RPG Adults
SUCCESS IN SEIZING AI
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Joshua 8:10-29
Proverbs 16:1-4
“Commit thy works unto the LORD,
and thy thoughts shall be established.”
SUCCESS IN SEIZING AI
In the history of wars, there are thrilling stories, but the story here tells us that the source of any victory is as stated in Proverbs 16:33: “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.” The strategy was all set and Joshua prepared to put it into action.
God told Joshua to stretch his spear towards Ai. This was symbolic of the power that God had given him to defeat the men of Ai. Joshua thus put the strategy into action. The men of Ai were caught unawares by the attack. However, they put up a resistance because they were encouraged by their earlier temporary victory. God had told Joshua that He had given him the king of Ai and his people. Israel marched with courage as Joshua had instructed them. When the ambush team had set the city on fire, the men of Ai looked back and saw their city going up in smoke. The ambush party also went after them from behind while the “fleeing” men of Israel turned against them.
The men of Ai were caught, as the saying goes, between a rock and a hard place. Thus, they were all slain. Joshua 8:25 gives the number of men who died: “And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.” The king of Ai was captured alive and brought to Joshua. He was later hanged and buried in a heap of stones. Israel took the cattle and spoils of this city as God had permitted. The capture and destruction of Ai was the second success in Canaan that God gave Israel.
Israel succeeded in this battle against Ai because the children of Israel had been sanctified. The victory was as that of Jericho and the city was given to Israel. The city was not rebuilt immediately but the resources were used for the immediate needs of Israel. When God is in the battle, there is victory.
Have you put on the armour of God? Do you have victory over the devil?
THOUGHT: God’s plans are always perfect and easy to follow.
PRAYER: Father, may my trust in Thee ever remain.