In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God told Israel, “you shall do to Ai and her king as you did unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall you take a prey unto yourselves: lay you an ambush for the city behind it. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be you all ready”, and in chapter eight and verse five of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua, “and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city” where we read,
And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city:
and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
The verse reads, “And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and I” which means “and I, Joshua”, “and all the people that are with me” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings who are alongside and accompany me, Joshua”, “will approach unto the city” which means “shall come near and draw close to the dwelling place or town of Ai”. Joshua told the “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” that he and the remainder of the warriors would draw near to the town of “Ai”.
The verse continues, “and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, …” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and it shall come to pass” which means “and the following will happen and occur”, “when they come out against us” or “at the time and moment they, the people of Ai, go forth, depart and proceed forward in opposition to us, Joshua and the other warriors”, “as at the first” which means “similar and in likeness to the initial time that Israel attacked Ai”, “that we will flee before them” or “that we, Joshua and the other warriors, shall take flight, escape and drive hastily away in front and in the presence of them, the people of Ai”. Joshua told the “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” that at the time the people of “Ai” proceed in opposition to him and the other warriors of Israel like the initial attack upon “Ai”, he and the others would run away hastily in front of them.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua gave more instructions to the “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” as he told them the plan for drawing the people of “Ai” out of their town. Joshua and the warriors of Israel with him were to come near the “city of Ai” and expose themselves to the people there. When they knew they were spotted, “Joshua” and the others with him were to take flight in a hasty manner because the people of “Ai” would think this was like the initial attack upon them. We shall see what was to happen next in the following verse, but for now, let us be mindful that this was God’s plan for the defeat of “Ai” and His fulfillment to give Israel the promise land. God knows our enemies, and because sin is destructive in our lives, even unto death, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of everyone. He raised Jesus from the dead after three days, and when we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to follow His ways for engaging and defeating the enemy of our souls.
Next time we learn how Joshua said, “(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment