The Day The Sun Stood Still - Brian Osburn

If it's in the city here, Joshua.

Joshua is now the leader of the Israelites Moses has passed the

torch on to him and now they are in pursuit to take the land of

Canaan after all. That's what God promised them.

When he said I'm going to, you're going to be my people.

I'm going to give you this land, so they departed Egypt from that

slavery. But they're in the wilderness

there for a while. But eventually now they come to

the land of Canaan here and so when they, when they crossed the

Jordan River, as they as they came across Cross the Jordan

River, the first city hear that they took was Jericho and we all

know the story of them marching around Jericho and all that.

And finally, on that, on that seventh day, the walls came

tumbling down and they fell in word.

And the people of Israel were able to take Jericho.

And, and so from there, they saw the power of God on display.

And, I mean, they had see the power of God on display before

that, they had even crossed the Jordan River.

And by the crossing of the Red Sea, The Parting of the Red Sea.

But this gave them, this gave them great Victory, they felt

God's presence and they saw that he was faithful to his promise

to give this this land. And so what they did now is that

after they conquered Jericho, the next one on the map for them

was to attack Ai and so they go over there and they began to

attack AI but there's a huge problem.

They lose. And the reason why they lose is

because of one man, Aiken, who had taken the spoils from their

battle here in Jericho and because of his sin, the entire

nation lost the battle here at aii.

Now, this sin was found out and he was punished because of that.

And then after he was, he was punished by being stoned to

death. And now, after that had been

that have been done the Lord. Now tells Joshua, I want you to

go and fight against AI again this time.

I'm going to give you Victory. And that is that's exactly what

happened. All the inhabitants of a, i

perished, just as the Lord had promised them.

That happens in Joshua chapter 8.

Joshua 8 · chapter mention

Washed away. Now, from this bit from the

victories of them, taking Jericho and take it away, I will

word was beginning to, to get around to them to the various

cities about the Israelites, coming into this land and they

had heard about what had happened there in Jericho.

They had heard about what had happened there in Ai and now

they begin to be afraid. In fact, they were worried to

the point that some of them got together and formed in a

Alliance to fight against the Israelites.

And this happens in chapter 9 of the Book of Joshua.

Now, you've got these people here and give you, which is not

too far from AI. It's only five miles from Ai.

And they, of course, just as the other cities heard about the

Israelites coming and perhaps the give you a, give you a

nights are thinking. Well we're the next one in line

to be conquered by these people. And they're afraid to.

And but they, what they did, they kind of took a separate

action. They didn't join the other

cities in forming, an alliance with Ed to attack Israel, but

they thought of a plan to deceive the Israelites into

forming an alliance between gibeon and Israel.

And so this is what they did. If you're taking notes Joshua 9

Joshua 9:3

verse 3, they chose some men to pretend to be ambassadors and

they brought along some Choice items in order to kind of back

the story of what they're going to tell the Israelites and look

here in chapter 9 verse number 4.

In verse number 5, And they took old sacs on their donkeys old

wide skids. Notice the word old.

That's, that's very important for what we see here, old sacs

on their donkeys. All wife's games toward and

mended old and Patch sandals on their feet and old garments on

themselves. And all the bread, the provision

was dry and moldy. They purposely gathered these

items and they purposely dress like this for a reason.

And so they dressed like this, they make their way now over

there to gilgal. So give you the gilgal mind you,

this is only about a 15 mile Journey, which is pretty close

that. And the Israelites are kept out

here in gilgal. And so they make their way over

and they said that they've come from this far country and they

In Joshua chapter 9 and verse 6. They've come from this far

Joshua 9 · chapter mention

country. They said, they want to make a

treaty or a covenant with the Israelites.

And so, because of this, this is where Joshua begins to question

them by asking or who are you guys at and we're have you guys

come from. And so they answer it again.

They're from a very far country. The reason why they had come all

this way is because they had heard about the victories that

they had. In fact, they they talked about

how on the other side of the Jordan River that they had a,

that they had defeated, the two kings of the amorites on the

other side of the Jordan. They had also heard about the

Exodus from Egypt, they had heard about The Parting of the

Red Sea, how they crossed on dry land?

They'd heard about the great things that God had done for

them. And provided this victory for

the Israelites. And so they've, they told them

that we have come to you now under the advice of the elders,

so that we can make a treaty and we'll all we want to do is just

become your servants. That's all So they try to

convince the Israelites of this. They what they end up now doing

is showing them what they brought.

Now, they're given visual kind of evidence of how they've come

from this far country. Look now versus 1990 are

actually verses 12 and 13 to get in Joshua 9.

This is the bread of ours. We took hot, where our provision

from our house is on the day. We departed.

Come to you. But now, look, it's dry or

molding. Is that right?

Right? No, it wasn't hot.

It was a freshly baked. It purposely got old moldy

bread. Evers 13 and these wineskins.

Which we filled were new. Another lie again.

We know they were old and see, they are torn.

And these are garments in our sandals, have become old because

of the very long journey. Another lie, So after the

gibeonites, told the story. And so the Israelites, the

items, guess what? They believed them.

They believe this lie. but in their decision, To believe them.

They made a huge mistake. If you're taking notes note,

what is said in chapter 9 and verse 14?

It says that they did not ask counsel of the Lord.

About this. They did not seek the Lord's

guidance or approval for creating a treaty with the

people who God had promised that he would wipe out due to him

giving the land of Canaan to the Israelites huge mistake.

Huge mistake. And so from this these people

were invited to live among the Israelites said and of course

the Covenant was made with these people and so the gibeonites

plans. Well, they worked now during the

course of the next three days. The Israelites, of course, God

had said that that I'm giving you this land.

So the next course of action, we're going to go get some more

cities. So over the next three days what

they do. They concentrate on this area

right here of a fight, these people and take Cities, but it

happens, pretty quick, as they're doing this, they quickly

learned something. If they quickly learn that those

people there from gibeon who had just approached him, maybe a day

or two before they were lying about where had they had come

from. In fact, they said that they

were neighbors who dwelt in a city close by and because they

had already established a covenant with them, guess what?

They they made an oath of they made a covenant.

So therefore, they can't conquer anyone in here.

And so what they do, they end up going back to Gil-galad.

Tell Joshua the leaders. Guess what?

We can't fight these people because you made a treaty with

them. They told us a lie.

And so Joshua approached the gibeonites about this and ask

the why did you guys lie to us in making a treaty with you?

And their answer was because they had feared that the

Israelites would have made their City when they die and that they

would die. And, you know, that's a

legitimate concern to be afraid that, you know, the Israelites

are taking land and taken cities So, they were all they were

trying to do with just try their might to stay alive.

But because Joshua the leaders may had made an oath with their

enemies. He told them, you know, we will

not kill you but this we will do.

We're going to make you guys servants to us.

You're going to be our woodcutters and you're going to

be our water carriers. So all this happened between

Israel giving and the king of Jerusalem.

Now down here. Well he had heard about the tree

that went on between give you and also of the Israelites.

And that really concerned him because now I mean after all the

Israelites they were already powerful now, they've got the

gibeonites along with them, now they're even more powerful.

And so what he does is that he sends messages down here to

these other keys and these other cities here.

And he says, I want you guys to join forces with us and let's go

up and let's attack these people.

And so they banded together and what they ended up doing.

They all went up to give Ian and they surrounded that City and

there. They camped out in order to

attack those people. Now the gibeonites when they saw

what was happening here, they sent word over to Joshua who

again was over there in gilgal and he told them that they were

under attack and that what they did, they said come help us.

And that's exactly what happened.

Joshua gathered, his army, the Lord spoke to Joshua and told

them that you I'm going to give you victory in battle against

these Kings of the South. Now, it took all night, but they

finally were able to make it over there to to gibeon and they

reach the City by Daybreak. And it was just as the Lord had

said, I mean, the Israel is really the, the Israelites

really took it to him. They slew, the other armies

attacking gibeon and what it ended up doing as they were

attacking these people will. Now the enemy, they were fleeing

South West to that to around the part of Jar move.

And so the Israelites they chased him and they slew the

Army's there. And as more were fleeing from

the Israelites, the Lord did something incredible as the

enemy was fleeing. In fact, the Lord.

The Lord had caused a giant hail storm upon the enemies.

And the hell was so large that it killed more men in those

armies than the Israelites had actually killed with their

swords. And what's even more remarkable

to me, is that none of the Israelites were harmed in this

hail storm. Done.

The power of God on display. That's remarkable.

But that's not the only time the power of God was displayed on

this day. They'll at was running out,

Joshua knew that there were still more enemies to defeat.

And so he wanted to carry this momentum of their battle against

their enemy and Joshua asked the Lord to do something that no man

has ever done before. It's so again, he asks the Lord

this this momentous task, Sun stand, still over, give you in a

mood of the valley of idle. Ugh.

So the sun Stood Still, the mood stop to the people had Revenge

upon their enemies is this, not read the book of jasher, so the

sun Stood Still the Vista of heaven and did not hasten to go

down for about a whole day. And there has been no they like

that before or after it that the Lord heeded, the voice of a man

from the Lord fought. For Israel and sure enough.

God. So concerned for his people and

he granted Joshua's request the Sun and the Moon Stood Still

again for about a whole day. You know what the result of all

that was the enemy was defeated. God provided Victory.

Just as he had told Joshua that he would provide victory.

Again, he's faithful to what he promises.

And from this awesome event in which there was no other day

like it on Earth, I believe we can learn a few things from it

especially about God. And that is number one.

God cares for his people. He does.

What's amazing to me is how God still cares for people, no

matter what mistakes they make. And we know that Israel messed

up. In fact, they messed up a lot of

times but in this particular occasion, they messed up big

time by making a peace treaty with the Enemy.

And when Josh will begin to prepare for battle, the Lord

didn't approach Joshua and say, well, you know, because you guys

made your enemy, your friend and created this treaty and oath and

Covenant with him. I'm sorry, but you guys are on

your own. I'm not going to be behind you.

I'm not going to give you Victory here. the Lord didn't

say that and the Lord did an act that way because of the mistake

that they had made, Even when they made the mistake, the Lord

was still concerned about his people and he, one of them beat

to be Victorious and he was going to help them out and, you

know, we're like this with our children.

I mean we see our children make mistakes, possibly even when we

when we advise them, well, you ought not to do that.

And sometimes our children make unwise decisions.

So we see them fall and we see them make mistakes.

But even though our children might not, listen to wisdom or

might not listen to advice and they, we see them make decisions

other than what we advise is that mean that we just stop

loving them, because, well, they didn't listen to me.

Absolutely not. In fact we have so much love and

conserved and concern and care for them that we want to be

there to help them up. The help them out at to pick

them back up when they need help.

That's how much we love our children.

And when you consider God, we serve a God who loves us so

much. He God wants to help us out in

any way, possible. A, no sir.

He's not going to provide a miracle of sending hailstones

upon our enemies, or make this sense.

The sun stand still for us, but in whatever ways that are

according to to his time, and whatever, a ways that are

according to his own will though.

He expresses his concern and his love toward us.

In fact, Peter said this, and I love this with Peterson, first

Peter, five or seven. He says, casting all your care

upon him. The Lord wants us to do that.

Why? Or he cares for you.

That's why he cares for you, and he cares for me.

David wrote this when he was burdened.

And thinking about his enemies, Psalm 55 verse 22 cast, your

Psalms 55:22

burden on the Lord. And He Shall sustain, he shall

never permit. The righteous to be moved.

I love the thought that whatever that any of us might be facing

no matter how big or how small it might be.

God is concerned about it. And he is concerned about you

facing that difficulty in life. And he's so concerned about it

that he wants you to cast it upon him.

He wants you to surrender it to him.

So let me ask you this. How do we do that?

Then how do we cast all of our Cara?

Podium. he wants us to but how Well, there's a phrase in verse

number, 14 of our text here in Joshua 10.

That provides a key on how we do that.

And this, you know, the first few times when I, when I was

reading this and studying this, it really didn't jump out until

a few times later that really caught my attention.

And it's this phrase here that the Lord heeded, the voice of a

man. He heeded the voice of a man.

Do you know why the mood of the sun, Stood Still that day?

Because he listened to the voice of one, man.

It was Joshua's request. And that really struck me

because I want you to think about this for a second.

You know, it was maybe a couple of years ago that that they

upgraded the lens and the Hubble telescope because they did that

we're able to see far deeper into outer space.

And it's amazing. How many more stars we could

see. And considering that it really

puts into perspective. How vast this universes?

And in the vastness of this universe, you've got planet

Earth. And how big Earth is and all the

people that are on it back then you had the nation of Israel.

And there's there's there's different speculations of how

large the nation of Israel was. Some people say he met might be

a couple million people. But even among thee among those

Maids of people. You had 1 million.

God was listening. It got heated the voice of that

one man. That's amazing to me.

And what do you think about that today?

Don't think that you are so small that God doesn't care

about. You don't think that you are so

insignificant that God doesn't know what's going on in your

life. And so he healed, he heeded, the

voice of one man back then and he will heed to our voice even

today. Yes, we might be be only one

voice. But he's still listening.

Why? Because he cares.

That's why he cares it. God's infinite, wisdom and

power. He has the ability and concerned

to be listening to you and I and he did and he's able to to

heater on Voice through prayer. He is blesses greatly with this

privilege and what he wants us to do.

He wants us to use it and he's right there waiting to listen

when we do use it. And indeed our Lord cares about

us and cares about what's happening in our lives and wants

to help. But how can we, how can he, how

can he help? If he never, If you never hears

this, if we never reach out to him.

How can he help if we don't give them a voice to?

He too. I like what it says here.

First John 5 verses 14 and 15. It says, now this the

1 John 5:14

confidence, I like that word. This is the confidence that we

can have in him that if we ask anything, really anything.

Well, there's a caveat to that because the writer says, well,

it has to be according to his will.

When we ask So what about that? If we ask anything according to

his will, what will happen? He hears us.

And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask again, according

to us, will we know that we have the petitions that we have asked

of him. And so we have confidence that

God is listening but we have to take the advantage of Prayer.

We have to. Maybe sometimes we don't seek

God for help and prayer because we might not think that it's

significant enough or maybe it's just just a small thing.

Maybe we try to reason with in our own minds that perhaps God

got really can't help me out in this situation.

Listen. If God was so concerned about a

Monumental request from one man to make the sun stand still and

he performed that Miracle, don't you think that he can handle a

little things that you and I have to deal with in our lives?

I mean he absolutely can help us and he will help us and he has

helped us in the past. And so this is since this is

true all the more reason to follow the excitation to what is

written in 1st, Thessalonians, 5 or 17 to pray without ceasing.

Use every opportunity that you have.

To give a voice to God. Let him know what you need.

Also praised him for who he is. Thank him for what he's done for

you in the past because God is good, he is And brings us to our

next observation about God. He's in control, he's in control

Yo, which Skeptics look at this account here in Joshua 10.

They take a look at this and say that everyone knows that it's

the Earth, not the sun, which moves.

And so once described your can't possibly be accurate of the sun

standing still, but when you look at this passage at face

value, what happened and what is being described here, is that

the Earth for several hours stopped rotating on its axis and

stopped rotating around the Sun? And, of course, the moon was

affected by all this and quite possibly, the entire solar

system. Might have stopped its Moments

for those several hours. And some might object to that

and say that without well if that happened, the result would

be total chaos throughout the Earth and maybe throughout the

entire universe. Well, not so.

Because God if he so desired would have the power to put

everything on hold and see to it that no consequences would

result from that. Some others might object to it

and say that for the Sun and the Moon to stand still.

Well that simply contrary to the laws of nature.

But what are the laws of nature? Well, they are simply the

processes which God has set in motion, and because God is

Sovereign, and because he can alter, and because he could

suspend, and he can reverse or even Council those processes and

ET time that he wants, he could do that.

In fact, that's what a miracle is.

It is when some usual pattern of nature is changed or when it's

interrupted due to God intervene in that particular aspect, It's

not, R is reasonable to think that God will allow himself to

be the prisoner of what he has created.

And when we think it like that, we limit God's power, we do.

And any man that has enough sense to make a clock to make a

clock. Certainly has enough sense to

stop it doesn't he? And surely a God who could speak

a universe into? Existence can do anything that

he pleases with that universe and its various components.

He has the power of what he has created and not just create

something and stab back and say, well, that's all I could do with

that. I can't do anything else with

it. We can't limit God's power in

that way. God is all wise it.

God is all-powerful. And if in our own logic in our

own reasoning, if we rule out miracles in the Bible, we have

to rule out the Virgin birth of Christ.

We have to rule out, the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

and a whole host of other biblical events either God could

do anything or he is not truly God.

And so this passage a reminds us that God God is in control and

God is in control of this universe.

Now there is of course, much that we don't understand such as

you know why natural catastrophes happen, why

terrible diseases occur in the Bible?

God Reveals His purpose for for some things that happen.

Maybe some earthquakes that happen.

Maybe some diseases that happen and we have a little bit of an

Insight of on why those things happen and how God Intervenes

throughout the scriptures, but in the vast majority of cases.

We might never understand why things happen in this life, but

here's the advice of one poet regarding life's mysteries.

He says, all God's testing is have a purpose someday, you will

see the light. All he asks, is that you trust

him. Walk by faith, not by sight.

See, the Bible reminds us again and again, that it is that this

is not an impersonal world that God God didn't create this

universe wind up, like, a clock of his simply remove himself

from it. And the reassuring truth is that

God is actively involved. He's actively involved in the

Affairs of this world, in the individual lives of people.

And in spite of what little we may understand, we can be

comforted by the fact that God is in charge.

We can now this is shown Time and Time throughout the

scriptures to where he's been in control of Kingdoms and Nations.

We've seen how he's wrote risen up rulers and then brought him

down. We've seen how he's done that

with Nations as well. We've seen how he was in control

of his summing of his son, coming to this world and making

a way for us to be saved. And he's still in control today.

Whomever he rises up and power. No matter if we might Grumble

about it. No matter if we might be angry

about who who might be the the leader.

No matter what laws might be passed in this nation, no matter

who might be in the White House, God is still in control of, of

all these things. He's in control of granting

salvation to those who accept the gospel of Christ, he still

in control and will always be in control.

Why? Because he's the creator of all

things. That's why.

Let us never limit his ability or think that he can never help.

Again, we go to him in prayer many occasions.

Why? Because we understand that he

can help because he's in control.

He has that power and we praise him because he has that power.

We praise him for that. You know Joshua, excuse me, this

poem, I want to leave with you this morning or this afternoon

says Joshua and his army had put the enemy to flight.

But they are afraid they couldn't finish for they were

running out of the light. They Joshua prayed.

Oh Lord. Please give me more Daylight on

this hill and God performed a miracle made the sun stand,

still. There are God doesn't make the

sun stand still just every day. In fact, he only did that once,

but that's enough. I say to show that he's in

charge of all that he has the power to do whatever his will on

any day or hour. So when your heart is hurting

and there seems to be no way to find relief or even just to make

it through the day with faith in Christ.

Call the Lord don't hesitate to plead and he who made the sun

stand still? I will also be your tea.

Aren't you? Glad you serve a God Like That?

Aren't you glad you're able to come and worship a God Like

That? Aren't you glad that you serve a

God? Who cares about you?

All glory to him. He is good and he is great and

he deserves Our Praise. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional

information or you would like to receive a free Bible

correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True

Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.

Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.

We would love for you to be our honored guest.