Joshua 8

Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool." And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

(Jos 8:30-35)

The way Joshua responds to this great victory over Ai blesses me. When they had accomplished all God had asked them to do, they didn’t go and relax; instead they worshipped Him, and read His Word. Compare this to what happens immediately after their first victory, the battle of Jericho. There is a strong contrast, and we can learn an important lesson in the details of that contrast.

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few." So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

(Jos 7:2-5)

No prayer, no seeking the Lord, instead Joshua bases his plans on the counsels of men. “No problem” they say, “we can take ‘em with a small army”. They had forgotten that the victory was the LORD’S and they were merely vessels He worked through. They experienced miserable defeat because they didn’t wait on the Lord. The Lord didn’t even want them to go fight yet, because there was sin in their own camp that needed to be dealt with!

This second battle with Ai is different: it begins with a clear command from the Lord - Now the LORD said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, 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 cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it."

(Jos 8:1-2)

The plan was given to them, and in obedience to the Lord, they took action. After they were finished, they worshipped God, and publicly read His Word. This gives us a clear example of how we should do things.

1. When the Lord grants us victory, we shouldn’t automatically assume the next step, we should wait on Him.

2. We shouldn’t do anything without seeking Him first.

3. After a victory, we should worship the Lord, and remember the role He plays in our lives. When He accomplishes something great in us or through us, we should give Him the glory due His name.