Well, here are the children of Israel basking in their victory over Jericho and they come to a little place called Ai.
Joshua again sends two men into the city to spy it out. These two men came back and said,
“Oh, Joshua, you don’t need to send many folks against these people. Just send in a couple or three thousand men and they’ll make short work of them and we’ll just go in and take over Ai and
that’ll be it!”
But, what happened?
Joshua 7:4-13…
God had told the children of Israel to utterly destroy Jericho…(Joshua 6:18-19) They were NOT to take anything under the ban for themselves and God said to Joshua, “Israel has sinned, Joshua, they have stolen and deceived and unless you deal with this, I won’t be with you anymore!”
I believe it’s interesting to note that Joshua prayed AFTER their defeat. Don’t you believe if Joshua had prayed BEFORE they went into Ai, that God would have said, “Joshua, don’t go against Ai right now…there’s sin in the camp and you must deal with that first!!”
How often has this happened to us? We experience an amazing victory with the Lord and then forge ahead in our own plan without consulting Him first? Joshua was an amazing leader and when it came to Jericho he did everything right. He followed God's plan and didn't take a step without His direction. But when they came to Ai, he forged ahead without going to the Lord first. Well, Joshua was only human like we are. And we can learn from his mistake.
Many men's lives were lost in Ai that day. The men of Ai overpowered them and defeated them. Later, when it was God's plan and timing they defeated Ai.
What Ai is in your life? Is there something you forged ahead with without consulting God? The enemy waits to overpower you and defeat you. But when we go to God about every step of our lives we can avoid those traps and be victorious over our enemy.
Take everything to prayer. Let God have control over what doors are to be open or shut. Even when it seems like something good, like a ministry or helping someone out. Only God can see the bigger picture and what lies ahead. That is why we must trust Him with all our heart, even when what He tells us doesn't make sense at the time.
Be blessed today. ☻☺☻☺
