War!
That’s the only way to describe the event portrayed in today’s Text, Joshua 10:1-5.
“Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.” Let me interject a quick comment. Clearly the heathen “hear” what God has been doing, and in this particular situation they acknowledge the Source of these miracles/victories! (Today the “lost” hear of God’s mighty “doings,” and deny that the Hand of the Lord is behind them! They “see” the beauties of Creation … but attribute such to “fate,” blind “evolution.”)
Now, let’s continue: “Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” Count the Kings, please. a total of five! All preparing to attack the City of Gibeon, a people with whom Joshua had entered into a peace treaty!
“Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.” This is called “ganging up” on someone! Five against one! Five warring enemies against one peaceful City!
And herein lies our Lesson today.
Has the devil (symbolized by this confederacy of wicked, murderous kings) every “piled on” on you, he and his hordes of Hell? That’s one of his tactics, I believe.
Grandmother Green used to say, “When it rains it pours!”
The devil hits with one issue, one temptation … and soon there are two, three, even more at times!
Satan literally hates anyone in league with God or God’s people! Anyone with (even weak) believing faith, as apparently had the Gibeonites!
But do I have Scripture to validate my claim, that the devil “gang attacks?”
Well, the evil one (devil) certainly tried that “multiple temptation” approach on godly Job (meaning the Old Testament character named Job) … didn’t he? Loss of all his livestock, loss (deaths) of 10 children, broken health, (maybe even) loss of his Wife’s support!
Yes, that’s “overkill” I would say.
And Paul seems to agree. Look at his list of our enemies, as Christians I mean. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against PRINCIPALITIES, against POWERS, against the RULERS OF THE DARKNESS of this world, against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS in high places.” Wow, Ephesians 6:12, what a “list” of attackers!
Enemies (spiritual as well as physical) both on earth and in the “heavenlies!” That’s exactly what “high places” means in Greek. A plethora of warring devils, demons, headed by Lucifer himself!
Yet too, Christian friend, we have this promise. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
When the devil next “hits” you … watch your back and sides too … he is liable to double (or triple) attack.
Just be ready!
And do what?
What the Gibeonites did, I suggest. (Tomorrow’s Lesson)
CRY OUT to your Ally! (Joshua with his fierce army!)
To God!
And His people!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell