Journal Through the Bible: Week 31 Friday

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Joshua chapter 8

It was a hard lesson to learn, that humiliating lesson from the defeat at Ai, but one that all must take to heart! In order to succeed a person must do things God's way. If it isn't done God's way reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness are sure to follow and those can be painful. But it doesn't mean that there isn't forgiveness and restoration available. As long as God leaves the door of grace open there will be mercy available for the sinner. Then there is victory!

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• After the death of Achan God told Joshua to not be afraid or upset but to take the men of war to Ai once more and He would deliver the city. This time He would allow them to take of the spoil. (Does that seem arbitrary? It isn't! God had told them that the first things belonged to Him and they would be allowed to have what followed. These details were clearly spelled out in the covenant. God didn't have fine print in His contract!)
• Joshua reminded them that God had commanded that the city be set on fire. As a matter of fact, after the previous incident, the sin of Achan, Joshua stressed it very sternly, "according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do." (verse 8)
• The LORD told Joshua to stretch out his spear toward Ai.
• As a fulfillment of a command given by Moses in Deuteronomy 31 Joshua had an altar built on Mount Ebal of whole stones. There they offered sacrifices and wrote a copy of the law (the covenant) and read it to the people. Half stood on Mount Ebal and half on Mount Gerizim proclaiming the blessings and the curses.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that they would defeat Ai.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• At the Word of God, His enemies were slain. In this chapter it was God telling Joshua to fight with a physical sword. In the future Jesus will fight with a sword that comes from His mouth (the Word of God that is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword) to defeat His enemies, the followers of Satan.
• The sacrifices and burnt offerings on Mount Ebal are pictures of Christ, the atonement for sins.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not specifically, but it did remind me of details of the battles that Jesus will fight as described in the book of Revelation.