In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai”, and in chapter seven and verse three of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up” where we read,
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor there; for they are but few.
The verse reads, “And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai;” Joshua or the writer said, “and they returned to Joshua” which means “and they, the men dispatched by Joshua to explore Ai, came back to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to him, Joshua”, “let not all the people go up” which means “do not allow or permit each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings of Israel to arise and ascend”; “but let about two or three thousand men” or “however, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover allow and permit around two to three thousand male human beings” “go up and smite Ai” which means “to arise and ascend and Ai whose name means heap of ruins and strike, beat and kill Ai”. Joshua or the writer shared how the spies sent to explore “Ai” came back to Joshua and told him not to allow everyone of the warriors to ascend to “Ai” but that two to three thousand should arise to slaughter them.
The verse continues, “and make not all the people to labor there; for they are but few.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and make not all the people” which means “and do not cause everyone of the human beings of Israel” “to labor there” or “to toil and grow weary there, in Ai”; “for they are but few” which means “because, since and on account that they, the people of Ai, are small in number”. Joshua or the writer shared how the men dispatched by Joshua to spy out “Ai” told him not to have everyone toil and grow weary in “Ai” because there were only a small amount of people there.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the men of Israel who were dispatched by Joshua to explore the city of “Ai” came back to him and reported that there was no need have everyone of the warriors to go to battle in “Ai” because it was so small. The idea was the people of Israel could easily defeat them with just two to three thousand men. We shall see how that works out for them in our next few verses, but for now let us think about how there was no solicitation or prayer as to what God thought they should do. God loves the people of Israel, and He knows what is best for them. He loves us as well, and He knows what is best for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to constantly remind us to pray in advance of the times we are to go forward and when we should remain in place.
Next time we learn how, “there went up there of the people about three thousand men”, 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