Joshua 9-10 Luke 22-

Joshua 9-10
14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.
24 They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you." 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
This story is so interesting. The men feared the Lord and didn’t want to be wiped out by the Israelites so they deceived Joshua rather than just come to him asking for mercy! Then, Joshua doesn’t “inquire” the Lord who I’m sure would have said these men are trying to deceive you! Still, Joshua spares there life after making an oath with them.
2 Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
5 kingdoms attacked the Gibeonites! How awesome to have had the confidence going into battle knowing the Lord was on their side and had given these 5 armies into their hands!!! Then, God thew STONES from the sky that struck more of the retreating soldiers!

12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
The sun stopped moving till the battle ended!
25 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." 26 Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening. 27 At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.
The 5 kings ran and hid in caves and Joshua pursued them! God said he’d delivered all the men into their hands!
As Joshua and his men conquered kingdoms, they left no survivors! This was because (vs 42) the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.

Luke 22-
3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
This is something I haven’t studying at all! Satan’s ability to possess people, demons able to possess people and be cast out of people by the disciples.
In this chapter we see numerous examples of Jesus foretelling the future!
10He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." 13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. Then, Jesus says one of the 12 will betray me!
This reminds me of Pastor Mike’s message Sunday “Jesus came to serve, not be served.” 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Jesus PRAYED for Simon. If Jesus prayed for people, what an example for US to pray for other people!

How appropriate to be reading Luke during the week of Easter!