How does Joshua 9:10 demonstrate God's power over the Amorite kings? Setting the Scene • Joshua 9:10 records the testimony of the Gibeonites: “and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.” • Long before Israel set foot in Gibeon, news of those victories had spread, highlighting God—not Israel—as the decisive factor. The Amorite Kings: Formidable Human Power • Sihon and Og controlled large swaths of territory east of the Jordan (Numbers 21:21-35). • Og was famed for giant stature; his iron bed measured “nine cubits long and four cubits wide” (Deuteronomy 3:11). • Humanly speaking, these kings symbolized the last, best hope of Amorite resistance. God’s Overwhelming Display of Might • Divine initiative: “The LORD our God delivered Sihon… into our hands” (Deuteronomy 2:33). • Total victory: “We defeated him until no survivor was left” (Deuteronomy 2:33); “So the LORD our God also delivered Og… we struck him down until no survivor was left” (Deuteronomy 3:3). • Miraculous scale: Israel, a pilgrim people, routed entrenched monarchs with fortified cities (Deuteronomy 3:5). • Public proof: The Gibeonites acknowledge God’s hand, not Israel’s prowess, showing His power was unmistakable even to pagan nations. Ripple Effects: God’s Reputation Spreads • Fear sweeps Canaan (Joshua 2:9-11; 5:1). • The Gibeonites resort to a treaty rather than battle, confessing that “the name of the LORD your God” moved them (Joshua 9:9). • God’s victories become a missionary message: He alone is sovereign over all kings. Fulfilled Promises and Prophetic Precision • Genesis 15:16 foretold judgment on the Amorites; Joshua 9:10 shows that judgment arriving right on schedule. • Deuteronomy 7:24 promised that “no one will be able to stand against you.” Sihon and Og’s defeat is the firstfruits of that pledge. • God’s fidelity to His word demonstrates power not only in might but in perfect covenant faithfulness. Strength for Our Walk Today • No obstacle—however giant—can nullify God’s purposes (Romans 8:31). • Past victories fuel present faith: if God toppled Sihon and Og, He can topple today’s spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). • God’s power shines brightest when His people rest in His promises rather than their resources (Zechariah 4:6). |
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