The Fall of Ai

 

October 16, 2020

 

Joshua 8:1- 9

 

The Fall of Ai

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.   And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”

So, Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night.   And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready.   And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them.   And they will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So, we will flee before them.   Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will give it into your hand.   And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.”   So, Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay

between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.

 

How does life change when we believe in God and do as He has instructed us to do?  We fear not, we believe the victory is ours and go out with confidence obeying what has been told us to do, living in victory and not defeat.  We do not put faith in our abilities but in God’s promises.  We experience victory before the battle has taken place.

 

Do you recall the mess that happened just a few weeks before, the spies came back and told Joshua they only needed 3 or 4, 000 men to conquer Ai, for they were much smaller in number.  But one man not obeying God, his sin of taking gold and silver that was God’s cost the life of 36 men of Israel and his life, his family life and all that he had was destroyed.  

 

But Israel humbled themselves and sought forgiveness, and did as God had told them to do, so God told Joshua He was with him and the people and gave him a plan of battle.  It was a mighty victory, for they believed God and He always keeps his promises.  It was a great victory and on that day the city of Ai, its king, and all the people was destroyed.  You’re going to also have battled in this life, will you look to God or others?

 

From The Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice