S12 || Why Do We Have to Work So Hard? Plus Science & Faith || Joshua 10:1-43 || Session 12 || Verse by Verse Bible Study

Joshua faces a formidable coalition of five Amorite kings who've united against the Gibeonites simply because they made peace with Israel. This hostile reaction mirrors what many new believers experience today when friends and family inexplicably turn against them after their conversion to Christianity. The spiritual opposition isn't random—it's a pattern repeated throughout history whenever someone aligns themselves with God.

What captivates us most in this passage is how God provides victory through dramatically different means. While Jericho fell easily with minimal effort, this battle required an exhausting uphill march followed by a day-long battle so prolonged that Joshua asked God to extend daylight itself. Through this contrast, we discover a profound truth about spiritual warfare: sometimes God's work comes with supernatural ease, while other times it demands everything we have. Both scenarios require faith, though expressed differently.

The miracle itself carries multilayered significance. By commanding the sun and moon to stand still—entities the Canaanites worshipped as gods—Joshua demonstrated Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over creation. This cosmic display wasn't merely tactical; it was theological, dismantling the very religious framework of Israel's enemies. Throughout history, this passage has sparked fascinating discussions about the relationship between Scripture and science, reminding us that biblical language often describes events from the observer's perspective rather than making technical astronomical claims.

Perhaps most thought-provoking is the fate of the five kings who fled the battle. They sought refuge in a cave that ultimately became their tomb—a powerful metaphor for how our attempts to escape God often become our prisons. The temporary refuges we build apart from God frequently become the very things that trap us.

What challenges are you facing that seem to require more endurance than you possess? What "sun standing still" miracle might you need to request from God today? Join us as we unpack these timeless lessons from an ancient battlefield that continue to illuminate our spiritual journeys today. 

Questions in this session: 

• How can we trust the Lord and not be afraid? 
• Why would the Lord ask us to work hard?
• Are science and faith in opposition? 
• When we pray, do we pray with confidence? 
• Can we be worldly and carnal and still be righteous? 

Learn more about RTTB:  Reasoning Through the Bible – Straightforward with some Critical Thinking

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