MONDAY, OCTOBER 10
Scripture: Joshua 10:9-13

Joshua 10:11 states, “. And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.” Joshua was told not to make any covenants with the people of the land. The Gibeonites, through deception, deceived Joshua and the elders into making a covenant. When the Gibeonites were attacked by the Amorites they sent a message to Joshua demanding that Israel live up to its covenant duty. The interesting part was God’s response. Verse 12,13 says, “Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.” Covenant vengeance was executed by the people with God’s help in behalf of a culture they were not supposed to be in covenant with at all. The astounding part of this passage is how seriously God takes covenant. Because He was in covenant with Israel, He was in covenant to protect the Gibeonites, even though He had told Joshua not to make a covenant with them. God terminated the Amorites in order to fulfill His covenant obligation to Israel, even in Israel’s disobedience. This should give us hope for our own nation today!