Joshua 8:1–29

Men once used for God are at times set aside by God. They go on as before in their work, but win no victories. The story of Ai unveils the cause — hidden evil is in the camp. Then these same servants rise again. After a time of defeat, they become people of power once more — with God and with people. The story of Ai lets us into that secret too: they have been before God, and have humbled themselves.

They had gone out in self-confidence; they had received a most serious check. But now the sin had been dealt with, and the Lord was free to act for them.

Now the Lord gives Joshua clear instructions for attacking Ai. How different they were from the plans Joshua used at first! God tells Joshua not to be afraid, but to take with him all the men of war, not only three thousand. It was God who would deliver them into the hand of Joshua, so there was no doubt of their gaining the victory.

How differently the battle was now to be fought from the way Israel had first proposed to overthrow Ai! They had said, "Do not make the whole people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the fighting men with you." As the thousands of Israel rose to battle, every soldier had to remember this: no enemy is too small to take seriously. Israel's strength and courage were in the Lord alone.

Even after faith is back in its place, God gives them victory. But He also makes them feel how wrong it was to forget Him. They had been lifted up because of their might. So when Ai was taken, God put that strength to shame. Every warrior must go, and they must set an ambush. What a display of force and strategy to take a little city! God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence. He allows, and even commands, its full display, and then will not use it.

God demanded even more care at little Ai than at Jericho. Every detail of the preparations had to be obeyed exactly.

God had given total victory over Jericho, which pictures the world as a system of evil. At Ai it was different. God was still behind everything Israel did, but now they had to fight in several ways. Ai stands for the small worldly things that slow a believer's growth. These things look small, but overcoming them makes a believer grow.

Israel did "toil up there" — some to the ambush, others to the front. When we treat our mistakes lightly and sin on purpose in our service, God uses hard work to press home the lessons we ignored. He does this even after He has shown us our faults and forgiven us. Not only did Israel labour up to Ai; God made them victorious through humiliation. By apparent defeat, by fleeing before their foes, they won their success.

There is diversity in the action and service, but it is action in common. The body is one, the parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If the unity is lost sight of, defeat is the result.

And now we have the Lord's full restitution of the people. They had gone out in self-confidence; they had received the most serious check; but, now that the sin was judged, the Lord was free to act on their behalf. Even then He had His own way. And now it was not a question of great things. This was no time to display the all-overcoming power of God. That power had brought the towering walls of the city down before a blow was struck.

Miriam's sin and judgment had once delayed Israel's progress through the wilderness. Achan's sin and judgment must now delay Israel's progress through the land. But it is only delay. Discipline does not revoke grace; it only maintains holiness. The valley of Achor is a door of hope (Hosea 2:15).

But how differently was the battle to be fought from the way Israel had first proposed to overthrow the "heap of ruins," Ai! They had said, "Do not make the whole people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the fighting men with you." As the thousands of Israel rose to battle, each soldier had to remember not to make light of small foes, for the Lord alone was Israel's strength and courage.

Are you content to use means that bring your own incapacity into full view? Such means stamp man with his total weakness. They humble him, so that his only resource is to flee before the foe. If so, all well and good. But it is not in your power to do this. In truth, at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God ordered the arrangements so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

God insists on even more care and complete obedience in every detail for the attack on little Ai than He did for the capture of Jericho.

Ai falls, and its cattle and spoil belong to the people. In the same way, the gold and silver, the brass and iron of Jericho had already belonged to the Lord.

Ai speaks of the details of worldliness that hold back the spiritual progress of believers. When believers overcome these things, small as they seem, they gain spiritually. So Israel in this case gained through the spoils.

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes once Israel leaves the simple path of faith. The soul, humbled, finds itself once more with God, and His presence with it. But the consequences of a self-willed walk remain. God can use them in the end for blessing, yet the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith. Faith's own path is very simple. The believer who follows God's guidance in humble dependence on His word is sure of victory. It was so at Jericho. The same power that brought down the walls of the accursed city is with Israel at Ai. It has not changed, though the army must manoeuvre and split into two groups — five thousand men lie in ambush, while the rest draw the defenders of Ai out of their stronghold.

How different this battle would be from the way Israel had first proposed to overthrow the "heap of ruins," Ai! They had said, "Do not make the whole people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the fighting men." And as the thousands of Israel rose to battle, each soldier had to remember not to make light of small enemies, for Israel's strength and courage came from the LORD alone.

In Joshua 7 the spies had said in their report: "Let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai, for they are few." And now it takes about thirty thousand chosen mighty men of valour. What a humiliation, and how it lowered Israel in their own estimation! They had to go up by night, and while some hid, others pretended to flee before the enemy. What room for boasting after this?

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes, through not having followed the simple path of faith. The soul is humbled and finds itself once more with God, and has His presence with it again. But the consequences of a worldly walk remain. God can use even these for their blessing in the end, yet the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith.

Israel did "toil up there" — some to the ambush, others to the front. When we make mistakes carelessly and sin on purpose in our service, God presses the neglected lessons on us through toil and labour. He does this even though He has shown us our errors and pardoned our ways. And Israel did not only labour up to Ai; God made them victorious through humiliation. By apparent defeat, by fleeing before their enemies, they won their success. Falls and failures teach the believer to walk without self-confidence.

If you are content to use means that put your own incapacity on display, well and good. Such means leave on man the mark of his total weakness. They humble him, so that his only resource is to flee before the enemy. But it is not in your power to do this. In truth, at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is that there God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power, while at Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

They had grown proud of their might. God put dishonour on it at the taking of Ai. Every warrior must go, and they must lay an ambush. What an array of force and strategy to take a little city! ... God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence. He allows — indeed commands — its full display, and will not use it. He gives them the city in His own way.

Here He says, "Lay an ambush against the city, behind it" ... God insists on even more care and complete obedience in every detail in the preparations against little Ai than in the capture of Jericho.

Throughout this scene the presence of Joshua blessedly marks the activity of the people. When they were going to war, we read: "So Joshua and all the fighting men arose." (v. 3) On the eve of battle: "Joshua stayed that night among the people." (v. 9) ... And finally, when the victory was decided in their favour: "Joshua did not draw back his hand ... until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai." (v. 26)

He next lays down a plan. It is not the plan that brought in the ark and the priests. There it was above all a question of following His own word and the power of the LORD's holy presence… That is, the preparations against little Ai call for even more care and unquestioning obedience in every detail than was used in the capture of Jericho.

But you may say: you have shown us that at Jericho it was not a question of human means, and now here are all sorts of schemes for beating the enemy. I reply… in truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God ordered the arrangements so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes, because they had not followed the simple path of faith… The consequences of a fleshly walk remain. God can use them in the end for their blessing, but the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith.

In Joshua 7 the spies had said in their report: "Let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai, for they are few." And now it takes about thirty thousand chosen mighty men of valour. What a humiliation, and how it lowered Israel in their own estimation! They had to go up by night, and while some hid, others pretended to flee before the enemy. What room for boasting after this?

What we see here is that it is quite an affair to take this small city. In this manner of proceeding there was a double motive: first, to put an end to the discouragement; second, to make all the people feel what the question was.

All Israel had to "toil up there" — some to the ambush, others to the front. When we make errors carelessly, and sin deliberately in our service, God presses those neglected lessons on us by toil and hard work, even though He has shown us our errors and pardoned our ways. Israel did not only toil up to Ai. God also made them victorious through humiliation: by seeming defeat, by fleeing before their enemies, they won their success.

God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations… We see this principle in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the same people who had fled before him a day or two earlier. So he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them.

The ambush take Ai and set it on fire. The twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them… So there is variety in the action and service, but it is one action in common. The body is one. The parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. Lose sight of that unity, and defeat follows.

First He summons Joshua to take all the people of war; then He promises to give everything into Joshua's hand. He next lays down a plan — not the one that brought in the ark and the priests, where the main point was following His own word and the power of the Lord's holy presence... The preparations against little Ai call for even more care and complete obedience in every detail than the capture of Jericho did.

Joshua and most of his army must pretend to flee, and so draw the city's "few people" away from it. Thirty-five thousand men to take a town that three thousand were enough for! Pretending to run away as before was no honour, and no heroism. It shamed them as soldiers. This is no example of the mighty power of faith. God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence. He allows, even commands, its full display, and will not use it. He gives them the city in His own way, and uses Israel's power only as He pleases. It plainly says: I can do without you. It proves to them that the strength they boasted in was useless in itself.

If you are happy to use methods that put your own inability on display, all well and good. Such methods stamp man with his total weakness, and humble him until his only option is to run from the enemy. But it is not in your power to do this. In truth, at Ai the means were no more human than at Jericho. The difference is this: at Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power, while at Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

In Joshua 7 the spies had said in their report: "Let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai... for they are few." And now about thirty thousand chosen fighting men are needed. What a humiliation, and how it lowered Israel in their own eyes! They had to go up by night, and while some hid, others pretended to flee before the enemy. What room for boasting after this?

This shows that God was gracious to His people once they had judged the evil. It also shows that their failure brought needless and unwanted complications into their battles.

"Toil up there" all Israel did — some to the ambush, others to the front. This is because when we make mistakes carelessly, and sin on purpose in our service, God uses toil and hard work to press home the lessons we neglected. He does so even though He has shown us our errors and pardoned our ways. And Israel did not only labour up to Ai. God made them victorious through humiliation: by apparent defeat, by fleeing before their enemies, they won their success.

God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations. The enemy counts only on human might. We see this in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the very same people who had fled from him a day or two before. So he thought they would fall into his hands as easily as last time. He did not know that the Lord was among them.

You may say: You have shown us that at Jericho it was not a question of human means, and now here are all kinds of tricks for beating the enemy. I reply: suppose you are happy to use methods that put your own inability on display. They stamp man with his total weakness. They humble him, so that his only way out is to run from the enemy. If so, all well and good. But you have no power to do this. In truth, at Ai these are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this: at Jericho God arranged things so that Israel would learn His power. At Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes, because they did not follow the simple path of faith. The humbled soul finds itself with God once more, and His presence with it. But the consequences of a worldly walk remain. God can use them for blessing in the end, yet the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith.

Thirty-five thousand men to take a town for which three thousand were enough! Pretending to run away as they had the first time was no honour, and there was no heroism in it. It was no instance of the mighty power of faith. God knows how to put shame upon worldly strength and confidence. He allows, indeed commands, its full display, and will not use it. He gives them the city in His own way, and will only use the power of Israel as He pleases. It is plainly saying, I can do without you — proving to them that the strength in which they boasted was in itself a useless thing.

The enemy is never so self-confident as when his hour has come. So men will cry, Peace and safety, when sudden destruction comes upon them.

God demands even more care and complete obedience in every detail in the preparations against the little city of Ai than Israel used in the capture of Jericho.

Where Christians bring their own plans into the difficulty, they defeat themselves instead of the enemy. They may be completely upright in the main. Even so, the Lord has a quarrel with the self-sufficiency that trusts plans instead of submitting to His will... When we stand on the Lord's ground, we know we are called all the more to obedience, because we have to face the enemy's most cunning tricks. And then He arranges the most unexpected combination of circumstances in our favour. He knows exactly how to time everything for us.

So the LORD adds at this point, and such instructions might surprise some. First He summons Joshua to take all the people of war; then He promises to give all into Joshua's hand. He next lays down a plan. It is not the plan that brought in the ark and the priests. There the main thing was following His own word and the power of the LORD's holy presence.

That is, God calls for even more care and full obedience in every detail in the preparations against little Ai than He called for in the capture of Jericho. All of this is set out in the finest detail for our instruction.

Thirty-five thousand men to take a town for which three thousand were enough! To pretend to run away as at the first was no honour: no heroism in this. It was to their shame as soldiers. This is no instance of the mighty power of faith. God knows how to put shame upon worldly strength and confidence. He allows, and even commands, its full display, and will not use it. He gives them the city in His own way, and will only use the power of Israel as He pleases. All this plainly says, "I can do without you." It proves to them that the strength they boasted in was in itself a useless thing.

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes, because the simple path of faith was not followed. The humbled soul finds itself with God once more, and His presence with it. But the consequences of a walk in the flesh remain. God can in the end use them for their blessing, yet the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith. The path itself is very simple. The believer who follows God's guidance in humble dependence on His word is sure of victory. It was so at Jericho. The same power that brought down the walls of that cursed city is with Israel at Ai. It has not changed, even though the army must now manoeuvre and split into two parts — five thousand men lying in ambush, while the rest lure the defenders of Ai out of their stronghold.

Men once used for God are at times set aside by God. They go on with their work as before, but they win no victories... The story of Ai uncovers the cause — hidden evil is in the camp. Then these same servants rise up again. After a time of defeat, they become vessels of power once more, with God and with men. The story of Ai again lets us into the secret: they have been before God, and have humbled themselves.

The world does not see hidden work, the work that goes on in the heart with God. God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations. The enemy counts only on human strength... We see this principle in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye, they were the very same people who had fled from him a day or two earlier. So he thought they would fall into his hands just as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them.

He next lays down a plan. It is not the plan that brought in the ark and the priests, where it was above all a question of following His own word and the power of the Lord's holy presence. But here He says, "Lay an ambush for the city behind it"… "Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the LORD." That is, the preparations against little Ai call for even more care and complete obedience in every detail than the capture of Jericho did.

And now, with the hindrance to God's power acting for them removed, Joshua is encouraged to go up again against Ai. But their former presumption still needs rebuke, and so they are made to labour in the capture of the city, despite its smallness. All the people take part in it. An ambush is placed behind the city, and they are made to pretend that they are fleeing as they fled before. All this is clearly humiliation for their pride. How much in the work that we do for God has to conform itself to the need there is in us! God shapes His instruments, even while He works with them.

Are you content to use means that put your own inability on display? Such means stamp on man the mark of his total weakness. They humble him, so that his only resource is to flee before the foe. If you are, all well and good. But it is not in your power to do this. In truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God ordered the arrangements so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

What a humiliation, and how it lowered Israel in their own estimation! They had to go up by night, and while some hid, others pretended to flee before the enemy. What room for boasting after this?

The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. Just as they begin to fight, the men in ambush come out of the city and join the battle. Then all the Israelites return to Ai and strike it with the edge of the sword. So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. Lose sight of the unity, and defeat follows.

What a lesson all this discipline was for Israel, and for us too! … Israel had to learn, as we have, that the secret of divine power for them lay in closely following God's word. … But the question is: how are we to conduct ourselves down here? Are we to settle down and rest, thinking that because we are saved we are all right, and can live as we please? This is a fatal mistake.

And now we have the Lord's full restoration of the people. They had gone out in self-confidence; they had received a most serious check; but now that the sin was judged, Jehovah was free to act on their behalf. Even then He had His own way.

In Joshua 7 the spies had said in their report: "Let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai, for they are few." And now about thirty thousand chosen mighty men of valour are needed. What a humiliation, and how it lowered Israel in their own estimation! They had to go up by night, and while some hid, others pretended to flee before the enemy. What room for boasting after this?

In truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is that there God ordered the arrangements so that Israel might learn His power, while at Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

God insisted on even more care and exact obedience in every detail for the attack on little Ai than for the capture of Jericho.

Now they felt how much depended on heeding the Lord and His word. Recovery after haste is sure, but it must be humbling.

Next we hear of Ai. It is beside Beth-aven, the "house of vanity," and in front of Bethel, the "house of God." In Abram's time, when he first came into the land, Bethel and Ai lay on either side of him. So the two stand opposed to one another. (Gen. 12) You can tell what Ai is by what it joins itself to and what it stands against, and the world's stamp is plain on it.

Israel looked at Ai as contemptible. Its name — "a heap of ruins" — suggests it was not like Jericho, a city mighty and fortified. If it had been a powerful place, maybe Israel would have sought God about its overthrow. But the words of the spies, "Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few," show confidence in their own strength instead of trust in God for Ai's destruction. If we truly recognise God as our only strength, we depend on Him as much for the small enemies as for the great. Do we not know in practice how little enemies cause great defeats?

Israel is now restored to communion with God. Throughout this scene the presence of Joshua marks the activity of the people. When they were going to war: "Joshua and all the fighting men arose." (v. 3) On the eve of battle: "Joshua spent that night among the people." (v. 9) When the march was about to begin: "Joshua spent that night in the valley." (v. 13) And when the victory went their way: "Joshua did not draw back his hand... until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction." (v. 26)

The world does not see hidden work — what goes on in the heart with God. God's ways with His people baffle all human calculation... He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the very same people who had fled before him a day or two earlier; so he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them.

But this battle would be fought very differently from the way Israel had first proposed to overthrow the "heap of ruins," Ai! They had said, "Do not make the whole people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the fighting men." Israel's strength and courage came from the Lord alone. So as the thousands rose to battle, every soldier had to remember that small enemies must never be taken lightly.

In Joshua 7 the spies reported: "Let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai, for they are few." Now about thirty thousand chosen, brave fighting men are required. What a humiliation, and how it lowered Israel in their own estimation! They had to go up by night, and while some hid, others pretended to flee before the enemy. What room for boasting after this? … In truth, the means used at Ai are no more human than the means used at Jericho. The difference is this: at Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power, while at Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

They felt now how vital it was to heed the Lord and His word. Recovery after acting in haste must be humbling, however sure it is.

Israel is now restored to communion with God. Throughout this scene the presence of Joshua puts a blessed mark on everything the people do. When they were going to war, we read: "Joshua arose, and all the people" (v. 3). On the eve of battle: "Joshua lodged that night among the people" (v. 9). When the march was about to begin: "Joshua went that night into the middle of the valley" (v. 13). When it was a question of luring the enemy: "Joshua and all Israel acted as if they were beaten" (v. 15). When they had put the enemy to flight: "Joshua and all Israel … killed the men of Ai" (v. 21).

Sin confessed, judged and put away restored communion with the Lord. If any burden remained on Joshua's mind, the repeated words of comfort and cheer removed it: "Do not fear and do not be dismayed." The failure never comes up again. Instead there is comfort, assurance and a promise of victory. He deals in the same gracious way with us whenever we have failed and humbled ourselves before Him in self-judgment.

"Toil up there" all Israel did — some to the ambush, others to the front. For when we make careless mistakes, and sin on purpose in our service, God presses on us by toil and labour those lessons we neglected. He does this even though He has shown us our errors and pardoned our ways.

We may note here that, as God's dealings worked out, the fault committed before the attack on Ai seems blotted out, and had even contributed to the unfolding of His purposes. At the time it had held them back, and it was punished. But God set Himself to restore Israel morally, back to the confidence of faith. Nothing hindered the great object of His dealings. This is no excuse; but it is a sweet and strong consolation.

The Lord had turned from the fierceness of His anger against His people Israel. Now He encouraged Joshua to go forward: "Do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged. Take all the people of war with you, and go up to Ai." God's words gave real reassurance. They recalled His first gracious call and encouragement. Victory was certain. But this battle would be fought very differently from the plan Israel first proposed for destroying Ai, that "heap of ruins"! They had said, "Do not make all the people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the people of war." As the thousands of Israel rose to battle, each soldier had to remember never to make light of a small foe, for Israel's strength and courage came from the LORD alone.

In the days of the nation's moral prosperity under Joshua, all Israel went up to battle whenever war came. This showed the unity of the people in a striking way. The first conflict at Ai (Joshua 7:1-5) was the only exception to this rule, and it ended in the defeat of those who took part in it.

The people were one. They were one in their victory, one in their failure, one in their defeat, one in the judgment of the evil, one in their restoration.

Notice how complicated everything becomes in Joshua 8, because Israel did not follow the simple path of faith. The humbled soul finds itself with God again, and His presence with it. But the consequences of walking in the flesh remain. God can use them for blessing in the end, yet the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith. That path is very simple: the believer who follows God's guidance in dependence on His word is sure of victory. It was so at Jericho. The same power that brought down the walls of that accursed city is with Israel at Ai. It has not changed, even though the army must now manoeuvre and split into two forces — five thousand men lying in ambush, while the rest draw the defenders of Ai out of their stronghold.

You may say: you have shown us that at Jericho human means were not the question, and now here are all sorts of devices for beating the enemy. I reply: if you are content to use means that show up your own incapacity, all well and good. Such means leave on man the mark of his total weakness, and humble him until his only resource is to run from the enemy. But it is not in your power to do this. In truth, at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

Their former presumption still needs rebuke, and so God makes them labour to capture the city, small as it is. All the people take part in it. They set an ambush behind the city, and God makes them pretend to flee, just as they had fled before. All this humbles their pride. How much in the work we do for God has to shape itself to the need there is in us! God shapes His instruments, even while He works with them.

Here He says, "Lay an ambush for the city behind it." So Joshua and all the fighting men went up against Ai... "And when you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the LORD." That is, God asks for even more care and complete obedience in every detail in the preparations against little Ai than was needed to capture Jericho.

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes, because they did not follow the simple path of faith. The soul, humbled, finds itself once more with God, and His presence with it, but the consequences of a self-pleasing walk remain... The same power that brought down the walls of the accursed city is with Israel at Ai. It has not changed, although the army must use tactics and split into two groups. Five thousand men lie in ambush, while the rest lure the defenders of Ai out of their stronghold.

In truth, the means used at Ai are no more human than those used at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God arranged things so that Israel would learn His power. At Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

What an array of force and trickery to take a little city! Joshua and most of his army must pretend to run away, to draw the city's "few people" out after them. Thirty-five thousand men to take a town for which three thousand were enough! Pretending to run as they had the first time was no honour. There was no heroism in it. It was to their shame as soldiers... God knows how to put shame upon worldly strength and confidence.

Next we hear of Ai. It is beside Beth-aven, the "house of vanity," and in front of Bethel, the "house of God." In Abram's time, when he first comes into the land, Bethel and Ai lie on either side of him, set against each other. You can tell what Ai is by what it joins itself to and by what it stands against. The mark of the world is clearly on it.

Hidden work, that which goes on in the heart with God, the world does not see. God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations... We see this in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye, they were the same people who had fled before him a day or two earlier; therefore he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them.

Early the next morning Joshua mustered his army and brought them to the north side of Ai, where they encamped (v.11). He also set about 5,000 men in ambush on the west side of the city. So there were 30,000 lying in wait behind the city and 5,000 on the west side, and a large army with Joshua at the front of the city.

So the preparations against little Ai call for even more care and complete obedience in every detail than the capture of Jericho did.

Now they felt how vital it was to heed the Lord and His word. Recovery after acting in haste is certain, but it must be humbling.

If you are happy to use methods that put your own inability on display, that stamp a man with the mark of his total weakness, and that humble him until his only option is to run from the enemy, then fine. But you have no power to do that. In truth, the means used at Ai are no more human than those used at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

Now that what hindered God's power from acting for them had been removed, Joshua is encouraged to go up against Ai again. But their earlier presumption still needs rebuke, so they have to work hard to capture the city, small as it is. All the people take part in it. An ambush is set behind the city, and they have to pretend to flee, as they fled before. All of this is humiliation for their pride. How much in the work that we do for God has to conform itself to the need there is in us! God shapes His instruments, even while He works with them.

Israel is now restored to communion with God. Throughout this scene, the presence of Joshua marks everything the people do. When they were going to war we read, "Joshua and all the fighting men arose" (v. 3). On the eve of battle, "Joshua spent that night among the people" (v. 9). When the march was about to begin, "Joshua spent that night in the valley" (v. 13). When it was a question of drawing out the enemy, "Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten" (v. 15).

Diversity is not division, because it shows itself in unity. The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire, while the twenty-five thousand flee from their enemies. Then the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on the enemy... So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. Lose sight of that unity, and defeat follows.

(1) Entrenched against evil — those camped on the north side of Ai (v.11). Compare Ephesians 6:13. (2) Watching against evil — those who lay in ambush (v.12). Compare 1 Corinthians 16:13. (3) Appearing against evil — Joshua's group going into the midst of the valley (v.13). Compare Ephesians 5:11.

The enemy is never so self-confident as when his hour has come. So men will cry, "Peace and safety," when sudden destruction comes upon them.

The world does not see hidden work, the kind that goes on in the heart with God. God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations. The enemy counts only on human strength. The world takes no interest in the secret things that turn God's hand against His people in their path of service and warfare. We see this principle in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the very same people who had fled before him a day or two before. So he imagined they would fall into his hands just as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them.

The pagan king never dreamed what God's secret work in the camp had produced. God did that work through His dealings with them in government and in rebuke. Israel was a different people from what they had been a few days earlier; their hands were clean and their hearts were strong.

Notice in Joshua 8 how complicated everything becomes through not having followed the simple path of faith. The soul, humbled, finds itself once more with God, and His presence with it, but the consequences of a careless walk remain. Although God can in the end use these for their blessing, the path no longer has the simplicity of the early days of faith.

All Israel laboured up to Ai — some to the ambush, others to the front. That is because when we make careless mistakes and sin deliberately in our service, God presses the neglected lessons on us through toil and labour. He does this even after He has shown us our errors and pardoned our ways. And Israel did not only labour up to Ai; God made them victorious through humiliation. By apparent defeat, by fleeing before their enemies, they won their success.

The king of Ai at once led his army out of the gates to attack Israel as he had before. He knew nothing of the ambushes waiting for him (v.14)… All the army of Ai joined the pursuit of Israel, leaving the city without defence (vs.15-17). They were not like the men of Jericho, who kept their city shut tight against Israel. They felt strong in taking the offensive, no doubt encouraged because they had done so before and won.

Where Christians bring their own plans into the difficulty, they defeat themselves instead of the enemy… Dependence and trust in Him is the wisdom of those engaged in conflict with the enemy… When we are on the Lord's ground, we know we are called all the more to obedience, because we have to face the subtlest tricks of the enemy. Then He arranges the most unexpected combination of circumstances in our favour. He knows exactly how to time everything for us.

He next lays down a plan. It is not the plan that brought in the ark and the priests. There it was above all a question of following His own word and the power of the Lord's holy presence. But here He says, "Lay an ambush against the city, behind it." … "When they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them… Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city." That is, the preparations against little Ai call for even more care and exact obedience in every detail than the capture of Jericho did.

Their own might had lifted them up. God put dishonour on it at the taking of Ai. Every warrior must go, and they must lay an ambush. What a display of force and trickery to take a little city! Joshua and the bulk of his army must pretend to flee, and so draw its "few people" away from the city. Thirty-five thousand men to take a town for which three thousand were enough! To pretend to flee as at the first was no honour: no heroism in this. It was to their shame as soldiers.

In truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

When it was a question of luring the enemy: "Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them." (v. 15). When they had put the enemy to flight: "Joshua and all Israel… struck down the men of Ai." (v. 21)

Success is now certain. But all the people must go up against this small city, which two or three thousand men could have taken, by human reckoning. This is a sharp rebuke to pride and false confidence. What trouble Joshua must now take! Lay an ambush, pretend to flee: all this to take a small city, and not much glory after all. It costs more effort to return into the path of blessing than it would have taken to avoid the evil. But the simplicity of faith and its natural vigour can be regained no other way.

The enemy, as we shall see, is never so self-confident as when his hour has come. So men will cry, "Peace and safety," when sudden destruction comes upon them.

This shows God making everything work together. It comes about where we do not trust in our own manoeuvring, but keep our hearts subject to His word. First the evil had to be seen and judged, for it had made it impossible for God's presence to be with His people in power. Where Christians bring their own plans into the difficulty, they defeat themselves instead of the enemy. Even though they may be thoroughly upright in the main, the Lord has a controversy with the self-sufficiency that trusts plans instead of being subject to His will.

The king of Ai at once led his army out of the gates to attack Israel as he did before. He did not know about the ambushes. Joshua and his army retreated then, fleeing from Ai. All the army of Ai joined in pursuit of Israel, leaving the city without defence. They were not like the men of Jericho, who kept their city shut tight against Israel. They felt strong in taking the offensive, no doubt encouraged because they had attacked before and won.

The enemy is never so self-confident as when his hour has come. So people will be saying, "There is peace and security," when sudden destruction comes upon them.

Every warrior must go, and an ambush must be laid. What an array of force and trickery to take a little city! Joshua and the bulk of his army must pretend to flee, and so draw away from the city its "few people." Thirty-five thousand men to take a town for which three thousand were enough! To pretend to run away as at the first was no honour: no heroism in this. It was to their shame as soldiers. This is no instance of the mighty power of faith. God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence.

Success is now certain. But all the people must go up against this small city — by human strength, two or three thousand men might have taken it. This is a sharp rebuke to pride and false confidence. How much trouble Joshua must now take! Lay an ambush, pretend to flee: all this to take a small city, and not much glory after all. It costs more effort to return to the path of blessing than it would have cost to avoid the evil. But there is no other way to regain the simplicity of faith and its natural vigour.

You may say: you have shown us that at Jericho it was not a question of human means, and now here are all sorts of contrivances for conquering the enemy. I reply: if you are content to use means which make your incapacity stand out, all well and good. Such means leave on man the mark of his total weakness. They humble him, so that his only resource is to flee before the enemy. But it is not in your power to do this. In truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God ordered the arrangements so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

Diversity is not division; for it shows itself in unity. The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. Just as they begin to fight, the men in ambush come out of the city and join the battle. Then all the Israelites return to Ai and strike it with the edge of the sword. So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one. Its parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. Lose sight of that unity, and the result is defeat.

The enemy is never so self-confident as when his hour has come. So men will cry, Peace and safety, when sudden destruction comes upon them.

The whole army of Ai joined the chase after Israel, leaving the city with no defence (vs.15-17). They were not like the men of Jericho, who kept their city shut tight against Israel. They felt strong enough to attack, no doubt because they had attacked Israel before and won.

Success is now certain. But all the people must go up against this small city. Judging by human strength, two or three thousand men could have taken it. This is a sharp rebuke to pride and false confidence. How much trouble Joshua must now take! Lay an ambush, pretend to run away: all this to take a small city, and not much glory after all. It costs more effort to come back into the path of blessing than it would have cost to avoid the evil.

Thirty-five thousand men to take a town that three thousand were enough for! To pretend to run away, as they had the first time, was no honour: there is no heroism in this. It was to their shame as soldiers. This is no example of the mighty power of faith. God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence. He allows it — no, He commands it — to be fully displayed, and then will not use it. He gives them the city in His own way, and will use the power of Israel only as He pleases. He is saying openly, I can do without you. He proves to them that the strength they boasted in was in itself a useless thing.

Next we hear of Ai. It lies beside Beth-aven, the "house of vanity," and in front of Bethel, the "house of God." When Abram first comes into the land, Bethel and Ai lie on either side of him, set against each other. (Gen. 12.) You can tell what Ai is by the company it keeps and by what it stands against, and the stamp of the world is clearly on it.

This is how the Lord works by His Spirit at just the right moment. He stirs people into action who may not even know why. At the set time something drives them forward. They think they are acting on reasons of their own, while it is the Lord who directs all their steps to match what He is doing elsewhere.

Here the mere sight of the eyes could hardly have helped men so far away and also in hiding: was it not God Himself? Did not He cause Joshua to stretch out his spear? More than a signal is meant, as we read a little later: "Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction." If it had been merely a signal for men, why keep his hand stretched out like that? But no; it appears to be a sign on God's part, a meaningful token, calling them to the taking of the city. It seems meant to give them certainty that the LORD was with them now — the LORD taking the lead, the LORD prospering everything in the very place where they had been put to shame. He would retrieve the glory of His own name.

At last, at God's command, Joshua stretches out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. It does not appear that the ambush saw it, or that it was an agreed signal. But as soon as he stretched it out, the ambush rose, entered the city, and set fire to it. This is how the Lord, working by His Spirit at the right moment, produces activity even in those who may not know why. At a given time He moves them forward, and they think they are acting on their own motives. But it is the Lord who directs all their steps in harmony with what He is doing elsewhere.

The Lord commanded Joshua to stretch out the spear toward Ai. This matches the uplifted hands of Moses in the war against Amalek in Exodus 17. It was a token of the presence of divine power securing the complete victory. We read nothing of Joshua's arm with the spear growing weak, as happened with the uplifted hands of Moses... It was an act of faith, and divine power supported the outstretched arm.

Yet when the accursed thing is removed, and though the whole army is there, Joshua (the Spirit of Christ) stretches out his spear... The principle was recovered — the presence of God. It is beautiful to see how the goodness of the Lord entirely repaired the faults at Ai and at Jericho.

Diversity is not division; it shows itself within unity. The ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on their pursuers... So there is diversity in the action and the service, but it is one action shared together. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If they lose sight of that unity, defeat follows.

He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the same people who had fled from him a day or two earlier. So he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them. On he came, only to meet his doom and to complete the destruction of his city. Joshua's outstretched javelin was the signal to Israel, and the sign of a war that cannot stop until every foe is cast down and destroyed.

The sight of the eyes could hardly have been enough here. These men were far away and in hiding. Was it not of God Himself? Did not He cause Joshua to stretch out his spear? ... If it had only been a signal for men, why keep his hand stretched out like that? Stretching out the spear and drawing it back soon after would have been quite enough. A pre-arranged act would have done its work already. But no; it appears to be a sign on God's part, a meaningful token, that called them to the taking of the city.

It does not appear that the ambush saw it, or that it was an agreed signal. But as soon as Joshua stretched it out, the ambush rose, entered the city, and set fire to it. This is how the Lord, working by His Spirit at the right moment, produces activity even in those who may not know why. At a given time He pushes them onwards. They think they are acting from motives of their own, while the Lord directs all their steps in harmony with what He is doing elsewhere.

The enemy counts only on human strength. The world pays no attention to the secret things that turn God's hand against His saints in their path of service and warfare. We see this principle in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the very same people who had fled from him a day or two earlier. So he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as last time. He did not know that the Lord was among them. On he came, only to meet his doom and to complete the destruction of his city.

In truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this: at Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If the unity is lost sight of, defeat is the result.

Ai, in its meaning, a "heap" — to this day known as Et-Tell, "the heap" ... Ai is the world seen in its ruin as faith sees it, which yet, apart from God's presence with us, we are not able to overcome. Unjudged evil in us will make the world too strong for us, and this is what Achan's sin does for Israel.

We see the men of Ai in all their distress when they looked behind and saw the trap that had caught them. The ambush was rushing in on one side, and those who seemed to flee from them were now advancing to attack them on the other. The matter was soon settled, whatever the pains and trouble He demanded for it.

The enemy is never so self-confident as when his hour has come. So men will cry, Peace and safety, when sudden destruction comes upon them.

The world does not see the hidden work, the work that goes on in the heart with God. God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations. The enemy counts only on human might... We see this principle in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye, they were the same people who had fled from him a day or two earlier. So he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them. On he came, only to meet his doom and to complete the destruction of his city.

Diversity is not division; it shows itself in unity. The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If the unity is lost sight of, defeat is the result.

It does not appear that the ambush saw it, or that it was an agreed signal. But as soon as it was stretched out, the ambush rose, entered the city, and set fire to it. This is how the Lord works by His Spirit at the right moment. He produces activity even in those who may not know why. At a given time they are pushed onwards, and think they act from motives of their own. All the while it is the Lord who directs all their steps in harmony with what He is doing elsewhere. So He brings about the success of the whole thing.

When we make errors lightly, and sin on purpose in our service, God drives home by toil and labour the lessons we neglected. He does this even though He has shown us our errors and pardoned our ways. Israel had to labour their way up to Ai, and God also made them victorious through humiliation. By apparent defeat, by fleeing before their foes, they won their success. Falls and failures teach the believer to walk without self-confidence. Anyone who is not of a chastened spirit after a fall or a failure has not fully repented of the sin, and God is not truly with such a person, "for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29).

Men once used for God are at times set aside by God; they keep working as they always did, but win no victories... The story of Ai unveils the cause — hidden evil is in the camp. Again these same servants arise, and, after a period of defeat, become once more vessels of power with God and with men. The story of Ai again lets us into the secret: they have been before God, and have humbled themselves.

In truth, the means used at Ai were no more human than those used at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God arranged things so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness.

Thirty-five thousand men to take a town for which three thousand were enough! To pretend to run away as they had the first time was no honour: there is no heroism in this... He gives them the city in His own way, and will only use the power of Israel as He pleases. It is plainly saying, I can do without you — proving to them that the strength they boasted in was in itself a useless thing.

When they saw their city on fire, they found themselves caught in the middle. Those they pursued turned back and struck down the men of Ai (v.21). Those who had set fire to the city came out and attacked from behind, so in a short time they destroyed the whole army of Ai.

We are on the Lord's ground. We know we are called all the more to obedience, because we have to face the cleverest tricks of the enemy. And where that is so, He orders the most unexpected turn of events in our favour. He knows how precisely to time everything for us.

The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. Just as they begin to fight, the men in ambush come out of the city and join the battle (v. 22)... So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If they lose sight of that unity, defeat follows.

He saw no change in them. To his eye, they were the same people who had fled from him a day or two earlier. So he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as last time. He did not know that the Lord was among them. On he came, but only to meet his doom and to complete the destruction of his city. Joshua's outstretched spear was the signal to Israel, and the sign of a war that cannot stop until every enemy is thrown down and destroyed.

We see the men of Ai in all their distress. They looked behind and saw the trap that had caught them. The ambush was rushing in on one side. Those who seemed to be fleeing from them were now advancing to attack on the other. The case was soon decided now, whatever the pain and trouble God had demanded for it.

The world does not see the hidden work that goes on in the heart with God. God's ways with His people baffle all human calculations. The enemy counts only on human might. The world takes no interest in the secret things that turn God's hand against His saints in their path of service and warfare. We see this principle in the way the king of Ai came out against Israel. He saw no change in them. To his eye they were the same people who had fled before him a day or two earlier. So he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as before. He did not know that the Lord was among them. On he came, only to meet his doom and to complete the destruction of his city. Joshua's outstretched spear was the signal to Israel, and the sign of a war that cannot stop until every enemy is thrown down and destroyed.

Diversity is not division, because it shows itself in unity. The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. Just as they begin to fight, the ambush comes out of the city and joins the battle (v. 22)... So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If they lose sight of that unity, the result is defeat.

Even after faith resumes its place, God, while giving victory, makes them feel the evil of forgetting Him. They had been lifted up because of their might. God put dishonour on it at the taking of Ai... What an array of force and cunning to take a little city! Joshua and the bulk of his army must pretend to flee... To pretend to run away as at the first was no honour; there is no heroism in this. It was to their shame as soldiers. This is no instance of the mighty power of faith. God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence. He allows, and even commands, its full display, and then will not use it. It is plainly saying: I can do without you.

In truth, at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this. At Jericho God ordered the arrangements so that Israel might learn His power. At Ai His object was to teach them their own weakness.

In the end God gave Israel the victory over Ai (ch. 8). But it was not simple or triumphant, as it had been at Jericho. Joshua had to take all his fighting men up to Ai. Then Israel had to pretend to flee before the men of Ai. Then, with the help of an ambush, they took the city. This shows that God was gracious to His people once they had judged the evil. It also shows that their failure brought unnecessary and unwanted complications into the fight.

He saw no change in them. To his eye, they were the same people who had fled before him a day or two before; so he imagined they would fall into his hands as easily as last time. He did not know that the Lord was among them. On he came, but only to meet his doom and to complete the destruction of his city.

The assembly must clear the evil out from among its own people before it can silence and bring to nothing the evil outside. Where an assembly tolerates evil, decision and firmness vanish completely. Firmness like that treats the enemy as an enemy. It makes no deal with him. It puts him from the start in the only place God assigns him.

The gallows of the king of Ai was the place of judgment and curse for Israel's enemy. But Israel themselves had to stand on Mount Ebal, where God pronounced His curse on them. That was the terrible end of the law, and Israel could not escape it. God has brought it to nothing by the cross of Christ. On the gallows at Ai, Israel could see in picture what we see in the cross of Christ: Satan, our chief enemy, defeated and brought to nothing. And we see more. The whole curse we lay under at Ebal is gone for ever, because Christ took that place for us and bore the judgment Himself. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'" This is the hanging of the king of Ai.

Jericho and Ai each represent the world. Their conquest by Joshua represents Christ's victory and kingdom. The overthrow of their kings represents the final overthrow of the power of Satan. Our Joshua's victory is complete. Soon the "sun" of this day of rebellion against the Lord will go "down," and the end of the god of this world will come.

God brought back to mind the word He had laid down about these very matters... This was not a command He had just given. He had laid it down on the other side of the Jordan. They remembered it now, because the circumstances first called for it at this time. The land was God's, and they must not defile it. They must treat it according to the rights of divine holiness. He had forbidden them to leave anyone hanged on a tree after the sun went down. They must never forget what was due to Him and to His land.

Like the memorial heap in the valley of Achor, it spoke without words of the sure judgment of evil. The first was a witness that judgment begins in the house of God. The second testified that the ungodly and the sinner will not escape... But Achan came from the line of Abraham, the blessed of God, while the king of Ai came from the line of Canaan, cursed long ago.

Israel took the king of Ai alive. When the army of Ai had fallen, the armies of Israel returned into the city and finished the destruction. That day 12,000 died — the whole population of Ai.

The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. The twenty-five thousand men flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them. Just as they begin to fight, the ambush comes out of the city and joins in the battle (v. 22). Then all the Israelites return to Ai and strike it with the edge of the sword. (v. 24) So there is diversity in the action and the service, but it is an action in common. The body is one; the several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If they lose sight of that unity, defeat follows.

So the taking of this little city becomes weighty and most needed instruction for the people of God, because of what we are here below. We see the men of Ai in all their distress. They looked behind and saw the trap they had been caught in — the ambush rushing in on one side, and those who seemed to be fleeing from them now advancing to attack them on the other. The matter was soon settled, whatever pains and trouble He had asked of them for it.

Israel looked at Ai as contemptible. Its name, "a heap of ruins," suggests that it was not like Jericho — a mighty, fortified city. Had it been a powerful place, Israel might have sought God about its overthrow. But the spies went up and viewed the country, and then said, "Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few." That language shows confidence in their own strength instead of trust in God for Ai's destruction. If we truly recognise God as our only strength, we depend on Him as much for small enemies as for great ones. Do we not know in practice how little enemies cause great defeats?

They were completely to destroy the Canaanite inhabitants out of the land, showing them no mercy, making no covenant or alliance with them. The reason has been explained over and over again. They were a people whose iniquity was now full, as it was not yet in Abraham's time. The land itself was spitting them out for their abominations. In this respect Israel was only the executioner of divine judgment, not of their own passion or greed for gain. He could have destroyed them by plague or famine. Instead He chose Israel to carry out this office. In this way He gave His people the most solemn lesson He could give them, about the holiness of His own nature and about what sin is before Him. They themselves would face similar judgments if they followed the Canaanites in their sin. Their loathsome gods of lust and murder were the full outcome and expression of that sin.

Considered as a picture, the Canaanites stand for the agents of Satan — the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. They are the rulers of the darkness of this world, and we are called to wrestle with them now. They are precisely the powers of evil that keep turning every link of religion into a means of deliberate and ruinous dishonour to God. With enemies like these there can be no terms, no compromise, no pause in the fight — at any time, under any circumstances. There ought to be none.

Simply seeing him could hardly have helped men who were so far away and hidden. Was this not from God Himself? Did He not cause Joshua to stretch out his spear? If it had been only a signal for men, why keep his hand stretched out like that? Stretching out the spear and then drawing it back soon would have been quite enough. If it had been just a prearranged act, the work was already done. But no; it appears to be a sign on God's part, a meaningful token, that called them to the taking of the city. It seems clearly intended to give them the certainty that the LORD was with them now.

This is how the Lord works. By His Spirit, at the right moment, He stirs action even in people who may not know why. At a given time they are pushed onwards. They think they act from their own motives, while the Lord directs all their steps to fit with what He is doing elsewhere. In this way He brings the whole thing to success.

This corresponds to the uplifted hands of Moses in the warfare against Amalek in Exodus 17. It was a token of the presence of divine power in securing the complete victory. We read nothing about Joshua's arm with the spear growing weak, as the hands of Moses did… It was an act of faith, and divine power supported the outstretched arm.

In truth at Ai they are no more human means than at Jericho. The difference is this: at Jericho God arranged everything so that Israel might learn His power, while at Ai His aim was to teach them their own weakness… The power of God had not changed. Israel won the victory at Ai by that power. Joshua was there, Joshua with the spear in his hand… It remained stretched out all through the conflict.

The men in ambush take Ai and set it on fire. Meanwhile the twenty-five thousand flee before their enemies, until the smoke of the city tells them to turn back on them… So there is diversity in the action and service, but it is an action in common. The body is one. The several parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond that unites them. Lose sight of that unity, and defeat follows.

Joshua's outstretched javelin was the signal to Israel. It was also the sign of a war that cannot stop until every enemy is thrown down and destroyed.

The sword had finished its work of destruction, as the LORD had commanded. Seen spiritually, faithfulness will lead the believer to spare nothing that belongs to man: it can have no part in the land of promise.

So the taking of this little city becomes weighty and much needed instruction for God's people, since we are what we are here on earth. … They are allowed the plunder now, having been tested at Jericho.

At Jericho the Lord had already shown two things. First, His might alone gave the victory — or rather, His might alone made everything fall before Israel, for the prince of this world has no power against Him. Second, the gold and silver belonged to the Lord, so the people were not to seek the treasures of the conquered world or enrich themselves with its spoils. In general, however, once Israel had destroyed their enemies, they took possession of everything, as they took the promised land.

It is a happy thing to know that a restored soul is always a blessed soul. So it is here. The camp goes a second time against Ai, and takes it. Israel does not win with the ease and honour of Jericho, but they win. It is the same in the experience of our own souls. The soul is pardoned and restored, and set on the way to even richer, higher blessings. Yet it still finds some new elements in its history. It has trials to go through that it might have been spared, had it walked more evenly. But in the end, most surely, Israel is blessed. Ai falls, and its cattle and spoil belong to the people, just as the gold, silver, brass and iron of Jericho had belonged to the Lord.

The judgment on "one of your cities," where worthless men had gone out to seduce others in the same way … was to be even more severe than the judgment on some of the cities of the Canaanites. Israel had to destroy not only all the inhabitants and cattle, but "all the spoil," "every bit" of it. They had to gather it and burn it with fire in the city. The cattle and spoil of Ai, for instance, "Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the LORD" (Joshua 8:27).

God had given the total victory over Jericho, which symbolizes the world as a system of evil. But Ai was different. God was behind all that Israel did, yet they had to fight in various ways. Ai speaks of the details of worldliness that hinder the spiritual progress of believers. In overcoming these things, small as they seem, believers will gain spiritually. So Israel in this case gained through the spoils.

The victory is not just driving the enemy back. It is a real gain of fresh stores. Faith, no doubt, always gathers fresh riches from every conflict. The spoil of the enemy does not rightly belong to them, but to those who overcome them. This spoil may well remind us of the fresh views of Christ we gain from the very conflict we have entered for Him.

Ai, in its meaning, a "heap" — known to this day as Et-Tell, "the heap" — naturally connects it with Jericho, which had just become one. Ai is the world seen in its ruin as faith sees it, which yet, apart from God's presence with us, we are not able to overcome. Unjudged evil in us will make the world too strong for us, and this is what the sin of Achan does for Israel.

Ai is a very solemn lesson for us, and we have to learn it with God, so as to get back to the point where we started wrong. Remember, there is no difference between little and great with God. He takes care of a sparrow that falls, and He will burn up the earth. The question is what is right in His sight. So at Ai it was not merely a matter of power, but of judging evil. And where evil is not judged, God will not use power.

How different this battle was from the way Israel first planned to overthrow the "heap of ruins," Ai! They had said, "Do not make all the people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the fighting men." So the thousands of Israel rose to battle. Each soldier had to remember not to take small foes lightly. Israel's strength and courage came from the Lord alone.

God had given total victory over Jericho, which symbolises the world as a system of evil. But at Ai they had to fight in various ways, though God was behind all that Israel did. This is because Ai speaks of the details of worldliness that hinder the spiritual progress of believers. In overcoming these things, small as they seem, believers gain spiritually. So Israel in this case gained through the spoils.

As soon as the sun went down, Joshua commanded them to take the king's body down from the tree. To all human appearance this would be a detail of no importance, but a heart fed by the word of God could not overlook it. To ignore it would have been to lose sight of the holiness of God. Joshua would then have failed in the very point that brought chastening on the people... In a word, a holy God could not dwell in the middle of defilement. This was the blessed lesson Joshua received from the Lord of hosts before Jericho. He learnt it with tears in the valley of Achor. Now, with a conscience trained in the school of God, he worked it out in the day of victory.

A royal city of Canaan. Abraham knew it and pitched his tent between Hai and Bethel (Genesis 12:8). Joshua conquered it by a clever plan — after a defeat caused by the sin of Achan — then burned it and made it a "heap"... It lay near Bethel, in Benjamin's portion, and was later rebuilt, it seems, for Ezra 2:28 and Nehemiah 7:32 mention it... Travellers say that on the spot you can picture the biblical account of the capture of Ai clearly.

God brought to mind the word He had laid down about these very matters. Is this not intentional instruction for us here? Joshua roused the conscience of Israel to the most careful attention to the will of the Lord. It was not a command just given at that moment, but one laid down on the other side of the Jordan. It was remembered now, when the circumstances first called for it.

To all human appearance this would be a detail of no importance, but a heart fed by the word of God could not overlook it. To neglect it would have been to lose sight of the holiness of God. Joshua would then have failed in the very point that brought chastening on the people. "His body shall not remain all night on the tree… for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance."

Though Satan still holds the contested land, by right it is the Lord's. Joshua showed this by two actions. One was taking the king of Ai's body down from the tree as soon as the sun was down. Israel's victory was complete. The curse hung over their enemies, who were also God's enemies. They were made a curse, and declared to be so. Now, according to Joshua's faith, the land was so entirely Israel's, as the gift of God, that it ought not to be defiled.

Ai is taken and destroyed, her king hanged on a tree, then taken down, and a heap raised over him, as before with Achan. They had indeed been partners in evil, and Achan was a worse trouble than the king of Ai could have been. Evil tolerated among the people of God is the ally of the foe outside. It is the only real hindrance to steady progress.

Where evil is tolerated in the assembly, decision and firmness vanish. Firmness deals with the enemy as an enemy. It makes no terms with him. It puts him from the start in the only place God assigns him.

Many people in ancient days read Deuteronomy 21:23 and may have wondered. Why did the curse attach to death on a tree, and not to death by some other means, such as stoning or the sword? Now we know. In due time the Redeemer was to bear the curse for others, honouring the law by hanging on a tree.

The gallows at Ai showed Israel in picture what the cross of Christ shows us: Satan, our chief enemy, defeated and destroyed. But we see more. All the curse we lay under at Ebal is gone forever in the actual judgment of the One who took that place for us. Paul adds: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'" This is the hanging of the king of Ai.

Jericho and Ai each represent the world. Their conquest by Joshua pictures Christ's victory and kingdom. The overthrow of their kings pictures the final overthrow of the power of Satan. Our Joshua's victory is complete. Soon the sun of this day of rebellion against the Lord will go down, and the god of this world will come to his end.