Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”
Joshua 10:25

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READ: Joshua 10:16–27

Driving fast, going on shopping sprees, and eating extra dessert might be fun activities, but paying a speeding ticket, paying a huge credit-card bill, and paying with a bloated stomach because we ate two pieces of cheesecake after dinner are no one’s idea of a good time.

It’s no fun, either, to watch someone else pay for their bad decisions. Parents would much rather see their kids behave well than misbehave—and experience the natural consequence of a time-out or a privilege taken away. When someone is convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison, we probably feel relieved when justice prevailed, but we still wish the crime had never occurred. But when the warlike actions of a few powerful leaders wreak evil on innocent people (think 9/11, the war in Israel/Palestine, or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), a natural, human reaction is to want vengeance rather than justice.

Joshua and his men had successfully defended their allies against attack from five neighboring kings and their armies (10:1–15), and now the battle was at Makkedah, where those kings sensed defeat. Deserting their armies, the cowardly kings ran for the hills and hid in a cave (10:16). Joshua’s men found them and rolled large rocks in front of the cave to hold them.

Later, once the battle of Makkedah had been won, Joshua brought the kings before the people and instructed his commanders to place their feet on the necks of these captured leaders, a symbolic act that often followed a military victory. Joshua reminded everyone that these once-powerful kings who had been bent on evil against Gilgal were powerless before God, who would lead Israel to victory in battles yet to come.

It was common practice in the ancient Near East for defeated leaders to be executed and for their bodies to be placed on display as a grim reminder to onlookers. Joshua followed this practice, but he also resisted the temptation to exact vengeance. He ensured their bodies were taken down before sunset so as not to violate Jewish law or humiliate the defeated nations. Justice had been served; there was no need for further action.

A STORY OF THEN & NOW

A Better Way | Adam S. | Willow South Barrington

As a Black baby adopted by a White family in a mostly White suburb, I struggled to find my identity early on. I tried to connect with the Black community I came from—and I found that connection on the streets. By 14, gang activity helped me support my family.

At 17, I became a father and dropped out of high school, selling drugs to provide for my baby daughter. By 18, I was in prison for drug trafficking. Even after release, I stayed on the streets. When my son was born at 22, I tried to turn my life around—working two trade jobs and nearly 100 hours a week. But I barely saw my family. Eventually, I went back to the streets—and landed in a maximum-security prison to pay for my crime.

There, I begged God to show me a way to be with my kids and to be the dad they need. That’s when I met a couple from Willow’s prison ministry. They stood out—green volunteer badges, open arms, no judgment. When I asked, “Why are you here?” they simply said, “God led us.” They showed up consistently and with grace, affirming my identity in Christ.

I started reading the Bible and praying. Doors opened. I received leadership training and learned a trade. Right after my release, I landed an apprenticeship and a stable job. One Sunday, with that couple by my side, I stepped on stage at Willow and got baptized. Today, I’m present with my family, showing them the faithfulness of God. My purpose is to share my story, serve others, and show people who feel stuck that there is a better way—with God. I paid my time. Now, I’m looking to God to help me pay His faithfulness forward. Some people just need a little light. It can change everything.

DID YOU KNOW?

Joshua instructed his men to return the kings’ bodies to the cave and seal it with large stones—a common burial practice (10:27). The cave had first been the kings’ shelter, then their prison, and now their tomb. Jesus, too, was buried in a cave behind a large stone, and his tomb was sealed and protected by a guard. The women who visited his tomb early Sunday morning were in for a surprise: “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:2–3). The grave couldn’t hold Jesus. For evil kings, the grave is an endpoint; for Christ and those who follow Him, it’s a gateway to eternity.

A PRAYER

God, when I must pay for my wrong actions, help me see the benefit. And when I’m the one asking others to pay for their wrongdoings, help me treat them with dignity. Amen.

FOR REFLECTION

Describe a time when you paid the consequences of your bad decision or mistake. What did you learn?

Share about a time when, as a parent, boss, or friend, you held someone else accountable for their actions. Was it easy or hard? What insight did you gain?