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Let’s be honest—reading Joshua chapters 9 and 10 can leave us with some tough questions.

If God is love…
Why did He command or allow the destruction of entire cities?
Why were kingdoms wiped out, people defeated, and judgment so severe?

It’s a question that has echoed across generations—and one worth digging into.

The Scene: What Happened in Joshua 9–10?

The Israelites, fresh off their victories at Jericho and Ai, are moving into the Promised Land. The Gibeonites—fearing Israel’s God—deceive Joshua into making a peace treaty with them. Surprisingly, instead of breaking the covenant, Joshua honors it.

Then things escalate.

Five Amorite kings unite to attack Gibeon. Israel comes to Gibeon’s defense—and God steps in powerfully.
He sends hailstones. He stops the sun. He gives Israel total victory.
Entire armies and cities are wiped out.

It’s dramatic. It’s sobering. And it raises a deep question:
How does this square with a loving, merciful God?

God’s Judgment: Three Truths to Understand

1. God Gave These Nations Centuries to Repent

Way back in Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that the sin of the Amorites hadn’t reached its full measure.
In other words—He was patient. Very patient.
For over 400 years, God gave these cultures time to turn from their evil practices—things like child sacrifice, cult prostitution, and violent idol worship (Deut. 18:9–12).

But they didn’t. And eventually, mercy that’s rejected becomes judgment that’s deserved.

God’s love is patient—but it’s not permissive.

2. God Was Protecting a Bigger Plan

The conquest of Canaan wasn’t random or ethnic violence—it was a spiritual cleansing.
God was building a people through whom the Messiah (Jesus) would come.

If these evil cultures had remained, they would’ve corrupted Israel’s faith and destroyed the hope of redemption for the world.

So yes—it was judgment. But it was also protection of God’s redemptive mission.

3. God Still Showed Mercy

Even in judgment, we see glimpses of grace:

  • The Gibeonites, though deceptive, sought peace—and God spared them.

  • Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, was saved because of her faith.

  • Ezekiel 33:11 reminds us: God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that all would turn and live.

God is never unjust. His mercy is always extended to the humble.

What Does Joshua 9–10 Mean for Us Today?

God Is Still Just—and Still Patient

We live in a time of extended mercy. But let’s not mistake His patience for passivity.
God still hates evil. He still judges sin. And He’s still calling us to repentance.

Is there something God’s been nudging you to deal with? Don’t wait.

Integrity Still Matters

Joshua honored his promise to the Gibeonites, even though they tricked him. Why? Because integrity matters to God.

Today, when the world promotes compromise, shortcuts, and loopholes—God calls us to be people of our word.

We Are the Gibeonites

Let’s be real—we’re not the heroes in this story.
We’re the ones who fall short, who sometimes come to God with mixed motives, who try to cover our weakness with cleverness.

And yet… when we come to God for peace, He receives us.
Just like He received Gibeon.

God Fights for Those Who Do What’s Right

When Joshua honored his covenant and stood up for Gibeon, God fought the battle.
He stopped the sun.
He sent hail from heaven.

When you do what’s right—even when it’s hard—God will back you up.

Final Thought: Love Without Judgment Isn’t Love

A God who ignores evil isn’t loving—He’s negligent.
But the God of Joshua 9–10? He is holy.
He is just.
And yes—He is love.

A love that fights.
A love that protects.
A love that judges when mercy has been refused for too long.

That’s the kind of God we need.
That’s the kind of God who saves.

Thought-Provoking Questions

How would you explain God's justice and love to someone struggling with violence in the Bible?

Have you ever made a decision (like Joshua) that didn’t turn out how you expected—but you stuck with it anyway?

What “Gibeonite” moment in your life taught you that God shows grace, even when your approach wasn’t perfect?

A Prayer to Close

God, thank You for Your justice and Your mercy. Help us take sin seriously and trust Your redemptive plan. Give us the courage to do what’s right, and the humility to receive Your grace—just like the Gibeonites did. Amen.