Joshua 10:12-14, and the Institute Manual equivalent
When reading these verses, the words that ring false against science may stand out heavily to some people - the Sun staying still in the sky? Impossible. Well, what if the Earth stopped rotating. Wouldn't that cause it to seem as if the Sun stopped moving? The Lord has the power to make such things happen when necessary. There are other scriptures that talk about what happens in the sky that seem to contradict science, but are just as easily explained - as when the Sun is darkened, or the moon turned to blood; those are eclipses. Stars falling out of of the sky are obviously meteors. It is important to remember that when it came to science in the Bible it is not always literal - they write it as it seemed because they had no other explanation for it than God made it happen.
Israel's Successes and Failures in Joshua 7-22
When reading these verses, the words that ring false against science may stand out heavily to some people - the Sun staying still in the sky? Impossible. Well, what if the Earth stopped rotating. Wouldn't that cause it to seem as if the Sun stopped moving? The Lord has the power to make such things happen when necessary. There are other scriptures that talk about what happens in the sky that seem to contradict science, but are just as easily explained - as when the Sun is darkened, or the moon turned to blood; those are eclipses. Stars falling out of of the sky are obviously meteors. It is important to remember that when it came to science in the Bible it is not always literal - they write it as it seemed because they had no other explanation for it than God made it happen.
Israel's Successes and Failures in Joshua 7-22
Successes Defeats people of Ai in ambush Built an altar Law, blessings and curses, are explained to the people of Israel Form alliance with Gibeonites Defeat the Amorites and their allies Conquer the whole land, destroying many people and nations Two kings conquered by Israel Inheritances of twelve tribes are received and confirmed, Manasseh and Ephraim get extra Set up tabernacle Lord fulfills all His promises and grants Israel rest Built an altar for thanks | Failures Defeated by people of Ai Punished for taking spoils of Jericho |
As Joshua is nearing the end of his life, he chooses to address the people of Israel. He reiterates everything that the Lord has done for them, how He has blessed them in battle and in other things, and then challenges them to choose to follow the Lord, to put away other strange gods and only follow Him and His law. I think he chose to make his final address about this as an attempt to ensure that the people of Israel would always follow the Lord. It is blatantly obvious that He is real because of everything that He has blessed them with, so they should have no desire to even search for other gods or beliefs. It was Joshua's last plea to keep his people forever righteous in a land surrounded by evil.
We can do all of this too, in our own lives. We can choose to follow God and believe the Bible, no matter what it may say. He lives and what He says is true, and we need to decide for ourselves, this day, to follow it no matter what. Because when the tough times come around, then it is too late to make the decision - you might waver. The decision has to be made now, yesterday even, this second, because Satan is always working to try and convince you otherwise.
We can do all of this too, in our own lives. We can choose to follow God and believe the Bible, no matter what it may say. He lives and what He says is true, and we need to decide for ourselves, this day, to follow it no matter what. Because when the tough times come around, then it is too late to make the decision - you might waver. The decision has to be made now, yesterday even, this second, because Satan is always working to try and convince you otherwise.