The War to Save Gibeon (Joshua 10:1–5)
The War to Save Gibeon (Joshua 10:1–5) 12/14/2025
Through the book of Joshua, we are watching Israel’s war to conquer Canaan. What does this war have to do with us? When applied to our lives, this war represents the spiritual battle for world evangelization, the conclusion of God. On this earth, believers, especially evangelists devoted to world evangelization, may face much opposition, persecution, failure, and crisis (2 Corinthians 1:8–9; 7:5; 11:23–28). The enemy working behind these attacks is not people, but evil spirits (Ephesians 6:12). Yet we already know the conclusion. The conclusion Joshua and the Israelites had is the same one we hold today. God gives victory and turns everything into evidence. There are three reasons for this.
First, this is a war God prepared (Joshua 1:3; 5:15). It proclaims judgment against those who oppose God. Satan reigns as the ruler of this world, and humanity follows him. But in the end, he must kneel before Christ and await judgment (Revelation 21:7–15).
Second, this is a war God Himself fights (Josh 10:14; 10:42). This is why Israel triumphed over the remaining Canaanite kings. In the last days, the forces of the red dragon will fiercely try to destroy the saints, yet they will be defeated for the same reason (Revelation 17:14).
Third, after victory, Christ will come to that land. We are waiting for the Christ who will return. All judgment has been entrusted to Him (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:1), and through Him the new heaven and new earth must begin (Revelation 21:5–7). Though it may seem like we are suffering for a time, every spiritual battle we face is ultimately a battle we are destined to win. So now we ask, why must we fight? For whom do we fight? How do we fight? And what is the conclusion?
- Why, and for whom, must we fight?
Why must we fight? Because we must restore what God originally gave us. We can no longer afford to lose it again (Heavenly mandate). First, we must fight to protect ourselves (the spiritual battle to save our own lives). For this purpose, the saved have been called as God’s army (Exodus 12:41; Ezekiel 37:10; 2 Timothy 2:3–4).
1) What was taken from us? The blessing of Genesis 1:27–28.
We were lives created in God’s image to rule over and subdue the world. But in Genesis 3, humanity was deceived by the devil, and with the image of the devil, we began to live corrupted lives. This is why corruption continues endlessly. Instead of ruling the world, humanity is oppressed, trampled on, and are enslaved to it.
2) God restored this blessing by sending His Son as the Christ (the blessing of the gospel and salvation).
① Before the ages, God prepared Christ, who is the gospel itself (Romans 16:25), and then He called us (Calling). In Christ, God chose us in His infinite grace and love, justified us, and called us His children (Ephesians 1:3–5). When we heard and believed the gospel, God sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and made us members of God’s household – the people of His covenant (Ephesians 2:19).
② God now commands us to enjoy this blessing in reality and to save people like ourselves and all nations (Mission). For this mission, God made us ministers of the gospel (Ephesians 3:7) and enabled us to enjoy all that He is able to do (Ephesians 3:20). He causes us to grow for His good works (Ephesians 4:15–16) and pours upon us the authority and power of Christ’s light
so that we may save those in darkness (Ephesians 5:8–9). From this flows evangelism and missions.To enjoy this blessing and not lose it, God commands us to fight the spiritual battle to the end and put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:12–18).
- Now, how must we fight?
1) The battle against the remaining Canaanites in this passage is a battle for evangelism and missions (a war for our local fields and the world field).
① The Gibeonites, prepared by God, came to Israel. They became God’s people and even servants of the temple.
② To destroy the Gibeonites, the remaining Canaanite people and kings united their forces. Satan still acts the same way today. Even though he knows he cannot defeat God’s people, he fights desperately. With deception, he gathers his forces to attack the saved people, the church, and especially those whom we have evangelized and brought to life.
2) How should we fight when the people we evangelized, or the mission fields we support, face such difficulties?
① We must prepare to win this battle. They are disciples (Mark 3:13–15; Luke 10:19). Pray prayers of spiritual warfare.
② Hold onto the reason God must give us 300% answers and blessings in every field, and challenge forward. This includes 100% blessing for myself, 100% blessing to save my field, 100% blessing to save the world and the future. Even when we do small and ordinary things, we need to do them holding onto the covenant. Regardless of circumstances, inevitable and absolute blessings will come. God gave this covenant even when Israel was taken into captivity
(Isaiah 55:4–5: “a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples”).
③ When you hold onto this covenant and challenge in faith, you will see the works God. The power that transcends time and space, unprecedented power, and the light that overcomes all darkness will be revealed (the blessing of the throne). Israel did not win by military force alone. More enemies died from the hailstones God sent than from the sword (v. 11). Through Joshua’s prayer, the sun stood still and the moon stopped. It was an unprecedented, never-repeated event (vv. 12–14). Hold onto God’s absolute reason for such miracles (covenant), see it in advance, enjoy it, experience it, and challenge forward(CVDIP).
- What is the conclusion? Three blessings we must experience and complete in Christ. God Himself fought for Israel, and through that blessing the conquest of Canaan was completed (the completion of world evangelization).
1) The blessing of “Only.” The one and only God is with me, helps me, fights for me, and gives me victory. Are you in a time of despair? A time of fear and loneliness? This is when you must experience the “only” blessing and enjoy its conclusion. It is a blessing where God alone is sufficient, and He becomes your joy and your everything. Those whom God used experienced this in daily life, in crises, and at the conclusion of their lives (Joshua 24:15; Ps 23:1; Esther 4:16).
2) The blessing of uniqueness No one could defeat Israel. When God grants victory, no one can mock or oppose us. Before Satan and unbelievers alike, God turns even our small tasks, studies, and problems into His masterpieces.
3) The blessing of re-creation. Possessing Canaan was not the final conclusion of the conquest. God transformed a land that symbolized corruption (Genesis 13:13; 18:20; Leviticus 18:2). Beyond that, the kingdom of David was established there, and from his lineage Christ came, and through Christ all nations would be saved.
Conclusion – When problems, conflicts, and crises arise, hold onto the covenant and engage in intense spiritual battle through prayer. Fight the spiritual battle for the fields entrusted to you (family, school, workplace, and industry). May you be blessed as a soldier and commander in Christ’s army, fighting the spiritual battle for this generation.
12.14.25 The War to Save Gibeon
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