The progression of the memorial stones in Joshua is amazing to me. The first reminds us of God's faithfulness, that God keeps His promises. But the second reminds us of our own unfaithfulness. The third is about second chances after we're unfaithful. While the fourth reminds us to be obedient to God's Word. When we are then we shouldn't have too many of the the second and third memorial stones behind us. (Wouldn't that be lovely?) The fifth is all about God's graciousness - particularly when we get in situations we shouldn't be in.
See Joshua and Israel had been tricked. They were told to wipe out all the people in the land of Canaan. The Gibeonites knew that was coming, and so they sent a delegation who acted as if they had been on a long journey. They met up with Joshua and the Israelites and told them that they weren't part of the land of Canaan and that they wanted to make a peace treaty with Israel. And Israel fell for it. Maybe they were tired of fighting. Maybe they just didn't think that anyone would lie to them. Maybe they felt like they were too busy to stop and ask God first. Whatever the reason, they made the covenant.
When the other kings in the area heard of the covenant between Gibeon and Israel they gathered forces together and attacked Gibeon. The men of Gibeon immediately sent for Joshua, and with the new treaty between them in place, Israel went up to defend Gibeon. During the battle, God caused the sun to stand still at the plea of Joshua. Joshua 10:14 says, "There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel." After their victory, they put the bodies of the dead kings in a cave where they had hidden and Joshua stacked stones at the entrance of the cave.
"[T]he Lord fought for Israel." I just love that phrase. I love knowing that the Lord fights for His people. He fights for His Church. He fights for His Bride. That just gives me shivers! But the thing I love most about that, is that God fought for Israel to protect a covenant that they should have never made in the first place. He could have sat back and watched them try to do it on their own - after all, they were in that position because they rushed ahead of Him anyway. But He fought for them in His graciousness. They didn't deserve it, yet He was there.
I don't know about you, but I can be like the Israelites. I can rush ahead of God, make decisions without consulting Him, and end up fighting a battle that never should have been mine to face. I'm so glad that when I do, He graciously fights for me - not with me - for me! I wouldn't want to do it on my own.
Maybe you rushed into a relationship that has turned out to be a battle. God can fight for you. Maybe you dug yourself a little too deep in your enthusiasm to serve. God can fight for you. Maybe you made a financial decision that has become a nightmare. God can fight for you. Whatever situation you're in that you know good and well is your own fault, God can fight for you.
I want to point out one thing though. God fought for Israel, but they were still in the midst of the battle. He did miracles for them, but they still picked up their swords. God may do miracles, He may fight, but we shouldn't just sit back and do nothing. If your finances are a mess, God may provide in ways you never expected, but you should learn how to make better decisions in the future. God can change a heart in a marriage, but you better make sure that your own heart is willing to change. God may give you the wisdom and energy you need to power through the busyness you're drowning in, but that doesn't mean you should continue to overwhelm yourself.
God helps us and fights for us because He is gracious. Yet He uses those times as opportunities for us to learn and grow.
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