Learn the lesson of the Amorite kings’ folly. One lie about sin is that sinning against the Lord is safe. Our efforts against him will fail. Any refuge other than God is futile.

When Joshua and the Israelites were defeating the five Amorite armies in Joshua 10, the leaders of those five armies fled. Those kings found a cave at Makkedah and hid there. But, somehow, news of their whereabouts reached the ears of Joshua: “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah” (Josh. 10:17).

Because the battle against the Amorite armies was ongoing, Joshua couldn’t be distracted at the moment. He said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand” (Josh. 10:18–19).

The Amorite kings had hidden in a cave, but now they were sealed in that cave. Their assumption was that the cave would provide the necessary refuge from the Israelites, but the plan failed.

These five kings, exemplified by the king of Jerusalem, knew that the king of Ai had been defeated (Josh. 10:1). And, previously, word spread throughout Canaan about what God had done to Egypt and to the kings Sihon and Og (see Rahab’s words in 2:9–11). Instead of repenting in light of what they knew, the Amorite kings doubled down on their rebellion. They were like the raging and plotting kings of Psalm 2:1, gathering together against the Lord and his appointed leader.

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