Bible Study - Courage to Fight Again

Joshua 8:1–8 KJV 1900

1 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it. 3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night. 4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: 5 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, 6 (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. 7 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.

Lesson Abstract

This Bible study from Joshua 8:1–35 reveals the grace and power of God to restore, reposition, and reengage His people after a fall. Israel had just experienced a painful defeat due to disobedience and sin in Joshua 7. However, God does not abandon His people in failure. Instead, He calls Joshua to rise again with courage. In this chapter, God provides encouragement (Joshua 8:1–2), expectation (Joshua 8:3–29), and exaltation (Joshua 8:30–35). God reminds us that failure is not final when we walk in faith and obedience. As we explore this passage, we will see that God gives second chances (Psalm 37:23–24), restores broken courage (Isaiah 41:10), renews the mind for strategy (Romans 12:2), and calls us to worship Him afresh (Psalm 95:6–7). Whether you are recovering from spiritual defeat, moral collapse, or emotional discouragement, this lesson will help you hear God's voice calling you forward with Courage to Fight Again.

I. Receive God’s Encouragement (Joshua 8:1–2)

After the humiliating defeat at Ai in chapter 7, Joshua is no doubt wrestling with fear, disappointment, and self-doubt. But notice how God initiates the conversation in Joshua 8:1: “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed.” God’s first word to Joshua is not one of judgment but of encouragement. In Scripture, this phrase is repeated at critical moments of transition (cf. Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Timothy 1:7). It reminds us that God's presence silences our panic. Fear is a natural response to failure, but faith is the supernatural response that flows from hearing God's voice.

God doesn’t simply cheer Joshua up; He gives him specific direction: “Take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai...” (Joshua 8:1b). Divine encouragement always moves us toward divine engagement. God doesn’t give encouragement to pacify us, but to prepare us for purposeful action. The new instructions contrast with the overconfidence seen in Joshua 7:3–4, where only a few men were sent. This time, God calls for the full army—teaching Joshua that obedience to God’s plan is key to victory. Encouragement rooted in truth reorients our perspective, reforms our approach, and realigns us with God’s wisdom (cf. Proverbs 3:5–6, Psalm 32:8).

In Joshua 8:1, God says, “I have given into thy hand the king of Ai.” Notice the past tense promise about a future battle. God speaks as if the victory is already secured because in His divine sovereignty, it is. This is the essence of biblical encouragement: God doesn’t motivate us based on what we see, but on what He has already decreed (cf. Romans 8:31, Isaiah 46:9–10). When God says, “I have given Ai into your hands,” He’s not offering a possibility—He’s declaring a certainty. Encouragement from God gives us the confidence to act, not because we feel strong, but because God is with us (cf. Exodus 14:14, Philippians 1:6).

In Joshua 8:1–2, God speaks directly to Joshua’s fear and discouragement by offering clear encouragement, renewed instructions, and a guaranteed promise of victory. God doesn’t abandon His people after failure—He reassures them, reassigns them, and reminds them that His plan has not changed.

Five Truths About Receiving God's Encouragement

God’s Encouragement Conquers Our Fear

Isaiah 41:10 “10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

God’s Encouragement Comes Before the Battle

Deuteronomy 31:6 “6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

God’s Encouragement Includes a New Strategy

Psalm 32:8 “8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

God’s Encouragement Declares Future Victory as Present Reality

Romans 8:37 “37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

God’s Encouragement Is for Every Believer, Not Just Leaders

Psalm 31:24 “24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, All ye that hope in the Lord.”

II. Respond with Expectation (Joshua 8:3–29)

Joshua responds to God's renewed commission with immediate and intentional obedience. Joshua 8:3 says, “So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai…” This time, Joshua doesn’t hesitate or act presumptuously. He follows God’s specific strategy, including setting an ambush (v. 4–9). When we respond to God’s encouragement with expectation, it shows up in faithful obedience. Expectation is not passive; it is actively trusting God enough to follow His Word in every detail. As James 2:17 declares, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Joshua shows us that responding with expectation means doing God’s work in God’s way—fully trusting that His plan will prevail.

Joshua’s military strategy involves dividing the troops, setting up ambushes, and following through with discipline. But none of these actions are random—they are rooted in what God told him in verses 1–2. Expectation does not cancel out preparation; it fuels it. Joshua plans carefully, moves wisely, and watches patiently for the right time to strike (v. 10–19). The lifting of Joshua’s spear (v. 18) becomes the visible sign that God’s timing has come. In Exodus 17:11, a similar image is seen when Moses’ raised hands led Israel to victory. When we expect God to move, we don’t sit back—we get into position. As Proverbs 21:31 says, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.”

The result of Joshua’s expectant response is complete victory (v. 20–29). What once was a place of defeat becomes a place of deliverance. Ai is captured, the enemy destroyed, and God’s justice upheld. The same city that shamed them is now subdued beneath them. Joshua’s unwavering obedience and expectancy led to a decisive reversal. The lesson is simple: when we respond to God’s voice with faith-filled expectation, He transforms former losses into future victories. As Psalm 20:7–8 reminds us, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God... we are risen, and stand upright.” Expectation rooted in God’s promises leads to supernatural outcomes.

Joshua’s response to God’s renewed command is marked by expectation, obedience, and strategic movement. Expectant faith is not passive—it is obedient, strategic, and bold. – Psalm 40:4

Five Truths About Responding with Expectation

Expectation Requires Preparation

Proverbs 24:27 “27 Prepare thy work without, And make it fit for thyself in the field; And afterwards build thine house.”

Expectation Obeys God’s Timing

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Expectation Works While Waiting

Galatians 6:9 “9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Expectation Transforms Past Defeats into Future Victories

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Expectation Magnifies God’s Power and Not Ours

Zechariah 4:6 “6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.”

III. Reaffirm God’s Exaltation (Joshua 8:30–35)

After the victory at Ai, Joshua doesn’t move on to the next conquest—he pauses to worship. “Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal” (Joshua 8:30). This act of worship was not spontaneous—it was obedient (cf. Deuteronomy 27:4–8), fulfilling what Moses had instructed long ago. The altar was a public declaration that God alone deserved the glory for the victory. The people had fought, yes, but it was God who had delivered. In every spiritual success, believers must remember to redirect attention upward, not inward. As Psalm 115:1 declares, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory...”

After offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, Joshua writes a copy of the Law of Moses and reads it “before all the congregation of Israel” (v. 33). This affirms that God’s Word is foundational to the worship of His people. They were not just celebrating victory—they were renewing covenant. By placing God’s Word at the center, they acknowledged that His statutes, not just His strength, were worthy of exaltation. As Psalm 138:2 teaches, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” In this moment, Israel exalts God not only for what He did in battle, but for who He is in His holiness and truth.

Joshua’s reading of the law is done “before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers…” (v. 35). Every person—regardless of role, rank, or background—is brought under the authority of God’s Word and the banner of His glory. This unified act of reverent worship and teaching not only glorifies God but also reaffirms who they are as God’s covenant people. When believers exalt the Lord together through worship and Word, they are strengthened in identity, deepened in faith, and empowered for the future. As Psalm 34:3 exhorts, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

Joshua’s response after the victory at Ai is not pride or presumption—it’s public worship. He leads the people to build an altar, offer sacrifices, and read the Word of God aloud to the entire nation. This was not just ceremonial; it was a sacred act of giving glory where it belonged. In reaffirming God's exaltation, Israel acknowledges that God is not only the source of victory but the center of their lives. – 1 Chronicles 16:29

Five Truths About Reaffirming God's Exaltation

True Worship Gives God the Credit for Victory.

Psalm 115:1 “1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”

God’s Word Must Be Central in Worship.

Psalm 119:105 “105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.”

Exalting God Requires Full Participation.

Psalm 150:6 “6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

Obedience Magnifies God’s Holiness.

1 Peter 1:16 “16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Worship Reinforces God’s Covenant with His People.

Psalm 105:8 “8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations.”