Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

In chapter 10 of Joshua it talks about how the sun stood still. There are some who would say that the Bible can't be true because it contradict science but with the help of the Book of Mormon we know ways that it is possible for this to occur. In Helaman, Mormon explained that it isn't the sun that stayed still but the Earth.
The Lord is able to work miracles and he was able to slow, or stop the rotation of the earth.

In Chapters 7-22 we see many successes and very few failures of Israel. Some of their successes were defeating the Amorites, and others in the land, the people hear the law, the Gibeonites are servants to Israel, some are rewarded for their righteousness, and the people receive inheritances. During this time the people were righteous and were blessed for their faith in the Lord. Some people were punished and destroyed like Achan and his household and others, are banished to certain cities for manslaughter. They were also defeated by the people of Ai but were able to overcome that obstacle by following the prophet. Overall, the people were following the law and being blessed for their good deeds.

The people were asked by Joshua to choose before hardships came who they would serve. I think it had a lot to do with the commitment of the people to the Lord and his servants. When they had in their hearts the path they would go they were able to follow the right path. It is always easier to know before the hard decision comes what your answer will be.