In the book of Joshua, we learned how the people of Israel went to battle against the city of Ai for the second time, and “when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city. And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness”, and in chapter eight and verse sixteen of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them” where we read,
And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them:
and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
The verse reads, “And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and all the people” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings” “that were in Ai” or “who were within the city of Ai whose name means heap of ruins” “were called together” which means “were summoned and assembled” “to pursue after them” or “to follow and run after them, Joshua and the warriors of Israel who accompanied him”. Joshua or the writer shared how every one of the people within the “city of Ai” were summoned and assembled for the purpose of following after “Joshua” and the men of Israel who accompanied him.
The verse continues, “and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and they pursued after Joshua” which means “and they, the people of Ai, followed and ran after Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “and were drawn away” or “and were torn, separated and broken away” “from the city” which means “separate and apart from the dwelling place or town of Ai”. Joshua or the writer said the people of “Ai” ran after “Joshua” which caused them to be separated from their “city”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how every facet of God’s plan was being fulfilled for the taking of the “city of Ai”. Joshua and his men retreated as though they were defeated, and the “king of Ai” summoned everyone in the “city” to run after them. As they “pursued” Joshua, they became separated from their “city” just the way God through Joshua planned, and soon their demise was at hand. God works step by step according to His Divine purpose and will, and because He knew we have sin in our lives that separates us from a personal relationship wth Him, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be resurrected from the grave after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, not only will He forgive our sins and grant us everlasting life, but He will also give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us step by step into all truth so that we too are victorious as we obey Him and rely upon His plan for our lives. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Acts 1:8 and Romans 8:37)
Next time we learn how, “there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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