“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” (Joshua 10:4).
TEXT — Joshua 10:1-14
Message
Wars in any part of the world, especially in developing countries, usually incur heavy human, economic and social costs. Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the United Nations (UN) to assist countries in navigating the difficult path from conflict to peace.
The Gibeonites made peace with Israel and established alliance with them in the text. Therefore, their battles became Israel’s battles through this alliance, even though the Gibeonites obtained this accord by deception. The five Kings of the Amorites teamed up to fight against Gibeon as a deterrent to other Amorite nations who may be thinking in the same direction. The Gibeonites appealed to Joshua to come to their aid. Joshua led an army into the battle and crushed the confederates in a long-drawn war. When it was turning late in the day and the war had not ended, Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still until the victory was fully secured. God granted his decree by miraculously suspending time.
We need to keep in mind that wars and conflicts are caused by unresolved issues among dominant and aggressive neighbours. These conflicts develop as little interpersonal, relational, domestic or business issues snowball into largescale conflicts. There is wisdom in the saying that the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war. That is why conflicts and disagreements should be resolved before they grow and metamorphose into big issues.
We must strive to keep peace and avoid conflicts at all costs. Conflicting issues and interests are bound to arise within the church and the family because we are humans but we must always find ways to resolve these as recommended in the Scriptures.
Thought for the day
Unresolved conflicts destroy fellowships and relationships.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Grace Eromomen
Grace Eromomen
The book is a nice one for building up our spiritual life