to, to get around to them to the various 42 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:53,700 cities about the Israelites, coming into this land and they 43 00:02:53,700 --> 00:02:55,800 had heard about what had happened there in Jericho. 44 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,200 They had heard about what had happened there in Ai and now 45 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:01,700 they begin to be afraid. In fact, they were worried to 46 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:04,200 the point that some of them got together and formed in a 47 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,700 Alliance to fight against the Israelites. 48 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:10,300 And this happens in chapter 9 of the Book of Joshua. 49 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:15,800 Now, you've got these people here and give you, which is not 50 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,700 too far from AI. It's only five miles from Ai. 51 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:23,600 And they, of course, just as the other cities heard about the 52 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,200 Israelites coming and perhaps the give you a, give you a 53 00:03:27,208 --> 00:03:30,100 nights are thinking. Well we're the next one in line 54 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:35,500 to be conquered by these people. And they're afraid to. 55 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,400 And but they, what they did, they kind of took a separate 56 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,200 action. They didn't join the other 57 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,700 cities in forming, an alliance with Ed to attack Israel, but 58 00:03:45,700 --> 00:03:49,200 they thought of a plan to deceive the Israelites into 59 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:54,600 forming an alliance between gibeon and Israel. 60 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:00,400 And so this is what they did. If you're taking notes Joshua 9 61 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:05,000 verse 3, they chose some men to pretend to be ambassadors and 62 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,200 they brought along some Choice items in order to kind of back 63 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,800 the story of what they're going to tell the Israelites and look 64 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,800 here in chapter 9 verse number 4. 65 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:20,700 In verse number 5, And they took old sacs on their donkeys old 66 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:22,500 wide skids. Notice the word old. 67 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:26,800 That's, that's very important for what we see here, old sacs 68 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,700 on their donkeys. All wife's games toward and 69 00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:34,300 mended old and Patch sandals on their feet and old garments on 70 00:04:34,300 --> 00:04:36,900 themselves. And all the bread, the provision 71 00:04:36,900 --> 00:04:42,600 was dry and moldy. They purposely gathered these 72 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,800 items and they purposely dress like this for a reason. 73 00:04:46,900 --> 00:04:51,500 And so they dressed like this, they make their way now over 74 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:56,200 there to gilgal. So give you the gilgal mind you, 75 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,100 this is only about a 15 mile Journey, which is pretty close 76 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:02,800 that. And the Israelites are kept out 77 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,400 here in gilgal. And so they make their way over 78 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:11,300 and they said that they've come from this far country and they 79 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:16,300 In Joshua chapter 9 and verse 6. They've come from this far 80 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:18,200 country. They said, they want to make a 81 00:05:18,207 --> 00:05:20,400 treaty or a covenant with the Israelites. 82 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,800 And so, because of this, this is where Joshua begins to question 83 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:29,300 them by asking or who are you guys at and we're have you guys 84 00:05:29,300 --> 00:05:33,100 come from. And so they answer it again. 85 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:35,700 They're from a very far country. The reason why they had come all 86 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:40,100 this way is because they had heard about the victories that 87 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:43,300 they had. In fact, they they talked about 88 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:46,600 how on the other side of the Jordan River that they had a, 89 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,200 that they had defeated, the two kings of the amorites on the 90 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,300 other side of the Jordan. They had also heard about the 91 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:55,800 Exodus from Egypt, they had heard about The Parting of the 92 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,400 Red Sea, how they crossed on dry land? 93 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,300 They'd heard about the great things that God had done for 94 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:04,200 them. And provided this victory for 95 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,700 the Israelites. And so they've, they told them 96 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:11,300 that we have come to you now under the advice of the elders, 97 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:14,100 so that we can make a treaty and we'll all we want to do is just 98 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:18,200 become your servants. That's all So they try to 99 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:22,000 convince the Israelites of this. They what they end up now doing 100 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,200 is showing them what they brought. 101 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:28,700 Now, they're given visual kind of evidence of how they've come 102 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:33,200 from this far country. Look now versus 1990 are 103 00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:36,900 actually verses 12 and 13 to get in Joshua 9. 104 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:40,600 This is the bread of ours. We took hot, where our provision 105 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:42,400 from our house is on the day. We departed. 106 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,300 Come to you. But now, look, it's dry or 107 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:47,000 molding. Is that right? 108 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:50,100 Right? No, it wasn't hot. 109 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:54,500 It was a freshly baked. It purposely got old moldy 110 00:06:54,500 --> 00:06:59,100 bread. Evers 13 and these wineskins. 111 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:02,600 Which we filled were new. Another lie again. 112 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,200 We know they were old and see, they are torn. 113 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,800 And these are garments in our sandals, have become old because 114 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:15,700 of the very long journey. Another lie, So after the 115 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:19,300 gibeonites, told the story. And so the Israelites, the 116 00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:23,100 items, guess what? They believed them. 117 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:34,600 They believe this lie. but in their decision, To believe them. 118 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,800 They made a huge mistake. If you're taking notes note, 119 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,600 what is said in chapter 9 and verse 14? 120 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,100 It says that they did not ask counsel of the Lord. 121 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,000 About this. They did not seek the Lord's 122 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,200 guidance or approval for creating a treaty with the 123 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,200 people who God had promised that he would wipe out due to him 124 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:05,400 giving the land of Canaan to the Israelites huge mistake. 125 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,400 Huge mistake. And so from this these people 126 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,200 were invited to live among the Israelites said and of course 127 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:18,900 the Covenant was made with these people and so the gibeonites 128 00:08:18,900 --> 00:08:21,900 plans. Well, they worked now during the 129 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:26,200 course of the next three days. The Israelites, of course, God 130 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,300 had said that that I'm giving you this land. 131 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:31,300 So the next course of action, we're going to go get some more 132 00:08:31,300 --> 00:08:33,500 cities. So over the next three days what 133 00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:35,400 they do. They concentrate on this area 134 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:42,200 right here of a fight, these people and take Cities, but it 135 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,900 happens, pretty quick, as they're doing this, they quickly 136 00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:48,300 learned something. If they quickly learn that those 137 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:52,100 people there from gibeon who had just approached him, maybe a day 138 00:08:52,100 --> 00:08:56,300 or two before they were lying about where had they had come 139 00:08:56,300 --> 00:09:00,400 from. In fact, they said that they 140 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,600 were neighbors who dwelt in a city close by and because they 141 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,800 had already established a covenant with them, guess what? 142 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:10,000 They they made an oath of they made a covenant. 143 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,000 So therefore, they can't conquer anyone in here. 144 00:09:15,100 --> 00:09:17,700 And so what they do, they end up going back to Gil-galad. 145 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:20,400 Tell Joshua the leaders. Guess what? 146 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,100 We can't fight these people because you made a treaty with 147 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:26,200 them. They told us a lie. 148 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:31,000 And so Joshua approached the gibeonites about this and ask 149 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,800 the why did you guys lie to us in making a treaty with you? 150 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,400 And their answer was because they had feared that the 151 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,800 Israelites would have made their City when they die and that they 152 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,000 would die. And, you know, that's a 153 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,700 legitimate concern to be afraid that, you know, the Israelites 154 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:54,200 are taking land and taken cities So, they were all they were 155 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,600 trying to do with just try their might to stay alive. 156 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,200 But because Joshua the leaders may had made an oath with their 157 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,900 enemies. He told them, you know, we will 158 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:09,000 not kill you but this we will do. 159 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,600 We're going to make you guys servants to us. 160 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:16,100 You're going to be our woodcutters and you're going to 161 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:20,900 be our water carriers. So all this happened between 162 00:10:20,900 --> 00:10:23,000 Israel giving and the king of Jerusalem. 163 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:28,100 Now down here. Well he had heard about the tree 164 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:32,500 that went on between give you and also of the Israelites. 165 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:39,100 And that really concerned him because now I mean after all the 166 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:42,300 Israelites they were already powerful now, they've got the 167 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:45,400 gibeonites along with them, now they're even more powerful. 168 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:51,200 And so what he does is that he sends messages down here to 169 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,700 these other keys and these other cities here. 170 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,200 And he says, I want you guys to join forces with us and let's go 171 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,500 up and let's attack these people. 172 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,800 And so they banded together and what they ended up doing. 173 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:10,500 They all went up to give Ian and they surrounded that City and 174 00:11:10,500 --> 00:11:12,700 there. They camped out in order to 175 00:11:12,700 --> 00:11:16,400 attack those people. Now the gibeonites when they saw 176 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,100 what was happening here, they sent word over to Joshua who 177 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:23,600 again was over there in gilgal and he told them that they were 178 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,900 under attack and that what they did, they said come help us. 179 00:11:27,500 --> 00:11:29,200 And that's exactly what happened. 180 00:11:29,300 --> 00:11:32,800 Joshua gathered, his army, the Lord spoke to Joshua and told 181 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:37,400 them that you I'm going to give you victory in battle against 182 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,700 these Kings of the South. Now, it took all night, but they 183 00:11:42,700 --> 00:11:46,800 finally were able to make it over there to to gibeon and they 184 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,900 reach the City by Daybreak. And it was just as the Lord had 185 00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:53,100 said, I mean, the Israel is really the, the Israelites 186 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:56,600 really took it to him. They slew, the other armies 187 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:00,200 attacking gibeon and what it ended up doing as they were 188 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:04,400 attacking these people will. Now the enemy, they were fleeing 189 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:09,300 South West to that to around the part of Jar move. 190 00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:13,400 And so the Israelites they chased him and they slew the 191 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,500 Army's there. And as more were fleeing from 192 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:20,400 the Israelites, the Lord did something incredible as the 193 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,400 enemy was fleeing. In fact, the Lord. 194 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:29,000 The Lord had caused a giant hail storm upon the enemies. 195 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:32,800 And the hell was so large that it killed more men in those 196 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,300 armies than the Israelites had actually killed with their 197 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:39,200 swords. And what's even more remarkable 198 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:44,000 to me, is that none of the Israelites were harmed in this 199 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,400 hail storm. Done. 200 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,900 The power of God on display. That's remarkable. 201 00:12:57,300 --> 00:13:00,000 But that's not the only time the power of God was displayed on 202 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:04,500 this day. They'll at was running out, 203 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:08,300 Joshua knew that there were still more enemies to defeat. 204 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:12,100 And so he wanted to carry this momentum of their battle against 205 00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:15,200 their enemy and Joshua asked the Lord to do something that no man 206 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:20,200 has ever done before. It's so again, he asks the Lord 207 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:24,400 this this momentous task, Sun stand, still over, give you in a 208 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,000 mood of the valley of idle. Ugh. 209 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,600 So the sun Stood Still, the mood stop to the people had Revenge 210 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,500 upon their enemies is this, not read the book of jasher, so the 211 00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:37,100 sun Stood Still the Vista of heaven and did not hasten to go 212 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:41,000 down for about a whole day. And there has been no they like 213 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:46,200 that before or after it that the Lord heeded, the voice of a man 214 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,700 from the Lord fought. For Israel and sure enough. 215 00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:53,800 God. So concerned for his people and 216 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:58,800 he granted Joshua's request the Sun and the Moon Stood Still 217 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,900 again for about a whole day. You know what the result of all 218 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:08,700 that was the enemy was defeated. God provided Victory. 219 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,700 Just as he had told Joshua that he would provide victory. 220 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,300 Again, he's faithful to what he promises. 221 00:14:18,700 --> 00:14:21,600 And from this awesome event in which there was no other day 222 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,000 like it on Earth, I believe we can learn a few things from it 223 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,100 especially about God. And that is number one. 224 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:34,000 God cares for his people. He does. 225 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,000 What's amazing to me is how God still cares for people, no 226 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:45,100 matter what mistakes they make. And we know that Israel messed 227 00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:48,200 up. In fact, they messed up a lot of 228 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,400 times but in this particular occasion, they messed up big 229 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,700 time by making a peace treaty with the Enemy. 230 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:57,200 And when Josh will begin to prepare for battle, the Lord 231 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,600 didn't approach Joshua and say, well, you know, because you guys 232 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:04,800 made your enemy, your friend and created this treaty and oath and 233 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,600 Covenant with him. I'm sorry, but you guys are on 234 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,100 your own. I'm not going to be behind you. 235 00:15:10,108 --> 00:15:13,200 I'm not going to give you Victory here. the Lord didn't 236 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,400 say that and the Lord did an act that way because of the mistake 237 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:22,500 that they had made, Even when they made the mistake, the Lord 238 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:25,300 was still concerned about his people and he, one of them beat 239 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:28,300 to be Victorious and he was going to help them out and, you 240 00:15:28,308 --> 00:15:30,200 know, we're like this with our children. 241 00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:34,900 I mean we see our children make mistakes, possibly even when we 242 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,600 when we advise them, well, you ought not to do that. 243 00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:44,200 And sometimes our children make unwise decisions. 244 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,200 So we see them fall and we see them make mistakes. 245 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,900 But even though our children might not, listen to wisdom or 246 00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:59,700 might not listen to advice and they, we see them make decisions 247 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:02,400 other than what we advise is that mean that we just stop 248 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,100 loving them, because, well, they didn't listen to me. 249 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:12,600 Absolutely not. In fact we have so much love and 250 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,600 conserved and concern and care for them that we want to be 251 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,100 there to help them up. The help them out at to pick 252 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:19,800 them back up when they need help. 253 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,500 That's how much we love our children. 254 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:29,900 And when you consider God, we serve a God who loves us so 255 00:16:29,900 --> 00:16:33,300 much. He God wants to help us out in 256 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:37,000 any way, possible. A, no sir. 257 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,500 He's not going to provide a miracle of sending hailstones 258 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:41,200 upon our enemies, or make this sense. 259 00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:45,300 The sun stand still for us, but in whatever ways that are 260 00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:49,200 according to to his time, and whatever, a ways that are 261 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,200 according to his own will though. 262 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,900 He expresses his concern and his love toward us. 263 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:00,000 In fact, Peter said this, and I love this with Peterson, first 264 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,700 Peter, five or seven. He says, casting all your care 265 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:08,500 upon him. The Lord wants us to do that. 266 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:14,800 Why? Or he cares for you. 267 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:21,900 That's why he cares for you, and he cares for me. 268 00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:25,599 David wrote this when he was burdened. 269 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:32,000 And thinking about his enemies, Psalm 55 verse 22 cast, your 270 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,800 burden on the Lord. And He Shall sustain, he shall 271 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,000 never permit. The righteous to be moved. 272 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,800 I love the thought that whatever that any of us might be facing 273 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,300 no matter how big or how small it might be. 274 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,700 God is concerned about it. And he is concerned about you 275 00:17:55,700 --> 00:18:00,000 facing that difficulty in life. And he's so concerned about it 276 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,100 that he wants you to cast it upon him. 277 00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:05,300 He wants you to surrender it to him. 278 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,800 So let me ask you this. How do we do that? 279 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,200 Then how do we cast all of our Cara? 280 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:20,000 Podium. he wants us to but how Well, there's a phrase in verse 281 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,400 number, 14 of our text here in Joshua 10. 282 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,300 That provides a key on how we do that. 283 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,200 And this, you know, the first few times when I, when I was 284 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,800 reading this and studying this, it really didn't jump out until 285 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,100 a few times later that really caught my attention. 286 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,900 And it's this phrase here that the Lord heeded, the voice of a 287 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:42,600 man. He heeded the voice of a man. 288 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,500 Do you know why the mood of the sun, Stood Still that day? 289 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,400 Because he listened to the voice of one, man. 290 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:01,900 It was Joshua's request. And that really struck me 291 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:04,500 because I want you to think about this for a second. 292 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:11,400 You know, it was maybe a couple of years ago that that they 293 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:16,600 upgraded the lens and the Hubble telescope because they did that 294 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,100 we're able to see far deeper into outer space. 295 00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:22,200 And it's amazing. How many more stars we could 296 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,200 see. And considering that it really 297 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:29,300 puts into perspective. How vast this universes? 298 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,800 And in the vastness of this universe, you've got planet 299 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:40,800 Earth. And how big Earth is and all the 300 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:46,400 people that are on it back then you had the nation of Israel. 301 00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:51,600 And there's there's there's different speculations of how 302 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,000 large the nation of Israel was. Some people say he met might be 303 00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:00,600 a couple million people. But even among thee among those 304 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,900 Maids of people. You had 1 million. 305 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:11,900 God was listening. It got heated the voice of that 306 00:20:11,900 --> 00:20:15,800 one man. That's amazing to me. 307 00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:19,300 And what do you think about that today? 308 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:24,400 Don't think that you are so small that God doesn't care 309 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,400 about. You don't think that you are so 310 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,300 insignificant that God doesn't know what's going on in your 311 00:20:29,300 --> 00:20:34,100 life. And so he healed, he heeded, the 312 00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:37,500 voice of one man back then and he will heed to our voice even 313 00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:40,300 today. Yes, we might be be only one 314 00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:43,100 voice. But he's still listening. 315 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,800 Why? Because he cares. 316 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:50,500 That's why he cares it. God's infinite, wisdom and 317 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:53,900 power. He has the ability and concerned 318 00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:58,600 to be listening to you and I and he did and he's able to to 319 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:03,100 heater on Voice through prayer. He is blesses greatly with this 320 00:21:03,100 --> 00:21:06,200 privilege and what he wants us to do. 321 00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:12,700 He wants us to use it and he's right there waiting to listen 322 00:21:13,500 --> 00:21:16,900 when we do use it. And indeed our Lord cares about 323 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:19,200 us and cares about what's happening in our lives and wants 324 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,500 to help. But how can we, how can he, how 325 00:21:22,500 --> 00:21:26,300 can he help? If he never, If you never hears 326 00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:28,300 this, if we never reach out to him. 327 00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:31,900 How can he help if we don't give them a voice to? 328 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,900 He too. I like what it says here. 329 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:39,700 First John 5 verses 14 and 15. It says, now this the 330 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:42,100 confidence, I like that word. This is the confidence that we 331 00:21:42,108 --> 00:21:47,800 can have in him that if we ask anything, really anything. 332 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,600 Well, there's a caveat to that because the writer says, well, 333 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,700 it has to be according to his will. 334 00:21:53,300 --> 00:21:58,600 When we ask So what about that? If we ask anything according to 335 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,700 his will, what will happen? He hears us. 336 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:09,300 And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask again, according 337 00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:14,000 to us, will we know that we have the petitions that we have asked 338 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,700 of him. And so we have confidence that 339 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:22,900 God is listening but we have to take the advantage of Prayer. 340 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,500 We have to. Maybe sometimes we don't seek 341 00:22:28,500 --> 00:22:31,200 God for help and prayer because we might not think that it's 342 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,500 significant enough or maybe it's just just a small thing. 343 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:38,900 Maybe we try to reason with in our own minds that perhaps God 344 00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:41,400 got really can't help me out in this situation. 345 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:45,300 Listen. If God was so concerned about a 346 00:22:45,308 --> 00:22:48,500 Monumental request from one man to make the sun stand still and 347 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:51,400 he performed that Miracle, don't you think that he can handle a 348 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,300 little things that you and I have to deal with in our lives? 349 00:22:56,100 --> 00:23:00,900 I mean he absolutely can help us and he will help us and he has 350 00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:04,000 helped us in the past. And so this is since this is 351 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,600 true all the more reason to follow the excitation to what is 352 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,500 written in 1st, Thessalonians, 5 or 17 to pray without ceasing. 353 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,200 Use every opportunity that you have. 354 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:24,000 To give a voice to God. Let him know what you need. 355 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:29,000 Also praised him for who he is. Thank him for what he's done for 356 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:37,100 you in the past because God is good, he is And brings us to our 357 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:44,600 next observation about God. He's in control, he's in control 358 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:50,600 Yo, which Skeptics look at this account here in Joshua 10. 359 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:55,900 They take a look at this and say that everyone knows that it's 360 00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:57,600 the Earth, not the sun, which moves. 361 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,000 And so once described your can't possibly be accurate of the sun 362 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,600 standing still, but when you look at this passage at face 363 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,300 value, what happened and what is being described here, is that 364 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:13,700 the Earth for several hours stopped rotating on its axis and 365 00:24:13,700 --> 00:24:16,700 stopped rotating around the Sun? And, of course, the moon was 366 00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:19,500 affected by all this and quite possibly, the entire solar 367 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:21,600 system. Might have stopped its Moments 368 00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:26,200 for those several hours. And some might object to that 369 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,300 and say that without well if that happened, the result would 370 00:24:29,300 --> 00:24:33,200 be total chaos throughout the Earth and maybe throughout the 371 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,700 entire universe. Well, not so. 372 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,100 Because God if he so desired would have the power to put 373 00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:46,400 everything on hold and see to it that no consequences would 374 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:51,000 result from that. Some others might object to it 375 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,600 and say that for the Sun and the Moon to stand still. 376 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,800 Well that simply contrary to the laws of nature. 377 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:02,200 But what are the laws of nature? Well, they are simply the 378 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,100 processes which God has set in motion, and because God is 379 00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:08,600 Sovereign, and because he can alter, and because he could 380 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,300 suspend, and he can reverse or even Council those processes and 381 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:15,100 ET time that he wants, he could do that. 382 00:25:15,100 --> 00:25:17,400 In fact, that's what a miracle is. 383 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,600 It is when some usual pattern of nature is changed or when it's 384 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:28,200 interrupted due to God intervene in that particular aspect, It's 385 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:32,200 not, R is reasonable to think that God will allow himself to 386 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,900 be the prisoner of what he has created. 387 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,900 And when we think it like that, we limit God's power, we do. 388 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,800 And any man that has enough sense to make a clock to make a 389 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:49,500 clock. Certainly has enough sense to 390 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:52,500 stop it doesn't he? And surely a God who could speak 391 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:54,900 a universe into? Existence can do anything that 392 00:25:54,900 --> 00:25:57,700 he pleases with that universe and its various components. 393 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:02,200 He has the power of what he has created and not just create 394 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,700 something and stab back and say, well, that's all I could do with 395 00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:07,700 that. I can't do anything else with 396 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:11,900 it. We can't limit God's power in 397 00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:16,400 that way. God is all wise it. 398 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:20,700 God is all-powerful. And if in our own logic in our 399 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:24,800 own reasoning, if we rule out miracles in the Bible, we have 400 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,400 to rule out the Virgin birth of Christ. 401 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,500 We have to rule out, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 402 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,200 and a whole host of other biblical events either God could 403 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,100 do anything or he is not truly God. 404 00:26:38,900 --> 00:26:45,100 And so this passage a reminds us that God God is in control and 405 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:47,100 God is in control of this universe. 406 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:50,600 Now there is of course, much that we don't understand such as 407 00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:53,500 you know why natural catastrophes happen, why 408 00:26:53,500 --> 00:26:56,400 terrible diseases occur in the Bible? 409 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,100 God Reveals His purpose for for some things that happen. 410 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:02,100 Maybe some earthquakes that happen. 411 00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:05,700 Maybe some diseases that happen and we have a little bit of an 412 00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:09,500 Insight of on why those things happen and how God Intervenes 413 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,200 throughout the scriptures, but in the vast majority of cases. 414 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:17,400 We might never understand why things happen in this life, but 415 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,400 here's the advice of one poet regarding life's mysteries. 416 00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:26,200 He says, all God's testing is have a purpose someday, you will 417 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,700 see the light. All he asks, is that you trust 418 00:27:30,700 --> 00:27:34,200 him. Walk by faith, not by sight. 419 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,100 See, the Bible reminds us again and again, that it is that this 420 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:42,800 is not an impersonal world that God God didn't create this 421 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,800 universe wind up, like, a clock of his simply remove himself 422 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,500 from it. And the reassuring truth is that 423 00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:52,700 God is actively involved. He's actively involved in the 424 00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:55,700 Affairs of this world, in the individual lives of people. 425 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,900 And in spite of what little we may understand, we can be 426 00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:02,000 comforted by the fact that God is in charge. 427 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:06,700 We can now this is shown Time and Time throughout the 428 00:28:06,700 --> 00:28:11,700 scriptures to where he's been in control of Kingdoms and Nations. 429 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,200 We've seen how he's wrote risen up rulers and then brought him 430 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,600 down. We've seen how he's done that 431 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:24,200 with Nations as well. We've seen how he was in control 432 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,100 of his summing of his son, coming to this world and making 433 00:28:27,100 --> 00:28:31,800 a way for us to be saved. And he's still in control today. 434 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,200 Whomever he rises up and power. No matter if we might Grumble 435 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:36,900 about it. No matter if we might be angry 436 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:39,700 about who who might be the the leader. 437 00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:44,300 No matter what laws might be passed in this nation, no matter 438 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:48,700 who might be in the White House, God is still in control of, of 439 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:50,700 all these things. He's in control of granting 440 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:54,100 salvation to those who accept the gospel of Christ, he still 441 00:28:54,100 --> 00:28:56,000 in control and will always be in control. 442 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,900 Why? Because he's the creator of all 443 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:00,200 things. That's why. 444 00:29:01,300 --> 00:29:06,700 Let us never limit his ability or think that he can never help. 445 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,500 Again, we go to him in prayer many occasions. 446 00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:12,600 Why? Because we understand that he 447 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:14,800 can help because he's in control. 448 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:20,900 He has that power and we praise him because he has that power. 449 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:31,400 We praise him for that. You know Joshua, excuse me, this 450 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,300 poem, I want to leave with you this morning or this afternoon 451 00:29:35,500 --> 00:29:38,500 says Joshua and his army had put the enemy to flight. 452 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:41,800 But they are afraid they couldn't finish for they were 453 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:45,300 running out of the light. They Joshua prayed. 454 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:47,200 Oh Lord. Please give me more Daylight on 455 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:51,200 this hill and God performed a miracle made the sun stand, 456 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,000 still. There are God doesn't make the 457 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:58,500 sun stand still just every day. In fact, he only did that once, 458 00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:01,600 but that's enough. I say to show that he's in 459 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:05,900 charge of all that he has the power to do whatever his will on 460 00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:09,300 any day or hour. So when your heart is hurting 461 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:14,100 and there seems to be no way to find relief or even just to make 462 00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:16,800 it through the day with faith in Christ. 463 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:21,000 Call the Lord don't hesitate to plead and he who made the sun 464 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,600 stand still? I will also be your tea. 465 00:30:26,900 --> 00:30:29,100 Aren't you? Glad you serve a God Like That? 466 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,700 Aren't you glad you're able to come and worship a God Like 467 00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:38,500 That? Aren't you glad that you serve a 468 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:40,300 God? Who cares about you? 469 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:50,300 All glory to him. He is good and he is great and 470 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:55,400 he deserves Our Praise. We thank you for listening to 471 00:30:55,400 --> 00:31:00,200 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 472 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:03,700 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 473 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:07,000 information or you would like to receive a free Bible 474 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:12,500 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True 475 00:31:12,500 --> 00:31:14,900 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 476 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:20,800 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 477 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:25,200 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 478 00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:28,000 We would love for you to be our honored guest.