The Grenada sentinel., 1907-01-26

IN the meantime Joshua was watch
ing the progress Of the battle from
high point overlooking the bat
tlefield. He saw the struggling line
OF men, and that slowly but surel,
his forces were advancing. but as h,
lifted his eyes to the sun and meas
ured its distance from the horizon, hi
muttered
Darkness will be upon us before
our victory is complete and then oul
enemies will escape u.s."
"Oh, God" he continued. after
pause, "didst not thou tell us that thor
hadst delivered them into our hands
and that there should not a man oi
them stand before us? And here they
are about to escape, for the night
soon cometh." And almost a sob es
capped from the great, strong man, as
he lifted his eyes to heaven.
Were they to fall short of com.
plete victory? Had they not been told
to destroy utterly those who bid def
ance to God and Gods people, and
were they now to be hindered by the
shortness of the day?
Yea, will they not say that 1t was
their god. the sun god, which has
helped them?" he cried. "Will they
not claim that he has hastened his
journey across the heavens so as to
quickly bring the darkness to their
relief?"
But does not the sun move at the
dictates Of Gods will? the thought
suddenly came to him. and aloud he
asked: Cannot the God who rolled
aside the waters of the Red sea and
then the Jordan, also make the sun,
moon and stars to obey him."
With the expression of the thought
came the inner peace and assurance
that he could, and he would. and de-
scending quickly into the midst Of
the hosts of Israel, he shouted:
SLACK not thy hands The Lord
will give thee complete victory over
these thy enemies"
But the night cometh," was shout
ed back. And in the darkness we
dare not fight, lest we smite friend for
foe"
Yea, but God will lengthen his
day" Joshua shouted back. And then,
lifting his hands toward the heavens,
he cried: Sun, stand thou still upon
Gideon; and thou, moon, in the valley
of Ajaloni'
That was all that was said. Joshua
returned to his observation point and
the soldiers who had been about him
turned and carried the news every
where through the ranks of Israel |
that daylight would not fail them, for |
Joshua had commanded the sun to |
stand still. With new vigor and earn
they fought. One hour-two
hours went by, and still the hosts of
the enemy stubbornly strove to hold
Israel in check.
Hopefully at first did they turn their
eyes towards the sun Then as the
moments grew into the first hour and
hen the second. and still the sun
held its place in the heavens, they
ooked in anxiety and growing terror
1T the sight. Adoni-zedec and the
Kings with him paced to and fro
What strange thing was this? Was
he sun in league with their enemies,
hat he should tarry thus in the heav-
ms? In the agony of desperation
hey cried to their gods to hear them
nd send the darkness, but their cries
we're only drowned in the din of bat
lie, which thickened about them
'aster and faster now become the re-
reat, until it was clear that it would
DON develop into panic-stricken
light. The five kings as they watch
d the progress Of the battle real.
zed that all was lost, and while yet
hey had the opportunity and their
len were bravely striving to hold in
heck the onward rush of the Is
aelites, they sought safety in flight.
nd came at last to the cave at Max
edah.
But of what avail their flight? The
IN still shone in the heavens, and fol-
'wed them as though to reveal their I
light, as indeed it did, for some of the
len of Israel fighting on the outer
1ges Of the battle line, observed this {
ovement, and fastened to follow, s
nd came up with them just as they '
sappeared into the dark depths of {
le great cave. And when one of
leir number had returned and told 1
oshua that the five kings were hid
IN in the cave at Mikkedah, he sent
ord that they should seal the mouth
the cave and set at watch there,
hile the forces of Israel continued !,
e pursuit Of the now scattered and !,
eeing enemy.
And there was no day like that be-
re it or after it, that the Lord hark. :,
led unto the voice of man; for the
ord fought for Israel And the sun
ood still and the moon stayed until . =
e people had avenged themselves =
ION their enemies. +