Joshua Study- March 19th- Verse seven of Joshua, chapter eight says, Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. (8) And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord shall ye do. See, I have commanded you. God directs the battle and gives some final instructions to Joshua. Then God tells the Israelites to burn the city and that means everything in it, other than what has been taken for a prey against the city. Remember now, God would not allow them to take anything from Jericho but now in Ai He has given his blessing to take for a spoil any and all things of value. Now we see in the next sixteen verses the fall of Ai and we will not go verse by verse there but pick back up in verse twenty five; And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai. (26) For Joshua drew not his hand back, where with he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. We see that Joshua was commanded in verse eighteen, by God, to stretch out his spear toward Ai, which he did and as long as he held the spear toward Ai, the Israelites prevailed against the men of Ai. No one was left alive in the entire city. When God said to destroy them all, that is what he meant: all the men and women were killed at Gods orders. Dont ever feel as if you are too important in lifes functions that God cant destroy you. He can!! Some he destroys with disease, some with financial ruin, some with life that just doesnt ever seem to get better: but I assure you God can chose the right method to use on you that will be effective. God can get your attention!!!! Back in verse twenty seven we see, Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua. (28) And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day. So the city of Ai was destroyed and all the inhabitants, with the exception of what was taken as a prey, just as God had directed. Then verse twenty nine, And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate to the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day. So we see the end of Ai and the end of the king of Ai. This little tiny nation that had put to flight the mighty Israelites and their massive army, now felt the wrath of God. Never think you have won the war just because you have won a battle. God may have different plans for you. He may have allowed you to lose one battle because of your sin in the camp but then turn around and allow you the victory when you have corrected the problem, repented of the sin and gotten the problem straightened out with God. Until tomorrow, Lord willing, we will see you again. God bless you. Pastor Joe Raulerson
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:09:54 +0000
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