Recover as We Follow God's Word Again
Scripture Passage: Joshua 8:1-9 (NASB)
1 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you. Arise, go up to Ai; see, I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoils and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it.”
3 So Joshua rose up with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night. 4 He commanded them, saying, “See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. 5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as they did the first time, we will flee before them. 6 They will come out after us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us just as they did the first time.’ So we will flee before them. 7 Then you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the Lord your God will hand it over to you. 8 Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it in accordance with the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.” 9 So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.
SUMMARY
God tells Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged, but to take the whole army and go attack Ai because God has delivered Ai and its people into Joshua’s hands. This time (unlike with Jericho) the Israelites can carry off Ai’s plunder and livestock. Joshua thus orders thirty thousand of his fighting men to set up an ambush behind the city. Joshua tells his men that the rest of the Israelite army will advance on the city and then pretend to flee, thus leading Ai’s army into the waiting trap.
REFLECTION
Previously, the Israelites had unsuccessful attack on Ai and were routed by the Ai army. Subsequently, at God’s instruction, Joshua discovered that one of the Israelites had plundered items from Jericho after its conquest in direct disobedience of God’s command. Having discovered the reason for the failure of their attack the previous night, the Israelites immediately stone and burn the person who disobeyed them. And then the Israelites again attack Ai, using the plan that God gives them.
In the previous chapter Joshua had cried out to the Lord, expressing frustration and fear, wondering aloud why God brought Joshua and the Israelites to the promised land only to fail here. But God does not punish Joshua for doubting or wondering. Instead, God instructs him, encourages him, and leads him to the answer. Now in this chapter, Joshua shows his true faith at the most important moment. Even though his attack on the same city had just failed, Joshua and the Israelites put their entire trust in God and confidently carry out God’s plan. God shows that He does not fault Joshua for the words that he speaks. What God cares about is Joshua’s actions, and in the end Joshua and the Israelites obey, destroy the impurity in their midst, and then obey God completely.
APPLICATION
These days I find myself saying over and over again to my son – it’s not your words that matter, it’s your actions. In other words, don’t just tell me that you will do the right thing – what matters is actually doing the right thing. God is telling me the same thing. What matters is not what I say, it’s what I do. These days I constantly have difficulty controlling my anger when certain things trigger me, whether it’s my family or work. Afterwards I always regret having lost my temper, and I apologize to my family or colleague, but my words don’t matter. What matters is what I do in the moment.
This morning, my son did something very minor that normally would irritate me greatly and cause me to scold him. But instead, I prayed to God to give me strength to show my son the same love and forgiveness that God has shown me over and over and over again. And I did – imperfectly, but nonetheless I did. But then that same afternoon I gave myself over to my anger in a different moment.
My spiritual life has been filled with a lot of talk, but not very much action. God is telling me that it’s time to grow up and replace that talk with action. Don’t just say you will read the Bible, do it. Don’t just say that you will pray to me at the moment of crisis or difficulty – do it.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you so much for giving us this inspiring example of Joshua and the Israelites. Thank you for reminding me that it’s ok for me to show You and the world my anxieties and doubts. And most of all, thank you Lord for giving me the strength to obey You. You know that my flesh is weak, and that I’m too easily overtaken by anger, laziness, my desire for isolation. But in those moments when I am tempted to sin, when I’m tempted to give into my basest desires and emotions, Lord help to seek You out at that very moment. Help me Lord to be Your vessel at all times, to be Your humble and loving servant at all times, not just when it’s convenient or easy for me.
In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.
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