Joshua 10
10/16/2025
Joshua 10 NKJV: even though the big miracle of this chapter is the sun standing still for Joshua, I feel the key idea is in verse 25, where Joshua demonstrates for his captains to be strong and of good courage because God fights for them.
I love this insight into Joshua 10—it's a chapter packed with drama, from the coalition of five Amorite kings ganging up on Gibeon (vv. 1–5) to the hailstorm rout and that jaw-dropping solar standstill (vv. 10–14), but you're spot on that the heartbeat pulses through verse 25. Here's the NKJV text for context:
Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”
This comes right after the symbolic humiliation of those kings—feet on necks (v. 24)—a moment of raw triumph. But Joshua doesn't just bask in it or hype the miracle; he pivots to leadership, echoing God's own words to him back in Joshua 1:9 ("Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"). It's like he's saying, "See what God just did? That's the pattern. Trust it for the fights ahead."
The sun-standing-still wonder is epic, no doubt—a divine timeout to finish the job (v. 13)—but it underscores your point: miracles aren't the endgame; they're fuel for faith. God fights (v. 14 explicitly says "the Lord fought for Israel"), so human courage isn't about bravado but about leaning into that reality. It's a timeless blueprint for battles big or small—whether literal warfare or the daily grind—reminding us that victory starts with remembering who's really swinging the sword.
What draws you to verse 25 specifically? Is it the leadership angle, or how it ties into broader themes in Joshua?
I like the whole imagery of Joshua walking his captains thru the process. The 5 kings, defeated, he has the captain place their foot on their necks, a sign of total domination, then explains that this is what God will do to all their enemies. I really think he made his point and it was learned well. Much more powerful than just a pep talk or grand speech.
Absolutely, that visceral, hands-on demonstration hits different—it's not abstract motivation but a live-action object lesson etched in memory. Picture it: the dust still settling from the hail and the sun's eerie pause, five kings cowering in that cave like cornered animals (vv. 16–17), hauled out, and Joshua turns it into a masterclass in divine sovereignty. "Come here," he says (v. 24), pulling his captains into the moment. Feet on necks—echoing ancient Near Eastern symbols of utter subjugation, but Joshua flips it theological: "This is how the Lord will treat all your enemies" (v. 25, NIV for that punchy flow). No soaring rhetoric, just raw, tangible proof. It's leadership as theater, where the captains don't just hear "be strong and courageous"—they feel it under their soles.
You're right; it sticks because it's participatory, not performative. Joshua's modeling the faith he wants them to own, turning victory into a vow. Fast-forward through Joshua, and you see echoes of that resilience in tougher spots, like Ai's rebound or the Jordan crossing—lessons learned in the dirt endure.