In the book of Joshua, we learned how,” the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-one of the book of Joshua, we learn what happened, “when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city” where we read,
And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city,
and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
The verse reads, “And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and when Joshua” which means “and at the time and moment Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “and all Israel” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the people of Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “saw that the ambush” which means “noticed, discerned, distinguished and observed that the men who were lying in wait” “had taken the city” or “had seized, captured and possessed the dwelling place or town of Ai” the following occurred. Joshua or the writer began to share what happened as “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” observed that those lying in wait captured the town of “Ai”.
The verse goes on to say, “… and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and that the smoke” which means “and that the vaporous dust”.“of the city ascended” or “belonging to the dwelling place or town rose and climbed up”, “then they turned again” which means “at that time they, the people of Israel, rotated around another time”, “and slew the men of Ai” or “and killed the male human beings belonging to Ai whose name means heap of ruins”. Joshua or the writer continued to share how the people of Israel noticed the vaporous dust ascending from the “city of Ai”, and they “turned” themselves around and killed the male warriors of “Ai”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” and the men with him noticed that “Ai” was captured by the Israelites who were lying in wait and that the “city” was burning, and they turned around and killed the warriors of “Ai”. Just as Jehovah God promised, “Ai” was to be conquered by the people of “Israel”. God accomplished His plan, even as He desires to have a personal relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised from the dead after three days. When we submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and direct our steps so that we too may be victorious over our enemies, circumstances and situations. (John 16:13; Acts 1:8; See Romans 8:37)
Next time we learn how, “the other issued out of the city against them”, 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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