國際通用的求救信號「SOS」於1905年開始被採用，讓船員在緊急情況時請求救援。這個信號在1910年「肯塔基號」蒸汽船遇難時使用而出名，船上的46人也因此獲救。

SOS也許是個較近代的發明，但自古以來，人類都會在急難中呼救。在舊約聖經裡，我們看到約書亞也發出這樣的呼求。以色列民花了超過14年的時間，逐步征服上帝所賜的應許之地並定居下來。期間約書亞面對了以色列民的反對（約書亞記9章18節）和險惡的地形（3章15-17節）。在這樣的艱難中，「耶和華與約書亞同在」（6章27節）。

在約書亞記第10章中，描述了以色列民去援助被五位國王合攻的盟友基遍人。約書亞知道他需要求告上帝的幫助才能戰勝這麼多強大的敵人（12節）。上帝聽了他的呼求降下冰雹，甚至讓「日頭停留」（13節），好讓以色列民有更多時間擊潰敵軍。約書亞記10章14節記載：「耶和華為以色列爭戰。」

如果你正身處於困境之中，你也可以向上帝發出求救信號。你得到的幫助或許和約書亞的不同，可能你是得到一份出乎意料的工作、找到一位有同理心的醫生，或是在憂傷中得著平安。期盼你能從中得著激勵，因為這些都是上帝回應你的呼求、為你爭戰的方式。

SOS, the Morse code signal, was created in 1905 because sailors needed a way to indicate extreme distress. The signal gained notoriety in 1910 when used by the sinking ship Steamship Kentucky, saving all forty-six people aboard.

While SOS may be a more recent invention, the urgent cry for help is as old as humanity. We hear it often in the Old Testament story of Joshua, who faced opposition from fellow Israelites (Joshua 9:18) and challenging terrain (3:15–17) for more than fourteen years as the Israelites slowly conquered and settled the land God had promised them. During this struggle “the Lord was with Joshua” (6:27).

In Joshua 10, the Israelites go to the aid of the Gibeonites, allies of Israel who were being attacked by five kings. Joshua knew that he needed the Lord’s help to defeat so many powerful enemies (v. 12). God responded with a hailstorm, even stopping the sun in the middle of the sky to give Israel more time to defeat the enemy. Joshua 10:14 recounts, “Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!”

If you are in the midst of a challenging situation, you can send out an SOS to God. Although help will look different than the assistance Joshua received, perhaps help comes through an unexpected job, an understanding doctor, or peace in the midst of grief. Be encouraged that these are ways He is responding to your call for help and fighting for you.