The battle is the Lord’s

So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon. “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you...On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies...There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day! Joshua 10:7-14 NLT

Joshua brought his entire army to fight for the Gibeonites against the attacking Amorites. Once again, his confidence is not in his abilities to lead his soldiers but on the promise that God will be with them. Joshua needed God’s assurance for he will be fighting against the soldiers led by their five kings. But the fight was not without his military strategy coupled with his prayer to the Lord. “Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise” (v. 9). “Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel” (v. 12). Even though God gave them His assurance it doesn’t mean that they take for granted the ability of the enemies that they will be slacking in their strategy. Divine help is not without human exertion. Whenever we believe God and His word and we act based of our faith in Him, then we can expect that He will be there to help us. Our obedience should be based on our faith in God. “...everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23 NIV). “...faith comes from hearing the message” (Romans 10:17 NIV). Joshua and the Israelites engaged themselves in a crucial battle in order for them to gain control of Canaan, the Promise Land. Then the Scripture says, “Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!” (Joshua 10:14). It was God who gave the Israelites the wisdom and skills that were used by Him so there will be victory. We are what we are because of God and what we received from Him. We cannot take the credit. It must be God who should receive the glory. “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).

Blessings,