In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said, “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. (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them”, and in chapter eight and verse seven of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua said, “you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city” where we read,
Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city:
for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
The verse reads, “Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “then you shall rise up” which means “at that time you, the thirty thousand mighty men of valor who were dispatched at nighttime, will stand up and arise” “from the ambush” or “separate and apart from lying in wait and the lurking place”, “and seize upon the city” which means “and dispossess, inherit, occupy and take possession of the dwelling place or town of Ai”. Joshua told the “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” they were to rise up from their place of lying in wait and take possession of the “city of Ai” when they saw the men of “Ai” running after Joshua and his men.
The verse continues, “for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “for the LORD” which means “because, since and on account that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “your God” or “your, the people of Israel’s, Supreme Deity” “will deliver it” which means “shall put, bestow, grant, ascribe, dedicate and consecrate it, the city of Ai” “into your hand” or “in your, the thirty thousand mighty men of valor’s, power, might, strength and authority”. Joshua declared that Jehovah God who is Israel’s Supreme Deity would bestow and consecrate the “city of Ai” into the authority of the “thirty thousand mighty men of valor”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua continued to instruct the “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” concerning their next attack on the “city of Ai”. They were to wait until the people of “Ai” pursued “Joshua” and the warriors of Israel who were approaching the city, and then they were to capture “Ai” from the rear. God’s plan for Israel was coming together, and as each person obeyed these instructions, they would possess yet another city in the promise land. God knew the way of conquering for Israel, and He knows the same for us. 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 so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and help us to follow His ways to possess what He has planned for us in our lives.
Next time we learn how Joshua said, “when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire”, 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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