Title: Stay, Sun / Joshua 10:1-14
Content Title: Stay, O sun (Prayer that made the sun stay) (Joshua 10:1-14)
What we need to remember while reading and learning the Bible is that the Bible is a book for salvation and a book to teach us.
The prayer of Joshua we read today teaches us many important lessons. However, it is unfortunate that this biblical text is used to mislead many people about the Bible.
This is a story I heard directly from a sister I know.
These sisters were eager to learn the Bible.
In the meantime, I went to a Bible study group and started studying.
At first, it started similar to what I was learning at church, but one day I studied the Bible with this text.
Read this text and explain, "Can the sun really stay?"
Then he said that, looking at the science so far, the earth revolves around the sun, and the sun always stays there.
Explaining that the earth revolves around itself, day and night, and that a year passes because the earth revolves around the sun, explaining that it is wrong to teach that the sun stayed in the church, explaining that his Bible study group is the most accurate Bible study group It is said to be a place of interpretation.
As we read this Bible today, the first thing we need to know is that the Bible is a book for our salvation, not a book for scientific debate.
If Joshua thinks it is right to pray, "Earth, stop rotating today," he does not understand what the Bible is about.
We would like to share grace by examining the lessons that this Bible teaches us.
1. The motive for praying, the motive for the war.
What motivated Joshua to pray this great prayer?
To see why, we need to study Joshua 9 and 10.
After Moses died, Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River.
After crossing the Jordan River, they went to war with the people living in the land of Canaan.
With God's help, Joshua was victorious wherever he went.
They destroyed the walls of Jericho and captured the city of Ai. Seeing Joshua victorious wherever he went, many people around him were greatly afraid.
In particular, the Jebusites devised a plan to avoid dying in war.
It is written in Joshua 9:3-6:
“When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they devised a scheme and fashioned the appearance of an envoy, carrying worn-out bags and worn and torn wineskins on their donkeys, and wearing worn-out sandals on their feet and old clothes They wore dry and moldy bread, and they came to the camp of Gilgal and came from Joshua. Now they have made a pact with us.” But this was a lie. 9:14,15 says:
“They took their food and did not ask the Lord what to do, but Joshua made a covenant with them that he would soon be reconciled to them and saved them, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. .
Joshua 9 19,20 "And all the chieftains said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, that we will not touch them any more." They surrendered to Israel in order to preserve the land, and the people of Israel made an oath with them without asking God.
When the other people around them heard the news, they felt sorry for Gibeon, so they went to war with Gideon.
As it is written in Joshua 10:3, 4, it is written: Help Biram king of Remuth, Jabia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon.
So Israel should help Gibeon, whom he swore in the name of God.” This was the reason behind the prayer.
This is what it is all about.
2."Lesson where the sun stays"
The war Joshua waged to help Gibeon was not enough for the Amorites of a short day.
It was getting dark, and he prayed, "Sun, stay still."
This Joshua's prayer is the prayer that we, who are facing the age of darkness, should also pray.
Let's look around us.
Many people refer to this era as the last era.
We met the age of darkness and sin, just like the days of Noah and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.
We have met an era in which the light is gradually disappearing. When this darkness is approaching, we will have to bring Jesus Christ into our hearts.
When we receive Jesus, who is the light, in our hearts, the rulers of darkness will retreat.
In this last time of life, God is given to those who want to live for the name of Jehovah and to receive Jesus Christ, who is the light.