Much War (Part B)

Roman armor that Paul uses to illustrate how the Christian is to be armed has no protection some purpose. So if you turn your back your exposed and if you're running you're getting tired. So if you're exposed and tired you die that way is a very good lesson for us of God is brought something in our life. We got a deal with this vendetta said we have to deal with this so easy to stand here and say nothing to go out at the do it, but it is something that we believers have been doing for centuries. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message here.

More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 7 today. Pastor Rick will continue with his study called much more in Joshua chapter 10 I know I mentioned this in earlier chapters is not grounds enough to have God withhold judgment.

You can be as civilizing of all the technology you want, you can be as interested in humans. Humanity's needs as you want but if you're not right with God. You are against him.

So again in the great tribulation. Which is coming. There will be many sophisticated people and cities, and the technological advancements that will exists more than ever, and yet they will still send, they will still die in the still would choose to blaspheme.

And so as we look at this judgment coming in on the cities of Canaan.

We say so what they were big cities. They were also big blasphemers.

Verse three. Therefore, I don't eyes the deck king of Jerusalem sent to harm King of heaven. Ron Pyron M, King of Jarmusch, Joffe, King of Lachish and deeper King of egg lawn saying come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon Gibeon on for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel, and so Adonijah see deck he puts together this the Confederation of kings to come attack Gibeon on for siding with Joshua. The Gibeonites had overcome the threat of Israel just to fall victim to another threat stuck in the middle again such as life.

These things happen. Where were you land relent on your feeder on your head when life tosses you out the window of the piece that maybe you have been enjoying for so long so they call to God's people. The Gibeonites do trusting God's people rather than their neighbors.

That's how we wanted we would like unbelievers to trust us more than fellow unbelievers. We would like one thing things get serious about their own mortality and about God.

We would like for the unbeliever to feel comfortable enough to come to us and not go to the world.

He mentions have Ron here in verse three will get a lot of that we get to chapter 14 when Caleb says let me take him wrong. The land of the Giants you know it just the tasters never got out of the Caleb's mouth that hold thing about their giants then were like grasshoppers just never he never let that get away from him and when he gets in the promised land.

I want the land with the Giants are made years old and still able to take these guys out and he does it just you gotta love the Mankato that's why so many parents I think may make its Caleb I hope that's the motive more than like the name sounds good, that's fine, but I hope you understand the man verse five is a gentle man to incident his daughter will come to him give me the springs and he does just love that character anyway. Read verse five.

Therefore, the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the King of Habre and the king of Jarmusch, the King of Lachish and the King of egg lawn gathered together and went up there and all their armies Before Gibeon and made war with it.

So the southern campaign is beginning ahead of schedule. Joshua doesn't see this coming.

He's got this at his own pace.

He's working at Jericho AI Bethel RA Gibeon and is working it is based God is saying we need to push this up some, so here they are going to find themselves where in the territory were 40 years ago. Their ancestors were afraid to touch. Now they going to go in now.

We today of course where we face conjoined enemies of truth. So I have to say this, we don't again to see those just the book of Joshua and his talk about the Congress of the Jews, the conquest is still on its internal and its external will, for example, we have the you know the fruit of the spirit will it doesn't just fall into our lap.

How many of you, you're just I'm just a gentle person when you may get that one right, but you might not get the long-suffering right, whether or one of the others discernment. Whatever we have to fight for but the external threats that we face militant atheism. I mean atheism is to be. I don't believe in God leave me alone. Now it's becoming I don't believe in God, I'm in a make sure no one else believes in God and will do whatever I can to stop anybody from believing God.

We also have to deal with militant homosexuals who are determined not only to get others to accept homosexuality, but to applaud it to blessed to celebrated the prorated and beyond militant liberals who just have lost their minds. They think they're smarter and better than everybody else and they have no proof and they know it doesn't stop. Then of course militant Islam. Nothing new there was she's got advocates now and then there is the militant media notice I did not say mainstream, I can say that there are some pockets of media that are not against righteousness and truth, but it's expanded and so it's not only your major news networks. It is then mio and YouTube and Tweeter and all the rest of them is just such a age.

At this at this generation is so unfortunate I mean is it when I was born things the name liking of the Tiger.

You know the hawk and now it's face back anybody got a tweeter for me. I'm sorry I don't know if you catching it, but I am catching it, so you should receive simulated name is Courtney spineless.

I mean how would you like to be, you know, an athlete, and they called you the two lip becomes a two lip everybody the skies for horses. Okay I forgot I'm here just gonna hello my little rant because I go do these things anyway.

Going back to this this can Federation of conjoined enemies that I've listed then is our own flesh will gotta love that we hate the flesh our own flesh. Our own tendency to do wrong to when we know we're wrong you know you know this is not honest in doing it any Romans 724 wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death, much more. That's what the New Testament tells as you read the epistles you walk away feeling good about yourself.

You boys I got work to do.

I got no time to feel sorry for my sinful state I got work to do.

Verse six and the men of Gibeon center Joshua at the camp at Gill gal saying do not forsake your servants come up to us quickly save us and help us for all the kings of the Amorites, who dwell in the mountains of gathered against us, Joshua, here's your chance to let the Gibeonites parish for pulling that move on you don't go delay you know I gotta make some butter or something but he's too noble a man to do any such thing. He gave his word to the Lord to men in the presence of the Lord. Remember, David. David wouldn't kill Saul feast of kill that guy and David.

I will not touch the Lord's anointed.

He had these convictions from the Lord, and he did not move away from them as he got older, of course, and into the palace.

The temptation was so intense for that man that we we we learn we learn is not enough to know it's not enough to want Solomon knew more than anybody in his day and it wasn't enough, Solomon wrote.

Can a man take fire to his bosom and not set himself on fire and that's exactly what he did also give you 16 miles away uphill. Incidentally, the language will tell us that in verse seven.

But before we get the total look we get there.

This could be a trap. Joshua for coming, that the thick of the Confederation is coming to attack us. That would put Joshua right in the middle of the Gibeonites in these kings, Joshua, what is the solution, because I'm sure his general said if we go there was going to be one of these Gibeonites break the treaty that will serve the Lord. Joshua said I got a solution for that big battalions of God he will take all the men with him all the forces he has. He will put his rearguard there on Gideon and he will deal with the kings. Verse seven so Joshua ascended from Gill gal.

He and all the people of war with him and all the mighty men of valor. So you see the going uphill. As I like to say I Misa you know when I went to Israel all the other groups had buses with quick however similar the walk was like a cut exercise not to walk everywhere. So we did.

It's uphill everywhere, and that's what I got out of the whole thing. How is Israel.

My leg stopped throbbing. Anyhow, verse six, the trap and in verse seven is where we are all the people of war that would include support personnel reserve forces you have to have these things, the being bulletin bandages, you've gotta have them are close to you lose if you don't win in two minutes and you go to print out a big closing, bandages, and that'll be it for you so it's taking all the people of war and all.

In addition to them all the mighty men of valor, season troops, and perhaps his elite forces. He's going in heavy not a little operation for Jehovah Joshua verse eight and Yahweh said to Joshua do not fear them thrive. Deliver them into your hand. No man of them shall stand before you.

Those were not orders to sit back and relax still had to walk the walk at night and uphill, and so what is happening. God is bringing the targets into range the opportunity from misfortune. Gibeon started this whole mess by deceiving Joshua the kings that we can settle for that.

This will get the Gibeonites. Gibeon is a Joshua come out Bosnian gums and helps them. This is Romans chapter 8 for us. Verse 28. I like reading you know it, but I can read better than you getting I'm sorry I hope I go to my grave was still a little childishness in me anyhow and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. And this is was seeing was seeing this illustrated the Gibeonites receipt of the see the Jews that's the bad news, but they were made of wood cutters and water haulers hearts.

You know, like a brick hard to love the stuff of the temple you need one for the sacrifice to burn the sacrifices you need the water for the cleansing.

In any case, the architect control. Not true, but you still have to have these things and so Joshua begins right away find you deceive us. We going to make your going to get something out of you for this.

So he makes and enslaves them to this and then here now, the Jews did not have to slaughter the Gibeonites that's a positive. From our perspective, but unintentionally again.

They serve as a trap to drawer out the kings of the land from their fortified city. This would take it so much easier for Joshua and his forces to meet the opponent on the on the field of battle rather than having to storm the gates. So it's a very interesting little piece of Scripture.

He says not a man of them shall stand before you and again the cooperation between God and man. Of course, with miraculous intervention again. Deuteronomy chapter 11.

No man shall be able to stand against you, Yahweh your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as he has said to you. But Jesus says it this way he condenses the whole thing without me you can do nothing without me you can do nothing.

John 515 now verse nine Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly having marched all night from Gill gal, there's a forced march this about 16 miles as the crow flies from Gill gal Gill gal two Gibeon, but then not going as the crow flies the going is the infantry marches and going at night. The element of surprise. You gotta love this man is just what is the job call for what is needed for me to win without sinning and this is what he does in the morning when the Confederation finds out Joshua is there in force that sickening feeling has to hit them because they realize the Jews were men of their word. And men of the sword and again in force verse 10 so Yahweh routed them before Israel killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon chased them along the road that goes to Beth Baran and struck them down as far as is Becca and Makeda interesting will also come across that he struck them down struck them down repeated through this chapter is just this the hard work that's necessary to be the Christian that we want to be at that think that's the first thing we have to face if were going to be called upon to share the gospel going to have to work hard and I know many of you do. I know that without hesitation that we learn from Ephesians chapter 6 again. Ephesians that if we flee the battle if we just turn our backs and one from the battle we will die tired yet that the Roman armor that Paul uses to illustrate how the Christian is to be armed has no protection in the back so purpose. So if you turn your back your exposed and if you're running you getting tired. So if your exposed and tired in your you die that way is a very good lesson for us of God is brought something in our life. We got a deal with this, then that is that we have to deal with this so easy to stand here and say nothing.

Go out at the do it, but it is something that we believers have been doing for centuries so that this lesson again. We flee in battle we die tired we are to stand face whatever is before us.

The Lord will fight for us and with us the theater of battle is now spreading and it's writing from mild to dig straight lines would be as much is 3035 miles away from you beyond, but it's in all circles and also severities. It's a big battlefield means there were large forces on the field. This was not just a gang fight and verse 11 continues our story.

It happened as they fled before Israel and were on the dissent of Beth Baran that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them. As far as is Eka and they died. There were more, who died from the hailstones then the children of Israel killed with the sword.

There's the air support for ground troops and will the body count went to the Lord. I mean, it was his judgment. Again, a type of the great tribulation. Because evidently these people in Canaan did not understand the concept of a white flag, just like the civilized people of the great tribulation. Will not understand the concept of waving before God. I surrender flag as we believe have done. Revelation 1621 and great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent.

Men blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. They just double down against God, they hated him more instead of just repenting, so don't go feel the ball bleeding all these poor Canaanite diesel wicked people taking their children to the fire. These fake demonic gods that they had made up in their heads. Many other such things. They did that the righteous did not even want to record for us mention it here and there and that's enough verse you remember we went to Ezekiel. Ezekiel had some strong words for those fake gods and 1/2 well, he was right. Verse 12 then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the side of Israel sun standstill over Gibeon and moon in the Valley of agile on of course in the English it sounds like it's a father telling his boy to stop moving around sun standstill, but it's of course the solar star up in the sky that causes us to get sunglasses. This Joshua realizing I need more daylight.

The battle probably started in the morning. Remember he marches all night and at the daylight. There probably beginning their engagement is another hand coming up but took to that point. Not that important point. What is standing out to us is that Joshua wants to finish the work he sees this opportunity this target rich environment to get this chance again.

He's gotta be thinking in the sun's going going on. I was daylight do I have left so he calls to God a battlefield prayer Lord, I need more light and this is languages. This is interesting will get to the language in a minute.

But Jesus says this I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day, the night is coming when no one can work. See you you put these things together as a believer and you sell Dumb understanding more and more about what it takes to wage war.

This Joshua calling out to God asking this, Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites verse 12 for the children of Israel and said in the side of Israel sun standstill over Gibeon and moon in the Valley of agile on he wasn't afraid to fail in front of people pursuing the will of God. That was a sailor to do something crazy although this is pretty close to me to stand up and say I'm going to have the sun and the moon stop doing what they do, so I can finish these guys off the right you go with that pastor.

I'll be out in the car so he says son standstill over Gibeon very specific moon in the Valley of agile on another sun and the moon. They tug on the Earth's mass. There are a few things involved in nursing auto another nurse sure, but I was things in motion stays in motion. Kind install the stuff is happening the tide swishing around everything these two bodies in the sky are very much involved in daylight and in nighttime Joshua, the word that he uses when he says standstill.

It means in the Hebrew stop working, stop doing what you're doing because that is you say well it can mean a few other things all still coming to that conclusion sit still, something like that. The result is clear he gets daylight extended for about 24 hours is quite remarkable. It is a miracle. Joshua knew the Lord was right there with him.

How did you know that Joshua 19 have I not commanded you. God said to Joshua, be strong and of good courage to not be afraid or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Is easy to not be afraid when is nothing frightening you. Another thing when there's something about the bite into now agile on this valley where he wanted the moon to stay still keeping them in concert. Of course, about 9 miles southwest of Gibeon and that would put the son's location over Gibeon's suggestion in the morning.

It's moving that direction anyway first 13 so the sun stood still and the moon stopped to all the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jay sure.

So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Now the skeptics come along and how do you deal with a skeptic just got all of this in old skepticism well is very yet to be mature, dealing with them and you just sit easy PC Japanese. He, for God is all I really, really what you want to debate in the beginning God said, let there be light. Let's see you do that without touching anything. No clapping. Either the little tricks you might come up with.

This is nothing for God, but of course they don't want there to be a God like this so they in argument try to come up with anything they can to make it not possible. So evidently Joshua knew that the sun and moon were very much involved in concert with the Earth's rotation.

Day and night, and incidentally, if God does.

If he did it this way is okay fine and the sun was gravitational pull on things just slowly slowed everything down so no one felt it happen to me just jam on the brakes invite you to over. That would've been better.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified each new edition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

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