And
Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the
Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would
that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say,
when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and
all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut
off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”
The
Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has
sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have
taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among
their own belongings. Therefore
the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs
before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will
be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.
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.”
Then
the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward
Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the javelin that
was in his hand toward the city.
So
the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord.
And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them
live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
This
book is full of victories but we notice early that these victories are tied to
obedience.
In
chapter 9 we learn of Israel being deceived and they bind themselves because
they did not seek the counsel of the Lord.
What
often looks pleasing and good is not necessarily so.
Our
Lord guides and directs us in all but it is our responsibility to seek Him and
know His will.
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