RESTORED TO SERVE. Joshua 8:1-29 What should we do after failure has taken its heavy toll on us? How can we move forward in faith after acting so grievously in the flesh? We need to remember that cleansing from sin and its damage comes at a cost far greater than we can pay. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Our cleansing is genuine because "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin." Lessons to learn in such a time are that we must confess and turn away from sin, not continue in it.
After experiencing a fall, once we handle it scripturally in our lives—making restitution if needed and gratefully accepting God's forgiveness—we must rise and move forward. Genuine repentance and sincere appreciation of forgiveness help us shift our focus back to God's will. Sometimes, such experiences strengthen us by highlighting our own shortcomings and God's boundless strength.
What were the results of confronting the sin that affected the entire nation? They received encouragement from God, 8:1. God assured them of His presence with them in battle, 8:1. Furthermore, God promised His guidance and the victory He would accomplish through them, 8:2. Unlike the conquest of Jericho, the Israelites were given God’s permission to keep the spoils of the battle for themselves, 8:2. A principle of life we should remember and cherish: When we eliminate sin and follow God’s plan, blessings follow.
Restoration brings us back to a place where we not only resolve the problem but also experience God's grace and love again, appreciating them more. Israel had tried to do God's work through their own strength and methods. Without divine guidance and the Holy Spirit's direction, acting on our own will lead to failure. Now, they were guided by God to return and face the same mistake, suffering the same humiliation. "The Lord said:" He provided the promise they needed.
Recovering lost ground is challenging and requires patience. Thirty minutes of deliberate disobedience can lead to thirty years of missing blessings. When the Lord says, "Fear not, ... Be not dismayed," v.1, we should confess our sins to God and forsake them when we sin. When you fail, refocus on God, address the issue, and move forward. God intends for us to learn from our failures so we can handle similar situations better next time.
The Lord told Joshua to take all the people of war, saying, "Arise, go up." He also received the battle plan from God, which he promptly obeyed. So, Joshua obeyed, arose, and acted. They had been beaten but immediately began recovering lost ground. Joshua chose 30,000 men and commanded them to follow God's plan. Joshua was convinced and confident that God's plans were correct and never doubted them. That plan meant some of them would openly flee from the combined force of Ai and Bethel for a distance.
Humbling experiences strengthen our awareness of our limitations and our dependence on God. "Vain is a man that trusts in man." The seemingly false retreat of a large part of the army before the enemy was necessary for Israel's growth. They were to follow God's plan in His way. This time, an ambush was part of God’s plan rather than a direct attack like the one at Jericho.
It is our Lord’s right to expect us to do what He says, even though each event in life may be handled differently. Having a sincere heart and depending on the Lord are both necessary for us to succeed in our calling. God gives us the desire to be cleansed, to accept His forgiveness, and to rely on His strength. The only way to fail is to give up and quit. We can see what kind of people we truly are after the second and third attempts. Wisdom for believers requires persistence in trusting the Lord’s help, strength, and guidance in both the small problems and the big ones. Discipline produces the peaceful fruits of righteousness in God's people.
The instructions the Lord gave Joshua to conquer the stronghold of Ai were very clear. Take all the people. Victory and unity go hand in hand in the things of God. "I have given" are the words that assured Joshua that the people, the king, the city of Ai, and all the land were theirs. This time, instead of 3,000, the entire force of men was there to strategically attack this well-positioned city. Some were for the ambush, and others were for the bait. Joshua stayed among the people and rose early in the morning. He counted the people and, with the elders with him, went ahead and organized them. He chose to be among those acting as bait in humility. The enemy was drawn out as the Lord, the Captain, had planned. The ambush succeeded, and the burned city was never rebuilt. The enemy was surrounded and completely defeated because God's people obeyed His instructions. In this battle, the Israelites could keep the plunder as spoils of war. The idolatry of Jericho was so serious that nothing could be kept if it might be turned back into an idol. Buried idols can always be dug up.
A planned withdrawal and a staged defeat were orchestrated by God to teach His people and to bring about victory over the enemy. The transformation in Joshua and the Israelites was clear, as they were eager to obey God’s word and did so sincerely. Not only was there a victory over Ai, but the king of Ai, who had been hung on a tree, was buried before sundown so the land would not be defiled [Deu.21:23].
There are lessons we should learn, one of which is that when we wait on God, waiting for His word brings clarity of thought. Accompanying those thoughts is a “Thus saith the Lord,” and He provides the motivation to act, saying, “Fear not.” Then, when the Lord gives us His commands from His word, we know it is right to move forward confidently in the direction He leads. The opposition that confronts us will, by His power, be driven away. Wrongs are made right when we reflect His will through the actions we take.
The strategy the army was to follow called for discipline and order. The plans were precise, and the details were given and commanded by the Lord. Obedience, knowledge, and dependence on the Lord are fundamental to the Christian life. This same pattern is followed by those who teach and practice military doctrine. The Lord said: "Stretch out thy spear," and Joshua obeyed, stretched out the spear, and did not draw his hand back.
It is not enough to stay where we are when there is work that must be done. The promises of God require us to take action. “Stretch out the spear” suggests that enemies will not retreat unless we move forward and truly make a start. When God leads us to begin a work for Him, He intends us to proceed without hesitation until the ground we stand on is claimed and the task assigned to us is finished. Then, we can build a pillar of testimony and an altar of worship.
The people of God can all understand the law of God with the full impact it has on the open-hearted souls of believers. We should aim to give Him all the glory in front of the congregation and worship Him with humility. Lessons learned from failure can lead to good results in the future if we apply the Word of God to bring about change in ourselves, our attitudes, and our actions. Punishment isn’t the goal of discipline; true change is. The positive effects follow when we act in Jesus’ name.
The principles of recovery were taught as soon as the lost ground was regained. An unruly, uninformed, uncontrolled army is destined for disaster. The leadership, who had their faces to the ground in humiliation and confusion, was now leading a revitalized army of men under divine authority. Every leader needs to have experienced firsthand what he expects from those who follow him. The humiliating defeat taught Israel a lesson and led to a victory that taught them another lesson. Setbacks happen, but they should not prevent us from doing God's will.
The battle we face isn't won at the first sight of opposition or with our initial efforts in sharing the Gospel. God is still on His throne and still saving souls. We must remember that. After a setback, everything that stands against us can seem overwhelming, leading us to become timid instead of trusting. Regaining lost ground is one of life's toughest challenges. We need to be very cautious of anything that tends to distract us from our life’s goals.
A vacation can sometimes lead us into fleshly sins that result in unholy acts. This, in turn, may cause us to lose our spiritual strength and influence, especially when we try to justify our actions in more relaxed settings. We must listen to God's word, follow His written principles immediately, and apply them diligently to avoid disaster.
Anything that causes us to face defeat must be destroyed, and its influence must be completely abandoned. When we confront sin and what leads to it, handle it scripturally, repent, and forsake it; then we are forgiven and prepared to move forward in the strength of the Lord. Restoration isn't just a private matter because it will be evident in a changed attitude and actions. There’s no reason to let the effects of sin permanently prevent us from advancing with God. Sin left unaddressed can ruin a person's entire life. Righteousness comes from submitting to holy discipline carried out according to God's word. Strength and purpose in the heart lead to victory in God's works and result in sacrifices that are acceptable to Him and genuine worship from His people.
Instructions from the Lord had been given to Moses to set up stones as a memorial when they entered the land. Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim are named as places where they would gather and submit themselves to the authority of the law, becoming God’s willing servants. The blessings of obedience were to be proclaimed on one mountain, and the curses for disobedience on the other, with the ark placed in the valley between them.