18Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city." So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand.
19As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.
20The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up into the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned back against their pursuers.
21For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai.
22Those in the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives.
23But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
- P125
Joshua rises early, gathers the Israelite army, and approaches Ai. He and hismen pretend to retreat, drawing Ai‘s forces out. The Israelites then ambushthe city, set it on fire, and Ai‘s army is trapped between Israel‘s troops. Joshuaholds out his javelin until the city is destroyed. Israel strikes down Ai‘s army,
leaving none alive except the captured king. - P125
How easy it is to be blinded by past success! Because the army of Ai has defeated Israel before, they are overconfident and easily fall for Israel’s strategic trap. This can serve as a warning to those of us who tend to rely on our own strengths and abilities. We cannot assume that we will have success every time simply because we have had success in the past. - P126
In the second battle, Joshua and the people of Israel seek, follow, and trust in God’s leadership, and they lure the men of Ai away from the city, leaving it vulnerable to attack. - P126
What a contrast we see here between those who place their faith in themselves and those who trust in the Lord!
- P126
God tells Joshua to point his javelin at Ai, the weapon symbolizing thatHe is delivering the city into Joshua‘s hand. Immediately, the men of Israelrush forward and capture the city, setting it ablaze, God is fulfilling Hispromise that He would bring His people to the promised land. However,
Israel has to achieve several victories in battle in order to acquire the land.
- P126
Those who are already in Canaan are not without sin: They worship idolsand would later encourage the Israelites to also engage in idolatry. God isuprooting idolatry and wickedness through these battles. - P126
In our own lives,
let us not tolerate any idolatry, but resist anything and anyone that mightdrive us away from God. - P126
Lord Jesus, the world is full of idols, and many deny Your truth and mock Your ways. - P127
Help me to fight against idolatry and keep my focus on You in seasons of turmoil and testing. In Your name I pray, amen. - P127
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