Bible Studies
You Shall Do According to the Word of the Lord (Josh. 8)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. Many are familiar with the biblical account of Joshua’s capture of Jericho. 2. We read with amazement of God’s instruction to march around the city, to blow trumpets and shout in order for the wall to fall down. But according to the biblical account that is exactly what happened. 3. We are less familiar with the biblical description of what happened at Ai. 4. Ai was a small city with only about 12,000 inhabitants (8:25). After the defeat of Jericho, Ai seemed like it could be taken with ease.a. Israel had depended on God’s power to take Jericho.
b. But Ai would be easy. The impression that I get when I read the account is that the people were thinking, “Don’t worry Lord, we’ve got this one.”
5. But it was at Ai that Israel learned that she needed to depend upon the Lord even in the smaller things.Discussion:
I. There was sin in the camp that needed to be removed (Josh. 7).A. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai to spy out the land.
1. They spied out Ai.
2. Their advice: “Do not let all the people go up, for they are few.”
3. Only three thousand went up. The men of Ai struck down 36 men of Israel. They were defeated and their hearts melted.
4. Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face and put dust on his head and in desperation appealed to God, “Why did you ever bring this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us?”
B. God said, “Israel has sinned and transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. They have taken some of the things under the ban and have stolen and deceived.” This was why Israel had been defeated.
1. Typically when a city was defeated all the spoils of the battle went to the conquering army. But God had restricted Israel from taking any spoils from the battle. Instead all the spoils of the battle were to be devoted to God. Israel was banned from taking them for themselves.
2. But one man had taken some things for himself, a mantle, 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels.
3. God said he had stolen and deceived.
4. Note that all Israel experienced the consequence to this one man’s sin.
5. The consequence of his sin resulted in 36 people dying in battle. Then his sons and daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him were destroyed. This after Achan finally acknowledged his sin.
C. There are many lessons that can be learned from this experience.
1. Covetousness leads to death.
2. Our sins have devastating effects on others.
3. When we sin we need to be penitence early rather than waiting until we are caught and can do nothing but confess.
4. Sin in the camp needs to be addressed. Cf. 1 Cor. 5.
5. But the central message is that God will not be with those who transgress against what He has commanded.
II. God now gave specific instruction regarding the conquest of Ai (Josh. 8).A. He told them to set an ambush for the city.
B. He told them to go up in force. Contrast their taking only 3,000.
C. “The Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.” “You shall do according to the word of the Lord.”
D. Reading vs. 12-17.
E. Reading vs. 18-29.
III. The reading of the words of the law (30-35).A. Some scholars contend that there is no connection between what transpired at Ai and the reading of the law.
B. It seems to me that there is a very definite connection.
1. Ai stands as a testimony to what happens when one disobeys the commands of the Lord.
2. It stands as a testimony to what happens when there is obedience.
3. But it is not just about obedience versus disobedience. It is about faith or dependence upon the Lord. God blesses us when we depend on Him. When we refuse to depend on Him curses result. Some see this as if God is a controlling ogre. I do not. He gives us His instruction for our good. We need to listen and obey in order to experience the blessings He has prepared for us. His commandments are not arbitrary tests to see if we will obey or not. They are instructions for our benefit.
C. Often we are like Israel at Ai. “Don’t worry Lord, we’ve got this one covered.”
1. “I’ll just go my own way here. I don’t need any help. It will not be necessary for me to consider your will on this. I know what to do.”
2. The fact of the matter is that without the information given by God we are ignorant. We just don’t know what we do not know.
3. Achan, my his silence, had deceived Israel into believing that everything was O.K.
4. The spies operated on their own assessment. There is no indication that anyone asked God for His input on the situation until after their defeat.
Conclusion:
1. Ladies and gentlemen, let us do according to the word of the Lord. 2. Let’s listen to the word of the Lord, searching the Scriptures to find His will for our lives. 3. Let us do what He has taught us.
