Joshua, Praying Boldly. (Part 1)

In going through the story of Joshua, I did not find many recorded prayers, only a couple, but one is a doosy. Maybe a better word is audacious.

Jos 10:11-14  And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."  And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 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.

 How does a person have the nerve to pray that the sun would stand still? That is a big prayer. There is no precedent for that, it had never happened before.

So, I wanted to look at how Joshua became this man who had the boldness to pray this big prayer.

1.     Mentored by Moses

The Bible says that Joshua was Moses assistant. He helped Moses in many ways, in administration and government, but also he was the war general.  The first time Joshua is mentioned is in Exodus 17, when he led the Israelites in battle, while Moses held his hands up on the top of the mountain. If Moses let his hands down, Joshua began to lose the battle. Joshua must have learned from this that the victory has to be through God.

In Exodus 24, Joshua went with Moses on Mount Sinai where he received the law. He saw what no one else in Israel saw, except Moses. Because of his close relationship with Moses, he had a lot of contact with God. To become a person of prayer, you may want to spend time with someone who is strong in prayer, who prays with boldness and in faith.

 

2. He became a man of faith

 He was one of the 12 spies sent to check out the land. He gave a good report of the land, but the 10 spies spoke of the giants, the danger. The people were afraid and refused to go on.

Only Caleb and Joshua believed God.

"The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." Numbers 14:7-9

 

Joshua was learning from Moses and from his own experience that God was faithful to do what he promised. He was becoming a man of faith, growing into a man who would pray bold and audacious prayers.