The Gibeonites cry out to the Israelites for help when they are attacked by their neighbors. The result is that Israel is stuck defending a people that they should have defeated in battle! God is gracious to Israel and helps them win the battle despite the fact that Israel got THEMSELVES into this trouble. However, this God-assisted victory opens the way for Joshua to begin his attack on southern Canaan.
In Joshua 9 we meet the Gibeonites. They have been watching their neighbors and know that they fought a losing battle, because the LORD was fighting for Israel, and no army could resist Him. So, they decided to use deception instead of military muscle. If Satan does not defeat you by coming as the devouring lion (1 Pet. 5:8–9), he will try again as the deceiving serpent (2 Cor. 11:3). He never gives up. The humiliating defeat at Ai should have taught Joshua and the leaders to take time to pray and seek the mind of the Lord. After all, the Lord was the Commander of the army (Josh. 5:13–15). But they walked by sight and not by faith, and unbelief has a hard time waiting (Isa. 28:16; 30:1–2).
God speaks to Joshua to let him know that Ai already has been delivered into their hands.
One man, Achan, decides to keep some of the devoted things from Jericho for himself. His choice ends up having dire consequences for Israel and about 36 men are killed as a result.
So, we finally begin the conquest of the Promise Land with an attack on Jericho....Or, do we? What kind of miliary campaign starts with marching in circles? The answer? One that is obedient to Yahweh and His guidance!
Israel has experienced another impossible water crossing by walking on dry ground. God commands 12 stones to be taken from the riverbed right where the Ark was held by the priests. The stones are to be stacked on the west side of the Jordan to help future generations remember what God has done. We too must remember what God has done.
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In this first half of chapter 11 John gives us a snapshot of what the church is busy doing during the time between Jesus' ascension to Heaven and His final return to reconcile all things to himself. We are called to witness to the world that did not respond to the previous 6 Trumpets (sufferings) and the warnings to repent. With these warnings that God is bringing He wants us to proclaim the Gospel to those who have not surrendered to Christ. We must not be too busy with life to be about the Lord's work?