30 More Days... Day 7

Josh. 10:12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:
“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

Impossible is impossible. At least that is what I recently read. That is generally the attitude of some toward miracles that we see in the Bible ... the virgin birth, walking on water, etc... The problem is that impossible is something that is usually defined by varying rules and standards, and often dependent upon what you personally happen to believe. Impossible is a pretty relative term. According to the laws of physics or natural laws something may be impossible or seem to be impossible. That is until someone figures out how to do it. Suddenly we discover other laws and other principle at work. We didn’t know about them before. With people certain things can be impossible, but with God nothing is impossible.

When we see this prayer it is very simple. “Sun stand still...”, oh, and by the way moon too.

Most commentators are agreed. This is one of the most amazing passages in the Bible on a cosmological scale. The sun standing still and not making any haste to go down. We have an (almost) 48 hour day (I’d bet there are a couple of people out there that occasionally feel that would be a real benefit). God listened to the voice of a man.

Joshua and the children of Israel have marched all night. They are coming to fight against a coalition of forces from all over Canaan. They are coming in response to a treaty that they made with the Gibeonites, even though it was made by deception. After having marched all through the night, Joshua and Israel arrive and attack this huge force, and it is routed before all Israel. Not only this, but as they run away, God Himself, fights for Israel and throws down huge hailstones. Now, if this were not enough, Joshua sees that the day is coming to a close. There is so much more left to do. If night falls the enemy will escape into the darkness and have a chance to regroup. They will live to fight another day. This is a decisive battle in the war for the promised land. It is the battle that breaks the strength of the enemies so that they will not be able to recover for years and years to come. So Joshua prays.

In the sight of all the people he stands up and speaks to the Lord asking that the sun stand still and the moon also.

Now there are many theories as to how this might have happened. There are many explanations of what might have taken place during these hours. Really, they aren’t so important. If we accept that God is God and can do what He pleases all problems fall away. If we believe that God is who He says He is, and that He created the Universe and all of its natural laws, then this issue really becomes a non-issue. So here is the point ... not how it happened or by what means, but that with men this was impossible. Whether you are talking about today with all of our technology and understanding, or you are talking about Joshua’s day and age, one fact remains. With men this was impossible and they knew it. For Joshua to stand up in the sight of all the people and pray to the Lord for the sun to still was either one of the greatest acts of hubris, foolishness or faith of all time. Yet, Joshua stands and lays it out before the Lord. God we need more time. And God listens.

It is such a simple prayer. There is no praise. There is no qualification of the request. There is nothing except the request itself in the form of a command. Joshua has a job to do and time is of the essence. Joshua utters these words and the world, the solar system, the Universe (for all we know) grinds to a halt - or at the very least slows down to a crawl (as some read it).

How many times have you wished that you could pray a prayer like this? How many times have you wished for just a little more time, a little more power or a little more provision? Yet, in our minds it is impossible. We couldn’t possible pray and see God move the universe, could we? We couldn’t hope to see a miracle on this scale, right? God wouldn’t listen to the voice of a man, would He? How often do we fail to pray for the impossible, simply because it is impossible. It doesn’t fit in with our theology or our experience.

Now I agree, this is not an everyday experience. In fact, verse 14 suggests that this was a special day like no other, that the Lord listened to the voice of a man. We may very well never see another day quite like that one. However, God does great things, impossible things in response to the prayers of His people throughout scripture. In Chronicles and Isaiah the sun’s shadow moves backwards for a sign to Hezekiah. At the prayer or Elijah the rain doesn’t fall on Israel for over 3 years. At the honest prayer of the penitent publican, his sins are forgiven and he goes away justified by the grace of God.

Whether we are praying for the sun to “stand still” or for a person to be forgiven of sin with man this is impossible. Yet, it shouldn’t keep us from praying. It shouldn’t keep us from asking. It shouldn’t keep us from seeking the victory that God has for His children when He fights for them.

Yes, impossible is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible.

Prayer Request
* For Calvary Chapel Celje and its weekly ministries. Sunday morning service, children’s Sunday school, weekly Bible studies (Maribor, Koinonia, Youth study), Retirement home ministry. English camp outreach & follow-up. Pray for Pastor Justin as he serves God and the needs of the church. Also for Justin and Erin as they are soon to be married. For all the details leading up to the wedding and for the adjustment of the couple and the church to a new season of life.