In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai”, and in chapter eight and verse twelve of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua, “took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai” where we read,
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai,
on the west side of the city.
The verse reads, “And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and he took about five thousand men” which means “and he, Joshua, seized and lay hold of five thousand male human beings”, “and set them” or “and placed, put and established them, the five thousand men” “to lie in ambush” which means “to lurk in secret and lie in wait” “between Bethel and Ai” or “in the middle of Bethel whose name means house of God and Ai whose name means heap of ruins”. Joshua lay hold of “five thousand” of the warriors of Israel and directed them to lie in wait in the middle of “Bethel and Ai”.
The verse continues, “… on the west side of the city.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “on the west side” which means “in the western direction” “of the city” or “pertaining to the dwelling place or town of Ai”. Joshua told the “five thousand” warriors to set up in the western direction of “Ai”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua was setting up forces all around the city of “Ai”, and without a doubt, they would defeat their enemy even as Jehovah God told them. Not only were they to have mental knowledge of God’s plan, but they were also to implement His ideas. God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us as well. He made the plan of salvation for mankind when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised him from the dead after three days. When we submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will continually guide us into all truth and help us to follow the instructions of God in every area of our lives.
Next time we learn how, “Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley”, 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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