Joshua
9 - Chapter 8
Today we come to the eighth chapter of Joshua which makes more encouraging reading than chapter 7. In this chapter the clouds of defeat and of God's judgement because of the sin of Achan lift and God now gives them victory as once again they attack Ai.
When the king of Ai sees the Israelites facing his city he rushes out at them and they flee as they did on the previous occasion. This was only a trick, however, to draw out the enemy. At Joshua's signal another force lying in ambush behind Ai rushes into the undefended city and it is soon taken and destroyed as God had commanded.
The final part of Joshua chapter 8 deals with a great religious gathering where the law given to Moses is read out to all the people. This was to remind them of the basis of all that they did. They were bound to God by solemn covenant and bound to the law He had given them.
This chapter, then, can be divided into two sections which we can entitle "WARFARE" and "WORSHIP". Let us look first at "Warfare" and see what lessons we can discover.
In verse one God gives Joshua encouragement for the battle and assures him of victory. This follows on from the final verse of chapter 7 where we learn that the Lord "turned from the fierceness of His anger" over the sin of Achan. The barrier was removed. The hindrance to receiving God's favour had been dealt with, costly and painful though it was. The first lesson we learn from this is that God is to be feared because of His holiness, but that with Him there is also forgiveness.
You may be facing a battle. Like the Israelites at Ai, you have experienced defeat and feel you can't tackle it again. Check carefully - is there some wrongdoing that has grieved the Lord? Have you gone against the plain teaching of His Word? Go to Him in prayer and ask forgiveness and where possible try to put things right. Turn from the evil you have been doing and break off a wrong relationship before it becomes permanent. The Word of God does not, however, countenance the breaking up of a marriage. You must struggle on with that if your partner is not a believer and pray for grace for your difficulties.
Once you put things right with the Lord you will be in a strong relationship with Him and be able to go against the next stronghold of evil, just like Joshua and the people did against Ai.
This may be a word for a church fellowship. There can be no victory, no advance for the cause of Christ, while sin is allowed to be untouched in the company of God's people. Maybe you have an Achan in your midst, or even a few of them. Someone may be dealing dishonestly and it is known outside the church. Perhaps some flirtation or affair is going on and it proceeds unchecked. some individual or other is controlling weaker members of the fellowship, lording it over them. These are the kinds of things that hinder blessing, because God is displeased. They must be put right, so that the fight against evil can be pursued without distraction.
Another vital lesson for us is in the second verse where clear directions are given for the conduct of the campaign against Ai. Remember that Joshua had first moved against that city without awaiting God's guidance. Now he has it. Here we learn that God's work and warfare must be done in His way if we are to know blessing and success. How do you know if the way you do God's work, the way you evangelise or order your life is the proper way, the best way? It is only as it is done according to His Word. The weapons of our warfare are spiritual Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10 verse 4. Much of the weakness and ineffectiveness in personal Christian life and modern church life stems from not learning this lesson. The second verse of Joshua 8 teaches us that safety and strength lie in going God's way, guided and instructed by Him.
We need to measure our churches, our organisations, our approach to problems in the light of God's instructions. We need to ask, "Is this the biblical way to do it? Are we going about this problem according to the Scriptures? Am I fighting my spiritual battles according to God's Word?" All too often in the modern religious scene we ask questions like: "Does it work?" "Does it get results?" Even worse is the attitude that almost gives the impression that the question asked was, "Can we get away with it?"
Be certain of this. We are not wiser than God. Nor are we stronger than He is. He undoubtedly knows what is best and His Word always gives safe guidance for our battles, just as it did for the attack on Ai.
Another principle we discover in God's instructions in verse two is that God is faithful and will provide for our needs. Now that the people are cleansed of evil and ready for the next battle, God rewards their obedience. The spoils of Ai were to be theirs. They were learning that putting God first and seeking His honour above everything else would not put them at a disadvantage. So it is with us today. Put God first in everything and trust Him for everything and He will supply our need. Look up Philippians 4 verse 19.
The Lord Jesus said exactly the same. He taught us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these things will be added to us. (Matthew 6:33) This is not a blank cheque for greed of course. Our Lord was talking about daily necessities, not fabulous wealth and luxuries. The apostle Paul taught that God will supply our need (not our greed!) according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)
As you read on through this chapter you discover that success attended their attack. They went against Ai, the obstacle that stood in their way to further gains, and God enabled them to overcome because they carried out His clear instructions. So may it be for you as you mount an attack on whatever evil or problem hinders your entrance upon blessing and liberty and deeper fellowship with God. These things are your promised inheritance as a Christian, just as Canaan was for the Israelites.
The second element in Joshua chapter 8 is WORSHIP. You can read about this in verses 30 to 35. After the battle, the Israelites assembled in the green valley of Shechem. On the north lay the barren slopes of mount Ebal, on the south the fruitful Mount Gerizim. Rocky ledges at the lower slopes formed a natural setting for groups to assemble in ranks, facing each other. On these slopes took place a communal yet moving act of worship and dedication, serving as a prelude to their entry into the heart of Canaan. In Deuteronomy chapters 27 and 28 we read about the instructions given to the nation concerning this. Huge stones were to be set up on Mount Ebal. They were to be plastered over and then the law written upon them as a perpetual reminder of their covenant obligations.
Something else was to be done, impressive and memorable to ear and eye. Six of the tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people and six of them on Mount Ebal to pronounce a curse. The Levites were then to read out a list of the blessings and cursings. These curses were condemnations on evil practices. After each the people were to say "Amen". It was a way of confirming their beliefs and submission to the law of God. It is rather like the Ten Commandments or a list of Christian virtues being read out in a service and we say "Amen" to each one, showing that we submit to them and accept them for ourselves and our church. Nothing, however, could compare with or capture the majestic atmosphere of that great gathering.
Before the reading of the law a preliminary step had to be taken. An altar was built with no stonemason's work upon it to draw attention to man. On that altar both burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be sacrificed. The burnt offering was a sacrifice where the animal was wholly consumed in the flames, with nothing remaining. In the peace offering part was eaten by the worshippers, part by the priest and the remainder was consumed in the flames.
What is the significance of these offerings before the reading of the Law of the Covenant? These Old Testament offerings are pictures of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. The whole burnt offering speaks of the total sacrifice of our Saviour for our sin, with nothing held back. He was utterly consumed by the wrath of God against sin when He died on the cross. The price for our sins was paid completely at Calvary. Have you trusted in the Saviour and in His perfect, complete sacrifice for human sin? If not, do so, even now as you read "Discovery".
The peace offering spoke of fellowship between the worshippers and God, with no barrier of sin coming between. Do you have that kind offellowship with Him because of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Remember that if you confess your sin and don't try to hide it or pretend that you haven't sinned, then God in His great mercy will forgive and you can have fellowship with Him and with other believers.
If you are a Christian it does not mean that you must have no regard for God's Law as something from the distant past. Our Lord Himself honoured and kept the commandments and said we also should do it and teach it. Look at Matthew 5 verse 19. Paul, in Romans 7 verse 14 said that the Law is "good and spiritual".
On that memorable day at Shechem the people affirmed the Law of God, they said "Amen" to it, but only on the basis of the sacrifices. Is this how you seek to serve God? Do you seek to keep His commandments, not in order to be saved but because you are already saved, through the shed blood of Christ?