Joshua 8: 23 - Joshua did not draw back the hand
that held out his javelin until he had destroyed
all who lived in Ai. (The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving
over of things or persons to the LORD, often by totally destroying them.)
The chapter teaches us to follow God and we will
receive His reward. It also once again shows us that not obeying the God will
result in death, total destruction.
In the verse above shows that Joshua had matured in
his relationship in understanding God…I believe this anyway. He knew that what
was asked by God, he need to do exactly what God had asked of him. But what is
most curious to me when I went back and the verses above nowhere in this
version did God ever tell Joshua how long he would need to hold out his javelin.
Yet Joshua knew to hold out his arm with the javelin until the battle was over.
I wonder if he knew to do this to win the battle or if he was doing this to
again show Israel that God’s power is all mighty and if we obey God He will
give Israel great victories. They had failed to follow God’s instructions in
the past and been dealt His wrath. By doing it and trying to do it by their own
ingenuity they failed, by their own abilities. But now directed by God they
experienced the victory.
The lesson for Christian men, carry out God’s tasks
and charges until God allows you to see (or be blessed by God) that this
specific work is completed to God’s standard. We as men must just screw this up
daily. Thank the Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father for their Grace!
Agreed. After we have corrected our wrongs against the lord and asked forgiveness, he will be with us 100% again. He leads the Israelites to victory by giving them a good plan and helping them to Babette faith and courage to carry it out. Also, if we are faithful to what god says which they were except for one guy in not taking anything from Jericho, god will reward us with much, in giving them the spoils of Ai. If we know what god wants us to do and do the opposite over and over again, we need to look in the mirror and see if we are reflecting Christ, and if not we need o change things. It is not going to be easy and you migh have lonely times throughout your journey but in the end the result will be joy! (words from a very wise man)
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