The Day the Sun Stood Still

The Story

It started with a lie. The people of Gibeon, afraid of Israel, dressed in worn-out clothes, packed moldy bread, and pretended they’d come from a faraway country. Joshua and the leaders didn’t ask God for guidance. They made a peace treaty with them, then found out three days later that the Gibeonites lived right next door.

Israel had been tricked, but a promise was a promise, and they kept it.

Soon five Amorite kings joined forces to attack Gibeon for making peace with Israel. The Gibeonites sent a desperate message: “Come quickly and save us!” Joshua could have said, You lied to us. You’re on your own. Instead, he marched his army all night and caught the enemy by surprise.

God sent huge hailstones that struck down more of the enemy than Israel’s swords did. Then, with daylight running out and the battle unfinished, Joshua did something no one had ever done. He prayed out loud before all Israel, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon.” And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky for about a whole day.

Reflection