God Leads To Victory

God Leads To Victory

Text: Joshua 8

Introduction

The turning point for Joshua and the children of Israel can be found Joshua 7:26 “26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.”

Quote: “Life, like war, is a series of mistakes, and he is not the best Christian nor the best general who makes the fewest false steps. Poor mediocrity may secure that; but he is the best who wins the most splendid victories by the retrieval of mistakes. Forget mistakes; organize victories out of mistakes.” — F.W. Robertson (sermon preached on August 12, 1849)

Quote: (Defines mistakes) “An opportunity to begin again, more intelligently.” — Henry Ford

What lies before us in chapter eight is that very thing happening with Joshua; he would soon organize victory from his mistakes.

1) God Provides A New Beginning (vv1-2)

Remember, man (through his “self-confidence”) had provided for himself a failed past.

It wasn’t until they followed God’s command to remove the accursed thing from their camp that He chose to speak to them in mercy.

Psalm 37:23-24 “23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

Let us none be guilty of making the biggest mistake; never trying again.

Notice where Joshua got his encouragement from; hearing and believing God’s Word (v1)

The good that you and I receive from the Lord always begins by our hearing & believing His Word.

There has never been a time in scripture when God discouraged His people from making progress.

A. Victory through obedience to God’s instructions

Notice the difference between the advice of the spies and God’s plan (v1).

God provided a plan that would take advantage of the self-confidence the people of Ai had developed.

God also gave them the right to claim the spoils, but they had to burn the city.

You always receive God’s best when you give God the final word.

So, let it be said that a believer should never underestimate the time spent in God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

A mind saturated by God’s Word will equal a life that experiences victory!

The failure may be great. However, God is greater! He is the God of NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

2) God Provides A New Plan

There is something important you need to keep in mind lest you have a wrong perspective of God:

When God changes leadership and methods, it is because He wants us not to arrive at the place where we trust more in more in our experiences, rather than His divine plans.

Quote: It’s important that we seek God’s will for each undertaking so that we don’t depend on past victories as we plan for the future. — Warren Weirsbe

QUESTION: Do you remember the motto from WWII; ‘We did it before/and we can do it again?’

It was that very mind set that brought Joshua and Israel to their recent defeat.

Past methods/tactics are not always the best choice for today.

Quote: The American business leader Bruce Barton (1886–1967) said, “When you’re through changing, you’re through.”

Church leadership should always consult God whether or not He wants to do something new with us.

Notice God’s new method:

At night Joshua and his army marched fifteen miles from Gilgal to Ai; and, using 30,000 soldiers, Joshua set up an ambush behind the city from the west (vv. 3–9). He put another 5,000 men between Ai and Bethel, which was about two miles away (v. 12). This detachment would make sure that the army from Bethel wouldn’t make a surprise attack from the northwest and open another “front.” The rocky terrain in the highlands around Ai made it easy for Joshua to conceal his soldiers, and the whole operation was done at night. The plan was simple but effective. Leading the rest of the Jewish army, Joshua would make a frontal attack on Ai from the north. His men would flee as they had done the first time and by fleeing draw the self-confident people of Ai away from the protection of their city. At Joshua’s signal the soldiers lying in ambush would enter the city and set it on fire. The people of Ai would be caught between two armies, and the third army would deal with any assistance that might come from Bethel. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 98–99.

The work of the Lord requires strategy, and Christian leaders must seek the mind of the Lord in their planning.

Like Joshua, we must get the facts and weigh them carefully as we seek the will of God.

Too often, the work of the Lord only drifts along on the tide of time, without any rudder or compass to give direction; and the results are disappointing.

3) The Victory Is Claimed

As you can see, the very downfall of the king and army of Ai was their self confidence.

Quote: “They are the most in danger who are least aware of it.” — Matthew Henry

DON’T FORGET — Devil is like a lion!!!

You can clearly see their self-confidence when they foolishly leave their city unprotected.

(vv18-29) Joshua confidence in the Lord and waiting for His instruction led to capturing Ai.

God told Joshua to signal the men waiting in hiding by the raising his spear.

The city was now burning and the army was trapped.

Joshua help up his spear until the FULL VICTORY was claimed.

(v22) Israel left no remains of the enemy.

The army and the entire cit of Ai were destroyed.

Remember, this was not the slaughter of innocent people.

This was God’s judgement on wicked people who resisted His grace and truth.

(vv23, 29) Joshua killed the king, hung him in a tree, and pilled stones over his body.

The ultimate end of being an enemy of God is a terrible reality.

The previous heap of stones was a memorial of their mistakes. This heap was a memorial of the victory!

(v27) At the end of this battle, God permitted them to claim the spoils.

Jericho’s spoils belong to the Lord due to victory being accredited solely to a miracle from God.

Ai’s spoils went to the people because they actually had to fight. They earned it!

Only if Achan had waited a few more days!

4) Their Renewed Commitment (vv30-35)

Joshua paused their military activities to make a new commitment to Jehovah’s authority.

This commitment was carried out through the building of an altar.

Joshua followed closely Exodus 20:25 “25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”

This altar was to have NO human association since it had not and never will be a part of their salvation.

1 Cor. 1:29 “29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Lev. 17:11 “11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

Joshua wrote God’s Law on the stones.

In the Near East of that day it was customary for kings to celebrate their greatness by writing records of their military exploits on huge stones covered with plaster. But the secret of Israel’s victory was not their leader or their army; it was their obedience to God’s Law. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 102–103.

Believers today have God’s Word written on their heart!

2 Cor. 3:1-5 “1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

It was between two mountain where Joshua read and reaffirmed God’s Law in the land.

Dear friends, God’s people today are living between two mountains; Mt. Calvary & Mt. Olivet!

We today live under grace.

It is not our commitment to God’s law we are to reaffirm, but rather our obedience to Him because of His Son’s gospel work on our behalf.

Conclusion

As we can see, it is only when we follow God’s Word can we claim all spiritual victories. From the victory of being justified, to the victory of being sanctified, and finally the victory of being glorified.