Many people were fighting and not getting along. The king in Jerusalem became frightened. He talked to other kings and they all decided to fight back. The people in Gibeon heard the news and sent a message to Joshua. “Please don’t stay away. Come quickly and help us. All the other kings are going to fight against us.” So Joshua gathered all his men and all his best soldiers and went to help the people in Gibeon. God told Joshua not to be afraid. “No one will be able to stand against you,” God said. And Joshua believed God. Joshua knew God would show him what to do. Joshua’s men marched all night, then they surprised the soldiers who wanted to hurt the people in Gibeon. God then sent a hail storm. Joshua talked to God after the storm. He asked God to keep the sun bright in the sky a long time. That way Joshua’s men would be able to see. God heard Joshua’s prayer and did what Joshua asked. The sun stood still and the moon stopped. God helped Joshua’s army defeat Gibeon’s enemies. That day Joshua and all the people knew God helped them.

Joshua and all of God’s people were in Canaan, the land God had promised would be the people’s home. God told Joshua to conquer cities and towns so that no one except God’s people would live in the land. Joshua and his armies of soldiers listened to God’s plans for them to clean out the cities and towns. Anytime the Israelites followed God’s instructions, they were successful! News about the Israelites’ victories caused people in neighboring cities to fear God’s people. People in the city of Gibeon wanted to join God’s people so they would not be harmed. So, the Gibeonites decided to trick Joshua and the Israelites. The Gibeonites went to Joshua and pretended they had come from a land far away from Canaan. “Make a treaty with us. We are your servants,” the Gibeonites said to Joshua. It was a trick because the Gibeonites really did live in Canaan. Joshua listened to the Gibeonites’ made-up story and he believed the men. Joshua said the Gibeonites could join God’s people and live in their communities. But three days later, Joshua and the Israelites learned the truth! The Gibeonites were God’s enemies! They had tricked Joshua! Because Joshua had promised the Gibeonites they could stay in Canaan, he could not destroy them. So Joshua said the Gibeonite people could stay, but they would have to work for God’s people.

Need to Know: Wait with a Happy Heart!

So many bad things happened to Job. His friends tried to help him, but they could not understand why Job was not angry at God. The friends thought Job must have disobeyed God, and now God was punishing Job. But this is not how it was. Job always loved God, even when the bad things happened. Job obeyed God in all things, and praised God’s name. After a time, God talked to Job. God reminded Job of the ways God cared for him. Job listened to all that God said. Job said, “God, I know that You can do anything. What You do is too wonderful for me to know. But now I see who You are, and I take back my words. I am sorry I asked You why all these bad things happened to me.” Then Job thought about the friends who had tried to help him. Job prayed for the friends because they did not understand what happened to Job. God forgave Job. God gave Job a family again and gave him animals and more money and friends. God blessed Job even more than He ever had before. Job’s brothers, sisters, and friends went to his house to see him and give him gifts. There were good times for Job once again.