Joshua 10:14-2114And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel. 15And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. 16But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. 18And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them: 19And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand. 20And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities. 21And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. (Joshua 10:14‑21)
“And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.” The sun shone brightly all day upon Gibeon, and the moon shed its light over Ajalon, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. For the Lord fought for Israel.
Then Joshua returned and all Israel with him to the camp to Gilgal. We might wonder why they would keep returning to Gilgal after each victory. Why would they not push on ahead and pitch their camp somewhere else?
Surely God has a lesson here for us for whom these things were written. Gilgal was the place of circumcision, and typically this speaks of the judgment of our fallen nature in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well for us if we keep going back to the cross and see all that we are as men in the flesh was judged there—self gone in the death of Christ.
Furthermore, none but circumcised people—that is, those who had God’s mark on them, could be His soldiers. True soldiers are those who have no will of their own; they have only to obey the word of command. They are also those who have given up their selfishness, whose fears have been all lost in the Jordan. They do not think of suffering or of danger; they know that God has all power, and they go straight on where His word tells them to go.
After every victory Israel went back to Gilgal, and there they saw the twelve stones which they had taken out of Jordan. There they were reminded of how Joshua, their captain, was magnified to them on the day when they knew that the living God was among them.
The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is our Gilgal. When we really learn what that is, we give up our own will, and in His death, we get cut off from our selfishness and pride, and we bear the mark of it; that is, we show in our ways that our evil will is gone and all our pride and boasting. If the children of Israel had stayed at Gibeon, they might have said, “We have had a great victory today,” and they might have felt proud of it; but when they got back to Gilgal and saw the twelve stones there where God had wiped away the reproach of Egypt, they could not have any proud feelings. They must have felt that God had done wonderful things; they would be glad and rejoice in it. Gilgal is also a place of praise.
While the children of Israel were chasing their enemies, the five kings were hid in a cave. When Joshua heard of it, he told the people to roll great stones to the mouth of the cave and to continue the pursuit of the enemy until they were defeated.
It is a great thing to continue in conflict until there is victory. Perhaps there is a tendency to stop short in our efforts as soon as we begin to see some results, but let us not forget the exhortation, “Continue thou.” 2 Tim. 3:1414But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (2 Timothy 3:14). An old Christian used to often say, “It is a great thing to go on!”
“IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN.”
ML-10/02/1977