Walking in Victory

After the first defeat at Ai, Israel’s confidence was shaken. They repented and God called them to Return to the Fight.

R. G. LeTourneau was an engineer and after bankruptcy due to mismanagement You will never improve unless you blame yourself for the troubles you have. Then when you realize your troubles are your own, you can take them to the Lord, and He will give you guidance. Just don’t make the mistake of asking Him to believe the other fellow was to blame.

Return to the Fight

The name Ai means a heap of ruins and it comes from a word that means bending or twisting, it is related to a word for iniquity or guilt.

What could have become a place of ruin for Israel, was instead turned into victory.

God does not intend for your failures to define you, but rather to refine you and instruct you as you move forward in victory.

God’s command was to not be afraid or discouraged, but to return to the fight! “See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” What a statement after their defeat!

After repentance comes restoration. Don’t give up just because you failed; repent, get up, seek the Lord and get back in the fight.

Reengage with Wisdom

God gave Joshua a new strategy for taking Ai. It was not going to take a long time (like Jericho), or a miracle, but rather a willingness to walk in Wisdom.

There were two ways that Joshua learned from the prior defeat:

Seek God’s direction - the Lord told them to take the whole army, previously they had underestimated their enemy and overestimated their own strength, now they were to overwhelm the enemy.

Approach from a different angle - don’t come at the problem the expected way

Is it a problem with another person - how does God’s Word address your problem? Overcome evil with good.

Is it a problem related to work or finances? Ask God for wisdom to see the problem from a different perspective.

The overall plan was given by God, but the details were worked out by Joshua.

30,000 ambush army sent out the night before.

5,000 rear action guard against Bethel.

Main army retreats to draw out the enemy, then AMBUSH!

Renew Your Purpose

Sustained victory is aided by renewal and refreshing!

They came to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim to renew the covenant. Schechem in between, where Abraham first entered the land and worshipped.

It was a place of simple worship - unhewn stones. Get away and meet the Lord!