He was three years younger than his older brother, and quite a bit smaller. But that didn’t stop him from a protective role second to none. Coming into a play area one day, he thought his brother was being attacked in some way. His voice rang out VERY loud, and VERY clear, “DON’T YOU HURT MY BROVER! (BROTHER!)” He didn’t care how many of them there were, wasn’t even considering the fact that they were all bigger than he was, he was DETERMINTED about ONE THING — his brother would NOT get hurt in ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM!
My Dad came from a family of three brothers and one younger sister. Grandpa Beers had come to the Lord later in life . . . And he never lost his belief that boys needed to know how to protect themselves! Growing up in a “big city,” other young men soon learned, you didn’t mess with one of those “Beers boys” or you got them all! Loyalty to each other ran deep and strong.
Joshua, as the leader of Israel, was again finding himself in definite need of the help of the Lord. Not one King, but FIVE Kings had decided to come up against their servants the Gibeonites. His loyalty ran as deep as His promise to protect these people. As soon as he heard of their need, he mobilized not some of his troops, but the ENTIRE ARMY! (Josh. 10:7) He had the Word of the Lord this time. He knew the way to take. “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” With those assuring words they headed into an all night march and took their enemy by surprise.
In the middle of their obedience, God Himself began fighting from Heaven. Hurling hailstones from Heaven — God stood up for His obedient people! The day wasn’t long enough to complete obedience — no problem—so big was the need for victory Joshua bodly proclaims the extraordinalry. He’s sized up the situation and knows what needs to happen. “O sun, stand still over Gibeon. O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. . .” God allowed it to happen so they could get the job done. Everyone knew, ‘Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!’ (Joshua 10:14)
We have Jesus as our older brother! His love and loyalty run deep!He is on our side! When we choose His side we can be assured He will fight for us. In the middle of our obedience we can stand strong and rest assured, “With God for us, who can be against us?”
Janene Dubbeld/FGG
Take it with You
“The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel.” Joshua 10:13b-14
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