Joshua

In Joshua 10:12-14, we read of the miraculous account of the sun standing still in the heavens, so that the children of Israel could benefit from its light in their battle with the Amorites.

Did the sun really stand still? How can this be, when we know that it is the earth that revolves around the sun? 

I don’t think it would have occurred to me to mince words when it comes to miracles involving the order of the natural world/universe. Clearly, the Lord knew what Joshua was asking for; an extension of daylight. And, clearly, the God who created the universe knows what would need to happen in order to accomplish it. 

In the Book of Mormon, Mormon clarifies this:

“Yea, and if he say unto the earth—Move—it is moved.

 Yea, if he say unto the earth—Thou shalt go back, that it lengthen out the day for many hours—it is done;

 And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; for surely it is the earth that moveth and not the sun.”

Question: what qualified the Israelites for this kind of access to earth-stopping miracles? 

Answer: the Lord promised them blessings when they were faithful (this applies to us, too).

Let’s look at the successes and failures of Israel, as found in the book of Joshua, in this context.

The successes first:

• Defeated the Amorites

• Kings and cities destroyed

• The Lord fights for them

• They conquer the whole land

• They conquer 33 kings

• They receive their inheritances

• They are able to rest

And failures:

• Defeated by the people of Ai due to the disobedience of one man (Achan)

So when Joshua, in his last address as prophet, gathered Israel to instruct them, he reminded them of everything the Lord had done for them, and all that they had received and enjoyed at His hand. He also commanded them to choose whom they would serve, the false gods of their past, the idols of the lands they newly inhabited; or the God that had favored them, nurtured them, and delivered the lands into their possession.

When we look at the list of the failures, it’s pretty short. The only setback the Israelites had was when one man disobeyed the Lord. When we disobey, we are choosing who to serve. 

Sometimes we erroneously believe that we are only hurting ourselves when we disobey. The OldTestament student manual says this:

“There are powerful spiritual lessons for modern Saints in the account of Achan and Israel’s defeat at Ai. First, the story shows the effect of individual sin on the whole community. No one sins in isolation. We cannot say that our actions influence only ourselves for even if we do something sinful that is completely personal, our individual loss of spiritual power means a lessening of power for all mankind and contributes to the withdrawal of the Lord’s Spirit, and that is damaging to all mankind.”

So our individual choices affect the group as a whole (Satan would have us believe we’re only doing it to ourselves). It makes perfect sense, then, that Joshua would command the people to recommit and re-covenant with the Lord to serve Him; not just for their own happiness, but for the good of the nation.

Whom do you serve? And who is it affecting?